Filtaire Air Filter Unit Model 300

We have identified that room temperature changes and dust particles have an adverse effect on the quality of the finished print. We also found many darkroom chemicals cause unpleasant fumes.

A British manufacturer, Patent Filtration, produces a range of equipment aimed at eradicating these problems. Their filter units are not extractors or ionisers but work on a principle of filters, which rotate at high speed to create a centrifugal force. It then processes the air drawn by removing particles down to minute levels. A further set of treated static filters then receives the air and extracts from it chemical smells usually found in darkrooms. Due to this unique process, there is no need to vent air out of development rooms or to introduce 'fresh air' from outside.

This gives the following distinct advantage of constant temperatures then prevailing throughout the development process. You will also find that no foreign bodies come in from outside 'fresh air' and those already in the room are trapped in a contained unit. The biggest leap forward with this technology that we found when we first tried a unit was that the noxious fumes are neutralised within the room.

This improves your working environment and unpleasant smells do not permeate to other parts of the building. The equipment can treat the following odours, all of which you regularly find in the development process: Acetic Acid, Benzene, Bromide, Selenium, Sodium Ammonium, Sodium Thiosulphate, Sulphuric Acid, and Trichlorothylene amongst many others. Two models are available. Both are mains powered.

We would recommend the Filtaire 300 model that is freestanding or can be wall mounted. Manufactured in white ABS, it is portable, and weighs only 4 kilograms. It looks like, and occupies about the same space as, a deep-fat fryer. It s ideal for rooms of around 60 cubic metres where all the air will be exchanged every 10 minutes. It uses about the same electricity as a 100w light bulb so can be left on all day at minimal cost.