ConExpo 2020: Brokk introduces dust suppression system

Sweden-based Brokk AB, a manufacturer of remote-controlled demolition robots, introduced its Brokk Dust Suppression system during ConExpo-Con/Agg 2020 in Las Vegas in March.

Brokk says its new system can help combat harmful silica dust and other airborne particles created by the demolition process. The Brokk device produces atomized fog designed to effectively bind dust particles in the air while also providing ground-level dust suppression.

Additionally, the mist dissipates, rather than forming puddles, to provide what Brokk calls a safer, cleaner jobsite. The dust suppressions is system is available to match with all Brokk remote-controlled demolition robots,

“Safety has always been paramount for Brokk, which is why, for more than 40 years, our engineers have constantly produced machines, attachments and technologies that allow operators to step away from the most dangerous and backbreaking operations,” says Martin Krupicka, president and CEO of the Brokk Group. “However, silica dust remained a concern because it is difficult to contain. Previous dust suppression methods helped, but we wanted to find a more efficient solution that optimized safety without the mess.”

Health and safety organizations have identified silica dust as a significant hazard and have enacted regulations that limit the permissible exposure for workers in the construction and demolition industry, says Brokk. Meeting these regulations has taken several forms on the jobsite. Some contractors choose to use spray systems, hoses, sprinklers, and water trucks to combat silica dust.

The size and velocity of larger droplets produced by some systems can cause air and silica particles to flow around them, in a phenomenon known as the “slipstream effect,” says the company.

Brokk says it has engineered its dust suppression system to produce 10-micron mist droplets. “This creates a fog of atomized water that captures dust particles in the air and spreads along the ground for optimal dust suppression,” states the company.

The system is incorporated into the tool mounting instead of the tool itself, allowing operators to provide silica dust protection with any Brokk attachment  — including breakers, concrete crushers and drum cutters. A hydraulic water pump is attached to the machine and can be fed with a freshwater hose or water tank. 

The Brokk system requires less water than some other methods, at about 6.75 ounces (0.2 liters) per minute. This conservative use of water can eliminate the puddles and slurry left behind by some alternative methods, reducing the need for cleaning at the end of the day and reducing slips and falls.