scope:

The task of this guideline is to provide planners, manufacturers and operators of technical facilities with information on minimising the exposure to air pollutants at the workplace by means of ventilation and organisational procedures.

Given the wide variety of industrial circumstances, it is impossible to cover every case that occurs in industry or trade; this guideline provides general advice and suggestions for effective and at the same time economical solutions. The procedures described and recommended here can be applied both to nuisance substances and to those that are hazardous to health. As defined in this guideline, these include all gases, vapours, mist, smoke and dust released during a production process.

The procedures described in the series of guidelines VDI 2262 are meant to prevent or minimise the creation and release of air pollutants during the manufacturing process.

The concentration of hazardous substances in the workplace air can be reduced by:

• preventing emissions
• minimising emissions
• ventilation systems

Preventing emissions involves, on the one hand, alternative process controls that do not allow hazardous substances to be created, and on the other, closed process control without releasing the hazardous substances created during the processes (see also process and operational procedures in Section 4.3).

Minimising hazardous emissions involves the choice of alternative ingredients and possibly alternative process control.

If the above approaches are insufficient, exposure can be further reduced with the help of ventilation systems. Preferably, this should be implemented through direct capture of the emissions at the point of origination

(see also VDI 2262 Part 4). If still insufficient, exposure can be further reduced with the help of room ventilation systems (see also VDI 2262 Part 3). This hierarchy can also be described with the concepts substitute - capture - ventilate.

This guideline explains in detail the legal principles underlying procedures for minimising exposure to air pollutants at the workplace. In addition, it deals with basic organisational procedures.

VDI 2262 Part 2 provides the employer, using relevant examples, with advice and suggestions on complying with the statutory provisions relating to industrial health and safety procedures that need to be implemented in connection with the release of air pollutants.

The employer is responsible for occupational health and safety. The essential statutory parameters are described in Section 2. In Germany, the legal basis is the Industrial Safety Act (ArbSchG). If the activities also involve the use of hazardous substances, the Hazardous Substances Ordinance (GefStoffV) should be observed; when using technical manufacturing resources, also the Industrial Safety Ordinance (BetrSichV). In addition, the Product Safety Act (ProdSG) applies to technical work equipment.

If flammable dusts and those that become explosive when mixed with air are generated, then the series of guidelines VDI 2263, the DIN standards listed in Annex A and the Explosive Atmospheres Directive (94/9/ EC) should be followed. In addition, for some special substances (e.g. radioactive materials), further regulations (e.g. the Radiation Safety Ordinance - StrlSchV) and guidelines should be taken into account.

The series of guidelines VDI 2262 discusses in concrete terms the provisions of the applicable acts, ordinances, administrative and other regulations, DIN Standards and VDI Guidelines.