Fume extraction for soldering is essential to maintaining safe air quality in workplaces where soldering takes place. ~Fumes created during soldering can cause irritation to nose, throat and respiratory organs.~ Solder fumes can irritate the nose, throat, and respiratory system, and exposure can lead to serious health effects over time. Extended or repeated exposure to flux fumes and lead-free solder smoke may lead to long-term soldering side effects, including chronic respiratory conditions.
Solder is used by assembly workers in many industries to make electrical connections and to seal copper pipe during plumbing installations. It is typically available in a wire form made from various metals with a core of rosin flux on the inside. When heated with a soldering iron, the solder melts, flows, and solidifies to form a permanent connection.
Soldering is accomplished by heating the two items to be connected with a soldering iron, and touching the heated points with the solder, which melts, flows, and solidifies to form a permanent connection. Flux helps to prevent oxidation during the soldering process but also produces toxic solder fumes when heated. Workers frequently ask, “Do I need a fume extractor for soldering?” The answer is yes—fume extraction systems are critical for maintaining clean air and reducing harmful exposure.
Installing high quality Downdraft Tables as part of your production process will provide workers with a safe environment to accomplish their work, while ensuring a high level of quality and performance to which you’ve grown accustomed.
Diversitech, a global leader in air pollution solutions, offers a vast selection of Portable Fume Extractors for use with various industrial applications such as welding, soldering, painting and more. Discover our most popular products.
Wall-mounted Fume Extractors allow fabrication shops to cost effectively mount air cleaners on a wall, column or ceiling mount configuration, saving valuable floor space for employees and production equipment in confined floor space environments.
When lead-free solder wire is heated, fumes are produced that contain a mixture of metal oxides and rosin flux vapors. Are solder fumes toxic? Absolutely—exposure to solder fumes can cause asthma, respiratory irritation, or aggravate existing conditions. Breathing of these fumes can cause asthma or aggravate existing respiratory conditions. The fumes can also cause irritation of the upper respiratory tract, eyes and skin.
Hand soldering offers greater risk because the worker’s head is likely to be in close contact to the fume source. Even nearby coworkers can be affected by exposure to solder flux fumes if the area lacks proper fume extraction or ventilation.
To control these hazards, fume extractors equipped with carbon filters or HEPA filtration should be used to capture and filter airborne contaminants.
Early soldering side effects and warning symptoms of solder fume exposure include:
If these symptoms persist, workers should stop soldering immediately and have the workspace evaluated for proper fume extraction for soldering effectiveness.
Workers performing the following soldering operations and processes are at higher risk of exposure to solder fumes and rosin flux vapors:
Workers performing the following tasks and processes are potentially exposed to solder flux fumes:
Workers performing the following soldering operations and processes are at higher risk of exposure to solder fumes and rosin flux vapors:
Workers performing the following tasks and processes are potentially exposed to solder flux fumes:
The best way to control exposure to solder flux fumes, as well as lead fumes, is to use a capture-at-source exhaust and filtration system. This works like a vacuum cleaner to remove fumes at the point where they are created and exhaust them outside or through a special filtration system. Downdraft tables and fume extraction arms offer capture at source ventilation.
Effective control measures include:
Lead-free solder fumes are less toxic than traditional lead-based options but still dangerous due to rosin flux and carbon compounds released during heating. Investing in high-efficiency fume extractors and good ventilation systems is the safest way to protect workers and maintain compliance.
Installing high quality Downdraft Tables as part of your production process will provide workers with a safe environment to accomplish their work, while ensuring a high level of quality and performance to which you’ve grown accustomed.
Diversitech, a global leader in air pollution solutions, offers a vast selection of Portable Fume Extractors for use with various industrial applications such as welding, soldering, painting and more. Discover our most popular products.
Wall-mounted Fume Extractors allow fabrication shops to cost effectively mount air cleaners on a wall, column or ceiling mount configuration, saving valuable floor space for employees and production equipment in confined floor space environments.
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