Any industrial enterprise in Kazakhstan is required to comply with two types of air standards: MPC – inside the workshop, to protect workers, and MPC – when released into the atmosphere, to protect the environment. The first is monitored by sanitary services and labor inspection, the second by the environment. Let’s look at what it is and how to ensure compliance.
What is the maximum permissible concentration of the working area
MPC (maximum permissible concentration)– this is the maximum content of a harmful substance in the air of the work area, at which daily work throughout the entire period of work does not lead to illness. It is measured in mg/m³ and is set by hygienic standards for each substance separately.
Key point: MPC depends on the type of dust and its danger. For example, for dust with a high content of free silicon dioxide (quartz, silica hazardous – typical forminingand foundries) the standard is many times stricter than for wood dust. Separate, even more stringent standards apply for welding aerosol, manganese, lead and other toxic components.
What is maximum permissible limit?
MPE (maximum permissible emissions) is a standard for the amount of pollutants that an enterprise can emit into the atmosphere. In Kazakhstan, emission standards are regulated by the Environmental Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan: enterprises are divided into categories according to the degree of impact, receive environmental permits and are required to comply with declared emission standards.
For large enterprises (category I), the requirements are stricter, including automated monitoring of emissions. Exceeding standards means fines, payments for excess emissions and regulations, including suspension of production.
Maximum concentration and maximum permissible concentration: what is the difference
| Parameter | Maximum permissible concentration of the working area | MPE |
|---|---|---|
| What normalizes | Air inside the workshop | Air emissions |
| Whom does it protect? | Workers | Population and nature |
| Who controls | Sanitary and epidemiological supervision, labor inspection | Environmental authorities |
| What is provided | Source dust extraction + ventilation | Gas cleaning before release |
How to ensure maximum permissible concentrations in the workshop
It is almost impossible to dilute strong dust emissions with general ventilation – the air exchange will be huge and expensive. The working scheme is different:
- Capture at the source— local suction and shelters over machine tools, crushers, welding stations (How does dust extraction differ from ventilation?);
- Cleaning trapped air — filters according to the nature of dust;
- General ventilation– as an addition: compensation for exhaust hood, microclimate, dilution of residual harmful substances.
How to ensure maximum emission limits
Emissions are cleaned by gas cleaning stages selected for the composition and volume of gases:cyclonesfor the coarse fraction,sleeveandelectrostatic filtersfor fine cleaning (up to 99.9%),scrubbersfor hot and aggressive gases. This is especially true formetallurgyandcement production, where gas volumes and dust concentrations are maximum.
What the customer should know: checklist
- The standards apply to both air in the workshop (MPC) and pipes (MPV) – systems are designed for both tasks at once.
- The project begins with measurements: what substances, in what concentrations, what volumes of gases.
- Efficiency is confirmed by instrumental measurements after commissioning, and not “after installation”.
- The equipment must be serviced: a clogged filter means a return to excess.
ABL designs dust extraction and gas purification systems with a margin to meet standards, produces equipment in Temirtau and delivers objects with instrumental measurements. Industry solutions – in the section“Industries”.
Do you need to bring production to the standards of maximum permissible concentrations and maximum permissible limits? An ABL engineer will inspect the site, select a solution and calculate the cost.
