Camfil Farr Air Pollution Control (APC) has expanded its line of integrated safety monitoring filters (SMF) for Gold Series® cartridge dust collectors. In addition to the current HEPA filters available for critical applications, the company now offers ASHRAE-grade filters where a more economical option is needed. Conveniently integrated on top of the collector, these after-filter modules prevent collected dust from re-entering the workspace if there should be a leak in the dust collector's primary filtering system. In addition, the SMF modules are now proven to function as flame arrestors for combustible dust on most recirculating applications.  

 The new ASHRAE filter module incorporates two Camfil Farr Riga-Flo® filters rated at 95 percent ASHRAE efficiency (MERV 14) and capable of handling 2650 cfm (4248 cmh) of air per filter. The HEPA filter module has the same design and capacity but incorporates filters rated to remove 99.97 percent of airborne particles of 0.3 micron in diameter and larger. Both versions allow convenient access to the after-filters and easy change-out via the same platform used to access the primary filters. The integrated SMF design allows the total footprint of the dust collection system to be reduced, saving valuable manufacturing floor space and reducing the costs associated with remotely mounted systems.  

After extensive testing, Camfil Farr APC claims that either the HEPA or Riga-Flo version of the integrated SMF module is an acceptable device for protecting the exhaust of Gold Series dust collectors by preventing flames from recirculating into a workspace in the event of a dust collector explosion. It thereby qualifies as a flame arrestor as outlined in NFPA Performance-based provisions and the NFPA 654 and 101 Life Safety Objectives related to dust collector deflagration and explosion. In some cases, additional pressure wave protection could be required.