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CHEMINFO Best Practices for the Reduction of Air Emissions From Construction and Demolition Activities March, 2005 Prepared by: Cheminfo Services Inc. 315 Renfrew Dr., Suite 302 Markham, Ontario L3R 9S7 In conjunction with the Construction and Demolition Multi-stakeholder Working Group Prepared for: Environment Canada Transboundary Issues Branch
Transcript of Best Practices for the Reduction of Air Emissions From ... · Best Practices for the Reduction of...
CHEMINFO
Best Practices for the Reduction of AirEmissions From Construction and
Demolition Activities
March, 2005
Prepared by:
Cheminfo Services Inc.315 Renfrew Dr., Suite 302
Markham, OntarioL3R 9S7
In conjunction with theConstruction and Demolition Multi-stakeholder Working Group
Prepared for:
Environment CanadaTransboundary Issues Branch
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Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................................... 1
1.1 BACKGROUND ............................................................................................................................. 11.2 SCOPE AND APPLICABILITY .......................................................................................................... 11.3 PURPOSE OF THE DOCUMENT ........................................................................................................ 21.4 COSTS AND SAVINGS.................................................................................................................... 21.5 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND FURTHER INFORMATION ..................................................................... 2
2. PREPARATION OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN .................................. 3
2.1 INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................................ 32.2 CONTENTS OF THE PLAN .............................................................................................................. 32.3 FURTHER INFORMATION............................................................................................................... 3
3. INDEX OF ACTIONS TO MITIGATE EMISSIONS FROM THE CONSTRUCTION ANDDEMOLITION SECTOR ...................................................................................................................... 4
3.1 INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................................ 43.2 PRESENTATION OF CROSS-REFERENCED TABLES ........................................................................... 4
4. USING WATER AND CHEMICAL DUST SUPPRESSANTS AT CONSTRUCTION SITES . 9
4.1 INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................................ 94.2 FACTORS TO CONSIDER................................................................................................................ 9
5. DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS TO REDUCE EMISSIONS FROM CONSTRUCTION ANDBUILDINGS ......................................................................................................................................... 12
5.1 INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................... 125.2 PLAN FOR MINIMIZING DUST GENERATION ................................................................................. 125.3 CHOOSE BUILDING MATERIALS TO REDUCE DUST GENERATION................................................... 125.4 MITIGATE TRAFFIC CONGESTION................................................................................................ 135.5 MINIMIZE DISTANCES TRAVELLED FOR DELIVERY OF MATERIALS................................................ 145.6 USE GREEN BUILDING MATERIALS ............................................................................................. 14
5.6.1 Choosing Road Surface Type........................................................................................... 145.7 DESIGN AND CONSTRUCT FOR MAXIMUM ENERGY EFFICIENCY.................................................... 15
6. REDUCING FUGITIVE DUST EMISSIONS FROM CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITIONSITES.................................................................................................................................................... 16
6.1 INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................... 166.2 SITE PREPARATION .................................................................................................................... 16
6.2.1 Grade the Construction Site in Phases............................................................................. 166.2.2 Utilize Wind Fencing....................................................................................................... 166.2.3 Stabilize Surfaces of Completed Earthworks with Vegetation........................................... 166.2.4 Stabilize Surfaces of Completed Earthworks with Stone/Soil/Geotextiles ......................... 176.2.5 Create Ridges to Prevent Dust......................................................................................... 176.2.6 Compact Disturbed Soil................................................................................................... 176.2.7 Eliminate Open Burning.................................................................................................. 176.2.8 Where Possible, Reduce Certain Activities During Windy Conditions.............................. 18
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6.3 STORAGE PILES ......................................................................................................................... 186.3.1 Storage Pile Activities Should be Conducted Downwind..................................................186.3.2 Utili ze Enclosures/Coverings for Storage Piles................................................................186.3.3 Utili ze Wind Fences/Screens for Storage Piles................................................................. 186.3.4 Use Vegetation Cover as a Wind Break ...........................................................................196.3.5 Properly Shape Storage Piles..........................................................................................196.3.6 Properly Schedule the Delivery of Landscaping Materials...............................................19
6.4 MATERIAL HANDLING AND TRANSFER SYSTEMS ......................................................................... 196.4.1 Control Mud and Dirt Trackout and Carryout ................................................................. 19
