Dust Extraction, Filtration, Suppression and Monitoring Systems

RVT Group are specialists in dust control and have a variety of dust extraction solutions for all different types of dusts, including silica dust, wood dust and lead dust.

Silica dust (RCS) is being likened to asbestos; it is highly dangerous and must be controlled using a HEPA filtration kit. Hard woods, soft woods and composite materials such as MDF, all present a risk which needs to be managed with the appropriate LEV extraction unit (M-Class or H-Class). Lead is typically found in paints and pipes, so if you are cutting, grinding, blasting, sanding or paint stripping, you need to protect yourself from lead poisoning.

The COSHH definition of a substance hazardous to health includes “dust of any kind when present at a concentration in air equal to or greater than 10 mg.m-3 8-hour TWA of inhalable dust or 4 mg.m-3 8-hour TWA of respirable dust”. However, there are 500 substances individually listed within EH40 Workplace Exposure Limits, therefore we would strongly recommend that you download a free copy of this document from the HSE website.

A section 61 is beneficial for several reasons, including:

• Avoidance of legal prosecution - it protects the developer from legal action being taken under Section 60 of the Control of Pollution Act 1974 or Section 80 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
• Positive public relations – it indicates that a contractor or developer has considered the impact that works could have on both the environment and local community, which is likely to strengthen the contractor or developer’s public image and reduce complaints from the community.
• Long-term capital gain – Obtaining Section 61 consent eliminates the risk of being issued a Section 60 notice which can impose requirements on:

- Plant or machinery that can or cannot be used on site;

- Hours during which work is to be carried out;

- Level of noise that may be emitted from the site, at a specified point on site or during specified hours.

Ahead of works taking place, it is advised that you make a Section 61 Application under The Control of Pollution Act 1974. This demonstrates to the Local Authority that you are taking a proactive approach towards reducing environmental impact. Once your Section 61 Application has been submitted, the local authority has 28 days to consent to it. If any works are carried out prior to the submission of the application, excluding any minor site preparation, the application will not be approved. Some local authorities will outline noise limits within section 61 consent or refer to a code of practice written by the local authority.

Yes, while dust monitoring tells you what’s happening in real-time, we can also recommend control and extraction solutions to help you manage dust proactively and maintain safe air quality.

Yes, our monitoring solutions are designed to support compliance with occupational health and environmental standards, as well as providing clear evidence that dust levels are being effectively controlled.

We support all types of construction, refurbishment, demolition and enclosed or confined space works.

Yes, we can set up automated alerts that notify you via SMS text message or email if dust levels exceed your predefined limits, so you can take action straight away.

You can access live and historical data remotely via our cloud-based portal, which allows you to track trends and produce reports. To log into the RVT cloud based monitoring portal, click here.

Yes, we can handle the installation, calibration and configuration of any hired monitoring equipment from RVT Group, ensuring everything is set up correctly and tailored to your project's specific dust monitoring requirements.

Work Exposure Limits (WELs) are in place to protect workers from serious long-term health implications. Different substances affect us in different ways, therefore the limits vary from one substance to the next. Whilst continuous over exposure to dust is likely to affect our long-term health (causing COPD and lung cancer), acute over exposure to particularly volatile solvents could be fatal within minutes. By monitoring exposure levels, you can ensure that workers are kept safe both in the short term and long term.

Construction activities can generate excessive dust levels, which can negatively impact the environment, as well as those living and working nearby. It is therefore important to monitor dust to ensure that the impact is reduced as much as reasonably practicable.

Yes, we provide environmental monitoring to monitor dust levels to ensure the protection of people, property and environment nearby, as well as wearable dust monitors to protect individual workers.

Our monitors can measure levels of PM10, PM2.5, PM1, or TSP

While DUSTEX® clearblast® units are optimised for abrasive blasting dust, they can also handle various heavy-duty dust applications. For other dust or fume extraction needs, please visit our Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) page for more information or request a free consultation to discuss your project requirements today.

When you hire an abrasive blasting LEV solution it is installed by a fully trained, fully qualified engineer and meets all the HSE criteria for an LEV solution to give you and your team peace of mind.

Yes, our DUSTEX®  clearblast® units are Thorough Examined and Tested before leaving our warehouse, so you can rest assured that it’s compliant and in peak working condition when it reaches you. Our LEV testing is carried out by qualified LEV engineers who hold BOHS (British Occupational Hygiene Society) certifications (e.g. P600, P601, P604). Click here to find out more about our TExT process.

