Frequently Asked Questions
General questions
Industrial Ventilation
Explosion Protection
Environment
Why Beaulier
For more than 40 years Beaulier is in business and we have gained a strong reputation in the field of industrial ventilation, fire-explosion protection and in the processes of clean air technologies. By choosing Beaulier for your projects rather than a single turnkey manufacturer you ensure a complete impartiality while guaranteeing the selection of the best solution available according to your means. It is our legal obligation, as an engineer consultant, to best meet your needs. A turnkey system manufacturer will offer you a solution to the price he has determined. Through our established network of suppliers, we will force the competition to get the best price and system for your application. You then save time and money and benefit from our expertise.
What is the difference between a cyclone and a dust collector?
Cyclone is an air purification device which uses centrifugal force for separating air and dust. Dust collector uses a filtration method (air passes through a medium that retains dust). Generally, the dust collector is much more efficient than the cyclone.
Why does my hood is not working well?
Several factors may explain the poor performance of a capture hood:
- Presence of air currents
- Undersized hood
- Insufficient exhaust rate:
- Poor design
- Added hoods on the system causing the total available flow to be divided with more capture points
- Wrong choice of hood type
- The process has changed or evolved
Why is it important to compensate the exhaust air?
Nothing is created or is lost! What comes out must go or it will not comes out. The exhaust air thus creates a vacuum that must be filled. When the mechanical exhaust is not also mechanically compensated, air must enter by infiltration through cracks. This is called a depressurization phenomenon (negative pressure). This will have negative repercussions on the whole plant, including the air quality by the possible dispersion of dust due to air infiltration through doors and windows caused by the negative pressure. General ventilation is therefore deficient and this is why we must compensate the discharged air with an air make-up system. A ventilation pressure too negative will make difficult to open doors causing risk of injury or create harmful air currents which will have a consequence on the performance of hoods collection system in the plant.
What is the importance of dust control?
Dust collection is mainly used to remove fugitive dust (which escaped the process!) to avoid health hazards fire or explosion hazards and to reduce housekeeping. Dust collection is often seen as a non-profitable expense, however, it turns out as a source of improved productivity in most case and it improves the plant and workforce security.
What is the impact of high temperature in the plant?
Thermal stress problems are increasingly recurring. High heat in a plant significantly reduces the performance of the staff. However, only few manufacturers have costed this lost, but those who have done it indicate that the financial lost can be hundreds of thousands of dollars depending on the size of the industry.
It’s too hot in the factory, how can we make the working temperature at a safer level?
The best way to improve thermal comfort is primarily working on the heat sources and confinement of these. Also, it is essential to have an adequate industrial ventilation system to ensure acceptable air flow to replace hot air with clean air to a safe temperature.
What are the applicable standards of fire-explosion safety and protection in the province of Quebec?
The National Fire Code and RSST are the references in Quebec on applicable standards. Both governmental agencies refer in most cases to the North American standards such as the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
How to determine my needs in fire-explosion protection?
Risk analysis is always the best approach. This way, it helps to reveal the risks we cannot observe only by looking or simple knowledge of the process. The risk analysis can focus on the inacceptable risks and the correct methods to reduce the danger in accordance to the current regulation and the rules of art.
What can I do if I am unable to abide to the regulations?
It is possible that your process is not explicitly addressed by regulation or that the relevant sections are difficult to apply. However, we must return to the basic regulation and to determine its function: Protecting the public is the first priority and then protecting the infrastructure. Most regulations allow for risk analyzes in order to provide acceptable alternatives to the regulatory framework. However, take note that if you propose an alternative solution, it must be approved by the authority having jurisdiction!
My process generates dust, how can I determine if they are explosive or not?
Initially, it is possible to find in the literature the degree of explosiveness of common dust types. NFPA offers the usual dust list with explosive characteristics. If your product’s dust is in the list, it means it is explosive. However, the processes often generate hybrid mixture or your product generates dust which is not listed in the literature. To ensure your social responsibility in relation with the company and its employees, it is essential to perform an explosion test of the dust generated at the factory to the determine the intrinsic characteristics of explosiveness of your own dust and to ensure security and prosperity for your business.
