Occupational Exposure Band Classification of Piab Vacuum Conveyors
Looking for OEB certified vacuum conveyors for safe powder handling in the pharmaceutical or chemical industry? Piab’s piFLOW®p series delivers safety banding for industry-leading containment, operator safety, and regulatory compliance for hazardous and potent compounds.
What does OEL and OEB mean in Powder Handling?
- OEB (Occupational Exposure Band): Classifies substances by toxicity and required containment. OEB 4 and OEB 5 represent high and very high containment, critical for pharmaceutical and chemical manufacturing.
- OEL (Occupational Exposure Limit): The maximum safe concentration of hazardous substances in workplace air.
Why Choose OEB Certified Vacuum Conveyors?
Protect Operator Health
Prevent exposure to hazardous powders, APIs, and chemicals.
Meet Regulatory Standards
Achieve GMP compliance and meet global safety regulations.
Ensure Product Quality
Avoid cross-contamination and maintain batch integrity.
Independently Verified SMEPAC Tested by Valicare
SMEPAC (Standardized Measurement of Equipment Particulate Airborne Concentration) tests Piab’s OEB certified vacuum conveyors. Valicare, a leader in pharmaceutical validation, conducts this testing. This ensures documented, third-party verification of containment performance for OEB 4 and OEB 5 applications.
By partnering with Valicare, Piab demonstrates its commitment to transparency and the highest industry standards.
Advanced Safety: Secondary ULPA Filter for Maximum Containment
All Piab OEB classified conveyors come equipped with a secondary ULPA (Ultra Low Penetration Air) filter. The second stage filters are mounted between the conveyor and the pump. This advanced filtration system captures even the finest hazardous particles. This helps achieve and maintain OEB 4 and OEB 5 certification during operation.
Piab’s OEB Certified Vacuum Conveyors
piFLOW®p64 – OEB 5 Certified Vacuum Conveyor
Best for: High-potency APIs, cytotoxic compounds, and highly hazardous materials
Certification: OEB 5 (operator exposure below 1 μg/m³)
Features:
- Fully enclosed, dust-tight design
- Integrates with isolators and glove boxes
- Tool-free disassembly for cleaning and validation
- GMP-compliant materials and construction
- Secondary ULPA filter for maximum safety
piFLOW®p3l & piFLOW®p7l – OEB 4 Certified Vacuum Conveyors
Best for: Potent compounds, intermediates, and chemicals requiring high containment (OEB 4: operator exposure 1–10 μg/m³).
Options: piFLOW®p3l for small-scale/lab use, piFLOW®p7l for larger-scale production
Features:
- High containment and ergonomic operation
- Suitable for batch and continuous processes
- Compact (p3l) or higher capacity (p7l) design
- Easy to clean and maintain
- GMP-compliant construction
- Secondary ULPA filter for enhanced containment
Applications: Pharmaceutical and Chemical Industry
Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) Transfer
Safe handling of APIs and cytotoxic drugs in enclosed systems.
High-Potency Compound Handling
Containment for hormones, oncology drugs, and other potent pharmaceutical powders.
Hazardous Chemical Transfer
Secure transfer of acids, alkalis, peroxides, and other reactive chemicals.
Catalyst & Additive Conveying
Dust-tight transport of catalysts, pigments, and specialty additives in chemical processes.
Processing of Fine Powders
Efficient containment of silica, carbon black, and other fine or dusty materials.
Cross-Contamination Control
Enclosed transfer at batch changeovers of intermediates and bulk powders to ensure purity.
Aseptic & Cleanroom Operations
Sterile conveying of injectable drugs, inhalable medications, and diagnostic powders.
R&D and Laboratory Safety
Safe transfer of experimental compounds and unknown toxicities in pharmaceutical and chemical labs.
“For years, we’ve supported our customers’ containment needs in pharmaceutical and chemical powder handling. With OEB classification and independent third-party validation, we can now not only fulfill these requirements, but also prove our performance with documented, SMEPAC-tested results. This gives our customers true confidence in both operator safety and regulatory compliance.”
Key Benefits of Piab OEB Certified Conveyors
OEB Safety = Operator Safety
Protects staff from hazardous dust and powders
Regulatory Confidence
Supports compliance with GMP and global safety standards
Productivity
Automated transfer reduces manual handling and downtime
Flexibility
Modular design fits various process requirements and facility layouts
Disclaimer on OEB Levels
OEB levels are valid only during normal operation. OEB containment does not apply during disassembly, cleaning, maintenance, or service. Always follow safety procedures and use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) during these activities.
Get in touch!
Contact Piab today to discuss your pharmaceutical or chemical powder handling needs. Discover how our OEB certified vacuum conveyors can improve safety, compliance, and productivity in your facility.