Empower Pharmacy of Houston, TX compounds custom medications to suit individual patient needs. They approached us during their search for a respiratory engineering control for the Pharmacist and Technicians while they compound. They specified that they would be working the majority of the day compounding capsules (capsule filling), creams, and sterile injectables.
After a thorough consultation with one of our Applications Specialists, two 50" Wide Standard Powder Containment Hoods were recommended for their processes.
The pharmaceutical technicians used these Powder Hoods for a period of time, but realized that they would need a higher sash opening because of the processes they performed:
"My technicians loved the quality and effectiveness of the hoods and complained only about the small size of the opening where they did their work. Sentry [Air] quickly redesigned custom hoods to my needs, took away the old ones and replaced them on the spot. Now my techs are loving the new hoods and I couldn't be happier with the excellent service I received." -Pharmacist, Empower Pharmacy
Sentry Air Systems Powder Containment Hoods are available in a variety of standard widths [12", 18" 24", 30", 40", 50", 60", 70], but many Pharmacists find that their processes require Powder Hoods with customized features, such as modified size requirements [width, height, depth, sash opening], custom cutouts [additional access areas], customized hood material, and other options.
"I needed to find quality hoods at reasonable prices, without all the frills and useless gimmicks a lot of other companies out there are adding to their products and I found the perfect hoods for my needs with Sentry Air Systems." Pharmacist, Empower Pharmacy
For more information on Powder Containment Hoods and other Compounding Containment Systems:
Do you need a spray booth to contain overspray and capture hazardous fumes, but can't seem to find one that meets your exact parameters [e.g. size, air volume, ducting requirements]?
You may need a customized solution.
There are variety of processes that may prompt your search for a fume extraction & air purification system to control overspray and fumes. Applications might include:
Your criteria for choosing a Ductless Spray Booth should include a variety of factors, from the chemical compounds found in the products you're utilizing, to workspace setup, to the amount of operators that need to be protected.
Depending on your criteria, you may need to have a spray booth customized to meet your requirements.
Sentry Air Systems offers a line of a standard Ductless Spray Hoods that utilize a powerful fan and triple stage filtration system composed of a unique internal spray filter, HEPA filter [up to 99.97% efficient on particles 0.3 microns and larger], and Activated Carbon filter.
Based on this patented design, customers can request modifications and additions that will better cater to their unique spraying application.
Sentry Air's standard 60" Ductless Spray Booth has the following dimensions:
60" Ductless Spray Booth used for spraying 3mSuper 77
Multi-purpose Adhesive Spray
There are a variety of ways that this standard Ductless Spray Hood design can be modified. Some examples include:
Increase in Air Volume
Custom Sizes [height, depth, width, sash opening]
Custom Hood Material [e.g. stainless steel, aluminum]
Anti-Static
Multiple Points of Entry
Custom Cutouts [e.g. side or back access points]
Hinged Lids
and more.
Custom Ductless Spray Booth Examples
This 60" Wide Custom Ductless Spray Hood is fabricated from Stainless Steel.
It is being used for an application that requires an ESD-Safe environment.
This 70" Wide Custom Spray Booth features a dual-hinged lid
and increased air volume with an upgraded Model 400
blower unit [upgraded from 350 CFM to 700 CFM of air volume]
This 70" Wide Custom Spray Booth was increased in height [36" H] and fitted with two fan/filter units, as opposed to the standard single unit. This configuration increases
air volume and the amount of filtration media utilized.
Similar to the previous example, this Custom 50" Wide Spray Booth
also features two air cleaners; however, this particular unit offers far more
air volume than the previous example because of the fan/filter units being
utilized [Model 400s]. This unit can reach up to 1400 CFM of air volume.
It also has an increased sash opening (access area) for the operator's large
parts to easily fit inside the hood.
This Custom 50" Wide Ductless Spray Hood was
constructed from transparent material.
Sentry Air Systems Engineering & Design Team has years of experience in the design and fabrication of custom hoods. Applications Specialists are available to discuss the details of the materials or aerosol sprays you are using in your workplace in order to choose the most appropriate ventilation and filtration option for your specific application.
For more information on customization options for Ductless Spray Hoods or to start the consultation process:
Pharmaceutical Compounding has multiple methods of practice.
Examples include manual handling, capsule-filling (or tablet encapsulation)
machines, and sieving and granulation methods.
All of these methods have the potential to produce hazardous
dust that can be inhaled by pharmacists and technicians.
The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA)
explains that, “although the intent of compounding medications is to benefit patients
therapeutically, the ingredients used in these medications may present
occupational hazards to the workers compounding them.” [1]
OSHA’s Technical Information Bulletin on the “Potential
Health Hazards Associated with the Process of Compounding Medications from
Pharmaceutical Grade Ingredients” describes multiple possible health effects
from the inhalation of certain drugs and medications.
Three common examples:
Specific Antineoplastics (anti-cancer
drugs)—potential health effects: “chromosomal aberrations, congenital
malformations, nausea, dizziness, and allergic reactions”. [1]
Compounded Hormone Medications—potential
health effects: menstruation anomalies (e.g. irregular bleeding), possible
testicular dysfunction, unwanted changes in physical appearance (“such as
masculinization of female workers and breast development in males…”), an
increase in breast cancer (“which may be attributed to inhalation and skin
absorption of estrogen during work”). The technical bulletin notes that
further research is needed to draw any definitive conclusions to long-term
effects to continued exposure to small amounts of drugs. [1]
Certain Antibiotics- for instance,
a compounding pharmacist or technician may be allergic to penicillin and
could suffer a violent allergic reaction. [1]
OSHA emphasizes that individuals working in pharmaceutical
settings should be educated and aware of the risks involved with the
medications and drugs they work with. They also recommend methods for reducing
employee exposure to these drugs:
Engineering
Controls (e.g., laboratory hoods [powder containment hoods], glove boxes,
barriers and containments, and worker isolation)
Administrative
Controls
Personal
Protective Equipment (e.g., respirators, gloves and lab coats)
Training [1]
These recommendations are meant to help reduce direct skin
contact, reduce inhalation of powders, and decrease the chances of workers
going home with contaminated clothing.
