Assessment of Efficiency of a Fume Extraction System During Gas Metal Arc Welding

An work environmental study of welding fume and the air movement around the weld zone during GMA welding was conducted by attaching a fume extraction system under study, at different positions on the weld gun and also detaching the system. The paper highlights the industrial hygiene sampling procedure for the welding fume, air movement and also the fume extraction system. The study reveals that minimum fume exposure levels were achieved with increased fume extraction efficiency and the required weld quality, when the extractor system is attached at 25 mm distance from the tip of the gun. The weld quality is affected below 25mm attachment and the fume extraction is not efficient at and above 100mm position.