What To Know About Using Fume Extraction Arms
What are the potentially toxic byproducts of your business? If you're in the welding industry, you may worry about grinding dust, oil mist, and heavy fumes. If you're in the auto industry, you may have areas that collect exhaust fumes at potentially dangerous levels. Even dental clinics, hair salons, and some art or jewelry-making studios may produce chemical byproducts that are dangerous to humans when consumed in high concentrations.
You know what fume extractors are and may have a general understanding of how they work. What you're missing is a more detailed understanding of the fume extractor arm. We're going to tell you what to know about using fume extraction arms here.
What Are Fume Extraction Arms?
When looking at a full fume extraction system, the arm is the flexible hose-like piece that connects to the fume extractor. It’s usually attached to a nozzle on the other end. A flexible fume extraction arm is designed to withstand the heat that naturally comes with removing exhaust fumes, grinding dust, oil mists, and other potential toxins from the air.
What You Need To Know About Using Fume Extraction Arms
Make sure you use an arm designed for the type of air contaminant you want to collect and remove. For instance, you may need an arm designed for heavy gases, dust, and smoke.
Select the diameter and length that work best for your fume extraction system. Think about where you will place the system, how far the arm may need to reach, and the volume of fumes, mists, and dust likely to filter through the arm.
Proper positioning of the flexible fume extraction arm is important to efficiently operate the system. It would be best if you placed the arm's hood directly above the work area producing the pollutants. The further the hood is from the work area, the less efficient it becomes because the particles will disperse into the surrounding area before reaching the arm.
The more flexible your arm, the more options you have for establishing the perfect position. As your work area shifts, the position of your fume extraction arm should shift as well. Keep the area between the hood and the source of contamination—anything in that path will collect fumes, including your lungs. Furthermore, maintenance is essential for the arm and all other components of the extraction system. This includes routine cleaning.
Remember that quality is the most important factor when investing in a flexible fume extraction arm. You want an efficient, durable arm that will last for years.