Welding fumes are a proven cancer hazard, so South African workshops must prioritise effective local exhaust ventilation (LEV). The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies welding fumes as Group 1 carcinogenic to humans. Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Hazardous Chemical Agents Regulations (2021), employers must identify exposures and implement engineering controls such as capture‑at‑source extraction.
Portable extraction is ideal for mobile work, maintenance tasks, and small job shops. Units like Nederman’s FilterBox provide up to 1 200 m³/h at the hood, pairing a high‑efficiency cartridge with on‑unit cleaning and flexible arms. Also fast to deploy without ducting. For effective capture, aim for 0.5–1.0 m/s at the hood face (higher if there are draughts), verified with simple velocity checks.
Centralised systems suit multi‑bay fabrication with fixed stations and high duty cycles. They connect several extraction arms, each typically requiring 700–1 000 m³/h, to a single, high‑capacity filter located outside the work area. This reduces noise on the floor, simplifies maintenance and can incorporate energy‑saving controls.
From a broader compliance perspective, controlling indoor emissions protects workers, while responsible venting and filtration align with the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act framework for cleaner air.
If your work is varied, intermittent or frequently relocates, go portable. If you have many stations, predictable loads and space for a central filter, go centralised. Either way, design around measured airflow, verified capture velocities and filter maintenance intervals.
Envirox, South Africa’s specialist in industrial air filtration and a dedicated distributor of Nederman audits, designs and maintains both portable and centralised LEV systems to meet local legislation and production needs.
