{"id":45079,"date":"2019-06-12T13:03:34","date_gmt":"2019-06-12T17:03:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/camfilapc.com\/?post_type=blog&#038;p=45079"},"modified":"2023-04-12T14:03:58","modified_gmt":"2023-04-12T18:03:58","slug":"epa-neshap-rule-6x-metalworking-operations","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/camfilapc.com\/es\/blog\/epa-neshap-rule-6x-metalworking-operations\/","title":{"rendered":"Understanding the EPA's NESHAP Rule 6X for Metalworking Operations"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 2008, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) introduced its National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP Rule 6X) as part of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.epa.gov\/clean-air-act-overview\" rel=\"noopener\">the Clean Air Act<\/a>. The EPA created the standards to reduce exposure to hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) because the chemicals were proven to cause serious health effects.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Within this standard are HAPs that apply directly to the metal fabrication industries<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">known as Metal Finishing Hazardous Air Pollutants (MFHAPs). These are identified as materials that contain 0.1% by weight cadmium, chromium, lead, or nickel; or 1.0% by weight manganese. In order to regulate facilities that exhaust contaminated air straight outdoors, NESHAP Rule 6X went into effect on July 25, 2011. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Since the standards were introduced, many operations have installed dedicated <a href=\"https:\/\/camfilapc.com\/products\/dust-fume\/x-flo-industrial-dust-collector\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">dust and fume collection systems<\/a> to safely collect MFHAPs. However, others still rely on standard HVAC systems or simply open the shop doors to release fumes directly to the atmosphere. D<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">espite the importance of the rule and the length of time the EPA has been enforcing it, many facilities still may be unaware that they are not in compliance. Are you one of these facilities? <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here are a few key takeaways to help you better understand NESHAP Rule 6X:<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Who is Impacted by NESHAP Rule 6X?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To find out if your facility is using MFHAP materials, consult the safety data sheets (SDSs) related to the materials you use (welding rod, welding wire, etc.). A standard SDS will list hazardous ingredients in Section 2. For example, if the material is shown to contain &lt;2.50 % manganese by weight, the material is subject to the NESHAP 6X rule.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The rule applies to companies that are primarily engaged (50% or more total labor) in one or more of the following categories:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Electrical and electronic equipment finishing<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fabricated metal products<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fabricated plate work (boiler shops)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fabricated structural metal manufacturing<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Heating equipment (except electric)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Industrial machinery and equipment finishing<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Iron and steel forging<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Primary metal products manufacturing<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Valve and pipe fittings<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Primary operations affected by the rule include: <\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Welding<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dry <a href=\"https:\/\/camfilapc.com\/gb\/applications\/abrasive-blasting\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">abrasive blasting <\/a>(three types)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dry grinding <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dry polishing with machines <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dry machining<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Spray painting (two types) <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This rule is highly applicable to welding shops; everyone engaged in welding needs to be aware of the rule and the required actions. Welding shops that rely on HVAC filtration to clean the air, exhausting welding fumes out to the atmosphere, are particularly at risk of being in violation of this EPA requirement. Even a dedicated dust and fume collection system may be in violation if it exhausts air outside and is older and\/or not properly designed to handle the current processes.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Method 22 Fugitive Emissions Test<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To determine if you are compliant with NESHAP Rule 6X, you must perform a Method 22 Fugitive Emissions Test. This test provides a visual determination of fugitive emissions from material sources. It's performed by an observer using two stopwatches. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The observer stands at least 15 feet from an exhaust stack<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">with a clear view of the exhaust and the sun at their back<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and lines up a dark background. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They run the first stopwatch continuously for 15 minutes.\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They start the second stopwatch when they start seeing emissions (opacity) and stops it when they can no longer see emissions. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If opacity is observed during 20% or more of the 15-minute test period (3 minutes), Rule 6X applies.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Taking Action<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If a facility fails a Method 22 test and Rule 6X applies, the facility must complete the following steps to achieve compliance:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cTier 1\u201d response: Notify the EPA immediately. Change the process to eliminate the HAP. Changes may involve experimenting with different materials or settings to reduce emissions. It is important to remember that no matter what changes are made, equipment must always be operated in accordance with the manufacturer\u2019s instructions.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Conduct another Method 22 test.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cTier 2\u201d response: If the second test fails,<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u201cCorrective actions must take place immediately after the failed Method 22 test\u201d <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">per the Federal Register, page 42985, Welding compliance, Tier 2.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2><b>Using Cartridge Dust and Fume Collection to Comply with NESHAP Rule 6X<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Installing dust and fume collectors with a high-efficiency cartridge filtration system like <a href=\"https:\/\/camfilapc.com\/products\/dust-fume\/x-flo-industrial-dust-collector\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Camfil\u2019s Gold Series<\/a>\u00a0X-Flo can offer multiple benefits in addition to maintaining EPA compliance. Cartridge filtration is identified within Rule 6X as an acceptable control device to eliminate visible emissions and it is the solution of choice in many cases. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A well-designed cartridge system will filter welding fumes and other hazardous contaminants effectively. The filtered air can either be recirculated back into the facility or exhausted outside. These systems use self-cleaning mechanisms that pulse dust and dirt off the filters, allowing units to <a href=\"https:\/\/camfilapc.com\/blog\/premium-dust-collector-filters-cost-less-than-you-think\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">run for extended periods<\/a> between filter change-outs. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If a facility chooses to exhaust filtered air outdoors, NESHAP Rule 6X procedures will still apply. Contact the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.epa.gov\/aboutepa\/epa-organization-chart\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">EPA Regional Office<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to find out which agency enforces the rule for your location. Under Method 22, the EPA requires ongoing annual compliance that is specific to the operation and is based on the date that the facility originally declares compliance. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Alternatively, if a facility opts to recirculate the filtered air instead of exhausting it outdoors, NESHAP Rule 6X no longer applies. But, the indoor air must still comply with <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.osha.gov\/dsg\/annotated-pels\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">OSHA permissible exposure limits (PELs)<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. The collector may also require safety monitoring filters for added filtration and backup collection. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Air recirculation is the single best way to maximize your <a href=\"https:\/\/camfilapc.com\/au\/products\/dust-fume\/gold-series-industrial-dust-collector\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">dust collector ROI<\/a>. By recirculating heated or cooled air back through the plant instead of venting it outdoors, you eliminate the cost to replace that conditioned air. Many facilities report five- to six-figure annual energy savings as well as additional savings from earned utility rebates and incentives. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To learn more, download our full white paper, <\/span><a href=\" http:\/\/us-apc-forms.camfil.com\/cn\/alh89\/epa-neshap-6x\"><b><i>Is Your Welding or Abrasive Blasting Shop in Compliance with EPA\u2019s NESHAP Rule 6X?<\/i><\/b><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In 2008, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) introduced its National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP Rule 6X) as part of the Clean Air Act. The EPA created the standards to reduce exposure to hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) because the chemicals were proven to cause serious health effects. Within this standard are HAPs that apply directly to the metal...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":45080,"parent":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","blog_categories":[1626,1550],"class_list":["post-45079","blog","type-blog","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","blog_categories-factory-air-quality","blog_categories-dust-safety"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/camfilapc.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog\/45079","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/camfilapc.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/camfilapc.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/blog"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/camfilapc.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=45079"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/camfilapc.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog\/45079\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/camfilapc.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/45080"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/camfilapc.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=45079"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"blog_categories","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/camfilapc.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog_categories?post=45079"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}