6.4.1.1 Street Cleaning......................................................................................................................... 206.4.1.2 Haul Roads............................................................................................................................... 206.4.1.3 Trackout Control Devices ......................................................................................................... 206.4.1.4 Truck Wash .............................................................................................................................. 216.4.1.5 Site Restrictions ....................................................................................................................... 21
6.4.2 Minimize Material Drop at the Transfer Point and Enclosure..........................................216.4.3 Utili ze Foam Suppression Systems...................................................................................216.4.4 Secure Loads on Haul Trucks..........................................................................................21
6.4.4.1 Partial or Total Enclosures........................................................................................................ 216.4.4.2 Freeboard ................................................................................................................................. 226.4.4.3 Loader Bucket .......................................................................................................................... 22
6.4.5 Prevent PM Emissions from Spill s...................................................................................226.4.6 Minimize Material Handling Operations.........................................................................226.4.7 Capture Fugiti ve Dust Emissions.....................................................................................226.4.8 Utili ze Wind Barr iers.......................................................................................................226.4.9 Where Possible, Reduce Certain Activities During Windy Conditions..............................22
6.5 ROAD SURFACES........................................................................................................................ 226.5.1 Establish On-site Vehicle Restrictions.............................................................................236.5.2 Surface Improvements to Unpaved Road Surfaces...........................................................236.5.3 Proper Maintenance of Unpaved Roads...........................................................................236.5.4 Work Practices Associated with De-icing Materials.........................................................23
6.6 FABRICATION PROCESSES........................................................................................................... 236.6.1 Cutting, Grinding and Drilli ng........................................................................................24
6.6.1.1 Design Considerations to Avoid Grinding and Cutting .............................................................. 246.6.2 Sand and Grit Blasting and Façade Cleaning.................................................................. 24
6.6.2.1 Utilize Wet or Other Processes That Minimize Dust Generation................................................ 246.6.2.2 Utilize Enclosures..................................................................................................................... 246.6.2.3 Stabilize Particulate Matter in Surrounding Area Following Blasting ........................................ 256.6.2.4 Alternative Abrasive Material Should be Used.......................................................................... 25
6.6.3 Concrete Cutting.............................................................................................................256.6.4 Mixing Processes.............................................................................................................256.6.5 Internal and External Finishing and Refurbishment.........................................................25
6.7 DEMOLITION AND DECONSTRUCTION.......................................................................................... 266.7.1 Apply Deconstruction Techniques....................................................................................266.7.2 Minimize Drop Heights for Debris...................................................................................266.7.3 Enclose Chutes and Cover Bins.......................................................................................266.7.4 Use Fogging Systems.......................................................................................................266.7.5 Barr iers to Prevent Dispersion........................................................................................266.7.6 Avoid Blasting When Feasible.........................................................................................266.7.7 Vacuum Debris................................................................................................................266.7.8 Work Practices for Loading Debris..................................................................................266.7.9 Avoid Prolonged Storage of Debris.................................................................................26
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7. REDUCING OTHER EMISSIONS AT CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION SITES...... 27
7.1 INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................... 277.2 VEHICLE AND EQUIPMENT ENGINES............................................................................................ 27
7.2.1 Use Diesel Particulate Filters.......................................................................................... 277.2.2 Use Fuel-Borne Catalysts................................................................................................ 287.2.3 Use Diesel Oxidation Catalysts ....................................................................................... 287.2.4 Ensure Catalytic Converters are Operating Efficiently .................................................... 287.2.5 Evaluate Alternative Technologies to Reduce Emissions from Vehicle Engines ............... 287.2.6 Properly Maintain Engines and Exhaust Systems............................................................. 297.2.7 Use Low Sulphur Diesel................................................................................................... 297.2.8 Alternative Fuels Should be Utilized Where Feasible....................................................... 297.2.9 Reduce or Eliminate Idling Time ..................................................................................... 307.2.10 Evaluate Alternatives for Heat and Air Conditioning for Off-Road Vehicles.................... 307.2.11 Minimize Cold Starts ....................................................................................................... 307.2.12 Evaporative Losses Should be Minimized ........................................................................ 31