Yes, our DUSTEX® clearblast® units are available for temporary hire for on‑site blasting projects.

Blasted material and dust are collected in a hopper or waste bin built into the DUSTEX® clearblast® extraction unit. The baffle plate inside encourages heavier particles to drop out, simplifying safe disposal.

Our extraction units use high-efficiency filtration (including HEPA options where needed) and robust sealed designs to prevent dust escape, helping you meet health and safety requirements. We also provide expert consultancy to help you choose the right engineered control for your blasting environment.

We follow our 3C’s methodology - Capture, Contain, Control:

Capture the dust directly at the blasting point.
Contain the work area using enclosures or ducted systems.
Control airflow with negative pressure if needed.

Yes. Some DUSTEX® clearblast® systems can support multiple extraction points, making them suitable for centralised extraction solutions across a large site or multiple blast zones.

Our DUSTEX® clearblast® units are designed to operate with ductwork, so you can link blasting enclosures, booths, or remote craft areas. Their high suction power supports long duct runs without compromising performance.

Yes,  some DUSTEX® clearblast® models, such as the DUSTEX® clearblast® 900G, are ATEX approved, so they can safely extract non-conductive, explosive dust types commonly encountered in blasting operations.

Yes. Our DUSTEX® clearblast® units include continuous automatic filter cleaning, which helps maintain constant performance and avoids filter clogging during prolonged blasting work.

For example, our DUSTEX® clearblast® 800 extractor delivers up to 9,000 m³/hr of airflow, making it well-suited to long duct runs and demanding blast booths.

The Clearblast systems are purpose-built to capture abrasive blast dust at source before it becomes airborne. By filtering and containing abrasive particles, they help prevent hazardous dust from spreading and protect workers’ health.

We offer a range of high-capacity DUSTEX® clearblast® extractors designed for abrasive blasting applications. These systems are built to extract grit, sand, and other blast media dust through dedicated ductwork, providing reliable dust control and containment.

RVT Group’s dust suppression solutions are versatile and support a wide range of sectors by reducing airborne dust, improving air quality, and protecting workers. Key sectors include:

Construction: Dust suppression units control dust generated during demolition, cutting, grinding, and earthworks. This ensures safer working conditions and helps sites comply with health and safety regulations.

Infrastructure: For projects such as tunnels, shafts, basements, and highways, dust suppression helps maintain clean work environments, minimizes contamination of surrounding areas, and supports safe, efficient project delivery.

Industrial and manufacturing: Extraction units and localised suppression systems manage dust from grinding activities and material handling, reducing exposure to harmful particulates.

Defence: Systems control dust during shipbuilding, refurbishment, or maintenance, protecting personnel and ensuring operational compliance.

Yes, many sites could benefit from a combination of dust control solutions, albeit multiple dust suppression units working together on the same project to extend water mist reach, or a dust enclosure working in conjunction with a dust extraction unit to  help contain airborne dust from site activities to prevent dust from spreading and becoming airborne in the first place. It is best to speak with an RVT consultant about your specific project requirements, to then learn which recommended dust control solution will help you to maintain compliance with health and safety standards.

Once a solution is agreed, RVT Group can often deliver dust control equipment the next day and install it quickly on site. This helps minimise project delays and keeps work progressing safely without interruption.

You can enquire through our website for any of our water mist cannons. We also offer expert consultation and free site surveys to tailor the right solution for your specific project.

Yes, some of our fog cannons, including DUSTEX® Hydramist 40GT and  DUSTEX® Hydramist 60 can be fitted with dosing kits to add odour-neutralising agents into the mist, allowing dual dust and odour control.

Yes, units such as the DUSTEX® Hydramist 12 GT and DUSTEX® Hydramist 35GT:are self-contained, with their own water tanks and generators, so they can operate in remote locations without mains water or power.

We have multiple water mist cannons available to suit different project needs, including:

DUSTEX® Hydramist 12 GT:  6–8m throw 

DUSTEX® Hydramist 35GT: 10–35m throw

DUSTEX® Hydramist 40: 40m throw

DUSTEX® Hydramist 60 Up to 60m throw

A DUSTEX® Hydramist suppression unit is a self-contained, mobile water-mist cannon that projects a spray of water particles into the air to intercept and pull airborne dust to the ground, to reduce dust emissions.

