CIUSSS (Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux) Montérégie is a regional public organization in Quebec that manages and coordinates healthcare and social services, including hospitals, community clinics, long-term care, and mental health services. As a university-affiliated institution, it also supports medical education, clinical training, and research.
Challenge
CIUSSS Montérégie operates a prosthetics workshop with three active grinding and cutting stations. Despite the daily generation of fine particulate matter from prosthetic materials, the facility did not have a dust collection system in place.
The dust generated by these processes is classified as combustible and poses a significant fire and explosion hazard if it accumulates and becomes suspended in the air in the presence of an ignition source. The lack of a dust collection system not only created an unsafe working environment for technicians but also resulted in non-compliance with current standards.
Solution
Airex Industries designed and supplied a Platinum Series PS-9 cartridge dust collector to capture all dust particles generated at the three grinding and cutting stations. The system was designed to extract contaminated air from each workstation, filter it, and return clean air to the facility.
Due to the combustible nature of the dust, a comprehensive explosion protection package was incorporated into the system. This includes a backdraft damper to prevent flame propagation through the ductwork, explosion vents to safely relieve pressure in the event of a deflagration, and a flame arrestor to stop any flame front within the dust collection system. These safety features ensure the installation complies with applicable NFPA standards for combustible dust management while providing a safe working environment for all personnel in the workshop.
Product: Platinum Series Cartridge Dust Collector
Model: Platinum Series PS-9
Application: Cutting and Grinding of Prosthetic Devices
Installation date: 2026
