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#1 Posted : 26 July 2006 13:34:00(UTC)
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Posted By Angela Hayden How do you monitor how many air changes take place in a large factory area, which is quite well ventillated. We use varous solvents etc., which have been CoSHH assessed and all only state general ventillation, but one particular product although does not pose an airborne risk, we have been advised by the HSE to ensure air changes are between 5 and 10 air changes an hour? Thanks in advance. Ang.
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#2 Posted : 26 July 2006 13:40:00(UTC)
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Posted By Paul Leadbetter Angela MDHS 73 used to describe a method but my copy is dated 1992 and I am not sure it is still current. If your factory is full of equipment, the air change rate is really only a theoretical construct as there will be many deadspots and even areas of enhanced ventilation due to eddies. Paul
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#3 Posted : 26 July 2006 13:56:00(UTC)
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Posted By Kevin Drew Angela, Simple arithmetic. Calculate the volume of the room/building and divide it by the sum of extract rates from the building to give you the time to provide one change and hence the number of changes per hour. Some say you should base the calculation on the free space in the building/room but I know that can prove very difficult. Hope this helps Kevin Drew
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#4 Posted : 26 July 2006 14:06:00(UTC)
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Posted By Angela Hayden oh!!! Sorry that went totally over my head. Our factory does have some equipment, mainly mixers and we have an automatic blending system, but bascially that is all. Nothing that gives off any heat as such. Never heard of the publication you speak of, where could I get it from? Ang. P.S Paul I have spoken to you before tr a CoSHH question and you gave me some very good advice then, thanks for this input.
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#5 Posted : 26 July 2006 14:09:00(UTC)
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Posted By Angela Hayden Kevin Thanks for that - sounds like a good equation to use - if only I knew what the extraction rate was and how you find this out!!! Sorry for my ignorance. Ang.
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#6 Posted : 26 July 2006 15:00:00(UTC)
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Posted By Mike MDHS 73 (1992) has not been revised but it's out of print according to this link http://www.hsl.gov.uk/publications/mdhs_list.htm. Unfortunately, for reasons which passeth all understanding, HSE equate 'out of print' with 'withdrawn' and it's not available online as many others are at http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/mdhs/index.htm. It's a standard tracer gas method with gas analyser and data logger that many SMEs would not be equipped to carry out themselves.
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#7 Posted : 26 July 2006 16:53:00(UTC)
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Posted By Kevin Drew Angela, You must have some extract ventilation systems, fans and ducting, etc, discharging air from the building. The fans will have a rated volume flow rate of so many CFM (cubic feet per minute) or m3/s (cubic metres/sec). If your really lucky it will be marked on the fan casing. You need that information as a starting point. If you don't have it you will need to have measurements made - without the data you're going nowhere. Kevin Drew
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#8 Posted : 27 July 2006 14:27:00(UTC)
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Posted By Ali You could try to enlist 1hr of time from a Building Services Engineer ?
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