When it comes to renovations, dust is an inevitable part of the process. If left uncontrolled, it will get into every nook and cranny in your home, making for a tedious cleanup post-reno. Dust is made up of tiny airborne particles that vary widely in size, and understanding these sizes is key to grasping their impact. The most commonly referenced sizes are PM10 and PM2.5, where "PM" stands for Particulate Matter, followed by the particle's diameter in micrometers (µm).
PM10: These particles are smaller than 10 micrometers in diameter (about one-tenth the width of a human hair) and include dust from materials like drywall, wood, and concrete. PM10 can irritate the nose, throat, and eyes but is typically too large to penetrate deep into the lungs or get into your bloodstream.
PM2.5: Fine particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers, such as those produced from sanding, cutting, and using power tools, are particularly dangerous. Due to their small size, PM2.5 particles are not visible to the naked eye (except for in very concentrated amounts), and can enter deep into the lungs and even the bloodstream, leading to respiratory issues and long-term health risks. The only way to control PM2.5 particulate is by controlling air movement, by pressurizing or depressurizing an area with a negative air machine equipped with a properly rated filtration system.
For reference, the width of a human hair is roughly 100 micrometers wide, meaning fine particulate (PM.25) can fit on a single human hair 40 times.
You Can't Always See It
Just because you can't see it or smell it, it doesn't mean it's not there. In fact, there's a good chance you're breathing in thousands - or even hundreds of thousands of fine particles as you read this blog post. Using a particle counter is about the only way to determine how much dust there really is in the air - you can't rely on your senses!
At Impact Construction Sudbury, we utilize effective dust control techniques such as using dustless cutting tools, plastic barriers, negative and /or positive pressure systems, and up to 5-stage air filtration to capture both large and fine dust particles to keep the workplace, you, your home and your family safe and clean during renovations.
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