Abstract

The moulding and laminating of several types of fibreglass objects results in significant styrene emissions. Over a five-year period, the percentage of styrene samples analyzed by the IRSST’s laboratories that exceeded the exposure limit (50 ppm) varied form 40% to 78%. This project was undertaken to design and validate a styrene-vapour capture system. A work table was developed with a punched surface through which styrene vapours are exhausted downwards and slots at one end to laterally exhaust residual vapours. All captured vapours are exhausted to the outdoor air by an extraction fan, while fresh air is supplied from a diffusor located above workers. The table's effectiveness was evaluated using styrene concentrations equal to 50% of the standard. Under these conditions, the exhaust system reduced emissions by more than 90% and brought them well below the standard.