DCHAS-L Discussion List Archive
From: "Chainani, Edward Torres" <echaina2**At_Symbol_Here**ILLINOIS.EDU>
Subject: [DCHAS-L] 3D printer emissions and UL 2904
Date: Tue, 10 Mar 2020 17:13:49 +0000
Reply-To: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU>
Message-ID: D542701F-39E5-484A-9B33-93FCB9D860AE**At_Symbol_Here**illinois.edu
Dear DCHAS community:
We don't have formal policies for 3D printers, but whenever I get wind of a new 3D printer being purchased and installed, I have been thinking of ensuring that there is an enclosure with local exhaust ventilation when there are no emissions data available.
Now, there is a newly released UL standard (UL 2904 - a Standard Method for Testing and Assessing Particle and Chemical Emissions from 3D Printers):
https://www.shopulstandards.com/ProductDetail.aspx?UniqueKey=35397
(You can view it online without purchasing it, if you create an account)
A technical brief is found here:
https://chemicalinsights.org//wp-content/uploads/2019/05/3DPrint_Standard_Brief_Version-2.pdf
This standard specifies the testing methodology as well as the maximum allowable concentrations of target chemicals and particles, in office, classroom and residential models. I expect that 3D printers on the market will soon being tested using this new standard.
In fact, one 3D printer manufacturer has provided me with the report of their product tested using the new UL standard with results for the various filaments that they supply. I understand that they can't test for everything specified in the standard, but
the report provided by the manufacturer shows they tested for ultrafine particles, TVOCs and 23 chemicals, and the results shows emission rates below the UL 2904 criteria for an office. I take this to imply that there will be minimal exposure when this 3D
printer is placed in an office with the typical office ventilation.
Have any of you started vetting 3D printers using this standard?
Regards,
Ed
Edward
Chainani, Ph.D.
Assistant
Director for Safety
The
Grainger College of Engineering Office of Safety
University
of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
1308
W Green St
Urbana,
IL 61801
Phone:
(217)244-5594
Email: echaina2**At_Symbol_Here**illinois.edu
Web: http://officeofsafety.engineering.illinois.edu/
"Safety
is a dynamic non-event; we have to work very hard so nothing will happen" -James
Reason
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