Eliminating Welding Fumes: The Airocle Solution for Haywards

Who are Haywards?

Haywards is a leading Australian steel fabrication company based in Tasmania. With decades of experience, they have built a reputation for delivering high quality engineering, fabrication, and construction services across a diverse range of industries. Their expertise extends to large-scale infrastructure, mining, and industrial projects, making them a trusted name in steel construction nationwide.

At the heart of their success is a commitment to quality and safety. The Haywards team works meticulously to ensure projects are delivered on time while maintaining the highest industry standards. However, with growing regulatory focus on workplace safety, particularly air quality, Haywards identified a critical challenge that needed addressing.

The Challenge: Managing Welding Fumes Effectively

In any steel fabrication environment, welding fumes pose a significant health risk. These airborne contaminants can contain harmful particulates and gases, making it essential to have an effective ventilation system in place. Our full article on the new changes to welding fume regulations can be found here: Welding Fume Regulations: What You Need to Know

Haywards, like many industrial businesses, initially relied on traditional mechanical exhaust fans to manage air quality. However, they faced a persistent problem: welding fumes would often linger at higher elevations within their facilities.

This issue arose because hot welding fumes are naturally buoyant, they rise as they are less dense than the surrounding air. In a large warehouse setting, this meant that instead of being efficiently expelled, the fumes would accumulate under the roof, creating potential health hazards.

While mechanical fans are commonly used for ventilation, they typically create a vertical airflow tunnel, pulling fresh air from lower levels and exhausting it upwards. However, this method often fails to clear the trapped smoke layer near the ceiling, allowing fumes to persist in the workspace. With new safety regulations emphasising the need for improved air circulation and worker protection, Haywards needed a more effective and sustainable solution.

The Solution: Airocle Natural Ventilation System

To address the challenge, Airocle recommended and installed the 2 Series ventilators, a system specifically designed to enhance airflow in demanding industrial environments like Haywards’ facilities.

Unlike mechanical exhaust systems that struggle to fully remove fumes, natural ventilation works with the physics of airflow. Passive openings at the roof level allow the naturally buoyant warm air, carrying welding fumes, to rise and exit the building efficiently. This method prevents fumes from lingering overhead and improves overall air quality without the need for energy-consuming mechanical fans.

Key Benefits of the Airocle 2 Series Ventilators:

• Efficient Removal of Welding Fumes: By allowing hot, contaminated air to escape naturally, the system prevents dangerous fume accumulation at high elevations.
• Improved Worker Safety & Comfort: Cleaner air means a safer, healthier working environment for employees, reducing exposure to harmful particulates.
• Energy-Efficient & Sustainable: Unlike mechanical exhaust fans, which require continuous power, the Airocle natural ventilation system operates passively, leading to significant long-term energy savings.
• Minimal Maintenance & Long-Term Durability: The 2 Series ventilators are built to Australian standards, CSIRO-tested, and virtually maintenance-free, providing a reliable, long-term solution.
• Compact, Low-Profile Design: The system integrates seamlessly into existing infrastructure without requiring additional modifications.

The Results

After installing the Airocle natural ventilation system in their new facility, Haywards quickly noticed the benefits: cleaner air, better airflow, and improved thermal comfort for their team. Impressed with the performance, they decided to upgrade their older buildings as well, replacing outdated mechanical fans with Airocle roof vents.

With a more effective ventilation strategy in place, Haywards not only met safety compliance standards but also improved workplace conditions while reducing operational costs. By leveraging the power of natural airflow, they created a safer, healthier, and more efficient workspace, proving that sustainable solutions can deliver both performance and savings.