TRGS 900 lists occupational exposure limit values for numerous substances that can occur in the air at the workplace. These include not only individual solvents or gases, but also substances that play a role in the environment of vehicles, workshops and enclosed halls, such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen monoxide, nitrogen dioxide or benzene. TRGS 900 is therefore an important basis when it comes to assessing air pollution in companies and deriving suitable protective measures.
What TRGS 900 specifically regulates
TRGS 900 is the technical regulation for hazardous substances on occupational exposure limits. It contains a comprehensive list of substances with limit values for the concentration in the air at the workplace. These limit values serve to protect the health of employees and to limit exposure to hazardous substances. The regulation is continuously amended and supplemented.
For operators, this means that it is not only an acute complaint situation that is relevant, but also the question of whether substances from ongoing operations can get into the hall air in a concentration that must be taken into account.
Which substances are particularly relevant for vehicle halls and workshops
TRGS 900 contains a very large number of individual substances. In connection with diesel exhaust fumes in enclosed spaces, substances that can typically occur during combustion processes or vehicle operation are particularly relevant. These include, among others
- Carbon monoxide
- nitrogen monoxide
- nitrogen dioxide
- benzene
These substances are listed in TRGS 900 with workplace limit values. This is particularly important for operators of workshops, depots and closed vehicle halls, because it is precisely these substances that can play a role in the operation of vehicles with running engines.
Why the list of substances alone is not enough
The real challenge is not whether a substance is listed in TRGS 900, but whether it gets into the breathing air in relevant concentrations in your own company. It is precisely at this point that technical detection becomes crucial.
Even today, modern engines can still emit emissions and these can quickly become dangerous in enclosed spaces. Systems are therefore available for workshops and industrial halls that capture exhaust gases directly at the exhaust, can be individually adapted and are designed for continuous use. This means that the protective measure starts where the pollution arises and not in the already contaminated room air.
What operators should learn from this in practice
If vehicles are regularly started, maneuvered or tested with the engine running in vehicle halls or workshops, it is not enough to simply look at the TRGS 900 list of substances. The practical question then arises as to how the relevant substances can be reliably kept away from the work area.
This is precisely where the advantage of technical extraction solutions lies. Our exhaust extraction systems for workshops and industrial halls are powerful, customizable systems that capture directly at the exhaust and are designed to support clean air and compliance with occupational health and safety regulations. For operators, this is the decisive step: away from pure limit value considerations and towards a solution that permanently reduces the risk in everyday life.
Why direct detection is often the better solution
The earlier emissions are detected, the lower the pollution in the room. Instead of relying on substances diluting later or being lowered by general ventilation, direct exhaust gas extraction ensures that relevant substances from TRGS 900 do not even enter the breathing zone of employees. This is a great advantage, especially for enclosed halls, test areas and workshops. Our solutions have been developed precisely for these areas of application and reliably protect against harmful diesel exhaust fumes in workshop and industrial environments.
What matters in practice
If you want to know which substances are listed in TRGS 900, you often start by looking for a list. However, the most important thing for businesses is to know which of these substances can occur in their own workshop and how their concentration can be reliably limited. As soon as diesel exhaust gases are an issue in enclosed spaces, technical detection becomes a central component. A suitably designed exhaust gas extraction system helps to capture emissions directly at the source and permanently improve the air quality in the company. For many operators, this is precisely the real benefit of TRGS 900: it not only shows limit values, but also makes it clear why technical protective measures are so important in everyday life.
Find the right solutions for your business now
If your company regularly operates vehicles in halls, workshops or depots, it is worth taking a look at the actual exposure situation. We offer exhaust extraction systems for workshops, industrial halls and other areas of application that can be adapted to the respective application and capture emissions directly at the point of origin. In this way, relevant substances from TRGS 900 can be specifically limited in the work area before they become a problem. Please contact us for advice.
