DEMOLITION DUST CONTROL CHALLENGES

Construction sites can give rise to dust and debris that can get mixed with the air and give rise to respiratory health problems and can also cause damage to surrounding properties. The problem is that the demolition process will always create dust. Whenever there is demolition the first thing that comes to mind is of buildings collapsing, dust and dirt, air pollution and possible exposure to harmful particles that are liberated in the demolition process. Fine particles can be carried from demolition sites in light winds and may have adverse effects on the local environment. There are several factors which contribute to dust control challenges:

Strict compliance to the rules and regulations .
State of the art equipment to carry out successful demolition job.
Safety measures for the property and professionals involved.
Environmental safety due to irreplaceable damage to the environment.
The need to minimize the dust impact through dust control.

Types of dust in demolition sites

There are different types of dust liberated during demolition. There is no safe amount of dust exposure for the workers or communities within the vicinity of demolition activities. Dust control measures during demolition depend on different dust types. These dust types include:

Asbestos dust which causes asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma.
Crystalline silica dust which causes silicosis.
Wood dust which causes cancer.
Dust with aluminium which causes aluminosis.
Dust of hard metals which causes hard metal pneumoconiosis

What is dust suppression in demolition?

The problems associated with dust emission can affect the planning of demolition works, especially if the site is near to other buildings or structures, public facilities or busy public areas. One of the main issues is that airborne dust can disperse during the demolition, crushing, and transportation processes.

The good news is that there has been a vast improvement in the quality of the technology used in demolition works, meaning dust suppression is becoming far easier. So why is dust suppression important?

Dust suppression is the application of liquid to effectively restrict the airborne dissemination of fine particles. The water captures airborne dust particles, causing them to fall to the ground rather than disperse into the air.

There are many ways to do this:

Using a Dust Suppression System

Dust suppression systems have been expertly designed to prevent issues with dust on both small- and large-scale demolition sites. Using atomized misting equipment, such as a Dust Boss, creates a water curtain, which prevents the dust from being released into the air where it can become problematic. Using this kind of system is one of the best ways to minimise dust.

Using this type of equipment also makes the area cleaner and significantly improves the visibility of any working space. This means that workers can carry demolition tasks more safely.

Using Fire Hoses

Dust can also be controlled by damping down using temporary water supplies around a site.

Operatives gain access above or, safely, near to a structure and spray water via fire hoses directly onto the workface. Should pressure be insufficient fire engines and tractor water bowsers are used to suppress dust further.

Using any of these systems as a Dust Suppression measures can also be supported by installing temporary Dust monitors around a site and setting trigger levels for notifications in real time. This means that works can cease immediately if Dust levels reach set limits, and further suppression techniques can be installed.

What is the advantage of dust suppression in demolition?

One of the main advantages of dust suppression in demolition is that it limits a number of environmental concerns and reduces the impact of air pollution caused by airborne dust.

These specialist systems and measures can also help to protect construction workers from harmful respiratory diseases, along with a number of other eye and skin irritations.

Dust suppression measures can also:

Prevent unpleasant odours from causing concern
Save money by reducing site maintenance
Improve cleanliness
Establish good community relations
Meet all local planning regulations that require dust suppression for the benefit of workers
Improve employee safety

We are ECG, we are safety first.

This field definitely needs some expert hands and skill. So, have you decided on what type of project you need? Make sure you research on this for a while before coming up with a decision.

We pride ourselves in providing Demolition, Abatement and Environmental Services you can depend on. (Concrete cutting, coring, green demolition, disinfection and sterilization cleaning services, asbestos abatement and more)Contact us to get started on your next project, Call us: 562-438-7999.