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A customer contacted Sentry Air because their work involved multiple parts cleaning stations each using shallow acetone baths. They requested a fume extraction solution that would help protect their employees from acetone vapor as well as reduce noxious chemical odor.
The plan was to install multi-operator fume extractors that would filter the acetone before exhausting the air through their building’s existing ductwork.
Semi-custom solution
Sentry Air designs products that focus on modularity and adaptability. We understand that customer needs are unique, so we stock several adaptors, plenums, collars and other accessories to customize our units.
For this particular application, we modified two standard Model 400 Wall Mounted Fume Extractors [SS-400-SKY] with dual plenums that could each accommodate two flex arms. This allowed coverage for four acetone cleaning stations while only using two fume extractors. Each Sky Sentry was also equipped with an outlet plenum that would allow the customer to easily connect their ductwork to the unit’s outlet.
Remote control boxes come standard on our Sky Sentry units and allow operators to position the control box at a comfortable height without having to reach up to operate the units.
Since this customer was working heavily with acetone, each Model 400 Sky Sentry included 22 lbs. of activated carbon filters. Carbon granules inside the filter work to adsorb acetone molecules, thereby trapping them within their porous structure. Cleansed air then travels through the outlet plenum and into the ductwork. (See a carbon filter video animation on our YouTube channel)
In this conceptual drawing, which reflects the customer’s situation, the units’ flex arms can be appropriately positioned to provide chemical fume extraction for four acetone cleaning stations.
Acetone odor threshold
Evaporating at room temperature, acetone emits a strong pungent odor. The low odor threshold of acetone – meaning the lowest concentration of a certain odor compound that is perceivable by the human nose – is quite low, especially when compared to OSHA and NIOSH permissible and recommended exposure limits.
| ACETONE | |
| Low Odor Threshold | 13-62 ppm |
| OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit | 1,000 ppm TWA |
| NIOSH Recommended Exposure Limit | 250 ppm TWA |
This means that someone working with acetone is very likely to smell the acetone long before their occupational exposure limit, permissible or recommended, is reached.
Some individuals are more sensitive to smells then others, so even a low exposure to acetone could result in headaches, migraines or other symptoms.
By offering fume extractors equipped with high quality carbon filter media, exposure to acetone fume is greatly reduced.
Acetone Gas Sensor
For this particular customer who works solely with acetone, the Sentry Air Systems Acetone Gas Sensor is the perfect complementary product to our fume extractors.
The Acetone Gas Sensor is a device utilized to detect gas concentrations either near the surface of the filter outlet or in the ambient room air. The sensor continuously monitors and measures detected levels of vapor. Calibrated based on current OSHA and NIOSH exposure limits, the unit will alert the operator by a flashing light and alarm when the sensor when detected levels are above pre-programmed limits.
Contact Us
If your acetone application could benefit from fume and odor extraction, we invite you to speak with one of our technical sales representatives. Call 800.799.4609, email sales@sentryair.com, fill out the feedback form below or visit our website for more information.