What is a fume extractor?

Posted June 5, 2018 by sentryair

A fume extractor is a system utilizing a fan to pull fumes and particulate into a filtration system
cleaning the air of harmful chemicals and particulates. Industrial processes create fumes or
particles such as welding, sanding, grinding, spraying, powder filling, and chemical applications.
Fume extractors use a variety of filters while some systems, depending upon application, use
multiple filters in line. The combination of the powerful fan and high-quality filtration media
creates a recirculating air pattern for ductless units. Because of the air flow, ductwork or costly
replacement air is not required. These units take up less space, weigh less, are more energy
efficient, and have easy access to change filters.

Fume Extractor Filters

Filter Comparison Chart

Size of
Type Efficiency
Particulates

ASHRAE 95% 0.5 microns

HEPA 99.97% 0.3 microns

ULPA 99.995% 0.12 microns

Activated Carbon/Specialty Blends Varies N/A

 Micro-Pleat/Cleanable 95% 0.3 microns

Particulate Filters

Particulate filters utilize high efficiency fiberglass media to arrest and intercept particles, light
dust, smoke and other airborne particulate. This type of filter is used to prevent asthma, allergies
causes, and prevent disease spread.

MERV Rating: 17-20

Uses: Particulate control, light dust collection, bacteria laden air reduction, other respirable
particulate and dust control.

Types: Differs on efficiency. See chart below for overlap of HEPA and ULPA filters and sample
particulates captured by both.

• ASHRAE Filter (Up to 95% efficiency on particles 0.5 microns in size) – lowest quality that
meets standards set by American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning
Experts. Not as efficient as HEPA but used for similar purposes.
• HEPA Filter (Up to 99.97% efficiency on particles 0.3 microns in size) – high filtration levels
to catch small particulate to prevent asthma and allergies.
• ULPA Filter (99.9995% efficient on particles 0.12 microns in size) – ultra low particulate filter
has better filtration than HEPA catching more particles smaller in size than HEPA.
Activated Carbon/Specialty-Blended Filters
For activated carbon and specialty-blended filters, the efficiency depends on the chemical
being adsorbed and the application. These types of filters are used to adsorb organic vapors and
solvents. Activated carbon has millions of pores that create a large surface space to adsorb odor
and chemical fumes. These types of filters do become saturated and must be replaced to optimize
efficiency. Sentry Air Systems uses organic virgin coconut shell activated carbon which is the
highest quality available.

Uses: To adsorb chemical fumes, organic vapors, and solvents (i.e. acetone and formaldehyde).
For more information about activated carbon chemical adsorption rates please view our chart.

Efficiency: Depends on chemical and application usually 99%

Types:
• Activated Carbon
• Carbon Acid Gas
• Aldehyde Carbon
• Ammonia Carbon
• Mercury Carbon

Micro-Pleat/Cleanable Filters
Micro-Pleat or Cleanable filters can be cleaned by applying pressurized air to the exterior of
the filter. These filters are easy to clean because they do not need to be removed while cleaning.
The waste from the cleaning process will fall into the internal dustpan for easy removal. These
types of filters are best utilized for high volume applications where filters become easily
saturated.

Uses: High volume welding, metal working, solvents, powder handling and chemicals

Efficiency: 95% on particles down to 0.3 microns

 
 
 
 

Fume Producing Applications

Welding Sanding Grinding

Spraying Plastic Bonding & Gluing Plastic Melting

Formaldehyde Epoxies and Resins Painting

Solvent Cleaning Laser Applications 3-D Printing

 Soldering/Electronic Small Experiments (non-
Pharmaceutical Sorting
Manufacturing corrosive)

Types of Fume Extractors

Portable

Unit shown is 300 Series Portable Floor Sentry Single Fume Extractor (SS-300-PFS).
Portable Fume Extractors are compact, lightweight and have a small footprint
design. Portable fume extractors are available in a variety of sizes and air volume
configurations.

Each unit comes standard with:

• Heavy Duty Casters or Wheels
• Portable Handles for easy transportation
• Variety of source capture arms, self-supportive or flexible hoses that can be configured for
single or multiple operators (1, 2, or 4 users).

Uses: welding, grinding, soldering, brazing, 3D printing, powder collection.

Benchtop
 Units shown are 300 Series Table Sentry (SS-300-TS) and 200 Series Winged Sentry with Lid
Benchtop fume extractors sit close in proximity to the application or fume making process.
These units have small footprints and take up minimal amount of space on the work table.
Benchtop fume extractors come in a variety of air volume capacity as well with or without
wings.

