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Dust Collection Systems Considerations – Part 1

Laser cutting sheet metal

Dust collection systems are complex

Many factors impact the overall effectiveness of the system. In order to ensure your dust collection system reaches peak performance, it’s critical to have the proper groundwork in the engineering and design phase.

In the article, Guidelines for Operating and Maintaining Industrial Dust Control Exhaust Systems, the Engineers Collaborative identifies and summarizes five key considerations for the engineering and design phase. IVI takes each of these into account when we are developing custom solutions for our clients and is capable of performing all aspects related to industrial ventilation system design and engineering.

Industrial Ventilation Key Considerations

  1. Provide detailed engineering and design documents. Outline detailed engineering specifications and design documents,  including design drawings. Inadequate engineering and design documents may add construction costs and lead to a poorly installed system.
  2. Specify the right construction materials. Identify the right materials for construction—for example, if you are removing corrosive dusts, you’ll want to use stainless steel rather than mild steel.
  3. Think about component location. Component location is often overlooked, but the system needs to be strategically placed to accommodate inspection and repair.
  4. Outline component specifications. Be comprehensive in the systems approach and specify all components, including dust collectors, exhaust fans and other OEM components that are needed.
  5. Identify services and support for ventilation equipment. Engineering, design, fabrication and installation representatives should be available to address immediate issues in future operations and maintenance emergencies. Seek to hire firms that provide the dedicated personnel and teams in every phase of the system’s development.

These are only the guidelines for the engineering and design phase. A future blog post will review considerations for construction, start-up, training and maintenance. But with proper preparation to engineering and design, you’ll have a head start in making sure your dust collection system reaches optimal performance.