Making Dry Cutting Concrete Safer And More Efficient Through Innovation
Are you interested in dry cutting concrete services but have concerns about how safe it is? Would you like to learn more about how dry concrete cutting equipment has changed over the years to ensure that all those involved work in a safe and efficient way?
From the introduction of dry cutting blades, dry cutting saws and vacuum attachments, please read on below to find out how recent innovations have changed how dry concrete cutting is done in today’s modern world.
The History Of Dry Concrete Cutting
While the invention of a blade that was capable of cutting through stone/concrete took place back in the mid-nineteen twenties, dry concrete cutting only became common practice decades later.
The first dry cutting blades, carborundum type abrasive blades, got limited use in job sites back in the fifties, sixties and seventies.
This was mainly due to the fact that the blades, even though cheaper than diamond blades used in wet concrete cutting at the time, would get worn out too quickly.
Fortunately, technological advancements saw the introduction of a more resilient dry concrete cutting blade, made by laser welding diamond segments onto a steel core, in the early eighties.
It is worth noting that all this time, dry cutting blades were only used on wet cutting concrete saws as there were no specially designed dry cutting concrete saws.
It is not until the turn of the millennium that the first dry cutting concrete saws were introduced into the market.
However, while these new innovations did not bring about the problem of the production of hazardous dust in concrete cutting, the increasing use of dry concrete cutting at job sites made it a major concern.
Solving Common Dry Cutting Problems
In wet concrete cutting, water was, and continues to be used to overcome the issue of excess dust produced during concrete cutting jobs.
However, this also brings in the need for a water source and site cleaning work due to the messy aftermath of wet cutting.
So, while dry concrete cutting helped workers avoid the issues associated with wet concrete cutting, it left them exposed to huge clouds of dust and debris.
This, combined with research findings that linked the exposure to freshly released silica dust and debris from concrete cutting and grinding operations to serious and even fatal lung conditions created the need for further innovations in the field of dry cutting concrete.
To guarantee the safety of workers, industry regulators introduced safety guidelines that required all workers to wear protective gear.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) was designed to shield workers from exposure to hazardous fumes and dust produced during dry concrete cutting projects.
However, further understanding of the issues surrounding dry cutting of concrete blocks combined with the fact that a large number of workers were still not wearing safety gear led leading dry concrete cutting saw manufacturers to add new safety measures to the saws themselves.
To ensure a safe working environment, with the lowest possible amount of hazardous dust levels, today’s dry cutting saws come with a highly effective vacuum attachment.
The attachment sucks in all of the dust and debris produced by the cutting action and dumps it into a bag.
The most advanced dry cutting saws also come with a highly capable filter that is meant to ensure that only the healthiest air is re-circulated back into the environment by removing even the smallest of these hazardous dust particles.
Conclusion
While the introduction of a stronger dry-cutting blade and specialised dry cutting saws led to the widespread use of dry cutting saws in concrete cutting projects of all sizes, the introduction of smart innovations such as the addition of vacuum attachments fitted with the most effective filtration systems is ensuring safety and efficiency in every project.
As we move into the future, you can expect to see further innovations in this regard.
If you are looking for a concrete cutting company in Melbourne that is trustworthy and reliable, then don’t go past VIC Sawing and Drilling. Call us today on (03) 8786 3621 or through our contact page.