Our range of DUSTEX® Hydramist units are popular when demolishing large structures. Install a dust suppression unit, which sprays a fine mist of water to reduce airborne dust cause by demolition activity. However, every project must be treated on its own merits, and the nature, scale and constraints of each will determine which unit is best suited for your application.

Yes, all equipment and systems are designed to help you meet health and safety legislation, including COSHH and HSE guidance, ensuring safe working conditions and compliance for your site.

Airborne dust and odours can be a huge problem, particularly in summer months, however both can be controlled and reduced using a fine spray of water. RVT Group offers a wide range of DUSTEX® Hydramist water mist cannons, and each product has been designed for a different application.

Some dust fogging systems provide a very fine water mist, whereas other water cannons provide a high concentration of water to pull heavier dust particles to the ground. Our units vary in size and can offer a throw of between 10m and 80m. Some models feature an integrated water tank for convenience, whereas other units need to be connected to a water supply; each are best suited to different applications. The applications where you might consider using a water mist cannon include; quarrying, groundworks, demolition, construction, land remediation, waste handling, aggregate processing, recycling and mining.

Our vacuums help control and extract hazardous dust from the workplace, reducing inhalation risk and helping you comply with HSE / COSHH regulations.

Yes, all of our dust vacuums are available for temporary hire.

Yes. Many of our vacuums are designed for on-site mobility for maneuverability in heavy-duty environments.

Yes, for example, the DUSTEX® B2 Vacuum is a wet-and-dry unit. It can vacuum powders, dust, solids, and liquids without changing configuration.

M-Class vacuums, such as the DUSTEX® B2 Vacuum and DUSTEX® B4 Vacuum, are certified to handle common construction dusts like silica and wood dust, meeting moderate hazard levels.

H-Class vacuums, such as the DUSTEX® B3 Vacuum, are designed for very hazardous dust, such as silica, lead, carbon, cinogenic or toxic substances for maximum protection.

Find out more about the difference between M-Class and H-Class vacuums here.

We provide a range of industrial-grade dust vacuums, including M-Class and H-Class filter units. Examples include the DUSTEX® B2 Vacuum and DUSTEX® B4 Vacuum which are rated M-Class, and DUSTEX® B3 Vacuum which is rated H-Class.

It is important to use the correct class of dust extraction vacuum. As a general rule of thumb, if you are working with hard woods, board materials, concrete or brick dust, you are likely to require an M class vacuum, however if you are working with silica, lead, carbon or other carcinogenic or toxic substances, you should select a H class vacuum. To accurately assess which class of vacuum you require, please see below:

M Class < 0.1% Dusts with maximum allowable concentrations ≥ 0.1 mg/m³

H Class < 0.005% Dusts with maximum allowable concentrations < 0.1 mg/m³

The HSE explain that, "dry sweeping concrete dust and other building debris can produce high levels of dust". As such, it is advisable to use an industrial vacuum with a wide floor bar, rather than a broom.

It is important to select the correct class of dust extraction vacuum depending on the materials you are working with, see our question below for more information on vacuum classes.

RVT offer a wide range of vacuums for hire including; DUSTEX® B2 Vacuum, DUSTEX® B3 Vacuum and the DUSTEX® B4 Vacuum. Each vacuum offers unique benefits such as floor bar attachments and on-tool extraction options, depending on the type of work being carried out.

Our dust enclosures will help you meet HSE requirements, protect workers from harmful airborne particles such as silica, and maintain clean, compliant working zones. They also reduce clean-up time and minimise cross-contamination risks, especially in sensitive environments.

Yes, RVT Group’s dust enclosures and extraction equipment is exclusively available for temporary hire. We also provide consultancy support to help you pick the right system for your project.

Choose your enclosure based on your working environment, the nature of the dust, and mobility needs. For static, sensitive environments, consider a rigid containment system such as the DUSTEX® Aire Guardian Rigid Containment Unit. For maintenance and renovation, our DUSTEX® Mobile Containment Unit may be more suitable. Also, pair your enclosure with the right extraction unit (e.g. Raptor or DustMaster Pro) to achieve proper dust control and containment. Please contact us for advice on your specific project.

