All air guns operate on compressed air – compressed air that can be extremely dangerous if misused, or if horse-play in the workplace occurs.  Not only can workers be severely injured from the use of non-compliant, illegal air guns, but compliance failures can mean steep fines for violators.  Although OSHA Standards pertaining to air guns can be confusing, OSHA's three primary concerns are:


     NOISE      OUTPUT PRESSURE      CHIP-GUARDING

Guardair Product Compliance

 

NOISE

 

To address excessive noise in the workplace OSHA has developed permissible daily noise exposure specifications.  Since air guns can potentially contribute to high levels of occupational noise, Guardair safety air guns incorporating noise suppression nozzles can be an important component in moving towards noise level compliance.


 

OSHA STANDARD RELATED TO NOISE

Occupational Noise Exposure

OSHA Standard 1910.95


 

  QUIETFORCE NOZZLE   WHISPER JET NOZZLE  
  quietforce   whisperjet  
  Click to learn more   Click to learn more  

 


GUARDAIR SAFETY AIR GUNS INCORPORATING NOISE SUPPRESSION NOZZLES
 
Part Number Model/Description Noise Level (dB)*
80/80WJ Whisper Jet 93
80LJ Series Whisper Jet Extended Reach 99
84CNA Whisper Jet Nozzle 93
86FLX Flextension 93
980 Thumbswitch Whisper Jet 89
F5 QuietForce Series Force 5 QuietForce Extended Reach 101
INF QuietForce Series Inforcer QuietForce Extended Reach 101
* Measured at 100 psi inlet pressure.    

 

caution Guardair recommends the use of noise suppression nozzles and/or hearing protection equipment as part of a comprehensive noise control program. 

 

 

 

 

 

OUTPUT PRESSURE

Factory air compressors and air lines nominally operate at pressures between 80 and 120 psi (pounds per square inch). Most pneumatic tools, including air guns, require such high pressures to operate effectively. However, OSHA Standards requires that in the event such air lines are dead-ended (i.e. if the tip of an air gun is blocked) the static output pressure at the point of the blockage may not exceed 30 psi. All Guardair safety air guns incorporate nozzle designs which are engineered to meet, or exceed, this 30 psi requirement.

 

OSHA STANDARD AND INSTRUCTION RELATED TO OUTPUT PRESSURE

Compressed Air Used for Cleaning

OSHA Standard 1910.242(b)

 

Reduction of Air Pressure Below 30 psi for Cleaning Purposes

STD 01-13-001


AIR SHIELD NOZZLE   AIR MISER NOZZLE   QUIETFORCE NOZZLE   VENTURI NOZZLE   WHISPER JET NOZZLE
airshield   airmiser   quietforce   venturi   whisperjet
Click to learn more   Click to learn more   Click to learn more   Click to learn more   Click to learn more

 

STATIC OUTPUT PRESSURE FOR GUARDAIR SAFETY AIR GUNS*
     
Part Number Model/Description Static Output Pressure (psi)**
57S30XB Original 16
74BH Blind Hole 13
74H Air Miser N/A
75LJ Series Long John Extended Reach 17
74S/SK Jet Guard 13
75XT Series Xtra Thrust Extended Reach 18
75XXT Xtra Thrust 23
76S006 Booster 13
80/80WJ Whisper Jet N/A
80LJ Series Whisper Jet Extended Reach N/A
84CNA Whisper Jet Nozzle N/A
86FLX Flextension N/A
900 Thumbswitch 16
900LJ Series Thumbswitch Extended Reach 13
900S Thumbswitch 3
970 Thumbswitch 11
980 Thumbswitch Whisper Jet N/A
F5 Venturi Series Force 5 Venturi Extended Reach 16
F5 QuietForce Series Force 5 QuietForce Extended Reach 7
HYD Series HydroForce Extended Reach 10
INF Venturi Series Inforcer Venturi Extended Reach 16
INF Steel Series Inforcer Steel Extended Series 16
INF QuietForce Series Inforcer QuietForce Extended Reach  7
LZR600 Lazer Palm Switch 14
LZR650 Lazer Pistol Grip 14
LZR600 Series Lazer Palm Switch Extended Reach 16
LZR650 Series Lazer Pistol Grip Extended Reach 19
U75LJ Series ULTRA Venturi Extended Reach 18
U75XT Series ULTRA Xtra Thrust Extended Reach 20
U80WJ2 ULTRA Whisperjet N/A
U80WJ Series ULTRA Whisper Jet Extended Reach N/A
     
* Measured at 100 psi inlet pressure.
** Static Output Pressure measured at nozzle tip when dead-ended. N/A indicates nozzle tip cannot physically be blocked.

 

caution Guardair recommends the use of OSHA compliant safety air guns to insure that static output pressure does not exceed 30 psi.

 

 

 

CHIP-GUARDING

 

When blowing off debris with an air gun in close quarters, workers may be subject to "chip fly-back".  This term refers to the tendency of loose particles or chips to fly back into the operator's face, eyes or skin.  For operations that require close-in work, OSHA mandates that "effective chip guarding" be incorporated into the workplace.  Effective chip guarding means methods or equipment that will prevent chips or particles from flying back at the operator.  Guardair offers several safety air gun models incorporating the Air Shield nozzle, which protects the operator from chip fly-back.

 

 

OSHA STANDARD AND INSTRUCTION RELATED TO CHIP-GUARDING

Compressed Air Used for Cleaning

OSHA STANDARD 1910.242(b)

 

Reduction of Air Pressure below 30 psi for Cleaning Purposes

STD 01-13-001

 

AIR SHIELD NOZZLE  
air shield  
Click to learn more  

 

 

GUARDAIR SAFETY AIR GUNS INCORPORATING AIR SHIELD NOZZLES
     
Part Number Model/Description  
57S30XB Original  
74BH Blind Hole  
74S/SK Jet Guard  
76S006 Booster  

 

caution Guardair recommends the use of air shield nozzles as well as barriers, screens, and/or personal protective clothing for effective chip-guarding.