Shutdowns bring non‑routine welding into spaces never designed for it: plant rooms, mezzanines, vessels, and tight corners. The risks are different from production bays—limited ventilation, unfamiliar layouts, and mixed trades. Control needs to be planned, mobile, and verified.

Plan the job and the airflow

Walk the area before hot work starts. Identify air inlets/outlets, pinch points, and nearby intakes. Decide where you can place temporary LEV and where negative air will protect adjacent work. In confined spaces, establish extraction first, then confirm fresh air supply. Use smoke to prove flow direction before striking an arc.

Choose portable controls that actually fit

Use compact LEV hoods or on-gun extraction for short, awkward welds. Supplement with portable air scrubbers or ducted units to keep the background low. For fine particulates, use H13/H14 filtration. Clean up with an industrial vacuum rather than sweeping; metal fines left behind will be re-entrained by foot traffic. For efficient dry capture of residues during and after work, a MAXVAC Supra industrial vacuum provides mobile housekeeping without spreading dust.

Coordinate with other trades and isolate

• Zone the work area with screens and clear signage; stop through-traffic.
• Shut or seal nearby HVAC returns to avoid building-wide spread.
• Stagger tasks so grinders, welders, and cleaners are not competing for the same air.

Verify and record

Use a handheld particulate monitor to check ambient PM before, during, and after the task. Keep readings with the permit-to-work paperwork. If readings spike, pause, adjust extraction, and only re-start when stable. Remember COSHH: thorough examination of LEV still applies, and HSE expects effective control even for short-duration tasks.

Practical takeaways

• Survey airflow and prove direction with smoke before welding.
• Use portable LEV plus ambient filtration suited to the space.
• Housekeep with industrial vacuums; never sweep metal residues.
• Coordinate trades and isolate the area to stop drift.
• Monitor PM and attach results to the permit-to-work.

With a short plan, the right portable kit, and basic monitoring, shutdown welding can be completed safely without leaving a fume legacy for the restart.