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Testing Lab/Office Air Quality

Testing Lab/Office Air Quality

Testing Lab/Office Air Quality

(OP)
I realize this may not be directly related to engineering topics, but I sure others have experience with this.  I manage a materials testing/geotech department for my company.  My office is a separate room from the the testing areas, but is in the same building and utilizes the same HVAC system.  There is actually a return air duct in the soils lab room.

With the current setup, it is impossible to keep my office from being dusty.  I can clean and use pledge one day, and the next I can move something to find the dust has already started to accumulate.  I have my techs clean the reusable filters once a month at a minimimum, but it doesn't seem to be helping.  I do my best not to track dirt in on my shoes, but I constantly have techs coming in and out.  What have others done in this situation?  I have been looking at room air/HEPA filters that circulate the air, but I don't have any experience with them.  Would one help in this situation, or am I going to need to hone my dusting skills?  

RE: Testing Lab/Office Air Quality

Why would you have a return air duct in the dustiest area?

Working in a soils lab/materials testing lab you have to expect that anything nearby and on the same ventilation/HVAC system will be dusty.  That's life.

Unless you have a very sophisticated ventilation/air filtering system, you have to expect this.  

You seem a little obsessive about it.

RE: Testing Lab/Office Air Quality

(OP)
Ron,

Why there is a return air in the soil lab is beyond me.  Maybe an oversight in HVAC design?  The lab was set up in its current configuration when I began in the lab.  That being said, I don't expect to be able to remove ALL of the dust.  I would at least like to minimize the dust in the office area as best as possible.  Hence the question about room air filters or other ideas.  I know nothing about room air filters so I was looking for input into them.  Thought maybe someone in the soil testing forum would have used them.

Thanks

RE: Testing Lab/Office Air Quality

I haven't dealt with this situation except to live with it, but here are a few ideas:

Perhaps you can add a filter at the return air intake in the lab.  It may need frequent changing, but will help keep dust out of the system.

Enclose a separate space for dusty operations and install an exhaust fan to run when the space is in use.

Free-standing room air filters are used in wood shops; I see them advertised in woodworking magazines.  The investment would not be large.

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