It's goodbye to dust and to Dippy

The current dust extraction/collection unit and centralised ducting system had to be dismantled and removed from site. Two new dust extractors were installed, one servicing the left hand side and the other servicing the right hand side. The right hand unit has a diverter valve so that either the down-draft suction table or other machine tools are serviced.

Connecting to the inlet aperture of each dust extractor is a correctly sized and balanced centralised steel ducting system. The duct rises to about 3m before traveling through the workshop and dropping to each of the listed machine tools, with the final connection with flexible suction hose.

When conveying particulates, special design principles are required. According to Fercell, the issue with standard HVAC spiral ductwork is that it has the potential for a build-up of particles within the duct system, which reduces system efficiency, increasing power consumption and a risk of loss of conveyance. This slows the process down and ultimately ends up costing a business money.

Fercell decided that the best fit for the NHM’s ventilation system would be a ‘Kwik-fix’ ducting system, which is specifically designed and suited for industries (woodworking, textile, food processing, pharmaceutical, chemical, grain handling) that require the use of a ductwork system for the transportation and/or collection of particles.

Fercell’s MD, Mark Fletcher, said: “We are honoured to have been involved with the 10-year modernisation programme at the Natural History Museum. The main aim and goal behind this new system we have refurbished and reinstalled, is that it should last another lifetime and be upgraded as and when needed.“ www.fercell.com/ventilation