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"Dust Classes: What is the difference between L, M & H-CLASS? ..."
There are three different classes of dust. Each one requires a specific requirement to be safely removed from the workplace but, more importantly, from our lungs.
Low Risk (L-Class)
Low-risk dust includes simple house dust and materials such as soils. This type of dust presents a moderate risk to any operator as the exposure limit for L-Class dust is >1mg/㎥. This dust class requires a dust extractor that catches 99% of the dust with a grain size under two microns.
Medium Risk (M-Class)
Medium risk dust includes wood dust, dust from repair compounds, filler and clear coats, cement, concrete and tile cement dust, quartziferous materials such as sand and pebbles. This type of dust presents a medium risk to any operator as the exposure limit for M-Class is > 0.1mg/㎥. This dust class requires a dust extractor that catches 99.9% of the dust with a grain size under two microns.
High Risk (H-Class)
High-risk dust includes any dust containing carcinogenic or pathogenic particles, as well as any mould spores, asbestos, mineral fibres, bitumen, and artificial mineral fibres such as glass wool. This type of dust presents a high risk to any operator as the exposure limit for H-Class dust is >0.1mg/㎥. This dust class requires a dust extractor that catches 99.995% of the dust with a grain size under one micron.
Although all classes pose a risk to human health, one of the more common and dangerous types of dust to watch out for is Silica dust. This dust only requires a small amount to be airborne to create a health hazard, and the particles are not visible to the human eye. If inhaled, Silica dust can cause serious damage to the lungs, kidneys, and airways.
