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Are You NESHAP 6X Compliant?

Diversitech - Air Pollution Solutions

ARE YOU COMPLIANT WITH EPA’S NESHAP
RULE 6X FOR HAZARDOUS AIR POLLUTANTS?

Under the Clean Air Act, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is required to develop air emission standards for 187 hazardous air pollutants (HAPs). These HAPs are linked to cancer, birth defects and other serious health issues.
In 2008, the EPA introduced its National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP). The NESHAP 6x rule went into effect in 2011 and included HAPs that apply to metal fabrication industries (also known as MFHAPs).

Over 25,000 manufacturers in the United States are affected by this rule.
Were you?


Materials considered to be MFHAPs under the NESHAP 6x rule include:
• 0.1 percent by weight of cadmium, chromium, lead or nickel
• 1.0 percent by weight of manganese


The rule has significant implications for welding industries as manganese is a universal component of welding wire. In an effort to comply with NESHAP 6X rule, businesses should always check to see if the wire rod they purchased contains 1.0 percent or more of manganese.

Many welding shops unknowingly violate the rule, either because they are unaware the rule exists or they don’t have adequate engineered controls in place to manage their weld fumes. Some shops simply open doors and windows, allowing hazardous smoke to escape out into the atmosphere in direct violation of the NESHAP 6X Rule.

Some shops that do have dust and fume control systems installed, still may not be complaint with the rule. Standard HVAC equipment that cleans indoor air before exhausting weld fumes out into the atmosphere is not adequate. Businesses need to verify if the clean air equipment is up to date, whether or not it exhausts dirty air outside and if it is properly designed to handle their industrial processes.


Read Diversitech’s NESHAP 6X White Paper and learn:
• Details about the Clean Air Act and NESHAP Rule 6X
• Which industries and applications are impacted by the rule
• What a Method 22 Fugitive Emissions test is, and how to conduct one
• Action steps should you fail a 22 Fugitive Emissions test
• What to look for in a quality dust & fume collection system

 

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