Technical Evaluations and Analysis (STEP)

Strategic Technical Environmental Partnership (STEP) Program

The STEP Audit is an evaluation of existing ventilation and process equipment to determine what changes are needed in order to maximize filtration efficiency, lower maintenance, and extend equipment life. This is an engineering design evaluation that focuses on your ventilation volumes, hooding, ductwork, collector, and fan. Budgetary investment values on recommended equipment may be included depending on the process and the suggested solutions. The STEP Audit consists of an analysis of the following:
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Ventilation Requirements

As your ventilation system changes to accommodate increased production, ventilation needs, or process changes, more airflow is required. If your system has not changed, but airflows are not at design performance levels, having a STEP Audit performed will help to determine why this is happening and if a fan change is required.

Dust Collector Capacity

A STEP Audit analyzes your air-to-cloth ratio to determine the operating limits of the dust collector as compared to industry standards.

Ductwork

Existing ductwork diameters from each individual vent point are measured and cross-sectional areas are calculated to ensure the sizes are correct for the required air volumes.

Hoods and Recommended Volumes

The hooding design at pickup points should provide ventilation of the dust point, while minimizing the amount of product introduced into the dust collection system. Improperly designed hoods tend to increase the grain loading beyond what the collector was originally designed to handle. The Industrial Ventilation Guide recommends standard design practices for hood design and volumetric requirements for transfer points.

Based on these practices, specific minimum and maximum volumes are calculated and compared to required volumes. A STEP Audit recommendation is then made regarding the system's potential to perform as installed.

Benefits of a STEP Audit
  • Provides overview and analysis of existing system
  • Identifies problem areas of the ventilation equipment
  • Recommendations for repair or design changes
  • Increases planning accuracy
  • Recommendations for potential increased production
  • Recommendations for decreasing emissions and increasing system efficiency

For More Information

Call: 800-821-2222
GE
8800 East 63rd ST
Kansas City, MO USA