Exhaust ventilation removes harmful fumes and gases from the air, maintaining a safe environment. It consists of fans or chimneys that create a draft to pull air from the source and tubing connected to a vent. Filters may also be used to remove particulate matter. It is required in situations involving combustion or hazardous materials and inadequate ventilation can cause health problems.
Exhaust ventilation is a method used to discharge waste materials in the form of fumes and gases. Many fumes found in exhaust are harmful to human health, making this method important in maintaining a safe environment to work or live in, and others can be nuisances that people would rather not have present in the air they breathe. For example, strong odors might be distracting or disturbing, though not harmful, and an exhaust ventilation system might be used to remove them from a work area.
Such systems usually have one or more fans designed to create a draft that pulls air from an area where exhaust is being generated. Some systems rely on the pressure differential created by the heated gases, using chimneys and pipes to carry heated air and gases away from where they are generated. Either way, an exhaust ventilation system consists of some form of tubing that is connected to a vent that allows gases to be discharged into an area where they cannot cause harm.
In some cases, exhaust ventilation also filters materials that are routed through the system. This is designed to remove particulate matter to reduce pollution or to remove harmful materials that may be present in the exhaust. For example, in laboratories performing biological research, exhaust ventilation systems are used to keep harmful materials away from researchers as they work, and filters trap these materials before they are released into the air.
In any situation where combustion is involved, an exhaust ventilation system is required. The system discharges combustion by-products harmlessly away, maintaining air quality. This ventilation method is also used in rooms where strong odors are present, such as in an autopsy facility, where it can be beneficial to keep the air fresh and clean. Hazardous materials in the form of gases and fumes must also be routed through an exhaust ventilation system, as seen in a chemistry laboratory where fume hoods are used to control air quality.
If a room is not adequately ventilated, fumes and gases can accumulate. This can cause a variety of human health problems. Some gases displace oxygen, making it difficult for people to breathe, while others can be harmful to human health if inhaled, especially over prolonged periods. Rooms where hazardous materials are handled may have sensors that raise alarms if exhaust ventilation systems are malfunctioning or hazardous fumes are accumulating.
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