The construction industry is one of the biggest contributors of air pollution worldwide. In fact, construction accounts for 30% of PM10 in London. Dust and emissions produced on construction sites doesn’t just damage the environment, but can be harmful to all those on and around the site. COPD affects a large percentage of construction workers – the biggest health risks being silica dust, wood dust, diesel fumes, solvents and asbestos particles.
Of course, the construction industry is aware of this, and in recent decades we have seen major improvements made to combat air pollution. Below are some of the biggest improvements helping to make air quality better.
On-tool extraction
On-tool extraction is a way of capturing airborne dust and particles directly at the source. Power tools are fitted with an extraction hose which is attached to an industrial vacuum to automatically vacuum away dust. This can significantly reduce worker exposure to harmful particles, while also helping construction companies adhere to air quality regulations.
The best on-tool dust extractors have specialist HEPA filters that clean themselves. Many modern models also have auto-start features that ensure that they only run when the tool is active. You can buy extractors in various different sizes – construction sites typically use portable 10 litre to 15 litre options, but bigger options are available for jobs that create huge amounts of dust.
Water-based dust suppression
During earthworks and demolition activities, dust suppression techniques often need to be used to stop dust spreading. Water-based dust suppression has become the most common technique on construction sites – it involves using sprinklers and misting systems to bind dust particles together and make them heavier so that they drop immediately instead of becoming airborne.
While chemical suppressants can also be used, water is more eco-friendly and often more cost-effective in many situations. Handheld sprayers can be used for small projects, while water trucks can be hired for more serious dust mitigation. Construction sites in windy areas or locations with water shortages may have to look into other dust suppression methods, although emerging technologies are helping to adapt water-based dust suppression to these environments.
Polythene dust screens
Another way to limit the spread of dust is to use physical barriers such as polythene dust screens. These are commonly used in buildings to stop particles travelling into other rooms when painting, sanding or plastering. Scaffolding can also be covered with dust screens to prevent dust travelling out of buildings while constructing them. These dust screens are transparent, allowing light to still pass in so that work can be carried out with care.
A benefit of these dust screens is that they are often very cheap to purchase and install compared to other dust mitigation equipment. To be truly effective, it’s crucial that there are tight seals and that screens are secured against high winds for optimal dust containment. Other materials can be used as dust screens, but polythene is favoured for being lightweight, waterproof and completely impermeable to dust.
Flameless portable heaters
In colder climates, on-site heating is often necessary to keep workers warm and protect materials from moisture and frost damage. Traditional oil and gas heater systems can be effective, but produce a lot of emissions. Not only can this be damaging to the environment, but it can be a danger to workers if a site is not well ventilated. This is where flameless portable heaters have their benefits – they are designed to not create any fumes.
There are various different flameless solutions that you can look into. The most basic options are electric fan heaters and infrared heaters – these are fumeless, but may offer limited power and range, making them better suited to heating smaller spaces than larger sites. Flameless jet engine heaters are the heavy duty solution you need for warming up bigger spaces. They are commonly used in sub-zero conditions for providing quick heat – they deliver clean breathable air that is suitable for enclosed spaces.
Electric NRMM
Non-road mobile machinery (NRMM) includes equipment like excavators, bulldozers and loaders. Much of this equipment is fuelled by diesel, but an increasing amount of this equipment is now being electrified.
The biggest advantage of going electric is lower emissions on construction sites. Electric heavy machinery is also often a lot quieter. This makes such equipment recommended in urban construction sites where laws may require companies to meet certain emission and noise regulations. Developments in battery life are helping to make electric NRMM more efficient for long hours of use. Such equipment also tends to be lower maintenance – less mechanical parts means less to go wrong, which often means a lot of money saved in repairs.
Off-site fabrication
A growing number of construction companies are exploring the benefits of off-site fabrication. This is when components are built in a factory or workshop and then shipped to the construction site to be assembled. Off-site fabrication can reduce the amount of time spent on construction sites – speeding up construction projects and also reducing emissions by instead containing most of them to a climate controlled indoor environment.
Pre-fabrication is mostly commonly used for things like carpentry and metalwork, but can also be used for applying finishes. In fact, it’s possible to build entire rooms off-site and furnish them, before piecing them together on-site. Certain construction tasks like bricklaying cannot be carried out off-site, but the large majority of jobs can be.
How will air quality improve on construction sites in the future?
As more construction sites continue to adopt the above air quality control measures, air pollution will continue to be reduced. More equipment is almost certain to be electrified, while methods like water-based dust suppression will become more widespread and more accurate at controlling dust. Off-site fabrication meanwhile is already being increasingly relied upon and is expected to see huge growth in the future.
Other technologies like AI and IoT will likely allow for smarter emissions controls. This includes using real time data on the weather to improve and automate dust suppression. Robotic machinery with fitted dust extraction systems will meanwhile be able to further minimise dust spread.
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