When individuals work in high-risk environments with hazardous airborne materials such as asbestos or silica dust, precautions must be taken to ensure health and safety. A lower pressure sprayer/fogger is one such way that individuals can do this. In this article, we explain exactly what a low pressure sprayer is, what they’re used for and how to use them to minimise risks in hazardous environments.
So, what is a low pressure sprayer? A low pressure sprayer is a machine used to dampen environments containing hazardous airborne fibres. This helps to control their airborne fibres and lessens health risks associated with breathing in toxic materials. Some low pressure sprayers can also be used to clean down such environments once a job is complete.
Read on to learn more about low pressure sprayers and how they are used.
What is a Low Pressure Sprayer?
Low pressure sprayers are liquid spray guns that operate at low pressure, often at 3 bars or lower. They are particularly useful in the removal of asbestos as a way of damping airborne fibres.
As well as dampening airborne fibres, low pressure sprayers can also be used to wash down inside an enclosure once jobs are completed.
What is a Low Pressure Sprayer User For?
Low pressure sprayers are used across a number of industries for different purposes, but in this article, we’re focusing on low pressure sprayers being used to minimise the risk of hazardous materials. They are used as a way of dampening toxic materials to lessen the risk of them becoming airborne and entering the lungs.
Such hazardous materials may include:
- Asbestos
- Silica dust
- Wood dust
- Cement dust
Benefits of Using a Low Pressure Sprayer
Other methods can be used to wet asbestos materials and reduce airborne fibres, however this is the preferred method for many professionals. Benefits of using a low pressure sprayer, like ours at Thermac, over other methods include:
- Saves time on alternative methods such as using a wet roller
- Conforms with the British Standard for equipment used in the controlled wetting of asbestos containing materials: BS 8520.1.2009
- Can be used with surfactant mix
- Some low pressure sprayers come with a range of nozzles that provide a variety of droplet and mist sizes to suit the requirements of different jobs
How to Use a Low Pressure Sprayer
When spraying asbestos or other hazardous materials with a low pressure sprayer, users need to take care as to not disturb the fibres by adhering to the following processes, as advised by HSE.
- Dilute a wetting agent with water according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Water alone is not sufficient
- Spray the asbestos materials carefully to avoid disturbing the asbestos or leaving dry patches
- Allow the spray to fall onto the asbestos materials rather than hitting it with a jet stream
- Use a slow backwards and forwards motion, working methodically across the material to avoid leaving dry patches
- Be careful to not over-wet the material as this create a slurry that will be difficult to clean up
- Be aware that some asbestos materials, such as board/sheet cannot be wetted sufficiently, therefore additional methods should be used, e.g. a H-Type Vacuum
Low Pressure Sprayers at Thermac
At Thermac we have developed our own low pressure sprayer/fogger that complies with the BS8520.1.2009 regulations; the airless sprayer operates at lower than 3 bars and can be used to dampen and wash down areas containing hazardous fibres such as asbestos.
Take a look at our low pressure foggers online today, or get in touch with our team for more information.