Dustless (Wet) Sandblasting Benefits

Sandblasting a hard surface creates dust that ends up in the air and on nearby surfaces. It also requires a fair amount of setting up before and cleaning up after sandblasting is complete.

To suppress dust from abrasive blasting, companies like Clemco offer products that make dustless (also known as wet) blasting possible.

Such sandblasting is done by placing water rings at the nozzle of the blast hose. They push water into the media and air mixture as it exits the hose, allowing the dust to become similar in consistency to a mist from the moisture collected by the abrasive.

Wetblast FLEX, an all-in-one wetblast system, is another way to perform dustless blasting.

The Wet Blast Flex has two ways of introducing water to the media stream. One way is at the media valve itself which allows the media and water to mix in the blast hose and create a slurry. The other way is by introducing water in the nozzle holder, just before both the media and water exit the nozzle. This option adds some weight to the hose that the operator will have to deal with, but it also allows for full control of how much water is being introduced to the media stream. The Wet Blast Flex can either be fed water from a garden hose or, in areas where water is not available, you can fill the 120-gallon water tank beforehand.

Although dustless blasting does not eliminate all dust, it significantly lessens it.

Sandblasting in California

Residents of California must be aware of sandblasting regulations.

The California Environmental Protection Agency Air Resources Board (ARB) has several documents explaining sandblasting regulations listed in the California Code of Regulations Title 17, Subchapter 6 Abrasive Blasting (17 CCR).

A legal interpretation regarding a portion of the Abrasive Sandblasting Regulation reads:

ARB’s abrasive blasting regulations (17 CCR sections 92000 et seq.) require all abrasive blasting operations be conducted outside of permanent buildings and that do not exclusively use steel or iron shot/grit to use either wet abrasive blasting, hydroblasting, vacuum blasting, or abrasives certified for permissible dry outdoor blasting.

In other words, ARB does not allow sandblasters to use steel or iron shot media for any type of sandblasting—including wet abrasive blasting. Further, any sandblasting done outside must be done on permanent, stable structures.

Visible Emissions Standards

Since emissions from sandblasting can contribute to air pollution, requirements were applied to abrasive blasting operations in relation to visible emission standards.

The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District explains that visible emissions standards “apply to both confined and unconfined abrasive blasting.” Confined sandblasting takes place indoors, whereas unconfined takes place outside.

Part of the regulation concerns opacity. Air pollution regulators define opacity as a “visual evaluation of the amount of one’s views that is obscured by a dust plume” and assess emissions with state and federal guidelines.

It further explains that visible emissions created from confined blasting are limited to 20% opacity, and unconfined blasting emissions are limited to 40% opacity. More information can be found  here.

Regulations explain unconfined abrasive wet blasting is permissible if the item to be blasted is more than eight feet in any dimension and is in a permanent location.

The  official document provides a more in-depth explanation.

Urban and residential areas often complain about the amount of dust in the air produced by sandblasting.

For more information on California sandblasting standards, certifications, and contact information, visit the  Abrasive Blasting Program website.

Dustless, or wet, blasting helps decrease the amount of dust in the air, and even reduces workers’ exposure to the dust making it safer.

Wet blasting is beneficial at any time, however it is especially helpful in complying to federal and state sandblasting regulations.