Dust management when drilling,cutting, or grinding concrete is a critical step towards supporting a safe workenvironment. Airborne concrete dust is dangerous to all that is exposed to it. Thefirst and most important precaution that should be taken is to capture dust asit is produced with an industrial vacuum.
Dust management reduces the amountof dust that becomes airborne. Concrete dust floating in the air is the mostdangerous type. Once in the air, it can be easily inhaled. Industrial vacuumsare much more than a fan drawing in dirty air, capturing the dust in a canister,and then expelling cleaner air.
Heath Issues with Concrete Dust
Inhaling excessive amount ofconstruction dust should always be minimized as much as possible, but it'sespecially important to avoid getting cement dust in your lungs.
Both concrete and cement dust havesilica. Silica, in dust form, is deadly. Silica dust is one of the biggestkillers of construction workers, second to asbestos. Silica dust kills around800 people every year in the UK. In the U.S., the number is much less. Oursafety procedures are much stricter.
Concrete and mortar can have25-70% silica so concentrations can be high. The higher the level of silica,the more at risk you are from silica-related lung disease.
The Basics of Dust Management
Dust extractors are used inconjunction with dust-generating tools, such as walk-behind or handheldconcrete grinders, concrete saws, concrete drills, and shot blasters to ensurethat the work area is kept as clean and safe as possible for yourself andothers.
A dust extractor consists of threemain components: a powerful vacuum source (fan), an airtight container, and abagging system to capture the dust and debris once it is separated from theair. The vacuum source moves the air and debris from the floor into theairtight container. The airtight container is designed to capture and holddebris after the air has passed through one or more filters. The bagging systemcollects the debris for disposal. These can be a one-use bag or a continuoussleeve of bag material, such as DiamaPro® Infinity Bags (fit Longopac), providing the operator with an easymethod of disposal.
Most dust extractors also comeequipped with a multitude of filters that trap small particles before they havea chance to escape back into the atmosphere. This helps to ensure that the airin your workspace is clean and safe to breathe.
HEPA is an acronym for HighEfficiency Particulate Air. HEPA filters capture microscopic particles, whichmight not be captured within a normal filter. This type of filter cantheoretically remove 99.97% of dust and airborne particles with a size of 0.3 micronsor greater.
Choosing the Right IndustrialVacuum
There are four main dust collectortypes used to extract dust as it is generated and from the floor.
1. Cyclone Collector
- The most common type of dust extractor is thecyclone dust collector. It uses centrifugal force to separate the heavy dustparticles from the air. The dust-laden air is drawn into the cyclone, where itis spun around at high speeds. The centrifugal force throws the heavier dustparticles outwards toward the walls of the collector, where they drop into asealed container or collection bag. The cleaner air is then blown out throughthe top of the cyclone back into the room.
2. Cartridge Collector
- The cartridge dust collector uses a series offilters to trap the dust particles. The air is drawn through the filters wheredust particles are collected. The clean air then flows out through the exitport of the unit. A commercial air-scrubber will fall into this category.
3. Pulse Jet Dust Collector
- The pulse jet is the most cost-effective methodfor removing dust and dirt from the air. The pulse jet works by acceleratingdirt and dust through a series of chambers and ducts. The dirt and dust arecompressed and forced out of the final chamber, where it is caught by a filter.
4. Hybrid: Cyclone and Cartridge
- In the concrete surface preparation world whereconcrete dust is generated, the Hybrid Dust Collector is the most widely used.When the air and particles are drawn into the airtight canister, they are spunaround at high speeds. Large particles then fall to the bottom of the canister.At that point, the air moves through the main filter capturing finer particles.When the air exits the sealed canister, it moves through a HEPA filter before enteringthe atmosphere. The HEPA filter (high-efficiency particulate air [filter])captures 99.97% of all particles larger than 0.3 microns (µm). NiagaraMachine sells varied sizes of HEPA vacs, and we definitely have one thatwill meet your needs.
Implementing a Dust ManagementPlan
Developing a Dust Management Planthat can be implemented on all grinding projects will be a benefit to you, youremployees, and other workers present on the jobsite.
Example:
GENERAL DUST CONTROL MANAGEMENTPLAN
Scope:
- The Dust Control Management Plan applies to allconcrete dust producing operations.