7.3 HOT MIX ASPHALT PRODUCTION AT PORTABLE PLANTS.............................................................. 317.3.1 Maintain Proper Air to Fuel Ratio in the Combustion System.......................................... 317.3.2 Burner and Air Systems Should be Regularly Inspected and Maintained.......................... 317.3.3 Conduct Regular Inspections of Other Equipment ........................................................... 317.3.4 Aggregate Should Not be Allowed to Pass Through Combustion Zone ............................. 327.3.5 Thermocouples and Other Sensors Should be Regularly Calibrated................................. 327.3.6 Low Sulphur Fuels Should be Used.................................................................................. 32
7.4 VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS............................................................................................... 327.4.1 Architectural Surface Coatings........................................................................................ 32
7.4.1.1 Durable and High Performance Coatings with a Low VOC Content Should be Used................. 327.4.1.2 VOC Emissions from the Storage, Handling and Preparation of Coatings Should be Minimized 337.4.1.3 Coatings Wastage Through Spillage and Splashing Should be Minimized ................................. 347.4.1.4 Surface to be Coated Should be Properly Prepared .................................................................... 347.4.1.5 Paint Heaters Should be Used Instead of Paint Thinners............................................................ 347.4.1.6 Technologically Advanced Spray-Guns Should be Utilized to Apply Coatings ........................... 347.4.1.7 Spray-Gun Operators Should Apply Correct Application Techniques......................................... 357.4.1.8 Proper Technique Should be Used When Cleaning Spray Guns ................................................. 357.4.1.9 Alternative Coating Application Techniques Should be Used .................................................... 367.4.1.10 Alternative Cleaners or Low-VOC Cleaners Should be Used Instead of Solvents.................. 367.4.1.11 Solvents Used for Cleaning Should be Minimized................................................................ 367.4.1.12 Paint Colour Changes Should be Optimized to Reduce the Use of Cleaning Solvents............ 367.4.1.13 Alternative Finishing Practices Should be Used ................................................................... 37
7.4.2 Traffic Marking Operations............................................................................................. 377.4.3 Asphalt Concrete Paving ................................................................................................. 37
7.4.3.1 Use of Cutback Asphalts Should be Minimized......................................................................... 377.4.3.2 Use of Emulsified Asphalt Should be Restricted ....................................................................... 377.4.3.3 Temperature of Asphalt Operations Should be Monitored and Controlled.................................. 37
7.4.4 Asphalt Roofing Kettles ................................................................................................... 387.4.4.1 Temperature of Material Inside Roofing Kettle Should be Restricted......................................... 387.4.4.2 Close Fitting Lids on Roofing Kettles Should be Used .............................................................. 387.4.4.3 Kettle Vent Should be Kept Closed........................................................................................... 387.4.4.4 All Roofing Kettles Should be Equipped with Afterburners....................................................... 38
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8. MEASURING/MONITORING AND RECORD-KEEPING.................................................... 39
8.1 INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................... 398.2 MEASURING AND MONITORING .................................................................................................. 39
8.2.1 Opacity Monitoring ......................................................................................................... 398.2.2 Stabilized Surfaces .......................................................................................................... 408.2.3 Wind Speed...................................................................................................................... 40
8.3 RECORD-KEEPING ...................................................................................................................... 41
9. MEMBERS OF THE CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION MULTI-STAKEHOLDERWORKING GROUP............................................................................................................................ 44
10. BIBLIOGRAPHY ....................................................................................................................... 46
11. SELECTED SOURCES TO OBTAIN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION................................. 49
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Glossary of Terms
Actions to Reduce Emissions - Any applications oftechnologies or practices that contribute to reducingpollutant releases to the environment.
Active Operation - activity capable of generatingfugiti ve dust, including any open storage pile,earthmoving activity, construction/demoliti onactivity, disturbed surface area, and non-emergencymovement of motor vehicles on unpaved roadwaysand parking lots.
Anemometer – device used to measure wind speedand direction.
Apron – material (e.g., asphalt, gravel) that covers adistance of the path travelled by construction vehiclesat the entry/exit points from construction sites.
Asphalt – a brownish-black solid or semisolidmixture of bitumen obtained from native deposits oras a petroleum by-product and used in roofing androad building.
Bulk Material - any material including but notlimited to earth, rock, silt , sediment, sand, gravel,soil , fill , aggregate less than 2 inches in length ordiameter, dirt, mud, demoliti on debris, trash, cinders,pumice, saw dust and dry concrete, which arecapable of producing fugiti ve dust at a constructionsite.
