Description

The AFM Fog Pistol is a compact, battery operated airflow visualisation system for cleanrooms, laboratories and controlled environments. Producing a dense white fog with neutrally buoyant characteristics, it allows users to follow local air movement around equipment, across work areas and at room boundaries. Its handheld format makes it particularly useful for small to medium scale studies requiring precise fog placement.

The gentle fog delivery helps minimise the disturbance introduced by the fog generator itself. This is particularly valuable when observing weak air currents, where a forceful discharge could obscure the behaviour being investigated. In practical terms, the operator can introduce a visible tracer at a selected point and observe where the surrounding air carries it.

The system uses hot wire condensation technology to generate fog from its specified fluid. A refillable 60ml reservoir and rechargeable battery provide approximately 60 minutes of operation, depending on operating mode. The original model’s published consumption is approximately 1ml per minute. Battery operation allows the instrument to be moved between test locations without a mains connection during use.

For pharmaceutical airflow studies, the value lies in understanding how air behaves around the actual process. Studies can investigate whether air passes over operators or equipment before reaching a critical area, whether surrounding air enters a protected zone, and how interventions affect the intended airflow. EU GMP Annex 1 calls for airflow visualisation both at rest and in operation, with video recordings retained. A suitably planned fog study can therefore support investigations, documentation and decisions about corrective action.

This also makes airflow visualisation useful when assessing operator activities. Reaching into a work area, moving materials or opening an access point can change the conditions around a process. Observing these activities during a study helps teams assess their effect and develop working procedures around the protection required. The test method and fluid suitability should be assessed within the facility’s contamination control arrangements.

Other applications include visual checks of air movement in biosafety cabinets and fume cupboards, investigations around process equipment, and tracing leakage through room boundaries. Introducing fog near a suspected leakage path can help locate where air enters or escapes. Around machinery, it can help investigate how equipment positioning influences local airflow and identify areas warranting closer assessment. These are practical uses of the airflow tracing and containment applications described by Sistema.

Optional accessories adapt the system to different study arrangements. Fog rakes in 300, 600 and 900 mm lengths distribute the tracer across a wider area. Extension pipes, flexible hoses and a leak investigation attachment provide alternative ways to position the outlet. Tripod supports and remote control allow a fixed setup, helping the operator remain clear of the observation area.

The standard kit includes the selected Fog Pistol, its model-specific outlet, rechargeable battery and charger, two 60ml syringe reservoirs and filling equipment. Rakes, hoses, supports and transport cases are listed separately, allowing the package to be configured around the intended application.