The creation of dust during construction and remodeling activities is a common problem among contractors. To reduce clean up, contractors typically want to contain messy, dusty areas as much possible. The best way to do this is to invest in dust control supplies. Dust control includes any item that limits the spread of debris to a single well-contained area. Dust control products include temporary barrier systems, plastic sheeting, floor and cabinet coverings, shoe covers, and other supplies.
Contractors should use dust control because it is a great way to save money and impress customers. Dust control products improve customer satisfaction and increase referrals by showing customers that you care about minimizing messes from dust, debris, and other construction materials. Since dust control contains dust generated in the work area, it makes clean up quicker and more efficient, saving you money on labor costs.
Temporary barrier systems such as ZipWall create a small area in a home or business that is physically sealed off from other spaces. These temporary barriers are a great way to limit dust to a single room, thus making the final clean up quicker and easier. They are usually made of durable aluminum poles that stretch from the floor to ceiling and tightly hold plastic sheeting to create a temporary wall. Using temporary dust barriers with plastic sheeting is a cost-effective way to minimize the spread of dust. If workers choose to seal off a single room, rather than constructing an entire temporary barrier, they can use a temporary door cover that works just as well.
Requiring workers and subcontractors to use personal protection is also an effective way to control dust. Using waterproof shoe covers over muddy boots ensures that homeowners don’t have to deal with a mess of footprints throughout their homes. Waterproof shoe covers are especially important for builders working in cold, wet, or snowy conditions during the winter.
Another thing to consider is keeping air ducts clean. Dust and debris can find its way into air vents and floor registers and can cause degraded air quality. Filtered air vent covers and air vent filter bags are a great way to keep debris from entering HVAC systems. The ProVent filter is a reusable, OSHA-approved vent protection device that filters out dust and can be used while the heating is on during construction work. Another effective vent protection is the Jimmer Air Vent Filter bag. The Jimmer is a pre-taped, breathable filter that allows the HVAC system to operate during construction or renovation activities. Duct cover film is another cost-effective way to prevent particles from entering vents.
Adhesive mats (also known as sticky mats) are also an effective tool to prevent the spread of dust. If an adhesive mat is placed at the entrance of each doorway, the dust and debris from uncovered shoes sticks to the mat instead of being tracked into the work area. Using adhesive mats is great for customer service as well; homeowners love seeing that contractors are taking extra steps to be respectful and clean during the construction or renovation process.
If you are a general contractor working on a hospital renovation project, controlling dust is a legal requirement to ensure patient safety. The dust kicked up from remodeling or renovating may have toxic molds and other harmful particles, and with the compromised immune systems of many hospital patients, these particles may prove deadly. Quite often during hospital renovation projects, contractors will be required to use HEPA vacuums and air scrubbers, which filter 99.7% of potentially toxic particles from the air. HEPA vacuums and air scrubbers may also be used in conjunction with mobile containment units, which create a portable, easily constructed enclosure. In the enclosure, workers can access ceiling panels or walls without worrying about the spread of dust. Mobile containment units are OSHA approved for hospital renovation.
These are only a few of the most popular dust control methods for construction and renovation. For more information about these products, or about dust control generally, visit Builders Site Protection at www.buildsitepro.com.
