Industrial ventilation can be defined as the movement and distribution of clean air into a work space and the exhaust of contaminated air out of that work space. Industrial ventilation generally includes Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) and General/Dilution Ventilation.
An example of LEV could be an exhaust hood located close to the equipment or process generating contaminants. The exhaust hood captures these contaminants at the source. The volume of air involved in local exhaust ventilation is less than for dilution ventilation.
Dilution Ventilation Systems bring a large volume of fresh air into a workspace in order to dilute air contamination to an acceptable, safe concentration level.
The main goal of industrial ventilation is, of course, providing clean air, with worker safety being the greatest concern. Additional reasons for industrial ventilation include equipment efficiency, environmental concerns, and compliance with governmental regulations.
There are a number of recognized expert and / or regulatory resources for finding information about industrial ventilation systems and components. These include:
OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Administration: OSHA creates regulations and provides resources to reduce significantly reduce workplace fatalities, injuries, and illnesses in American workplaces. Click here to link to the ventilation section.
CCOHS Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety: CCOHS creates legislation and provides resources to reduce significantly reduce workplace fatalities, injuries, and illnesses in Canadian workplaces.Click here to link to the ventilation section.
NFPA National Fire Protection Agency: The NFPA creates regulations designed to prevent fires and dust explosions in industrial facilities.
NIOSH The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health: Click here to access Building Ventilation information within the Indoor Environmental Quality section of the NIOSH website. NIOSH provides guidelines for preventing worker heat stress (heat exhaustion or heat stroke), a factor which must be considered in designing industrial ventilation systems.
ASHRAE American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers: ASHRAE seeks to advance the arts and sciences of heating, ventilation, air conditioning and allied fields.
SMACNA Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractor's National Association: SMACNA is an international trade association which promotes quality and excellence in the sheet metal and air conditioning industry. Technical standards and manuals developed by SMACNA Contractors are accepted globally by the construction community as well as government agencies. One of those publications is the Round Industrial Duct Construction Standards.
ACGIH American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists: ACGIH is a scientific organization that advances occupational and environmental health and is recognized for information such as their guidelines regarding substance Threshold Limit Values (TLVs).
Format of the Uniform Mechanical Code: Of interest are the Ventilation Air, Exhaust Systems, and Duct Systems sections at http://epubs.iapmo.org/2021/UMC/#p=1
Nordfab product specifications are available in our Product Reference. Our product specifications are also available in MasterSpec and ARCAT® formats.
If you need help with the design of your existing or future ducting installations, our experts at Nordfab and our authorized dealers can assist you. Contact us to learn more.
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