In numerous industrial processes, the release of airborne contaminants is inevitable. Considering the obvious fact that employees need to keep breathing, employers have a responsibility to control these airborne hazards. One method of minimizing exposure is applying extraction at the source of the contaminant generation. This removes the hazard before it can enter the workplace air and is known as local exhaust ventilation (LEV).
LEV systems are generally utilized by employers, industrial hygienists, facility engineers, maintenance personnel, testing and balancing personnel, ventilation designers, and LEV system owners or others responsible for LEV systems.
These individuals are the intended users of ANSI/ASSP Z9.2-2018: Fundamentals Governing the Design and Operation of Local Exhaust Ventilation Systems. This American National Standard sets the minimum guidelines for the commissioning, design, construction, and installation of fixed industrial LEV systems used to reduce and prevent employee exposure to harmful airborne substances in the industrial environment.
Local exhaust ventilation (LEV), in serving a crucial engineering control technique for maintaining acceptable air quality in the industrial work environment, generally make use of five main elements—hood, ducting, air cleaner, air mover, and discharge. ANSI/ASSP Z9.2-2018 details specifications for these parts, as well as guidelines for the management, operation, maintenance, and testing of LEV systems to assure satisfactory performance throughout their lifespans.
The ANSI/ASSP Z9.2-2018 standard explicitly does not cover ventilation for comfort, air moving systems that are part of an industrial process, paint booths not used primarily for employee protection, or energy conservation.
Please note that ANSI/ASSP Z9.2-2018 updates and supersedes ANSI/ASSE Z9.2-2012. This previous edition resulted from numerous editions of the standard for LEV systems since its initial publication in 1936 and formalization by the Z9 Committee in 1960. Despite the difference in its designation, ANSI/ASSP Z9.2-2018 was also developed by the Z9 Committee. The change results from the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) updating its name to the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) in June 2018 to better meet the needs of its members.
ANSI/ASSP Z9.2-2018: Fundamentals Governing the Design and Operation of Local Exhaust Ventilation Systems is available on the ANSI Webstore. It is also part of the ANSI/AIHA/ASSE Z9. Ventilation Package.
