Safety and concern becomes an issue with concrete cutting because the concrete dust generated by the cutting action contains high respirable crystalline silica content. Breathing in this dust can lead to the development of respiratory ill health affecting your lung tissue resulting in serious breathing difficulties, depending on the extent of exposure.

Therefore, dust control becomes an important consideration when cutting concrete either with a saw or a drill or core boring bit.”

The post goes on to discuss dust control methods, including local exhaust ventilation.  In this method, the hand-held power tool is equipped with a shroud, that is equipped to a hose connected to an industrial vacuum cleaner (got all that?). This mechanism pulls the dust from the source of the cutting and quickly sucks it into the vacuum before it can be dispersed in the air. At Nilfisk, our vacuums are often used in this type of application, both in and out of the concrete industry. For instance, a boat manufacturer in florida used our GM811 with a vacuum assisted sander while prepping a fiberglass boat frame.  By using our vacuums, the facility was able improve their air quality by nearly 95%! The case study is on our website if you want to know the whole story.

Temple Allen’s robotic sanding arm, the EMMA (see photo and description below) can also be equipped with our vacuum to automatically collect dust during surface prep applications in the aerospace and wind turbine industries.

By collecting dust at the source of sanding, sawing, grinding, blasting, etc., facilities not only dramatically improve  air quality, they can also eliminate other dust hazards like combustible dust risks and slip, trip and fall hazards (OSHA’s walking/working surfaces).

For more information on any of the above, you know where to find us!

Temple Allen’s EMMA is a user-controlled all-pneumatic arm that performs surface preparation 4-7 times faster than traditional sanding. Wielding one or two vacuum-assisted power tools at a time, and connected to a Nilfisk CFM vacuum, this next-generation system removes hazardous dust and debris on the spot, before it can disperse through the air.

The Nilfisk CFM 125 will help industry professionals maintain a dust-free environment while protecting the quality of their work.  Powered by two, 800-watt motors, the plastic constructed vacuum is ideal for use with surface preparation tools and equipment.  Other features and benefits include:

• Oversized main filter ensures minimal maintenance, reducing down time.
• External filter shaker maintains the vacuum’s maximum suction power and filtration performance.
• Equipped with a paper bag filter for fine dust collection.
• Optional upstream HEPA filter for safe containment of collected debris.  HEPA filter exceeds standards of 99.97% efficiency, down to and including 0.3 microns.
• Ergonomic container release for easy emptying
• Large fixed rear wheels and locking swivel casters for improved maneuverability

The Nilfisk CFM 125 is compatible with Nilfisk CFM’s comprehensive line of accessories, including those for overheard cleaning, allowing the user to find the perfect solution for their dust and debris application.

For more information, visit www.nilfiskcfm.com.