Construction, mining, demolition, woodwork – they can all get very dusty, very quickly. However, dust suppression systems can help reduce the amount of dust particles in the air, limiting the negative effects on both people and the environment associated with extensive dust exposure.
Learn more about the dust suppression methods and solutions offered by Ace Plant and how to choose the best dust suppression system for your site below.
What is dust suppression?
Dust suppression is a process used to restrict airborne dust particles. Dust suppression systems are used in environments where large volumes of dust are produced, such as quarries, construction sites and roads. At Ace Plant, we offer a wide range of effective dust suppression solutions to suit our customers’ requirements.
Dust suppression methods
Wet suppression systems
The purpose of a wet suppression system is to increase the weight of each dust particle. This reduces the likelihood of the dust becoming airborne. This moisture creates larger, much heavier groups of dust particles, making it increasingly difficult for air movement to lift and carry the dust particles away.
To achieve this affect, water must be applied through a number of appropriately sized spray nozzles at the specific location wherein the desired area expands and takes in air. Any dust particles that could become airborne come into contact with the water sprayed, keeping dust at bay.
Dry suppression systems
A dry suppression system is commonly presented as an ultra-fine-fog suppression system, and acts in the same way as a fabric filter; dust particles will be unable to pass through the filter without coming into contact with a droplet. This method reduces the surface tension of the water droplets, while increasing the number of droplets in an area.
This system often works best wherein the ‘fog’ is able to be generated above the problem area, and should be set up in such a way that the desired area is able to be shrouded, therefore eliminating the risk of dissipation due to environmental conditions.
Our fan assisted range of dust suppressions systems can also be aimed, turned on and off, and oscillated at the touch of a button, making them easy to use and effective on site.
In some circumstances, several dry suppression systems may be required.
Choosing a dust suppression system for your site
If you’re trying to decide on the best dust suppression solution for your site, there are a few questions to consider:
How large is your site?
A major factor in your decision-making process should be the size of your site. Dust control methods can be used across a wide range of environments, including car parks, quarry roads, farms, and construction sites. With this in mind, the first thing to consider is how large your site is and how much of your site requires dust control.
What capacity do you require?
At Ace Plant, we manufacture one of the largest ranges of dust suppression units in a variety of capacities and sizes.
If your site is small, consider our 2250L unit, which is easily towable behind most vehicles, and achieves a spray of 5 metres.
For larger sites, we offer a 9000L tractor-operated unit which provides a much higher volume of water application.
If your site lies in between sizes, our 7200L dust suppression system could be the best choice – it provides a high volume of water application whilst being slightly more compact in size.
As another option, we also offer a 1800L telehandler/loader mounted Quickspray unit. This dust suppression system is incredibly efficient as it utilises our carbon fibre spinning disc to atomise water into a fine mist.
Do you need to tow it?
Being able to tow your dust suppression unit behind your vehicle or tractor is highly advantageous. With this in mind, most of our units are towable, meaning they can be transported easily to wherever you need them. Alongside our towable units, the SMART Dust Fighter is a light and portable option that is ideal for smaller working areas, achieving an impressive reach of 13 metres.
Hire or Buy?
Once you have decided upon the suitable dust suppression unit for your site, you should consider whether you want to hire or buy your equipment. We have a large range of reliable systems available for short and long-term hire periods. In addition, we offer a variety of new and used equipment for sale.
5 benefits of dust suppression systems
1. Worker and public health
Did you know, that the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002 stipulates that workers must be adequately protected against wood dust in the workplace? Sites where employees might be sawing timber, for example, require effective dust suppression units in order to prevent overexposure to wood dust. The Workplace Exposure Limit for hardwood dust is 3mg/m3, and 5mg/m3 for softwood.
A dust suppression unit is also necessary for coal mining operations, as coal dust particles are highly carcinogenic, with inhalation putting workers at risk of coal workers’ pneumoconiosis (CWP). Similarly, silica dust found on quarry sites can cause silicosis, a progressive and sometimes fatal lung disease
2. Road safety
High levels of dust in the air can affect visibility, both on site where your business is operating heavy machinery, and on nearby roads used by members of the public.
Lots of dust on roads can also reduce traction for vehicles, so it’s essential to, firstly, prevent dust blowing over to public roads, and secondly, ensure you have the proper dust suppression equipment available to clean up if needed.
3. Protecting equipment
Exposure to dust poses a risk to workers, but it can damage your equipment too. High levels of dust can clog up air filters or small parts of your machinery that are hard to reach and clean. This could incur maintenance and cleaning issues, reduce your machine’s efficiency, and could even lead to eventual damage and breakdown.
4. Lowering maintenance costs
Suppressing dust levels on-site reduces wear on your equipment and hence minimises the chances of replacing machinery or parts in the future. Repair work can be costly, but also consider the health and safety risks involved with regular cleaning of dusty equipment like straining or lifting., Suppressing dust levels acts as a preventative measure, allowing your team to focus on the job at hand.
5. Increasing visibility
Another dangerous consequence of dust pollution is the obstruction of vision on site. Not only does reduced visibility compromise worker safety, but it can also pose a hazard to nearby roads or residential areas. Reduced visibility due to dusty air particles increases the chances of road accidents, so it’s crucial to prevent this when overseeing a project.
How can Ace Plant help?
At Ace Plant, we have over 45 years of experience in plant hire and sales. As specialists in dust suppression and Bunded Diesel and AdBlue Storage, we pride ourselves on exceptional customer service and our wealth of expertise within the industry.
From 2250L to 9000L, we manufacture one of the largest ranges of mobile dust suppression units. We have a long and solid history in engineering, with the knowledge and experience to build bespoke products to meet your specific requirements. Since our founding in 1973, we have now grown into a wide variety of industries including quarrying, civil engineering, waste management, construction, demolition and more.
For more information about any of our dust suppression equipment or wider services, contact us today and we’ll be happy to help.