This video from the demolition of a fire damaged house shows how quickly the air fills with glass fibers from insulation and other particulates. Residential construction contractors should consider this video before sending their demolition crews to work in these conditions without the best possible respiratory protection available.
One of our customers is a contractor who exclusively works new residential construction projects. They recently stepped outside of their comfort zone and took on the renovation of a house that had been damaged in a fire. It was a small fire that took a lot of water to put out, leaving behind extensive water, fire and smoke damage throughout. The house was still structurally sound and having just been built in the 70s, the owner was ready for a full restoration.
RELATED: PAPR Pre-Filter After 6 Hours of Fiberglass Insulation Project
While fighting the fire, the fire department got a great start on the demolition by tearing up ceilings, smashing windows, and leaving behind a lot of soggy drywall and waterlogged floors. As a construction company who doesn't regularly participate in demolition projects, they reached out to us for advice on keeping their workers safe during the project. While they wanted to be sure they were in compliance with local regulations, the ultimate goal was to protect the workers while working inside of the dank, musty, and dusty home.
Because this was a one time project for the firm, we recommended they rent a Z-Link helmet with PX5 PAPR for their team members. This way, they were assured OSHA compliance with Z89.1 hard hat and Z87+ face shield protection in addition to respiratory protection at an Assigned Protection Factor (APF) of 1000. In addition to confident compliance, the team also knew that they were being protected from 99.97% of particulates down to 0.12 microns.
The video above was filmed in the master bedroom and shows that a substantial amount of dust was already in the air before they got started with the demolition. As soon as the first crow bar was swung, glass particles from the insulation became even more visible. About 9 seconds into the video a large chunk of ceiling came down and suddenly the entire room was filled with countless particulates floating through the air.
Rent Demolition PAPRs - Respiratory Protection for Construction
Our Powered Air Purifying Respirators (PAPR) are a universal loose fit solution that provides APF 1000 respiratory protection without requiring medical evaluations and fit testing. And, unlike other tight fitting respirators, the protection isn't compromised by facial hair - shaving is optional. We have a variety of helmets, hoods, and visors for any project. Each option ensures worker productivity with a cool flow of respirable air for easy breathing and an uncompromised wide field of view. All head tops have been meticulously designed to provide comfort on long days with ratcheting adjustable fit and ultra lightweight designs.
Learn more about our PAPR (or supplied air) Respirator Rental Program here.
X1 Safety - Your Respiratory Protection Experts
RELATED: PAPR Pre-Filter After 6 Hours of Fiberglass Insulation Project
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