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VACUUM CLEANERS
Installations must have a wet separator, explosion proof vacuum cleaner . The RUWAC, NA35 serie explosion proof vacuum
is recommended . Certain metal powders will react with water forming hydrogen gas, this process is sped up when the
powder to water ratio is higher. It is therefore necessary to refill or replace the liquid of the wet separator regularly as
indicated in the vacuum cleaner manual .
FIRE AND EXPLOSION PREVENTION
In no case are smoking, open flames, heat sources or spark sources to be allowed in the vicinity of powders or in rooms
where powders are handled. This includes all electronic devices as well as non-ATEX or EX certified equipment. Use non-
sparking tools, when working with powder . Likewise activities which generate heat or sparks, such as grinding or welding,
should not be performed near combustible powder or in rooms where such powder is manipulated .
The grounding of all personnel is highly recommended . This is especially true for any location where combustible powders
are used. As fine powder can remain static in the air for hours after dispersion, it is recommended that all rooms where
powder manipulations occur are equipped with grounded conductive or antistatic flooring. Furthermore the personnel
entering those rooms must wear safety shoes with antistatic or conductive soles and antistatic or conductive outer
garments. If grounding through conductive flooring is impossible, the use of antistatic bracelets, combined with grounding
to a work bench or the equipment itself is recommended . Likewise the use of carts or other devices with non-conducting
wheels is prohibited .
ROOM VENTILATION
A room ventilation system is required in order to:
•
Prevent inert gas (Nitrogen, Argon) accumulation and
•
Remove suspended fine powder particles.
Inert gas may be released into the room as a result of opening the machine . Even though Argon or Nitrogen are an inert
gas, it still poses a suffocation danger when it is allowed to accumulate. Argon is heavier than air and will "pool" on the
floor and in any low points. Therefore the room must be equipped with a system which continuously exchanges the air in
the room a minimum of four times per hour .
A room ventilation system is also required to prevent the presence of fine powder particles suspended in the air. This
presents both a health and an explosion hazard. Because powder fines can accumulate in filters, the system must either:
•
Be a filter free system.
-- or --
•
The system must be equipped with immersion filtration
Ventilation
If available, use forced ventilation at your work station when handling powder . Set it to the correct strength to ensure
maximal removal of air suspended powder, while preventing the ventilation itself from causing agitation of static powder .
3D SYSTEMS, INC.
11
PN:80-D48 REV A
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