Re-tiling projects invariably include at least some demolition to remove the existing tile installation. The breaking, cutting and grinding of cement and masonry products releases is messy. But demolition debris is not just a housekeeper’s nightmare, it is also a serious health threat. Chronic long-term exposure and brief high-level exposure to the silica dust that is produced can cause silicosis, a horrible, disabling, and usually fatal lung disease. For people who suffer from asthma, emphysema, or other respiratory conditions, short-term low-level exposure to the dust can be life-threatening. Therefore, before we begin the demolition process, we prepare the work zone with project-specific dust control measures, that may include:
- Installation of Zip Walls & Zip Doors to isolate the air in the construction zone from the rest of the building
- Sealing off the air vents and returns inside the work zone
- Deployment of one or two HEPA-filter air scrubbers, each capable of filtering 99.97% of all dust particles greater than 0.3 micron from 500 cubic feet of air per minute. When necessary, these can be set up as negative air machines outside the work zone by sealing the air intake port to a hole cut in a Zip Wall or Zip Door.
- Running exhaust ducts from each air scrubber to outside the home, so that the clean, but powerful air streams do not stir up resident dust from the rest of the building
- Use of HEPA-filter dust extractors on tools which are fitted with vacuum extraction ports
- Use of HEPA-filter vacuums to capture fine dust when cleaning up demolition debris
- Use of sticky mats at entrances to containment zone
- Placement of drop clothes along the pathway between the work zone and the building exit
- Use of self-adhesive carpet protection film that can be vacuumed to remove dust. This prevents dust from getting down inside the pile of the carpet.
Additional dust control measures may be established, as appropriate for any specific project.
