Fume and Workplace Safety · 0:48
How close should an extraction arm be to the weld to work properly?
Nathan — The Guy Who Fixes It The extraction arm should be positioned as close to the weld as possible, usually within 15–30 cm, without getting in the way of the welding process. This captures fumes effectively before they reach the welder’s breathing zone.
Read the transcript
Hey there everyone, Nathan from Extractability here. One of the most commonly asked questions we get about fume extraction is: what is the most effective distance for a rolling fume extraction arm or mobile unit to work most effectively? The answer is fairly simple.
If you get your LEV testing done every 14 months by an LEV provider, it will tell you in the report what the minimum and maximum effective capture distance is. It’ll also be written on a sticker on the hood in most cases as well. For brand new systems, usually it’s about 1 ft or 300 mm.
But obviously, if it’s a filtered system and those filters get blocked, the effective distance is going to slowly reduce. So, the standard is 300 mm from new. And if you’re not sure, check your LEV report or check the sticker on the hood.
