What are Fumes?

Fumes are solid airborne particles that have been produced because of a change of nature in a compound. This maybe also be a combination of items linking to one another to form a third state. In laboratories, factories and clean rooms, fumes usually are the expected byproduct of an active operation. The outcome of a chemical reaction that otherwise has positive results and the fume exhaust produced are the byproduct of a necessary function. Generally only fume exhaust produced in anticipated scenarios can be collected and diverted. Unexpected ones are beyond the scope of collection, since a factory or laboratory is not prepared for the unknown event.

Many mechanized processes produce fumes which distress both the indoor and the outdoor atmosphere. More often than not fume exhaust is produced by a high-temperature activity.

Fume exhaust security is one of the most important safety precautions in the modern industrial world. It goes without saying that the proper venting of fumes and gases is critical to the existence and success of industrial and commercial workspaces. Overexposure to hazardous fumes and chemicals given off by industrial machinery can be detrimental to workers’ health and damaging to equipment. Because of this, it is essential that an efficient fume extraction system be installed to ventilate harsh gasses from a work environment. Ducting.com, offers a large selection of fume exhaust hoses that can ventilate dangerous chemicals, dust, elevated temperatures, and fumes to create a healthy and efficient work environment. Our flex duct inventory includes ductwork made from silicone, neoprene, Nomex, stainless, aluminum and more to fit the specific requirements of fumes and chemicals emitted by industrial applications.

Fume Control and Fume Ventilation

Controlling fume is the process of making the process of fume ventilation safe. Fume extraction systems are put into place to remove chemical vapors and fumes from inhabited location for the sake of releasing them in a safe manner.

Here are qualifying queries that should be answered when fume removal is on the agenda. Is the operation able to eliminate the process that leads to fumes being produced?
If the answer is yes, then there are no further steps that need to be take. If the fume exhaust is part of a normal process in an operation, then either it has to be completely captured at the source, or partial removed and cleaned to make it fall within an accepted tolerance. Some fumes released maybe acceptable, as set by governmental or the industries guidelines.

One example of breadth of industries that rely upon fume exhaust is that of laboratories and other research facilities. These areas rely on complex systems of ventilation and gas transportation in order to maintain workplace safety. Fans in these places are generally connected to fume hoods to draw in contaminated air and chemicals. The fans must move at high speeds in order to both extract the “bad” air, and refresh the facilities with clean, ambient area.

Another, perhaps more readily recognizable, example of a fume exhaust application is in the venting of automobile fumes. Automobiles generate a potentially dangerous cocktail mixture of gases that need to be handled in a safe and effective manner in order to ensure the safety of the car’s occupants, as well as protect the car from unintended damage. To this end, a well-built and reliable fume extraction system can provide the perfect means of ventilating an automobile.

Fume Control and Safety

Since chemicals can be lethal, it is essential to recognize their presence and once detected that they be removed from any space. Some fumes and derivative substances are more toxic than others. The harmfulness of any fume exhaust is measured by the types of results it causes in a person and its potential damage in the future.
The safety of those around fumes released can be segmented into groups by subdividing the types of effects, the potency of the fumes, and the level of possible exposure or dose.

Fume safety or control, is the process of identifying these and other steps and the “exposure source and medium.”

Questions should then be asked, like:
Can the process be changed?
Can the exposure periods be handled less frequently?
Can the material be handled with different equipment or systems or not by persons?
Can the space where fumes are released be completely cordoned off?
Can the composition of the materials that are reacting to produce fumes be changed?
If the answer to some or all of these questions is a no and If the fume exhaust production procedures cannot be eliminated, a fume chemical ventilation system must be put into place

The Questions That Help You Choose the Proper Fume Duct

Our fume exhaust ducts offer many options for resistance to a variety of emissions and exhausts. The type of fume released has direct impact on the type of fume ducting that can be used in the collection process of harsh chemicals. PVC, rubber, and urethane duct hose products provide excellent chemical resistance but to specific types of chmicals. Other considerations can also be the nature of the environment outside of the hose. Does the flex duct require a wearstrip, will it be dragged around? A wearstrip adds durability to the fume duct in environments where the hose is abused from the exterior and while media is passing through the flex duct. This durability and resistance are crucial to the successful functioning of the fume exhaust duct as, of course, flex ducting that is ruptured or torn will not be able to transport gases and vapors as effectively as possible. Elevated temperatures are something else to consider when choosing a flexible hose. Will the flexible duct be able to handle the temperatures that are being moved through the hose and will there be elevated temperatures where the hose is fastened to equipment? Since a vast variety of ductwork options are available for fume extraction systems, knowing what is moving through the flex duct and at what temperature can both ensure that the proper fume ducting is used and that the ductwork can be purchased within budget.

