OSHA has determined fugitive dust to be a health hazard as well as a fire hazard. OSHA has imposed fines on industries for excessive dust build-up as high as $250,000. Some industries have had explosions and fires directly due to excessive dust build–up resulting in loss of life and injuries to employees.
Industries at Risk
- Pulp
- Paper
- Food (candy, sugar, spice, starch, flour, feed)
- Fertilizer
- Wood
- Agriculture
- Fossil Fuels (coal)
- Power Generation
- Metal Processing
- Tobacco
- Grain
- Rubber
- Plastics
- Various Other Industries
Our Methods
Foam Cleaning
The most applicable for combustible or light dusts less than several inches thick commonly found on beams, cable trays, and on tops of process piping and equipment. Encapsulating foam is sprayed on the dust areas and allowed to bind with the dust in less than 10 minutes. Foam dissolves leaving a resulting waste clumped together and vacuumed for disposal. Foam prevents dust from becoming airborne during the project and spreading to resettle in other areas.
Dry Ice Blasting
The most applicable for combustible or light dusts mixed with other process wastes such as pulp, dried oil, or other hardened process chemicals. Dry Ice blasting is also recommended when the waste debris is greater than several inches in depth. Dry Ice blasting can be used in conjunction with foam and vacuum cleaning to eliminate oil or chemical deposit scale post removal of waste dust and heavy solids.
Foam Cleaning
Fugitive Dust Foam Cleaning Benefits
- In most cases, foam cleaning can be done while in production.
- Disposal of dust after cleaning can be done with the methods the plant uses normally.
- Foaming agent is non-caustic.
- Foaming agent during use poses a limited health risk.
- Low water content or moisture content created by the use of foam.
Cleanable Surfaces
- Painted Surfaces
- I-Beams
- Ledges
- Insulation with Neoprene
- Covering
- Fiber Glass
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- Hoods
- Cable Trays
- Metal
- Plastic
- Cinder Block
- Brick
- Stucco
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Best Used for Accumulation of
- Carbon Dust
- Fly Ash
- Regular Dust
- Paper Dust
- Wood Dust
- Coal Dust (including PRB)
- Any Non-Dissolving Dust that is not sticky or oily
Fugitive Dust Foam Cleaning Process
- Proprietary foam cleaning agent designed for the cleaning of fugitive dust is added to water.
- When sprayed this makes a foam that will encapsulate accumulated dust.
- Once encapsulated, the foam and the contained dust will slide down vertical surface.
- Once off areas difficult to reach, the dust can be vacuumed up.
- The foam will start to dissipate after application so the moisture level of the dust will vary based on the amount of accumulation and dust that needs to be removed.
Before
After
Dry Ice or CO2 Cleaning
Dry Ice Blasting or CO2 Fugitive Dust Cleaning Benefits
- Non abrasive cleaning method
- Environmentally sustainable
- Non-toxic
- Does not create secondary waste in cleaning process.
- No waste streams, residue or moisture
Cleanable Surfaces
- Metal
- Electrical boxes
- Generators
- Pipes
- Valves and gauges
- Vessels
- Industrial Motors and Components
- Plate Exchangers
- Heat exchangers
- Turbines
- Motors
Best Used for Accumulation of
- Dust mixed with grease
- Oil Build Up
- Mold Remediate
- Corroding Agent Removal
- Soluble salts
- Corrosion
Dry Ice Blasting or CO2 Fugitive Dust Cleaning Process
- Pellet size ice is loaded into the Dry Ice Blaster machine
- Dry Ice is projected out of a shotgun at extreme high speed.
- The grease (or other material) and dust is lifted due to impact of the velocity of the ice from the shotgun.
- Due to velocity of ice, it dissipates on contact leaving a dry clean surface.
Before
During
After