Coal Tar Pitch – a thick, dark, and sticky substanceobtained from the distill ation residue of coal tar.
Construction Activities – any on-site activitiespreparatory to or related to the building, alteration,rehabilit ation or improvement of property, including,but not limited to the following activities: grading,excavation, trenching, loading, vehicular travel,crushing, blasting, cutting, planning, shaping,breaking, equipment staging/storage areas, weedabatement activities or adding or removing bulkmaterials from storage piles.
Cutback Asphalt – asphalt cement that has beenliquefied by blending with petroleum solvents(diluents). Upon exposure to atmospheric conditions,the diluents evaporate, leaving the asphalt cement toperform its function.
Demolition Activities – the wrecking or taking outof any load-supporting structural member of astructure or building and related handling operationsor the intentional burning of any structure orbuilding.
Disturbed Surface Area – portion of the earth’ssurface having been physicall y moved, uncovered,destabili zed, or otherwise modified from itsundisturbed natural condition, thereby increasing thepotential for emission of fugiti ve dust. Disturbedsurface area does not include areas restored to anatural state with vegetative ground cover and soilcharacteristics similar to adjacent natural conditions.
Dust Emissions - Releases to air of fine particulatematter (usually PM10, PM2.5)
Dust Generating Operation - any activity capable ofgenerating fugiti ve dust, including but not limited to,land clearing, earthmoving, weed abatement bydiscing or blading, excavating, construction,demoliti on, material handling, storage and/ortransporting operations, vehicle use and movement,the operation of any outdoor equipment or unpavedparking lots.
Dust Suppressant – water, hygroscopic materials, ornon-toxic chemical stabili zers used as soil treatmentto reduce fugiti ve dust emissions.
Earthmoving Operation – the use of any equipmentfor an activity which may generate fugiti ve dust, suchas, but not limited to, cutting and filli ng, grading,levelli ng, excavating, trenching, loading orunloading of bulk materials, demolishing, blasting,drilli ng, adding to or removing bulk materials fromopen storage piles, back filli ng, soil mulching,landfill operations, or weed abatement by discing orblading.
Emulsified Asphalt – an emulsion of asphalt cementand water that contains a small amount of anemulsifying agent. It is a heterogeneous systemcontaining two normally immiscible phases (asphaltand water) in which the water forms the continuousphase of the emulsion and minute globules of asphaltform the discontinuous phase.
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Freeboard - the vertical distance between the topedge of a cargo container area and the highest pointat which the bulk material contacts the sides, frontand back of the container.
Fugitive Dust – any particulate matter becomingairborne, other than being emitted from an exhauststack, directly or indirectly as a result of humanactivity.
Gravel Pad - a layer of washed gravel, rock orcrushed rock which is at least one inch or larger indiameter, maintained at the point of intersection of apaved public roadway and a work site or sourceentrance to dislodge mud, dirt and/or debris from thetire of the motor vehicles or haul trucks prior toleaving the work site.
Grizzly - a device maintained at the point ofintersection of a paved public roadway and a worksite or source entrance to dislodge mud, dirt and/ordebris from the tires of the motor vehicles or haultrucks prior to leaving the work site.
Haul Truck - any full y or partiall y open-bodied selfpropelled vehicle including any non-motorizedattachments, such as but not limited to trailers orother conveyances which are connected to orpropelled by the actual motorized portion of thevehicle used for transporting bulk material.
High Wind Conditions – when instantaneous windspeeds exceed 25 mph (40 kph).
Inactive Disturbed Surface Area – any disturbedsurface area upon which active operations have notoccurred or are not expected to occur for a period of10 consecutive days.
Microgram (µµg) – a metric unit of mass equal toone-milli onth of a gram.
Micron - a metric unit of length equal to onemilli onth of a meter or 1/100th the width of a humanhair.
Off-road Vehicle - any self-propelled conveyancespecificall y designed for off-road use, including notlimited to, bulldozers, loaders, excavators, graders,off-road trucks, forkli fts, all -terrain vehicles, utilit yvehicles, snow blowers and portable generator sets. Acomplete li st of off-road vehicles and equipment canbe found at the following website:www.ec.gc.ca/transport/offroad2004/offRoad_full_listing_e.htm
Opacity - the degree to which emissions reduce thetransmission of light and obscure the view of anobject in the background.
