Any construction site where there is a risk of silica dust entering the atmosphere or contaminating water bodies must follow dust management methods. During construction, the use of dust control measures helps prevent dust movement. According to EPA, if an area isn’t going to be worked on, it should be cleaned and affected as little as possible. Although this might be different for large-scale projects, occasionally owing to scheduled activities, the clearing, and grubbing of the entire site has to be done all at once.

Dust collection systems

Using dust collection systems is the most efficient technique to remove dust from the air in an indoor setting. These systems use a powerful fan and ducting to suction up the produced dust, collecting the unwanted particles in a separating device. The more the system is used, the more particles it gathers. At some point, the machine will need to be emptied, releasing the dust somewhere. Many people consider the ongoing upkeep of dumping to be a bother when it comes to removing dust particles from the air.

Barriers

Construction sites can be protected from wind and dust with the use of sediment fences, board fence, wind fence, or other analogous obstacles. These fences are typically made from wood. Additionally, effective wind barriers include patches of perennial grass and mature trees. Barriers work by blocking the wind close to the ground and even stopping soil from blowing away from the area, thus helping stop erosion. The barriers must be positioned at intervals of roughly 15 times the barrier height, at right angles to the direction of the dominant wind currents. To regulate air currents and blown soil, use solid board fences, crate walls, snow fences, bales of hay, burlap fences, and similar materials.

Misting Systems

Misting is the most cost-effective and efficient approach to reducing dust in the air. Misting systems are an excellent approach to managing airborne dust since they use the least amount of water. Dust control methods, such as misting guns, generate fine water droplets in the 50-200-micron range using atomized mist. This size range is ideal for water droplets to collect dust particles and deposit them on the ground. If the droplet is too small, it will not be able to fall since it will not add enough weight to the dust particle.  If the particle is too large, the slipstream effect kicks in, and the particle travels around the droplet in an air stream. It shouldn’t be too big or too little. Cannons require little maintenance yet they provide remote capabilities thus reducing operating and labor costs.

Nozzle-Based Fogging Systems

Nozzle-based fogging devices are a great solution for removing dust from the air. High-pressure pumps are frequently used in these systems to push water via stainless steel misting lines and spray the water as small droplets. These droplets operate like atomized mists that collect dust and dump it to the ground while avoiding the slipstream effect.  Due to the small water droplet size, it also does not oversaturate the dust-generating material. These tools are comparable to misting cannons in terms of droplet size and even saturation prevention, but the advantages of each are different. The main difference between these two dust management devices is their mobility. Customization is another feature that distinguishes nozzle-based fogging systems. Misting cannon suppliers frequently collaborate with customers to develop appropriate solutions that meet their unique needs.

Managing construction dust on a site requires taking precautions both during and after construction. The combination of the suggestions described above is the best strategy for decreasing dust.