As the weather gets warmer and ground gets drier, the risk of airborne dust increases.

What is dust suppression?

'Dust suppression' is the term used when using liquid for airborne dust control. There are a number of different dust suppression systems and methods to help reduce airborne dust, the right one will depend on the type of activity being carried out.

What type of activity will create airborne dust?

A number of construction activities can produce excessive amounts of airborne dust and the risk of airborne dust and how far it travels increases during warmer weather as the ground dries out.

Common activity that might create airborne dust includes:

• Site preparation and earthworks – Excavations, trenching, bulldozing, piling, soil stabilisation and more.
• Demolition – Dismantling buildings, jackhammering concrete, crushing bricks and other dusty materials.
• Material handling – Loading and unloading dry materials, transferring bulk materials, mixing cement or plaster and tipping or dropping materials from height.
• Mechanical processes – Cutting, grinding, drilling and sanding materials such as concrete, stone, brick, tiles, wood and other structural materials.
• Vehicle and plant movement – Construction vehicles on unpaved roads and heavy plant movement on exposed ground for example
• Excavation processes – Uncovered spoil heaps, waste materials awaiting removal and transporting loose material without covers.
• Finishing – Mass sanding plaster or drywall, cutting a significant amount of wood or boards and dry sweeping.

The risk associated with airborne dust from these examples will depend on the type of activity being carried out and the materials being used. Speak with a technical consultant if you’re unsure on how to best control dust on site.

Why does airborne dust need to be controlled?

If left unmanaged, airborne dust can cause the following issues for your project:

• Risk of fire and explosion
• Damage the long-term health of workers or those nearby dusty activity
• Damage to the environment and surrounding property
• Damage to contractor reputation if found to be non-compliant with local regulations

How does dust suppression work?

Dust suppression systems spray fine mists or concentrated streams of water to intercept airborne dust particles and odours, latch onto them and pull them to the ground. This occurs because the water particles are heavier than the dust or odour particles.

Water that settles on the ground acts in the same way, reducing the amount of airborne dust from being generated from activity in the first place.

What is a dust suppression system?

A dust suppression system is a cannon, hose, fogging system or misting unit that emits water to control airborne dust. Dust suppression systems offer 3 key benefits:

• The spray of water dampens surfaces to prevent airborne dust being generated
• If dust is already airborne, the mist will intercept any airborne dust particles and pull them to the ground
• Odours can be reduced with the help of neutralising agents in the water tank.

RVT Group offer a wide range of DUSTEX® Hydramist suppression units suited to different application.

Speak to a technical consultant about your water suppression needs >

Download our whitepaper on dust suppression for more information >

Download our daily checklist for dust suppression unit best practice >