Gun Range Ventilation
Dust collection may be essential to safety at an indoor range. It’s primary function is to remove harmful particulate created during firing from the respiratory zone of the occupant. This particulate should be kept within and collected in the gun range ventilation space. It should not contaminate the rest of the building.
It’s important that the installed dust and fume collection system is properly designed so the range is kept at a negative pressure compared to the rest of the building. This will keep lead and other dust within the range space, preventing the inhalation of dangerous particulate. Additionally, collecting these materials at the source will keep surfaces in the range as well as the rest of the facility clean.
The Dangers of Lead Dust Exposure at Indoor Gun Ranges
- Lead, a once commonly used substance, has been removed from many products and manufacturing processes but remains a hazard at gun ranges.
- Lead particulate enters the air at shooting ranges both when a gun is fired and when the fired bullet hits a surface.
- Repeated exposure to these heightened levels of lead dust can lead to lead poisoning. This puts both employees and customers at risk. A review of several scientific studies found that people who spend time in indoor gun ranges have blood lead levels up to 40 times higher than the average person (Lead Exposure at Firing Ranges – A Review).
- Elevated exposure even applies to people who only attended one shooting event. It took days to weeks for lead levels to return to normal after just one event.
OSHA Citation in Texas
OSHA has cited gun ranges in the past for failure to control lead dust. Specifically, excessive lead dust can accumulate on surfaces and in the air. This can quickly exceed the permissible exposure limit. The OSHA limits for exposure to lead are very low because it is so toxic.
In 2019 OSHA cited an indoor shooting range for exposure of lead dust. Because they often don’t have proper ventilation, lead dust levels in indoor gun ranges can be very high. Consequently, the penalties for the 2019 case in Texas totaled over $200,000. One of the major issues the company faced was using brooms to sweep up dust and lead debris. Another issue is the company’s failure to address damaged personal protective equipment or do medical testing.
OSHA also noted the amount of lead dust accumulating around the facility. People using or working in an indoor gun range can pick up lead dust on their clothes or bodies. This dust then goes home with them and can affect others with lead exposure.
In addition to lead poisoning, there’s another exposure hazard. Without proper ventilation gun smoke and carbon monoxide may also build up in the shooting area. This poses further health risks. In high enough levels this can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning, resulting in hospitalization and even death.
Lack of proper filtration in an indoor gun range can also affect the visibility in the space. When many firearms are in use at once and ventilation is inadequate, a cloud may form from the many types of particulate in the air, lowering visibility and increasing danger.
Lead Dust Control in Gun Ranges
Gun ranges usually have a strong focus on safety and proper gun handling. However, they need a dust control system to prevent shooters and workers from lead dust exposure. The OSHA-cited facility in Texas attempted to clean up their dust and debris with brooms. This does not remove the dust. Instead, it pushes it into the air, where it settles onto surfaces.
The employees doing the sweeping are at high risk, but anyone inside the gun range will experience exposure. Even without stirring up dust on the floor, shooting produces airborne lead dust around the shooting area. Even if employees take precautions during cleaning the area, shooters wear no respiratory protection. This means that only a dust collection system can control lead dust exposure.
Simple ventilation will not solve the problem. The EPA regulates emissions of toxic materials like lead. The best solution is an industrial dust collection system. You can use a cartridge dust collector as an ambient system. This type of system cleans lead dust out of all the air in the facility on a continuous basis.
Rather than venting lead dust into the environment, a dust collector will capture the dust. Cartridge dust collector filters are highly efficient for small particles. If needed, after-filters can be added to make sure all the lead dust is captured.
Advantages of a Dust Collector for Shooting Ranges
A dust collection system will help a shooting range control lead dust exposure in several ways.
- Remove lead dust from the air around the shooters, keeping their exposure under control during shooting.
- Continuous dust removal prevents lead dust from accumulating, limiting the exposure that happens when workers sweep or clean up lead dust.
- The efficient filtration prevents the outside release of lead dust and keeps it from getting back into the building.
- Cartridge dust collectors are easy to maintain. Pulses of compressed air clean the filters, unlike HVAC filters in a regular ventilation system.
- Safely contain lead dust. It can be disposed of according to local regulations. Material contaminated with lead is less likely to end up in the environment.
What Type of Dust Collection Can Remove Dangerous Lead Particulate?
An air purification system that can filter the dangerous particulate present at indoor gun ranges is essential to keep customers and employees healthy.
The CMAXX Dust & Fume Collector can provide the level of filtration needed to remove hazardous material from the air. Together with a HEPA after housing, particulate as small as 0.3 micron can be captured and removed from air being recirculated into the facility.
The CMAXX is a heavy duty dust collector that’s built to last. Our units are backed by a lifetime warranty, and we have a team of experts ready to assist if needed.