Testing Lab/Office Air Quality

[crwdz7]

I realize this may not be directly related to engineering topics, but I sure others have experience with this. I manage a materials testing/geotech department for my company. My office is a separate room from the the testing areas, but is in the same building and utilizes the same HVAC system. There is actually a return air duct in the soils lab room.

With the current setup, it is impossible to keep my office from being dusty. I can clean and use pledge one day, and the next I can move something to find the dust has already started to accumulate. I have my techs clean the reusable filters once a month at a minimimum, but it doesn't seem to be helping. I do my best not to track dirt in on my shoes, but I constantly have techs coming in and out. What have others done in this situation? I have been looking at room air/HEPA filters that circulate the air, but I don't have any experience with them. Would one help in this situation, or am I going to need to hone my dusting skills?

 

[Ron]

Why would you have a return air duct in the dustiest area?

Working in a soils lab/materials testing lab you have to expect that anything nearby and on the same ventilation/HVAC system will be dusty. That's life.

Unless you have a very sophisticated ventilation/air filtering system, you have to expect this.

You seem a little obsessive about it.

 

[crwdz7]

Ron,

Why there is a return air in the soil lab is beyond me. Maybe an oversight in HVAC design? The lab was set up in its current configuration when I began in the lab. That being said, I don't expect to be able to remove ALL of the dust. I would at least like to minimize the dust in the office area as best as possible. Hence the question about room air filters or other ideas. I know nothing about room air filters so I was looking for input into them. Thought maybe someone in the soil testing forum would have used them.

Thanks

 

[aeoliantexan]

I haven't dealt with this situation except to live with it, but here are a few ideas:

Perhaps you can add a filter at the return air intake in the lab. It may need frequent changing, but will help keep dust out of the system.

Enclose a separate space for dusty operations and install an exhaust fan to run when the space is in use.

Free-standing room air filters are used in wood shops; I see them advertised in woodworking magazines. The investment would not be large.