NESHAP stands for National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) and are standards set by the EPA for hazardous air pollutants. These emission standards are the legal requirements governing air pollutants that are released into the atmosphere…

Given the USEPA is proposing a final regulatory ruling regarding the use of nPB (n-Propyl Bromide) also known as 1-bromopropane (1-BP), a question you might be asking right now if you are using nPB is “do I have to stop using nPB? and if so when?"

Industrial parts washers and metal fabrication go hand-in-hand to ensure production quality. Effective part cleaning of metal components after machining is crucial. By removing contaminants and residues from parts before and/or after machining, parts washers help enhance the quality of the machined parts.

In April of 2024, the EPA issued a final rule regulating methylene chloride. This means anyone who manufactures, process and distributes methylene chloride may be impacted by the EPA’s regulation of the chemical.

Most commercial uses are prohibited after April 28, 2026 – this includes anyone doing vapor degreasing with methylene chloride or incorporating the Methylene Chloride into formulations, mixtures or reaction products.

Part cleaning is an essential step of any manufacturing process. Ensuring part cleanliness requirements are met is important…and one of the superpowers of vapor degreasing. Read about 6 key benefits of vapor degreasing and explore if vapor degreasing would enhance your part cleaning operation.

Understanding the safety vapor control is an important because it lets you know if solvent is properly contained in the vapor degreaser or not. It is your first line of defense in knowing that your unit is operating correctly.

8 Daily Maintenance Checks Before Processing Parts in Your Vapor Degreaser will ensure parts are cleaned properly every day.

How do I know what vapor degreasing solvent to use? Good question, read more about 11 considerations for choosing a solvent.

What is batch, open-top vapor degreasing?

The use of automation in the form of an automated basket handling system (some use the term lift or hoist) on your vapor degreasing system is worth considering.

So what solvent can you use as an alternative to nPB? One solvent we have vetted that is a direct replacement for n propyl bromide is AeroTron. AeroTron is a powerful cleaner that has an excellent health and safety profile while being as powerful a cleaner as nPB. US-EPA SNAP Approved

nPB is now considered a Hazardous Air Pollutant (HAP) – but you can still use it in your vapor degreaser. Check out the video to learn more.

Are there other solvent alternatives to n propyl bromide? So we can keep using our current vapor degreasing equipment given the nPB (n-propyl bromide) regulatory changes? Yes, there are several leading-edge solvents available now that will provide the same cleaning power without the regulatory or health and safety issues…

It is official…nPB (1-BP) is going to become a hazardous Air Pollutant as of February 4, 2022.