Abstract: A process and system for ventilation of welding smoke including an air passage configured to receive smoke from a welding environment, wherein said air passage has an inlet and an outlet and said inlet is positioned adjacent to said welding environment. The system also includes a filter coupled to the air passage, wherein the filter comprises filter media that exhibits a burst strength of up to 20? w.g., an initial resistance in the range of 0.3? w.g. to 1.5? w.g., an air flow in the range of 1,000 cubic feet per minute to 2,500 cubic feet per minute and a removal efficiency of greater than 50% for particles having a diameter of 0.3 ?m to 10.0 ?m.