AboutDavid Deal Expertise Indoor air quality, mold, compliance questions as well. Also, expert on lead, asbestos, radon, and most any other environmental/industrial hygiene issues.
Expert: David Deal Date: 2/14/2008 Subject: Studio air quality
Question Dear Mr. Deal,
I am a sculptor and I will build a small studio in my house. I work with welding (MIG and Oxy/Acet.) and also wood, (several woodworking equipment). I live in Tampa, Florida and here summer is humid and hot. My studio is going to be basically 23’ by 16’ with a 10’ ceiling. My first idea was to install an A/C unit and extract fumes and dust with equipment design to do so. However, since I know that I have to have a positive flow of air coming in for the extraction to work properly, I do not think that it is going to be cost-effective to have an air conditioning unit fighting against the hot air coming in and the cool air going out through the extractor. I am very apprehensive about health risk in my hobby. So my question to you is it definitely a must not to have the studio air conditioned? If I need to work with my doors open, I have though about buying a big air circulator (4 or 5 inch blade) and other fan equipments, along with dust collectors and fume extractors. Would you mind taking a look at a sketch of my studio plans, so you can indicate me what would be the best way to position the air circulators equipments to keep the studio as cool as possible at the same time I push the polluted air out. If so please let me know where I can email you my small sketch.
Thank you
Alfredo Alamo
Answer First, local controls/source ventilation is about the best. The more you can isolate the ventilation, the less air is needed for controls. This means working in a hood if possible orsimiliar. You can consider turning on the exhaust only when your generating contaminants.
I do know this, welding is bad for indoor air. That area is hot and humid and some type of air conditioning is warrented. Consider using a dehumidifier.
