One of the most challenging aspects of any work environment is managing dust, fumes, mist, and other harmful by-products in production. These can lead to potential fires and explosions, health risks, reduced productivity or damaged equipment if left ignored. Given this dilemma, having a durable dust extraction system is critical to maintaining safety in your facility and protecting your workers.
This is where steel ducting comes in. To create an effective extraction system, you must have the proper ductwork to transport the unwanted materials to the specified collection point. Generally, using all-metal construction is the best practice to reduce the likelihood of electricity buildup. However, stainless steel ductwork and components have additional benefits that make it the ideal choice for your pipework system.
Read more about them below.
Durability and Longevity
Stainless steel, in particular, is known for its durability and longevity, which makes it a cost-effective material for ductwork. While it is more expensive than galvanised steel or aluminium, it is stronger and lasts significantly longer. The material also requires minimal maintenance, ultimately making it a worthwhile investment.
Easy to Clean
One key reason why stainless steel ducting requires minimal maintenance is that it is easy to clean, given its smooth and non-porous surface. This benefit is critical for hygiene-sensitive industries like food production and processing since your ducts and pipe components can come into contact with food. Easy-to-clean ducts can keep your work environment sanitised and prevent dirt, bacteria, or other unwanted substances from getting into your food products.
Resistance to Corrosion
Another significant benefit of stainless steel ducting is that it can resist corrosion from harsh chemicals and substances, which is especially important for the food or pharmaceutical industry since they tend to have corrosive environmental conditions. For instance, food processing plants are prone to salt corrosion, making stainless steel the perfect choice for your ductwork and pipe components.
Resistance to Temperature
Aside from being corrosion-resistant, stainless steel is also temperature-resistant. As a result, it can withstand extreme temperatures—whether hot or cold—making it suitable for most industrial applications. Given this attribute, you can also improve fire prevention in your work site, especially since dust and other typical by-products can be fire hazards.
Sustainability
One aspect that often gets overlooked with stainless steel is sustainability. The material is 100% recyclable and typically made with scrap metal, which makes it more environmentally friendly than other materials. Thus, using it allows you to reduce your carbon footprint and do your part in protecting the environment from climate change.
Stainless steel ducting is the best choice when designing a dust extraction system due to its high tensile strength and corrosion, moisture, and condensation resistance. In fact, the same principle applies to the rest of your pipework system. So aside from the ductwork, your pipe fittings and connections should also be made of stainless steel to ensure that they are stable and durable. This way, you can maximise production efficiency, enhance worker safety, and protect your equipment.
He writes in several genres. Kevin and his wife, Julia, to whom he dedicates all of his published works, and their dog, Buddy, live in Melbourne, Australia. A regular contributor to New Path Web Morning Edition. Kevin is a member of several writers groups and has won several awards from his colleagues and the publishing industry.