1. What size (i.e., diameter) flexible ducts are required?
2. What type of fume is going through the ductwork?
3. What is the maximum temperatures of the media traveling through flexible ducting?
4. What is the temperature of the machinery where the flex hose is connected to it?

Spiral Flex Series of Ductwork – Excellent Variety of Elastomers and Temperature Range

Our Spiral-Lock series of flex duct products features many different types of material coating to protect against harsh fumes and chemicals emitted by industrial applications. For example, Hypalon coated chemical hoses are available for applications that require a light-weight duct hose that are affordable. For more sophisticated chemical hoses resistant to industrial fumes, the Spiral-Lock series is available in Teflon and Silicone coated fabrics. The coating of these fume exhaust ducts ensures that they will remain serviceable and strong throughout the course of their natural lives. It is imperative to choose a flex hose whose construction is resistant to the media being conveyed through the flexible ducts’ walls. Fume resistance is the ability of a flexible hose to sustain its integrity from chemical attack. Therefore, ducting materials with high chemical fumes resistance are less likely to corrode when faced with media that they are resistant to. In addition, the variety of ducting materials offered allows end-users to choose the proper material that will show resistance to the media being transferred within the walls of the flex duct. Each Spiral-Lock hose offers a specific working temperature range and combined with the chemical resistance offered, this will ensure that the media being transferred is done so in the proper flex duct.

Spiral-Lock (Alum FG) 1050: Aluminum/fiberglass fabric hose, Temp Range -65°F to 1050°F
Spiral-Lock (Aramid) 570: Para-Aramid/fiberglass fabric hose, Temp Range -40°F to 570°F
Spiral-Lock (Fiberglass) 1200: Fiberglass fabric hose, Temp Range -40°F to 1200°F
Spiral-Lock (Hypalon) 275: Hypalon/Polyester fabric hose, Temp Range -40°F to 275°F
Spiral-Lock (Neoprene) 300: Neoprene/Polyester fabric hose, Temp Range -65°F to 250°F
Spiral-Lock (Silicone 1P) 550: 1-ply Silicone/fiberglass fabric hose, Temp Range -65°F to 550°F
Spiral-Lock (Silicone 2P) 750: 2-ply Silicone/fiberglass fabric hose, Temp Range -40°F to 750°F
Spiral-Lock (Teflon) 600: Teflon® fabric with a fiberglass liner, Temp Range -60°F to 600°F

Acrylic Coated Fabric Hoses

Acrylic coating on fabrics is a protective film composed of acrylic-based materials, commonly coating a polyester fabric. Acrylic acts as a shield against weathering and elements like rain, UV rays, and high and low temperature fluctuations. An acrylic coating is a thin layer applied to the polyester fabric. Acrylic is a transparent plastic material with outstanding strength. When applied to fabrics this otherwise stiff plastic is now a flexible and compressible material. Here is a brief description of Acrylic-Flex hoses offered for the movement of fumes:
Acrylic Flex 325 Air Handler: Designed for Air Ventilation, UL 94V-0 flame retardant, Available Sizes: 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, and 24 Inch I.D., Custom sizes up to 52 Inch ID available
Acrylic Flex 325 Pharma: Designed for Air, Fumes, & Materials movement, Ideal for clean room applications, Manufactured with FDA acceptable materials, Available Sizes: 1.5-inch to 24-inch ID
Acrylic Flex 325: Designed for Air, Fumes, & Materials movement, UL 94V-0 flame retardant, Available Sizes: 1.5-inch to 24-inch ID

Stainless Steel Ducting

For applications that require a durable fume extraction system, we offer a selection of stainless-steel hoses. The stainless-steel construction of the fume ducting makes these hose products extremely resistant to the corrosive characteristics of many of today’s harshest emissions. Our stainless-steel fume exhaust hoses are also some of our most heat-resistant with the ability to resist temperatures up to 1650 degrees Fahrenheit. Along with their excellent heat and chemical resistance capabilities, the stainless fume ventilation duct can also be bent and shaped into a self-supporting air vent to provide optimum durability and stability. The resistant characteristics and durability of stainless steel make these hoses ideal for corrosive environments.

Dealing with fume exhaust can be a potentially hazardous endeavor. That is why it is critical to have the right kind of fume extraction system installed in the places where you need it most. Ducting.com features a detailed catalog to provide you with information on all of our products designed to support a fume extraction system. Browse through our online inventory today to find the ducting product that will meet the demands of your application. Ducting specialists are available to assist you with any questions you may have!