Ventilation requirements for slot processors

[logan2z]

I'm redoing the wet portion of my darkroom and am moving to a slot processor rather than open trays. I'm thinking about my requirements for ventilation and wondering what, if any, difference the slot processor makes to those requirements. I would expect ventilation to be somewhat less critical - or at least require a physically smaller solution - given that there is less of the chemical surface area exposed to the air when using a slot processor, but I'm no expert in this area and wondered if that is an incorrect assumption.

I'm considering going with a ventilation solution from EEP but wondered if anyone had recommendations for other systems that they have used successfully.

 

[Pieter12]

You might want to ask Nova/The imaging Warehouse about the requirements. I have found them to be very helpful in the past.

 

[tezzasmall]

I have used my slot processor for well over a decade and have never felt the need for ventilation, even when I used to use it in a small blacked out bedroom.

Even an acid stop, which in an open tray is normally said to be the strongest smell out of all the chemicals used to print, is not noticeable at all in a Nova.

It will be interesting if someone who is very 'allergic' to the smell of acid stop in an open tray, who now uses a slot processor, would tell us their opinion.

Terry S

 

[logan2z]

You might want to ask Nova/The imaging Warehouse about the requirements. I have found them to be very helpful in the past.

I have emailed Nova, interested to hear their reply.

 

[logan2z]

I have used my slot processor for well over a decade and have never felt the need for ventilation, even when I used to use it in a small blacked out bedroom.

Even an acid stop, which in an open tray is normally said to be the strongest smell out of all the chemicals used to print, is not noticeable at all in a Nova.

It will be interesting if someone who is very 'allergic' to the smell of acid stop in an open tray, who now uses a slot processor, would tell us their opinion.

Terry S

Thanks for the reply Terry. I figured ventilation would be less critical but wasn't sure I could get away with none. As you say, it would be interesting to hear from others who are sensitive to the fumes from B&W darkroom chemicals. In my case, my wet and dry spaces will be completely separate so I won't be spending much time in the presence of the chemistry at all.

 

[Pieter12]

I am sensitive to odors and use Block stop bath in my slot processor. It is low odor and has a sort of vanilla scent. https://sprintsystems.com/product/block-stop-bath/

 

[logan2z]

I am sensitive to odors and use Block stop bath in my slot processor. It is low odor and has a sort of vanilla scent. https://sprintsystems.com/product/block-stop-bath/

Threads on darkroom ventilation often seem to focus on chemical odors and human sensitivities to them. I use fairly low odor chemicals but low odor doesn't always imply low health risk - carbon dioxide is odorless So, while I know that many of the threads on this subject state that B&W darkroom chemicals are relatively safe (and I'm happy to hear that!) it would be nice to understand how to effectively vent any of the fumes given off by the chemicals in a slot processor even if they don't smell bad or cause irritation to nose/lungs.

 

[john_s]

I use Nova slot processors and the exhaust fan in my darkroom is a 12volt little computer fan in a top corner which draws a little air out. The air inlet is at the exact opposite corner of the room, at ground level. And I use a smelly stop bath (sodium metabisulphite which smells of SO2 which everybody finds very unpleasant) and don't have the slightest problem. I think that it's important to have some air circulation even if small.