Wattohm
Air Solutions

Industrial dust has harmful effects on humans: gases are toxic, irritating, and corrosive, and can even cause asphyxiation. Dust particles are toxic, fibrogenic, or pathogenic and can overload the lungs. Operators exposed to aerosols or pollutants risk developing occupational diseases such as skin disorders, poisoning, rhinitis, asthma, and even cancer.

The European Union has established the concept of an Occupational Exposure Limit Value for various aerosols under Directive 98/24/EC, dated 7 April 1998. For example, the Average Exposure Value for non-specific dust is set at 10 mg/m³ for the inhalable fraction and 5 mg/m³ for the alveolar fraction. The concentration of asbestos fibres must not exceed 10 fibres per litre of inhaled air over an eight-hour period, while some chemical compounds are limited to just a few µg/m³.

Certain aerosols are also classified as CMR – Carcinogenic, Mutagenic, and Reprotoxic, meaning human exposure is strictly regulated. Additionally, the Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) sets a maximum exposure limit of 20 mSv/year for radioactive substances.

WATTOHM actively works to reduce human exposure to chemical agents by extracting pollutants at the source or implementing general building ventilation systems to limit concentrations.

Several studies show that thermal environments degrade working conditions and affect productivity.

The ventilation solutions implemented by WATTOHM aim to limit exposure to heat or cold by extracting hot sources and supplying tempered air to workstations.

Our ventilation systems also help remove sources of humidity, regulate relative humidity levels, and eliminate unpleasant odours.

Pollutants released during manufacturing operations disperse into the work environment, settling or condensing on machinery, floors, and industrial building structures. Dust can interfere with the functioning of electronic sensors, aerosols contaminate floors, making them slippery, and hydrocarbons degrade roofing sealing systems. Heat and dust also damage electrical and electronic components, sometimes leading to unpredictable failures that reduce productivity.

Certain gases and fine dust particles also have explosive properties to varying degrees (Kst, Pmax, EMI, gas classification). Under certain conditions (LEL, UEL, confined spaces), explosive atmospheres (ATEX) can form, causing human and material damage—including eardrum rupture, severe injuries to ears and lungs, and flying debris—which can be fatal.

WATTOHM operates at multiple levels on industrial sites. We implement ventilation systems designed to keep concentrations well below the LEL, helping to reclassify ATEX zones (e.g. centralised cleaning, ventilation integrated into processes).

WATTOHM designs and installs ATEX-compliant systems in accordance with Directive 2014/34/EU, serving two main purposes: workplace aeration and purification to mitigate ATEX risks by influencing one of the six explosion criteria; and certified safety solutions to minimise impact on people and the environment where necessary.

Optimising our global solutions while minimising their environmental impact is our commitment. WATTOHM works on process improvement with the ultimate goal of optimising energy consumption in industrial installations.

Adjusting equipment usage time to the actual needs of workshops generates significant energy savings, ensuring operator safety within its ecosystem as part of an eco-responsible approach.

Ventilation systems consume energy due to the air flow rates involved and the pressure losses generated by networks and specific obstacles (filters, batteries, extraction devices).

WATTOHM optimises energy consumption by reducing air flow as much as possible, minimising aerodynamic resistance in networks, selecting low-pressure-drop filters, and using variable-flow fans tailored to actual needs. We also implement systems that recover the energy contained in polluted air extracted from processes to preheat compensation air in buildings. Additionally, we collaborate with ADEME to offer Energy Saving Certificates (CEE) to help clients reduce their environmental impact.

Certain industries also generate large quantities of production waste, such as paper, empty bags, cardboard, aluminium, and metal shavings. The continuous and automated suction and pneumatic transfer of these waste materials to disposal bins support the 5S methodology in production workstations, saving operational time compared to manual handling.

WATTOHM provides eco-friendly solutions to meet these specific demands across all industrial sectors.

Just like workplace exposure concentrations, atmospheric emissions are regulated and regularly monitored by DREAL in France, as well as by private organisations and control agencies internationally.

For example, the ministerial decree of 2 February 1988 sets a concentration limit of 40 mg/m³ for dust; the allowable concentration for fluorine-based elements is 5 mg/m³; the asbestos concentration limit is 1 mg/m³; and the mercury emission limit in steelmaking is 0.5 mg/m³ (see full texts on aida.ineris.fr).

WATTOHM designs and implements installations in compliance with current regulations, according to the type of pollutant and the site classification. This compliance is verified by an authorised organisation during the commissioning phase of the installation.