Technology Demonstration of Wet Abrasive Blasting for Removal of Lead- and Asbestos-Containing Paint
Abstract
A group of 194Os-era concrete block buildings at Fort Carson, CO, must be demolished, but they are coated' with lead-based paint containing asbestos filler that must both be disposed of as hazardous waste. In order to decrease waste disposal costs, an improved method was needed to remove both coatings while rendering the lead-containing debris non-leachable). This technology demonstration showed that wet blasting using an engineered abrasive can safely and effectively remove lead- and asbestos-containing paint from exterior concrete masonry unit walls, producing an asbestos-free substrate ready for conven- tional demolition or renovation. The combination of water injection into the blasting process and a ventilated containment structure produced zero visible emissions and complied with applicable asbestos and lead air quality standards. Use of the chemical stabilizing product Blastox in the dry blast media eliminated the toxic lead characteristic from the paint removal waste. The estimated unit area cost (UAC) of the demonstrated technology was $7.87/sq ft, compared with an average contracted cost of $8.15/sq ft. Elimination of the hazardous waste stream provides the user with other benefits, including reductions in permitting, storage, and handling costs. The primary limitation of the technology is substrate damage caused by the aggressiveness of the abrasive.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 2003
- Accession Number
- ADA429620
Entities
People
- Ashok Kumar
- Larry David Stephenson
- Timothy Race
Organizations
- Engineer Research and Development Center