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Freudenberg’s category 4 filtration systems protect agricultural vehicle drivers from toxic pesticides

Freudenberg Filtration Technologies offers cabin air filters of all categories to ensure that necessary precautions are taken in keeping with the European norm EN 15695

Spring marks the beginning of the spraying season. While crops need to be protected from weeds, insects, fungi and diseases, agricultural vehicle operators need to be protected from potentially toxic pesticides and liquid fertilisers when working on the fields. Reliably keeping dust, gases, aerosols and vapours out of the cabin is critical for their health and safety.

In Europe, the norm EN 15695 is intended to ensure the purity of cabin air for tractors and self-propelled sprayers used in agriculture and forestry. The goal is to limit the operator’s exposure to hazardous substances when applying plant protection products (PPPs) and liquid fertilisers.

Filtration Technologies is designed with a coordinated multi-stage filter system, which adds a unique, high-performance, activated carbon layer in the final filter stage. These highly efficient filters, which offer excellent protection from dusts and aerosols, can even block vaporous contaminants that could be extremely harmful to the operator’s health. They are original standard equipment for the most important agricultural vehicle manufacturers.

Giacomo Menzio, who is responsible for the agricultural filter product and service portfolio at Freudenberg Filtration Technologies, emphasised, “Cabin air filters with activated carbon have been on the market for some time. However, these filters’ status must be carefully and regularly checked in order to truly protect the operator inside the cabin from outside hazards. In many cases the quality of the activated carbon is lacking, or the quantity of activated carbon in the filter may be insufficient to guarantee proper performance.”

In Europe, all new machines are designed in accordance with the formal standard requirements of EN 15695. In order to consistently ensure operator safety inside the cabin, it is essential that the cabin air filter’s performance, quality and certification are examined during maintenance and replacement. To ensure optimal air quality inside the cabin, using original parts and checking the machine’s instruction manual to verify the category of the cabin and filter are recommended.

“Safeguarding operators’ health at their workplace isn’t optional which is why properly labelled, high-performance filtration and air purification systems are an absolute must, especially at this time of the year,” Menzio concluded.