Dust Mitigation Pump Case Study

The Challenges

One of the challenges of grinding these types of ﬂooring materials is eliminating the harmful silica dust that is created. Small particles become airborne and prolonged exposure has been associated with lung damage. To protect workers, OSHA enacted regulations requiring users of indoor concrete grinding equipment to utilize some form of dust suppression to control silica dust particles with a median size of 10 microns or less.

Superabrasive initially considered using a HEPA vacuum system to collect the dust particles and comply with OSHA standards. However, while the form factor would work with their LAVINA line, HEPA systems struggle to capture all of the 4-10 median dust particles. OSHA regulations specify that workers not be exposed to more than 50 micrograms of silica dust per cubic meter of air within in an eight-hour period.

Developing a Solution

In search of a more effective solution to the silica dust problem, Superabrasive turned to Pumptec. They wanted a way to integrate a misting system into their concrete grinding equipment. Our engineers helped design a system with a nozzle size appropriate for their desired ﬂows and pressures. The misting system comprises four .006 nozzles around the outside of the base of the unit creating a “dust curtain.” An adjustable 50-1000 PSI system allows for precise pressure adjustments to speciﬁc nozzles.

The mist produces a droplet size that matches that of the silica dust; encapsulating it and holding it to the ground instead of allowing it to become airborne. Its ﬂow is low enough for suppressing the dust without creating a silica slurry on the ground and yet is high enough to allow the grinders to run a secondary larger nozzle for wet grinding with the simple turn of a ball valve.

DUST MITIGATION PUMP CASE STUDY: SUPERABRASIVE

Superabrasive

The Challenges

Developing a Solution

The Outcome

Product Used

Pumptec 113C