Instant quote5 Dust Control Tips For Construction Sites
Nearly all building site managers appreciate the growing importance of dust control measures these days. Not only does the construction sector take its environmental responsibilities with respect to climate change much more seriously than ever before, but its role in protecting the local environment is increasingly a high priority for both contractors and clients alike. Of course, this means taking steps to ensure that local water courses are not polluted and so on.
However, it now also usually means protecting nearby buildings and people from airborne particles, as well. In essence, this means ensuring adequate dust control measures are in place to prevent what dust is created from spreading.
All construction firms need to take their responsibilities with dust control seriously. In much of the Western world, too much airborne contamination from small particles of dust could lead to a banning order from the local authority concerned which would delay the project significantly. More widely, dust control is an important aspect of the reputation of the industry which is seeking to improve its image as one that is a good neighbour when works are ongoing.
More and more, dust control measures are not merely there to prevent air quality from dropping in urban environments but are rolled out on construction sites in every kind of situation. What should your construction firm be doing to make sure its dust control measures are up to the latest standards demanded of the industry?
1. Set Up Physical Barriers
Completely sealing off your construction site from the outside world is not likely to be a practical reality in the majority of cases. As such, dust control measures that form a physical barrier do not need to be total in their extent, especially if your site is not in the immediate vicinity of other occupied buildings. That said, putting up fences and boarding does have a big role to play in preventing dust from escaping into the local environment.
A good tip is to see the role of a physical barrier as one that prevents wind from picking up dust in the first place. As such, this type of dust control measure is not there to prevent airborne particles from escaping rather than stopping them from being whipped up at all. As such, your fencing and other barriers should be placed at right angles to one another in stages rather than around the perimeter of the site. Anything can be used to stop wind from picking up dust as it passes around a site, from temporary walls to bales of hay. Even parked construction vehicles and temporary site offices have a part to play in preventing excessive wind.
2. Use Water Droplet Dust Control Systems
Regardless of how much you control the level of airflow through a building site, dust will still be picked up and swirled around. That which is should be prevented from escaping the site if at all possible. This is where dust control cannons which create a fine mist can help. As you may already know, MobyDick is an expert in its field with such dust control systems. Of course, these sorts of systems can be run exactly where you need them most on a site because they are mobile. Some are best for outdoor use and will prevent dust from escaping in the direction of a neighbouring building. Others can be deployed inside where stone or concrete cutting may be going on, thereby helping to trap dust at its source.
It is worth bearing in mind that water droplet dust control systems are relatively cheap to run and offer a flexible way to prevent airborne particles from remaining in the air for long. You can set them up according to the prevailing wind or simply place them in the dustiest places. Those made by MobyDick have a very low level of power consumption so you can run them continually without worrying. Equally, this sort of dust control measure is not noisy to run when you invest in superior technology.
3. Try Out Chlorides for Improved Dust Control
Materials like calcium chloride have long been used for their dust control qualities. Because chlorides are hygroscopic materials, they can be deployed to soak up the water vapour that is available from the environment. Essentially, this means that they are great at attracting water to areas of your site which would otherwise dry out and become dusty. For many site managers who take dust control seriously, this means that chlorides tend to be spread over unpaved roads where their construction vehicles are passing up and down all day.
When chlorides are deployed on a building site’s network of tracks, they don’t completely prevent dust from being created or thrown up into the air as tyres and caterpillar tracks pass over them. However, they lessen the amount of dust a site will generate from this sort of activity. That said, they are of limited use when there is little moisture content around for them to work effectively.
4. The Importance of Tailored Dust Control Measures
Although standard dust control measures are available, bespoke systems should be looked into for every site. Especially when big projects are underway, such as those found on civil engineering construction sites, tailored dust control measures are usually the best way forward. This is because no two sites will ever be the same and, therefore, have the same requirements. Part of a tailored solution from MobyDick might also include standard dust control measures but the important point to note is that the individuality of each site has been researched in order to come up with the most effective approach.
Bear in mind that tailor-made dust control systems are available but only from leaders in their field, like MobyDick. Our consultants can help you to establish better dust control measures if you are presently breaching the conditions of your current site right now. Equally, we can help you to put together a proposal for a sensitive site which will demonstrate your firm’s commitment to controlling dust, something that could even help you to win the contract.
5. Sweeping and Cleaning Equipment
Despite the construction industry’s best efforts, even a range of bespoke dust control measures will not be able to deal with all of the airborne particles that a busy building site inevitably generates. Therefore, some investment will need to be made in sweeping equipment that helps to deal with the dust which has been thrown up. Sweeping manually in a dusty area of a site is more effective than you might think but automated systems will often be needed in the vicinity of your site to really have an impact. Thankfully, there is a wide range of road and pavement sweeping vehicles of many sizes that you can deploy that will keep nearby infrastructure dust-free overnight, at least.
Furthermore, site managers should also note the importance of wash down facilities for demucking vehicles before they move on from your site and onto the open road. In particular, attention should be paid to wheel washing facilities because mud that is transferred from a building site to the road will soon dry out and turn to dust as further road users pass over it. When it comes to wheel washing as a part of your overall dust control strategy, MobyDick can be of assistance, too.
In Summary
Dust control can be achieved in numerous ways on a building site. Indeed, a combination of methods, including bespoke ones, is usually best for the greatest levels of control. MobyDick’s technical experts can help you to improve your ability to control dust so don’t hesitate to call us to discuss the matter.