Sentry Air has been providing negative-pressure respiratory engineering controls to businesses in the pharmaceutical compounding industry for several years. We manufacture simple and efficient Ductless Powder Containment Hoods that are designed to quickly capture airborne powders and direct them into the patented filtration system.
We offer a variety of high-quality filtration options depending on the efficiency rate needed:
HEPA Filtration: Up to 99.97% efficient on particles 0.3 microns and larger. ASHRAE Filtration: Up to 95% efficient on particles 0.5 microns and larger. ULPA Filtration: Up to 99.9995% efficient on particles 0.12 microns and larger.
A pre-filter is also utilized for added protection and filter longevity.
Ductless Powder Containment Hoods are available in a variety of widths (12", 18", 24", 30", 40", 50", 60", 70", and custom sizes) and can accommodate a wide variety of compounding tools, such as capsule filling machines and balances (the majority of our Pharmaceutical Compounding Hoods have an interior height of 24").
Another popular option is our customized Laminar Flow Hood (The Winged Sentry) with optional hinged, clear acrylic lid. This unit features infinitely adjustable "wing flaps" that operator's can position depending on the process they're performing.
• Fill out this form to receive more information from a Sentry Air Systems' Applications Specialist.
References
[1] OSHA’s Technical Information Bulletin on the “Potential Health Hazards Associated with the Process of Compounding Medications from Pharmaceutical Grade Ingredients”: http://www.osha.gov/dts/tib/tib_data/tib20011221.html
A highly recommended last step in the manufacturing process of developing printed circuit boards (PCBs) is conformal coating. Conformal coating is a protective film that is applied to PCBs to protect them from a variety of naturally-occurring and man-made environmental hazards, including moisture, chemicals, dust, corrosion, and extreme temperatures. This protective measure is especially important for sensitive applications, such as aerospace technology, automotive manufacturing, and data communications.
Conformal coating comes in a variety of material options, featured properties, and application methods. Types of conformal coating include Silicones, Acrylic, Epoxies, Polyurethanes, Paraxylylenes, and Fluorocarbon. They are also available in Solvent-Based, Water-Based, Solvent-less Silicones, and Solvent-less UV Curable options.
There are a variety of application methods for coating PCB boards with this protective membrane. These include, but are not limited to:
Spray Applications- in which conformal coating is available in an aerosol can for direct application. Automated machinery is also available for spraying PCBs.
Dip Applications- This technique can be done by hand or by automated equipment. PCBs are slowly submerged and removed from coating material.
Brush Applications- This method is typically done by hand by brushing on conformal coating from a pot.
Transfer Coating- To complete this method, operators fill a tool pot with coating and then place and attach the PCB to the top of the pot. Once the PCB is firmly attached, the entire unit is turned over so that the PCB becomes coated. The unit is then turned back over and the PCB is removed.
The Hazards of Conformal Coating
Because many popular conformal coatings contain large percentages of solvents, potential negative health effects should be considered when utilizing these materials. When personnel in this industry reach out to us with the need for fume extraction and air purification of conformal coating, one of the brands that is mentioned frequently is Chemtronic's KonForm® SR.
Whenever a new conformal coating is introduced into your working environment, the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for that individual product should be read over thoroughly. When trying to improve air quality and limit inhalation of fumes and vapors of these products, a few key areas to look at on the MSDS are the following [as an example, we will look at the Chemtronic's KonForm® MSDS (PDF)]:
Section 2 of this MSDS covers Composition/Information on Ingredients:
For Hazard Identification in relation to this product, take a look at Section 3, which provides an emergency overview and potential health effects via various routes of entry.
Because of the negative health effects that are possible by overexposure to many of these ingredients, exposure limits have been established by various health and safety organizations. You can find these exposure guidelines in Section 8:
TLV: Threshold Limit Value, PEL: Permissible Exposure Limit, STEL: Short Term Exposure Limit
You will also find Exposure Controls and Personal Protection Recommendations in Section 8.
As indicated above, "Good general ventilation should be sufficient to control airborne levels. Local exhaust ventilation may be necessary to control any air contaminants to within their TLVs (threshold limit values) during the use of this product. If vapor concentration exceeds TLV, use NIOSH approved organic vapor cartridge respirator [...]."
Local Exhaust Ventilation: Ductless Spray Booths
One example of local exhaust ventilation that can be used with conformal coating applications (especially spray applications) is a benchtop Ductless Spray Booth. Ductless Spray Booths provide a negative-pressure enclosure that pulls airborne contaminants away from the operator's breathing zone. These systems are equipped with a powerful fan situated on top of the hood that draws aerosol particulate and fumes through a triple-stage filtration system consisting of an internal spray filter, HEPA Filter [up to 99.97% efficient on particles 0.3 microns and larger], and Activated Carbon Filter. This multi-stage configuration is able to capture the visible overspray, small respirable particles, and chemical fumes found in conformal coat spray at a relatively high efficiency
Sentry Air Systems offers 30",40",50", and 60" wide Ductless Spray Booths. Custom Spray Booths are also available. Custom Metal Spray Booths are an additional option for applications that require ESD-hood material. ESD-safe trays [pictured below] are also available for easy clean-up.
Want more information on Ductless Spray Hoods for Conformal Coating Applications?
Sentry Air Systems' Applications Specialists are able to review your process and aid in finding the appropriate solution for your conformal coating fume controls needs.