Yes, many of our dust containment products use fire-resistant materials. For example, the DUSTEX® Pop-up Tent and DUSTEX® Dust Trap are made of flame retardant material. The DUSTEX® Mobile Containment Unit is made of fire resistant poly fabric which has been independently tested and verified. 

The DUSTEX® Aire Guardian Rigid Containment Unit meets Fire Classification Certification to EN13501-1:2007+A1:2010.

Very easy. For example, our DUSTEX® Mobile Containment Unit has a lightweight aluminium frame, lockable wheels, and folds down for transport or storage. Our DUSTEX® Pop-up Tent  is an easy-to-erect enclosure which can be set up by one or two people. The structure of the tent means it can be broken down and relocated if needed or stored away when not in use to keep the work area free of obstruction.

The 3C's (capture, contain, control) is a methodology created by RVT Group for the control of site hazards.

This methodology can be applied to dust control;

1. Capture the dust at source by positioning the dust extraction hood as close as possible to the activity.
2. Contain the immediate work area to prevent dust/fume migrating.
3. Control the hazard further, by putting the room under negative pressure; this will ensure zero dust migration.

We achieve this by combining our sealed dust containment systems with a high-performance extraction units. For example, you can pair a DUSTEX® Aire Guardian Rigid Containment Unit with our DUSTEX® DustMaster® Pro extraction unit to maintain negative pressure, ensuring dust can’t escape. We refer to this as The 3C’s® Methodology.

Yes. Many of our dust enclosures are modular, meaning you can expand or shrink them to suit the job at hand. Others, like the DUSTEX® Mobile Containment Unit, are lightweight, collapsible, and mounted on wheels, making it easy to move around as work progresses.

Yes, for example, our DUSTEX® Aire Guardian Rigid Containment Unit is ideal for environments like hospitals and food manufacturing sites, where maintaining a dust-free zone is critical. Additionally, our DUSTEX® Mobile Containment Unit is designed for use in space-limited or sterile areas, such as hospital corridors, making it perfect for maintenance and renovation work.

Our enclosures are engineered to prevent dust migration by creating sealed or semi-sealed environments. When paired with our extraction units, such as the DUSTEX® DustMaster® Pro they can create a negative pressure environment to capture harmful particles at the source and ensure effective dust containment.

We supply a variety of dust containment enclosures to suit different industrial and construction needs including rigid modular units, mobile containment frames, and flexible all-in-one enclosures. These systems are designed to control and isolate airborne dust in your workspace.

Yes, our dust extraction systems undergo Thorough Examination and Testing before leaving our warehouse, so you can rest assured that it’s compliant and in peak working condition when it reaches you. Our LEV testing is carried out by qualified LEV engineers who hold BOHS (British Occupational Hygiene Society) certifications (e.g. P600, P601, P604). Click here to find out more about our TExT process.

The DUSTEX® Raptor is a lightweight portable unit. The majority of DUSTEX® units, such as the DUSTEX® DustMaster® Pro and DUSTEX® Wandafilta Pro, are on castor wheels meaning that they are very mobile and can easily be moved around site as work progresses.

Wherever possible, hazardous dust should be filtered rather than simply extracted from the work area, because the dust could create a hazard where it is being emitted. RVT offer a wide range of ATEX certified units and our consultants can help you select the best solution for your application. Phone us on 0808 178 3286 to discuss your requirements.

This answer isn’t straight forward. The COSHH definition of a substance hazardous to health includes “dust of any kind when present at a concentration in air equal to or greater than 10 mg.m-3 8-hour TWA of inhalable dust or 4 mg.m-3 8-hour TWA of respirable dust”. However, there are 500 substances individually listed within EH40 Workplace Exposure Limits, therefore we would strongly recommend that you download a free copy of this document from the HSE website.

RVT's EU4 filter is washable and can be re-used, which makes it both sustainable and cost effective. Our EU7 and HEPA filters are disposable.

What is an 'air scrubber' or a 'dust scrubber'?

When construction workers ask for an 'air scrubber', quite often they are looking for a portable dust extraction/ filtration unit. Typically, 'air scrubbers' do not feature a capture hood and so they cannot be used to effectively capture dust at source - this results in a lot of airborne dust and the work force is not adequately protected from respiratory hazards.

To achieve effective dust control, the HSE recommends using an LEV system that has a suitable size capture hood and sufficient air flow. They also recommend containing the work area as much as possible to reduce the risk to other people who may be nearby.