Open Storage Pile – any accumulation of bulkmaterial with 5% or greater silt content not full yenclosed, covered or chemicall y stabili zed, andattaining a height of three feet or more and a totalsurface area of 500 or more square feet.
Particulate Matter (PM) – the term for particlesfound in the air, including dust, dirt, soot, smoke,and liquid droplets. Some particles are large or darkenough to be seen as dust or smoke. Others are sosmall that individually they can only be detected withan electron microscope.
PM10, - particulate matter that is less than 10microns in diameter.
PM2.5 - particulate matter that is less than 2.5microns in diameter.
Power Take-off Equipment - an accessory that ismounted onto a transmission, allowing power to betransferred outside the transmission to a shaft or adriveline. Some examples of vehicles with powertake-off equipment are cement mixers, trucks withhydraulic winches, car carriers, mobile cranes andsewer cleaning trucks.
Porosity –the fabric or materials of the fence/barrierwill be greater than 50% of the entire surface area.The holes in the fence/barrier will be less than 50%of the entire surface area.
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Practice for Emission Reduction - a pre-emptive orconcurrent technique, or procedure to minimize thegeneration, emission, entrainment, suspension,and/or airborne transport of fugiti ve dust. Example:Driving slowly over unpaved road.
Public Roadway - any roadways that are open topublic travel.
Road Construction - the use of any equipment forthe paving or new construction of a road surface,street or highway.
Roofing Kettle – A device used to heat and meltasphalt or coal tar pitch so that the asphalt or coal tarpitch can be applied onto a rooftop to provide aprotective coating.
Silt – any bulk material with a particle size less than75 microns in diameter that passes through aNumber 200 sieve as determined by the AmericanSociety of Testing Materials (ASTM) Test MethodC136.
Stabilized – a condition where the soil surface iswet, crusted, covered or otherwise secured, so thatdust particles do not become airborne even in highwind.
Stabilized Surface – any previously disturbedsurface area or open storage pile which, through theapplication of dust suppressants, shows visual orother evidence of surface crusting and is resistant towind-driven fugiti ve dust and is demonstrated to bestabili zed.
Surfactant – a compound or element that reduces thesurface tension of a liquid. The term is used in thisdocument to describe wetting and spray adjuvantsdesigned to promote the economical application ofwater to hydrophobic soil s. Surfactants preventdrifting, decrease run-off, increase the penetratingand wetting properties, and promote more even,consistent spray patterns.
Technology For Emission Reduction – a piece ofequipment, substance, device or related contrivancethat serves to reduce emissions through itsutili zation. Example: application of dust suppressantson unpaved roads.
Trackout/Carryout – any and all bulk materials thatadhere to and agglomerate on the exterior surface ofmotor vehicles, haul trucks, and/or equipment(including tires) and that have fallen onto a pavedroadway. Material can be removed by a vacuumsweeper or a broom sweeper under normal operatingconditions.
Trackout Control Device - a gravel pad, grizzly,wheel wash system, or a paved area, located at thepoint of intersection of an unpaved area and a pavedroadway that controls or prevents vehicular trackout.
Transfer Point – a point in a conveying operationwhere an aggregate or other similar material istransferred to or from a belt conveyor, except wherethe material is being transferred to a stockpile.
Unpaved Road – any straight or curved length ofwell -defined travel way for motor vehicles notcovered by one of the following: concrete, asphalti cconcrete, or asphalt.
Wind Barrier - any structure put up along a source’sboundaries to reduce the amount of wind blown dustleaving the site. Creating a wind barrier includes butis not limited to installi ng wind fencing, constructionof berms, planting trees, or parking on-siteequipment so that it blocks the wind.
Wind Fencing - a 1 to 1.5 metre (3 to 5 foot) barrierwith 50% or less porosity located adjacent toroadways or urban areas.
Work Practices - a technique or operationalprocedure used to minimize the generation, emission,entrainment, suspension, and/or airborne transport offugiti ve dust.
Wheel Shaker – a device capable of spreading thetread on tires and shaking the wheels and axles ofvehicles for the purpose of releasing mud, soil androck from the tires and undercarriage to preventtracking those materials onto paved surfaces.