Our processes generate two types of dust (e.g. wood and aluminum), can we use a single dust collector for all our operations?
It is always a good practice to separate the dust collection system depending on the dust type to avoid the mixing of incompatible dust mixture which can react chemically releasing heat. As each process generates its own dust, we must analyze the situation on a case by case basis and test the explosiveness of the dust to ensure the regulatory compliance.
We perform dust collection techniques to prevent dust accumulation, is this sufficient to prevent an explosion?
Unfortunately no, dust collection alone is not sufficient to avoid all risk and thus conform in protecting fire-explosion. The dust collection is essential to ensure good air quality inside the plant and limit the migration of fugitive dust. It therefore helps to reduce the risk of damage caused by an explosion avoiding dispersion and dust accumulation. Moreover, it represents a risk itself since concentrates all explosive dust in one place (the dust)! This is why it is important to proceed with securing the dust collection system to reduce possible damage from an explosion in the factory.
What does “securing” a dust collection system means?
Securing a dust collection system consists of the application of the necessary changes to make it conform and thus reduce the risk of human or material losses following an explosion. Several modifications are possible to secure the equipments, including the addition of explosion vents or flameless quenchers on the dust collector to release pressure before causing too much damage. It is also possible, even necessary to install blow back or abort dampers to protect the ductwork. Several other devices or methods of securing are also possible.
When should we review the electrical classification / risk analysis within the factory?
To ensure worker safety, process and building, it is recommended to review the electrical classification of the plant every five (5) years. Standards evolve and they will always be more and more restrictive. However, any change in the process requires a new study of the electrical classification to ensure facility compliance and thereby reduce the risks.
What do we mean by "atmospheric dispersion"?
The atmospheric dispersion consists of the dilution of a contaminant in the atmosphere. It is therefore sufficient to disperse a contaminant to ensure that its concentration is below its regulated value when dropped to the ground. Ground level concentrations are determined by mathematical modeling of the dispersion.
What is an atmospheric dispersion modeling?
The atmospheric dispersion modeling is a simulation of the dispersion of pollution plumes in a given context and temporality. It is made using mathematics and computer mapping software and tools. Models are looking to take into account the direct and indirect consequences of unwanted, dangerous or toxic substances (gases, particles, aerosols …) release (accidental or not) in space and in time.
What is the difference between a level 1 and 2 dispersion modeling?
Level 1 modeling is a simple method to evaluate the impact of one or more emissions sources that can generate air contaminants to the atmosphere (1D), however level 2 model is more complexe and takes in consideration the meteorological datas and the spatial coverage (2D).
In which case does an atmospheric modeling is required?
We must perform an atmospheric modeling when the plant emits regulated contaminants to the atmosphere in order to assess the compliance of industrial operations. The level 2 model must be used if the level 1 analysis shows that 80% of the norm value is reached. However, the Ministry of Sustainable Development, Environment and Fight against Climate Change (MDDELCC once the MDDEP) reserves the right to impose the required level of modeling, no matter the conditions or project. For example, a level 2 model is immediately required if the source that emits contaminants is in an industrial park. Atmospheric modeling should always be performed by an engineer specialist. Contact us so we can evaluate your needs for atmospheric dispersion and achieve the proper study for your project.
What are the regulations imposed by the government of Quebec in terms of atmospheric dispersion?
The Regulations on the Clean Air Act (RAA) is the reference document regarding the emission of contaminants to the atmosphere at the national level in Quebec. If your business is located in the great area of Montreal, Regulation 90 is also applicable. This regulation imposes limitations on pollutants discharged into the air.
What is a certificate of authorization, do I need one and what should I do to get it?
The certificate of authorization is the license that allows you to emit certain contaminants to the atmosphere by an amount established in the certificate of authorization. If you emit contaminants to the atmosphere it is within your obligation to obtain this document. You will need to follow certain steps to obtain the certificate to comply with the the government regulations. It is best to do business with specialized companies. Contact us so that we can assess your needs and achieve the proper study for your project.