An EU4 filter is classified as a filter which captures 90% of airborne particles, measured by weight. However, it must be remembered that the majority of harmful pollutants are so tiny that they make up only a tiny proportion of the dust by weight. As such, an EU4 filter is generally used as the first level of filtration (not the only level of filtration) in an RVT dust extraction unit.

An EU7 filter is classified as a filter which is between 80 and 90% efficient at capturing dust particles of 1 micron in size.

H13 and H14 HEPA filters are within the highest tier of HEPA air filtration and are considered to be medical-grade. A H13 filter can remove 99.97% of harmful particulate whilst a H14 grade filter will remove 99.99%.

RVT offer a wide range of HEPA extractor units, our most popular units are the DUSTEX® Raptor, DUSTEX® DustMaster® Pro and DUSTEX® Wandafilta Pro.

A HEPA Extractor is a fine filter dust extractor.

HEPA stands high-efficiency particulate air, and refers to the efficiency of the filter at trapping extremely fine airborne particles. Filters are regarded as a ‘true HEPA’ (EU13 or higher) if they filter to an efficiency of more than 99.97% in 0.3 Microns in size.

The 3C's® (capture, contain, control) is a methodology created by RVT Group for the control of site hazards.

This methodology can be applied to dust control;

1. Capture the dust at source by positioning the dust extraction hood as close as possible to the activity.
2. Contain the immediate work area to prevent dust/fume migrating.
3. Control the hazard further, by putting the room under negative pressure; this will ensure zero dust migration.

The DUSTEX® DustMaster® Pro has specifically been designed for use in sensitive environments such as hospitals, laboratories, food manufacturing factories and other 'live' environments. The DustMaster Pro is a high airflow unit which is capable of creating a negative pressure, furthermore it is a 100% sealed unit, therefore ensuring zero dust migration. The DUSTEX® DustMaster® Pro can also hold up to 3 stages of filter media, including either a H13 or H14 HEPA filter.

In 2020, the EH40/2005 ‘Workplace exposure limits’ were revised, specifying that exposure limits for Hardwood dusts has reduced from 5mg/m3 to 3mg/m3, and if hardwood dusts are mixed with other wood dusts, the new WEL will apply to all wood dusts present in that mixture.

As such, we recommend using a high airflow dust extractor with a HEPA filter to ensure that workers are suitably protected from wood dust. RVT's Dustex Raptor, DUSTEX® DustMaster® Pro and DUSTEX® Wandafilta Pro all feature a HEPA filter, but we also offer the DUSTEX® DustoMat 10 and the DUSTEX® D4 Extractor ATEX which have been specifically designed to capture and filter sawdust and wood shavings from woodworking machinery. For more information about keeping workers protected from exposure to wood dust, please download our Wood Dust Whitepaper.

The DUSTEX® DustMaster® Pro is the most efficient dust filtration unit we have brought to market to date. With a high-performance mixed-flow fan, a 100% sealed capture chamber, and 3-stages of filter media including HEPA, this unit would be first choice for any stone cutting activities.

The DUSTEX® DustoMat 16 has also been designed to manage high volumes of stone dust created by dry-cutting masonry work and could be a viable option.

We have a wide variety of portable dust extraction units that are suitable for stonemasonry. If you speak to an RVT consultant we can discuss your options and select the most suitable unit for your activities.

The RAVEX® Wandafilta Plus - Extraction & Filtration Kit is suitable for both dust and fume control and is therefore popular for internal demolition.

We have a wide variety of dust control solutions that are suitable for demolition. If you speak to an RVT consultant we can discuss your options and select the most suitable unit for your activities.

Seal the work area using a containment system, such as the DUSTEX® Air-lock or the DUSTEX® Aire Guardian Rigid Containment Unit and install a high pressure dust extraction unit, such as the DUSTEX® DustMaster® Pro. When the dust extraction unit is switched on, the high airflow will cause a negative pressure environment. The pressure can be monitored using the MONITEX® Differential Pressure Gauge

Negative pressure is created by extracting air out of an area; when the pressure inside the room becomes less than outside the room, it is said to be a negative pressure environment. This is a great way to control airflow, which means that it is also a great way to control the movement of dust. Negative pressure dust extraction is often used in sensitive environments to ensure zero dust migration.