Ambient Dust Control:
- Elevated ambient dust levels can be a nuisance aswell as potential environmental, safety, and health hazards. Dust handling,processing operations & transport have the potential to create dust. Theuse of a Dust Collector and airscrubberwill help in the aid of capturingconcrete dust as it is produced.
Environment Management PlanObjectives:
- To take all reasonable and practical measures toprevent or minimize the generation of concrete dust from all grinders, saws,and drilling equipment.
Each construction area on the siteneeds to figure out:
- Sources of concrete dust.
- Their environmental impacts
- Control Measures
- Ensuring dust control measures are effective.
Management Practices:
- Dust generating areas open to forklift trafficare minimized preventing dust movement from one area to another where possible.
- Dust-laden areas are vacuumed and not sweptproducing airborne dust.
- Educating employees and contractors to raiseawareness of dust management measures.
- Managing operations to minimize dust emissionsduring dust generative activities.
Action Plans for Dust Suppression:
- If strong ‘potentially dust generating’ winds areforecasted.
- The High Wind Day Protocol is activated andoutlines steps to minimize the generation of concrete dust into the air.
- Regardless of the weather conditions duringnormal working hours (Monday to Friday 7am to 5pm) dust suppression in sharedareas, notification of dust suppression requirements is to be directed throughthe site services supervisor.
Maintenance Tips for IndustrialVacuums
While dust extractors will requireregular maintenance, such as purging and changing filters, they are quitesimple to work on. The Dust Extractor manufacturer should have a printedmaintenance schedule available. For example, DiamaProSystems uses a QR Code sticker on the unitthat can be scanned to obtain all types of information includingmaintenance.
Troubleshooting Issues
Suction Loss
- Needs to be purged – As the unit is used, dustwill collect onto the main filter reducing suction. This is normal. The firstthing to try is to purge the filter. DiamaPro Systems produces two types ofdust collectors, self-purging, and manual purging. The self-purging model automaticallyshakes the filter, removing the impacted dust. The time interval can be setaccording to the amount of dust you will be extracting. The manual purgerequires the operator to purge as needed. With the self-purging model, itshould be manually purged multiple times each running day. This will enhancethe extractors’ efficiency.
- Damp dust – These units are designed to pick updry materials only. If damp or wet material is picked up, the filters will clogso no air can move through them. The remedies are to remove the filter and dryit out or replace the filter with a new one.
- Clogged Hose – There will be times when thematerial you are removing will compact into the hose. Debris can be large, withan irregular shape. When moving through the hose it may interlock togethermaking it difficult to enter the canister. Keeping the hose as straight aspossible when using it will help. Gradually picking up this type of debris willalso minimize the clogging issue. Don’t force it, let the vac do its thing.
Tripping Circuit Breakers
- Most 110v Commercial Dust Extractors draw 20amps of power. Most residential outlets produce 15 amps. This can be an issue. Thewall outlet as well as the wiring are rated for 15 amps. Make sure there noother pieces of equipment are running on the same circuit as the vac. If itkeeps tripping, a portablegenerator can be used to run the dust collector.
Vacuum plug will not fit into thewall receptacle.
- Being the vac should run on a 20-amp circuit, itcomes with a 20-amp plug. It is a different configuration than a 15-ampreceptacle. Although changing out the plug or using a 20-amp conversion pigtailis a possibility, it is NOT recommended. Running too much power through 15-ampwiring could cause too much heat and could start a fire. A portable generatorshould be used to run the vac at this point or find a 20-amp outlet.
Conclusion
Dust extractors play a key role inkeeping work environments clean and safe. They are commonly used in factories,workshops, and other commercial settings where there is a risk of dustaccumulation. If you’re serious about the health and safety of your workplaceand ensuring long-term health, a dust extractor is a non-negotiable investmentfor your business.
Niagara Machine has an industrial vacuum for every job. If renting anextractor fits better into your budget, Sunbelt Rentals, our rental partner,has dustextractors available to rent throughout the country. By renting a dustcollector, you can decide which one fits your needs best before buying. As always, if you have any questions aboutwhich dust extractor and other dust collection equipment best fits your needs, contact us with any questions!
