Classification Guide
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Dust Extractor Classes
When working in a dusty environment with materials that generate dust, your main priority needs to be protecting your health!
Avoiding as much dust as possible is a good general rule, applying some best practrices to reduce the amount of dust created is an important step
Things that can be done to reduce dust inhalation include:
Changing tools being used to cut, saw and grind to minimise dust created in the first case by using tools which offer complete dust control during cutting and grinding
Protecting workers with full PPE and respiratory wear
Using dust extractors
Sectioning off dangerous areas of the workspace to reduce the risk of crowded inhalation
There are different types of dusts that range from low risk to high risk and it's important to understand what they are and why.
There are three main factors that determine how harmful dust is to your health:
- The size of the dust particles
- The quantity
- The time that the materials remain inside your lungs
The smaller the dust particles are, the deeper they can penetrate into the lung tissue, meaning finer dust particles are much more harmful to your airways.
Many dust particles are even categorised as extremely hazardous to health. For example, crystalline silicon dioxide is closely associated with the development of lung cancer.
In the interests of your own health and others around you, it is imperative that you keep the air clean when generating dust from using power tools and always work with a certified and approved dust extractor. When buying power tools and/or extractors, you will find that they are designed for use with various types of dust. Instead of taking your chances, always make sure you know what classes of dust you are likely to be working with.
There are three main classes of industrial dust you should be aware of. These are ranked based on the particle size, and the risk they can pose to your health. The smaller the particles, the more chance you have of breathing them in, which is where there's greater risk of dangerous particles settling in your lungs and causing damage.
Dust types are categorised into three classes: L Class (Low risk), M Class (Medium risk), and H Class (High risk).
L Class (Low Risk) Dust
L-Class dust is considered some of the least harmful and can be commonly found in the home. Everyday house and soil dust, for example, would fall under ‘L’. Therefore, there is a smaller long-term risk in you breathing this in, though you must still take precautions.
Class L extractors operate at 99% efficiency and therefore work to an occupational exposure limit of 1mg per metre cubed.
Some units in our L Class range come with HEPA filters as standard, which goes above what's required for an L Class classification but makes them even more safe.
M Class (Medium Risk) Dust
M-Class dust is considered medium risk. While this type may not pose the same long-term health risks of class H, it is still highly recommended that you protect against it. Dust class M is common in most industrial workspaces as a result of materials which can generate it. The occupational exposure limit for M Class dust is > 0.05 mg/m³, which means you need a dust extractor that catches 99.9% of the dust.
Wood and quartz-based materials are likely to be the most common cause of the spread of M-class dust. You may experience this dust class while working with any of the following:
Stone
MDF
Cement (standard or tile)
Concrete
Mortar
Repair compound
Paint (oil and latex)
Class M extractors and filters operate at 99.9% efficiency. That means there is an occupational exposure limit of 0.1mg per meter cubed.
M class extractors come fitted with a flow sensor and alarm that advises the user when a dust bag or system is full, or if attention is required. As this dust class is considered more hazardous, it is vital that hardware is kept running at an optimal level at all times.
H Class (High Risk) Dust
H-Class dust is regarded as the most dangerous. This type of dust can travel the furthest into your lungs, and therefore may be considered carcinogenic, or at greatest risk of causing cell necrosis. The occupational exposure limit for H Class dust is < 0.1 mg/m³, which means you need a dust extractor that catches 99.995% of the dust.
Materials likely to create H-class dust and respirable silica may include:
Mortar
Ceramic
Stone
Concrete
Mould spores
Mineral and artificial fibre
Asbestos
Bitumen
Class H filtration and extraction systems operate to 99.995% efficiency and occupational exposure of 0.1mg per metre squared.
H class extractors come fitted with a flow sensor and alarms that advises the user when a dust bag or system is full, or if attention is required. As this dust class is considered hazardous, it is vital that hardware is kept running at an optimal level at all times. H Class filter bags and filters must be used at all times with H Class dust extractors, a safety feature is that you can not operate the extractor with lower levels of protection. Sensors exist for example to ensure the correct filter (H Class) is installed. H Class filter bags are specially designed, the two layer safety filter bag is made from double layered PE material, fulfilling the requirements of dust class H, sealed for safety to prevent contact with contaminents.
Next steps
Now that you understand the different classes of dust it should make it easier to work out what kit you require to protect your health.
If you would like help with your workshop set up, Festool Australia can help on site with a dust extractor demo -> Book a demo
Festool Australia customer service is always happy to help as well if you have further questions -> Customer Service