RAVEX® Fume Extraction

Harmful fumes, gases and vapours are generated by a variety of activities on site, for example; welding, spraying, painting and the use of VOCs.

Furthermore, up to 500,000 workers in the UK are exposed to dangerous levels of diesel exhaust fumes each year. This is due to the use of diesel vehicles or equipment, such as construction site plant, forklifts, lorries and tractors, and fixed-power sources, including compressors, generators and power plants.

The concentration of toxins and duration of exposure can be the difference between feeling a little dizzy or dying within a few minutes, which is why it is so important to ensure that you have adequate ventilation and/ or extraction in place. Even if the concentration is low, excessive exposure over several years, can lead to the development of life threatening illness’s and diseases, such as cancer.

WELs stands for Workplace Exposure Limits. There are 500 substances individually listed within EH40 with a workplace exposure limit, therefore we would strongly recommend that you download a free copy of this document from the HSE website. Employers must implement adequate controls, such as local exhaust ventilation (LEV) systems, to ensure that exposure limits are not breached.

Carcinogenic substances are defined as either causing cancer or helping cancer to grow.

In 2019, welding fume was reclassified as carcinogenic because new scientific evidence from the International Agency for Research on Cancer found that exposure to mild steel welding fume can cause lung cancer and possibly kidney cancer in humans. As such, new welding fume guidance was issued.

Yes, however the type of machinery you can use will depend on the scenario. If the fan needs to be situated within an Atex-rated area, the extraction unit must carry the relevant class of certification. However, if the unit will not be situated in an Atex zone area, you could use (a) non-Atex rated centrifugal fan. Centrifugal fans are safe to use with volatile fumes, because the motor sits outside of the airflow.

Yes, metal-bladed centrifugal fans are suitable for extracting heat and sparks. A Spark arrestor should be fitted to the intake of the extraction system if there is the danger of these being drawn in.

A carbon air filter or an activated charcoal air filter consists of treated charcoal. These will remove airborne contamination through the process of adsorption, whereby molecules chemically react to the treated charcoal. They are often used to remove gases and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s).

A Local Exhaust Ventilation system is designed to extract contaminants like dust, fumes, mists, fibres, gases and vapours at the source. LEV systems are subject to a Thorough Examination & Test every 14 months, providing evidence that the equipment is in top condition for use on site. The use of LEV equipment on site helps ensure that teams are compliant with COSHH Regulations and adhering to HSE Guidelines.

Take a look at RVT's Qualified LEV Engineers

Read more about the TExT process