Glossary of Terms

Here at Oneida Air Systems, we live and breathe dust collection each and every day. For us, talking about specs and regulations are like a second language, but for many of our newer customers this may seem foreign or confusing.

To help with that, we've gathered together an ever-growing list of common dust collection terms, abbreviations, and concepts used on our website. You can find them all here, or if you're elsewhere on the site, you can hover your mouse over words that you don't know to see a quick definition right then and there.

Please note that the definitions listed here are described within the context that Oneida Air Systems uses them i.e. there may be other uses of the term outside our scope.

Can't find what you're looking for?

Please don't hesitate to contact us directly! We'd be happy to go over any dust collection topics in more detail to better explain our products and services. This list of terms may be expansive, but we're always looking to foster greater understanding of dust collection and are happy to update this page whenever possible.

Term	Definition
ACGIH	The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, a charitable scientific organization that publishes a number of influential studies regarding workplace health.
Actual CFM	A specific airflow (CFM) rating that represents the expected performance of a dust collector in a fully installed application, rather than a theoretical limit.
AS	Anti-Static, a range of electrical resistivity generally between 109 and 1012 ohms per square. Initial electrostatic charges are suppressed.
ASHRAE	The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, a professional association that develops and publishes technical standards related to air quality.
CDD	Shorthand for Concrete Dust Deputy, a category of cyclonic pre-separators built for use with concrete grinding, cutting, and sanding applications.
CE Marking	A type of certification indicating conformity with health, safety, and environmental protection standards for products sold within the European Economic Area (EEA).
cETLus	A specific ETL certification specific to the United States of America
CFM	Cubic Feet per Minute, an imperial measurement of the total volume of airflow equal to the velocity of the air (FPM) multiplied by the cross sectional area of the conveying ductwork.
Clean-Out	A term used to describe an access port installed on ductwork or a cyclone separator, allowing access for maintenance or for cleaning out potential clogs.
dBA	A-weighted decibels, a scale of noise levels that are relative to how the human ear perceives them specifically.
DCS	Dust Containment System, a common term used to describe an all-in-one dust collection accessory used in portable applications such as floor sanding and concrete grinding.
Dead Head	A situation where the intake for a vacuum pump is completely blocked off i.e. "dead". Deadheading a vacuum system can be hazardous to ductwork, hoses, and bags as the extremely high suction pressure can cause these to collapse.
Ductwork Drop	A term commonly used to describe a branch of ducting descending from the primary line "dropping" down to a tool with a dust collection port.
EPA	Environmental Protection Agency, federal regulatory body overseeing the enforcement of health and safety regulations in the U.S.
ETL	A certification from Intertek's Electrical Testing Labs, an OSHA recognized facility, assuring that the product has been tested to meet strict safety standards.
Filter Media	The material of an air filter that screens out airborne particulates. Comprised of dense, microscopic fibrous structures which may be coated in non-stick materials to aid in dust release during cleaning.
FPM	Feet per Minute, an imperial measurement of the velocity of the air and particles contained within it. The safe conveyance of airborne particles requires different velocities for different particle types (e.g. 4,000 FPM is the minimum requirement for wood dust according to the EPA).
H12	A specific rating of HEPA filter efficiency based on the MPPS, which is from the European EN 1822 standard. HEPA H12 allows for no more than 0.5% of 0.1-micron sized particles per liter of air to pass through it.
HEPA	A type of filter media certified to capture at least 99.97% of particles with a diameter greater than or equal to 0.3-microns. Typically made from ultra-fine glass fibers.
High-Vacuum	A term referring to the higher than average static pressure of a dust collector.
MERV	Minimum Efficiency Reporting Values are an ASHRAE rating (on a scale of 1-16) of a filter's ability to capture particles between 0.3 and 10 microns in size. The higher the number, the more efficient the filter.
Micron (µm)	An abbreviated term for micrometer (a millionth of a meter), a unit of size. Particles less than 1 micron in size (as is common in dust collection) are far too small to see with the naked eye. A single human hair is 50-70 microns in thickness.
MPPS	Most Penetrating Particle Size, a measurement of filtration efficiency that is similar to MERV, but is more effective at rating particles 0.12 to 0.2 microns in size (making it more meaningful for HEPA filters).
NEMA	National Electrical Manufacturers Association, a trade association that forms technical standards for electrical equipment such as cords, plugs, starters, etc.
Neutral Vane	A feature included on most cyclone separators. The "vane" refers to an extension of the inlet pipe that protrudes into the cyclone body itself. Similar to an air ramp, neutral vanes reduce static pressure loss by better guiding the airstream and reducing turbulence inside the cone.
NFPA	The National Fire Protection Association is a nonprofit organization that publishes a number of building safety codes and standards related to fire safety.
Nipple	An old term used to describe an adjustable ductwork sleeve that slides back and forth along a pipe, allowing for more easily refined connections.
OAS	An occasionally used initialism for Oneida Air Systems.
OSHA	The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, responsible for ensuring safe and healthy working conditions. OSHA sets and enforces many standards that apply to dust collection installations and operations.
Plenum	A term used to describe a large housing chamber that conveys air to a positive pressure area, typically to the dust collection system's filters.
Proposition 65	The Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, a regulation passed in California requiring strict product warnings for carinogenic materials contained, part of, or associated with goods sold in the State of California.
PTFE	Polytetrafluoroethylene, a synthetic material with an extremely low coefficient of friction, meaning almost nothing can stick to it. Teflon® is a branded type of PTFE.
QC	Quick-Clamp, a category of modular ductwork components that are conveniently connected together by a simple ring clamp mechanism, allowing for quick and easy installation and/or modification of layouts.
RF	Radio Frequency, a type of signal commonly used with remote controls; Designed to work over long distances and through walls.
RRP	Refers to the EPA's Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule, a federal regulation for safe handling of lead-paint removal for professional contractors.
SC	Static Conductive, a range of electrical resistivity generally between 103 and 106 ohms per square. No initial charges, provides path for charge to bleed off. Usually carbon-particle or carbon-fiber filled throughout.
SD	Static Dissipative, a range of electrical resistivity generally between 106 and 109 ohms per square. Low or no initial charges -- prevents discharge to from human contact.
Snap-Lock	A type of round, rigid ductwork that ships disassembled and is "snapped" together by the end-user. Requires additional airtight sealing after installation.
SP	Static Pressure refers to the resistance in airflow (friction) within a system's ductwork and components. A number of factors affect this measurement, including the shape, size, and material of the components through which the air moves.
Spunbond	A type of filter media typically made from melted polyester that is extruded through spinnerets to form a dense web. An economical material effective at trapping most airborne particulates, though not as effective as HEPA media.
UL Listed	A third party certification that recognizes that the item has been rigorously tested to pass strict safety and sustainability standards and has been found to be free from a reasonably foreseeable risk of fire/electric shock in a Division 2 environment.
WC	Inches of Water Column, a unit of air pressure typically measured using a manometer.