JetBlack Safety - Frequently Asked Questions

De-dusting equipment sucks…doesn’t it? Your dust removal FAQs answered

Does it suck? What maintenance is required? What is the lifespan of the motor? We get asked lots of questions by companies who are considering our cleaning stations and booths for industrial dust removal. In this blog, JetBlack Safety’s Dan Anjos attempts to field these FAQs and explains why blower-driven dust removal doesn’t actually suck. 

Question #1 - Do JetBlack Safety systems suck?

Answer: No they do not suck. They are not vacuum cleaners. They are blower-driven systems that dislodge dust from clothes rather than sucking it up. The reason we employ this approach is that it is far more efficient than vacuuming. Vacuuming takes ten times longer than removing dust with a powerful blower; it takes 30 seconds for one person to de-dust with a JetBlack unit versus 5 minutes with a vacuum (as quoted in NIOSH Report)

Question #2 - What happens to the dust after?

Answer: With the booth, dust particles are drawn down through a grille floor and extracted through a HEPA H14 filter into a collection bag that can then be disposed of safely. This high-performance filter collects more than 99.995% of dust particles, giving the highest level of protection. As the cleaning station does not have inbuilt extraction for capturing airborne dust, this model is not recommended for removal of hazardous respiratory dust.

Question #3 - When would I need a booth and when would a wall-mounted unit be better?

Answer: A wall-mounted unit is adequate when the dust that is removed doesn’t need to be collected, in other words, when the dust is not hazardous to health. For hazardous respiratory dust, we recommend the cleaning booth.

Question #4 - Do operators need to wear PPE / RPE while using? 

Answer: Yes - operators need to wear PPE / RPE as the removal of debris from clothing will produce airborne dust. We recommend using an FFP3 mask, eye protection and hearing protection.  

Question #5 - Why does the wall-mounted cleaning station have a 30-second timer, and can I change this? 

Answer: The wall-mounted cleaning station has a 30-second timer as this has been calculated as the time period within which the most effective cleaning takes place – on average, de-dusting takes 20 seconds. This timer prevents operators who are wearing a lot of PPE, from leaving the unit running. The standard timer is not adjustable. The portable unit is designed to be unplugged after use, so no timer is required. 

Question #6 -  Is it suitable for explosive dust or ATEX areas?

Answer: None of our JetBlack products is suitable for explosive or ATEX areas. They are designed for heavy industry, such as mining, textiles, paper, agriculture, composites, construction and bulk handling. To our knowledge, there are no ATEX certified dust removal systems on the market (the design complexities would make such a system prohibitively expensive). 

Question #7 - JetBlack technology utilises high-volume, low-pressure air to dislodge materials from clothing. What is ‘high-volume, low-pressure’?

Answer: Here, we are drawing a comparison with compressed air systems, where the pressure required for personnel cleaning can be as high as 30psi (or 90psi if unregulated). JetBlack systems use 2.52psi, which is considered low pressure. However, JetBlack products generate more air power from the nozzle by using a higher flow than compressed air. 

Question #8 - Why is low pressure beneficial? 

Answer: The use of low pressure means our technology is safe to use directly on unbroken skin. Any cuts or damaged skin should be protected during use. High-pressure systems such as those using compressed air are not safe to apply directly to the skin. 

Question #9 - Why does the air get hot?

Answer: On the JetBlack systems, air is delivered via a fan, so it will get warm when pressurised (when you pressurise air, the friction creates heat). The rise in temperature is not excessive or harmful. This is dependant on the starting ambient temperature.

Question #10 - How much air does the extractor move?

Answer: The extractor moves up to 1200 cubic metres of air per hour (depending on the filter cleanliness). This means that air is changed in the booth over four times in a single 30-second use. Our cleaning booths can also be fitted with a filter to ensure that incoming air is clean and dust-free. 

Question #11 - Can I have a longer hose?

Answer: The standard hose length on our wall-mounted cleaning station is 1.5m while our portable cleaning station comes with a 2.5m hose as standard. Both can be supplied with a 4m or 6m hose if a longer length is required. 

Question #12 - What power supply do I need?

Answer: The power supply for JetBlack’s booths and stations in the UK and Europe is 230V, single phase. In the US it is 120V single phase for stations and 240V, single phase for booths. No compressed air connection is needed.  

Question #13 - How does the thermal overload work? 

Answer: The thermal cut-out will prevent the motor from overheating during normal use. It will cut power to the motor, preventing use until sufficient cooling has taken place. The motor will restart automatically, so on portable units, it is important to turn the unit off. 

Question #14 - What maintenance is required? 

Answer: On the cleaning station, the filter needs to be inspected every month for damages and blockages. In addition, every three months, or more frequently in harsh environments, the filter needs to be changed.

The booth requires a bit more attention; as well as changing the filters on the air delivery system every three months, you will need to change the extraction system filter periodically - typically every six months. The Magnehelic pressure gauge will indicate that the filter is getting blocked, providing a visual reminder that an extraction system filter change is needed.

Cleaning and changing the filters is very quick and easy. A filter clean takes about 60 seconds, and a filter change takes about two minutes. 

Question #15 - What is the MTBF / average life of the motor?

Answer: Approximately 500 hours. Changing the filters at the required intervals will increase the lifetime of the motor. When the motor does eventually give up, it is very economical and easy to replace, further extending the life of the unit. 

Question #16 - Do JetBlack Safety systems come with a warranty? 

Answer: All of our systems are supplied with a 12-month warranty. Servicing and warranty options vary from country to country. 

Question #17 - What is the life expectancy of JetBlack Safety systems? 

Answer: If you look after them, our systems will last a long time. We have cleaning stations in the field that have been operational for over 20 years. However, failure to clean and replace the filters will put pressure on the motor, potentially shortening its lifespan.