Uses: Soldering, Pharmaceutical Dosing and Sorting, Small Experiments (non-corrosive)

Shelf, Tabletop, Enclosure or Floor Mounted

Unit shown is 200 Series Mounted Single Sentry (SS-200-MSS)

Shelf or enclosure mounted fume extractors are compact units and do not require external
ducting because the air is recirculated back into the room after filtration. These systems may
have one to two hoses to help direct air flow or will be mounted close to the source of the fumes.
These fume extractors can be mounted on the machinery for optimal filtration.

Uses: Laser Marking, Chemical Fume Extraction, Particulate Control, Printing Fumes,

Soldering, Solvent and Epoxy Fume control, Fume/Vapor Source Capture, and a variety of other
applications that produce smoke, dust, or particulate.

Wall Mounted

Units shown are 200 Series Wall Mounted Fume Extractor (SS-200-SKY) and 300 Series Wall
Mounted Fume Extractor (SS-300-SKY)
Wall Mounted fume extractors require no floor space but need an extended arm to capture the
fumes. The arm or hose can be free-hanging or self-supporting flex arm in order to be moved by
the operator to catch the fumes at the source.

Uses: welding fume extraction, solder fume control, brazing, particulate, removal of organic
vapors, solvent and epoxy fumes, chemical fumes, light grinding, and various other industrial
processes where a wall-mounted fume extractor is needed.

Stand Mounted
 Unit shown is Series 400 Mounted Sentry with Fume Extractor Stand
Stand mounted fume extractors are ideal for elevated source capture when wall mounting is
not possible. These types of fume extractors are perfect for oversized machinery, open concept
workspaces, or when the users do not want to take up valuable floor space. Stand mounted
fume extractors are available with a flex arm that has 62.5” swivel radius or a hybrid arm that is
ideal for high heat applications.

Uses: Welding Fume Extraction, Laser Fume Control, Chemical Fume Extraction,

Pharmaceutical Powders, Particulate Control, Printing Fumes, Soldering, Solvent and Epoxy
Fume Control, Fume/Vapor Source Capture, Light Grinding, and various other industrial
processes.

Why you should use a fume extractor?

Fume extractors are necessary to meet the Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs) set
by OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration). Adhering to PELs is required by
law and if found otherwise by a surprise inspection from OSHA, the organization will possibly
get a citation with a deadline to fix the issue or be subject to pay fines. If OSHA conducts an
inspection due to a workplace accident, immediate fines will apply to violations.

Not only to follow the law, fume extractors can help organizations avoid legal issues, improve
employees’ health and safety, and increase employee morale. Expensive law suits from chemical
exposure could bankrupt a company or substantially damage it. Employers should care about the
employees’ health and safety to maintain a productive workforce. Employees’ satisfaction and
morale will improve because they know that their employer cares about their safety and health.

Sample Chemical Limits

For the PELs of specific chemicals, please refer to the OSHA Annotated Table Z-1. For
information about the NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health)
Recommended Exposure Limits(RELs) please visit their website for the NIOSH Pocket Guide to
Chemical Hazards. Some common chemicals have been listed below for reference.

OSHA PEL NIOSH REL

Chemical 8 Hours/Day – 40 10 Hours/Day – 40
hrs/week hrs/week

Acetone 2400 250 ppm

Ammonia 35 mg/m 3
25 ppm

Chrominum 0.05 mg/m 3

0.05 mg/m 3

Cobalt Metal 0.1 mg/m 3

0.05 mg/m 3

Copper – Fume 0.1 mg/m 3

0.1 mg/m 3

Dusts 1 mg/m 3
1 mg/m 3

Formaldehyde 0.016 ppm

Limestone – Dust 15 mg/m 3

10 mg/m 3

Respirable Factor 5 mg/m 3

5 mg/m 3

Marble – Dust 15 mg/m 3

10 mg/m 3

Respirable Factor 5 mg/m 3

5 mg/m 3

Nickel 1 mg/m 3
CA 0.015 mg/m 3

Particulates (Not Otherwise

15 mg/m 3

Regulated) – Dust
5 mg/m 3

Respirable Factor
 Silica 0.05 mg/m 3

Silver 0.01 mg/m 3

0.05 mg/m 3

Sources
1. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (2017, January 9). OSHA Annotated Table Z-
1. https://www.osha.gov/dsg/annotated-pels/tablez-1.html

2. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) (2016) NIOSH Pocket Guide
to Chemical Hazards. Department of Health and Human Services. Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Web site last
updated on May 18, 2016. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg

filed under: Fume Extractors