How is negative air pressure in a work area created?

Creating negative air pressure in a work area is achieved by exhausting air faster than it can leak back in. This process involves using equipment, such as exhaust fans, to actively pull air out of the space, resulting in a volume of air being removed that's greater than what is naturally allowed to enter through openings or leaks in the structure.

When the rate of air being expelled exceeds the rate of air entering, a vacuum effect is established. This is particularly important in environments where containment is necessary, such as during asbestos abatement, to prevent contaminants from escaping into adjacent areas.

Other methods such as increasing window ventilation or using air conditioning do not effectively create a controlled negative pressure environment. Increased window ventilation typically allows more air to enter, which would not contribute to achieving negative pressure. Similarly, air conditioning systems primarily recirculate and condition the air within a space rather than exhaust it at a rate that creates negative pressure. Sealing entrances and exits may help maintain negative pressure once it is established, but it does not actively create that pressure.