Wheel Washer – a station or device, eithertemporary or permanent, that utili zes a bath or sprayof water for the purpose of cleaning mud, soil , androck from the tires and undercarriage of vehicles toprevent tracking those materials onto paved surfaces.
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List of Acronyms
CAC Criteria Air Contaminants (PM, PM10, PM2.5, SOx, NOx, CO, VOC,Ammonia)
CCME Canadian Council Of Ministers Of The Environment
C&D Construction and Demoliti on
CEPA-99 Canadian Environmental Protection Act-1999
C&DWG Construction and Demoliti on Multi -stakeholder Working Group
CO Carbon Monoxide
COH Coefficient of Haze
CWS Canada-Wide Standard
EC Environment Canada
EIA Environmental Impact Assessment
EPA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
GHG Greenhouse Gas
HEPA High Eff iciency Particulate Arrestor
HVLP High Volume Low Pressure (Coating spray equipment)
JIA Joint Initial Actions
kph Kilometers per hour
KCAC Keeping Clean Areas Clean
mph Mile per hour
NOx Nitrogen Oxides
PAH Polycycli c Aromatic Hydrocarbons
PM Particulate Matter
PM10 Particulate Matter Less Than or Equal to 10 Microns in Diameter
PM2.5 Particulate Matter Less Than or Equal to 2.5 Microns in Diameter
ppb Parts Per Billi on
ppm Parts Per Milli on
SO2 Sulphur Dioxide
VOC Volatile Organic Compounds
TPM Total Particulate Matter
TSP Total Suspended Particulates
µg/m3 Micrograms Per Cubic Meter (A microgram is one-milli onth of a gram)
µm Micron (one-milli onth of a meter)
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1. Introduction
1.1 Background
Construction and demoliti on activities emitpollutants that contribute to poor air qualit y andground level ozone formation. The major pollutantsemitted are particulate matter (PM), volatile organiccompounds (VOCs), nitrogen oxides (NOx) andsulphur dioxide (SO2). Current emission estimatesprepared by Environment Canada show thatconstruction activities represent approximately 20%of total PMT emissions and 15% of total PM10
emissions in Canada. Information on Canada’s PMand other Criteria Air Contaminant (CAC) emissionsinventories can be found at:http://www.ec.gc.ca/pdb/cac/cac_home_e.cfm.
Extensive scientific studies indicate that there aresignificant health and environmental effectsassociated with emissions of PM and other criteriaair contaminants. As a result, the Canada-wideStandards (CWS) for PM and Ozone were signed inJune 2000 by the Canadian Council of Ministers ofthe Environment (CCME). The CWS for PM2.5 is 30
µg/m3 averaged over 24 hours, to be achieved by2010. The CWS for ozone is 65 ppb averaged over 8hours, to be achieved by 2010.
Provinces, the territories, and the federal governmentare committed to emissions reduction in order toachieve all aspects of the CWS in Canada. As aresult, the federal government is seeking theassistance of the construction and demoliti on sectorin contributing their share to the emission reductionsthat have to be achieved in order to meet the CWS in2010.
Included within the CWS are a series of Joint InitialActions aimed at reducing PM emissions as well asprecursor emissions to PM and ground level ozone.The Joint Initial Action for the construction anddemoliti on sector included the development of adocument that reflected the best current dustminimization and suppression methods available foruse across Canada by authorities involved withconstruction and demoliti on activities.
Since construction and demoliti on activities arecommon to most jurisdictions and affect manycommunities across Canada, Environment Canadaestablished the Construction and Demoliti on Multi -stakeholder Working Group to assist in thedevelopment of this Best Practices document.
1.2 Scope and Applicability
Technologies and work practices contained in thisBest Practices document can be applied to reduceemissions from construction and demoliti onactivities. These technologies and practices cover thefull spectrum of construction project phasesincluding design, site preparation, fabrication,landscaping, demoliti on and deconstruction, andrenovation.
The focus of the document is on actions that canachieve reductions in PM and VOC emissions. ThisBest Practices document provides descriptions of alarge number of technologies and practices that canaddress emissions of PM/VOCs, as well as somepractices that may lead to reductions in sulphuroxides, nitrogen oxides and greenhouse gasemissions. These technologies/practices include bothpollution prevention practices as well as options thatcontrol pollution after it has been generated. In thehierarchy of emissions reduction, pollutionprevention practices are generall y preferable andtypicall y result in lower costs (or higher savings)than control options.
