Dust Containment, Dust Abatement, and More Words You Should Know

During the process of choosing the right dust containment products, the documentation you encounter might not always be clear. We have put together this post of containment terminology that should help you when considering the best products and processes for your facility.

Ceiling Access

Ceiling access is what electrical contractors and other construction and maintenance professionals need to do work above the ceiling tiles in a building. This type of access can cause a great deal of dust or debris to be released into the air. Ceiling access is one of the most common reasons a facility will need to enact dust containment procedures. 

Dust Abatement

Dust abatement is a term used most often in construction. While it also refers to the control of dust and debris, it is most frequently used to prevent air pollution from soil dust during construction. Continuous wetting of an area so as to minimize airborne dust is the most frequent way dust abatement is achieved.

Dust Containment

Dust containment is a general term used to describe the process of ensuring that dust and debris from the site of building maintenance, construction, or renovation does not travel from that site into sensitive areas. This term is most often used in reference to healthcare facilities, cleanrooms, pharmaceutical facilities, and other environments where cleanliness is paramount.

HEPA Filter

HEPA stands for high-efficiency particulate air. For an air filter to be labeled as a HEPA filter, it must remove at least 99.97% of all particles larger than 0.03 microns.

ICRA

ICRA is the acronym for Infection Control Risk Assessment. The ICRA matrix is key to developing proper infection control protocols and include what type of precautions must be taken for different maintenance projects. The matrix was developed by the American Society of Healthcare Engineers (ASHE).

Infection Control

Infection control is a practical branch of epidemiology that is focused on preventing hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) through the use of proper hygiene and germ control protocols.

Mobile Dust Containment Cart

A mobile containment cart, such as those HEPACART™ sells, is an enclosure on wheels that includes the equipment necessary to prevent the transfer of dust and other airborne particles during maintenance. A mobile containment cart may contain airtight plastic or metal, locking casters, a ladder, a negative air machine, and an air filter, depending on the model.

Negative Air Machine

A negative air machine provides negative air flow so as to ensure that all the air within a certain contained environment, such as a mobile  containment cart, is thoroughly filtered before it is released back into the general environment at a facility.

Helpful dust containment tools:

- The HEPACART® Mobile Containment Cart
- HEPAFORCE® Negative Air Machines
- DUSTBUGGY® Mobile Containment Cart