There are issues to take into consideration withrespect to implementing the varioustechnologies/practices to achieve PM and VOCemission reductions. These issues can include cost toimplement, environmental consequences, and otherfactors that should be evaluated prior to selecting andimplementing emission reduction options. Forexample, some of the practices to reduce PMemissions (e.g., application of water, dustsuppressants) can facilit ate the occurrence of other(just as serious) environmental issues. These arediscussed further in Chapter 4.
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This document should be useful to project owners,designers, managers, foremen, supervisors,contractors, and equipment operators interested inminimizing PM, VOC and other pollutant emissionsat project sites. Provincial, municipal as well asfederal government authorities concerned withminimizing potential emissions from constructionand demolition activities can also use this documentas a source of information to identify project-specificoptions that can be outlined in tender documents, sothat all construction firms are bidding on the samescope of work.
1.3 Purpose of the Document
The purpose of this document is to provide adescription of technologies and work practices thatcan reduce emissions associated with constructionand demolition activities. Construction organizationsand government authorities can evaluate thesetechnologies and work practices in context of project-specific circumstances, which are often unique.
The intent of the document is not for organizationsinvolved with construction and demolition activitiesto apply all of the technologies and practicesdescribed in the document. It is recognized thatadoption of all elements of the document would notbe economically feasible. Construction organizations,as well as government authorities need to considereconomic, environmental, and technicalcircumstances in choosing the elements of thedocument that best suit the unique features of eachproject. Given the broad scope, diverse nature andunique environmental context of each constructionproject, it is not practical to prescribe in thisdocument the actions and management requirementsthat should be undertaken for each project site.
1.4 Costs and SavingsTypically, there will be additional costs involved withreducing PM emissions (as well as emissions of otherpollutants) from the construction and demolitionsector. Since many of the firms within this sector aresmall to medium in size, operating on thin profitmargins, these additional costs can represent asignificant financial burden.
However, construction companies in Canada alreadyapply quite a number of work practices to reduceemissions. A recent survey of 17 small and largeCanadian construction and demolition firms, byCheminfo Services, found all were taking actions toreduce PM emissions.
Information related to the costs of achieving emissionreductions within the Canadian construction anddemolition sector can be found in the followingpublications available from Environment Canada:
• Cheminfo Services Inc., Socio-economic Analysis ofEmission Reductions in the Canadian ConstructionIndustry, March, 2005.
• Senes Consultants Ltd., Foundation Analysis Reportfor the Canadian Construction and DemolitionSector, March, 2004.
Construction companies can realize numerousbenefits by reducing PM/dust and other pollutantemissions. Benefits may include: improvedproductivity, reduction in lost-time incidents foremployees, improved corporate image anddifferentiation from competitors, avoidedunnecessary involvement with regulators, as well asdevelopment and transfer/sale of knowledge andtechnology.
1.5 Acknowledgements and FurtherInformation
This Best Practices document was developed withinput from the Construction and Demolition Multi-stakeholder Working Group and its subcommittees,consisting of industry representatives, governmentpersonnel, and environmental non-governmentorganizations (see Chapter 9 for the list of workinggroup members). The contributions of all participantswho assisted in developing this Best Practicesdocument are gratefully acknowledged.
Inquiries and comments on this Best Practicesdocument as well as requests for additional copies ofthe document should be directed to:
Manager, Federal Smog ProgramTransboundary Air Issues BranchEnvironment CanadaPlace Vincent Massey351 St. Joseph Blvd., 11th FloorHull, Quebec K1A 0H3Fax: (819) 953-8963
Best Practices for the Reduction of Air Emissions From Construction and Demolition Activities 3
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2. Preparation of an EnvironmentalManagement Plan
2.1 Introduction
The development of a site-specific environmentalmanagement plan is recommended before anyconstruction or demoliti on activities are initiated. Anenvironmental management plan is a way to organizeand document:
• the objectives to be achieved;• the methods to be applied in addressing potential
emissions;• the people responsible for managing and
implementing the plan; and• the records to be maintained that can
demonstrate adoption of actions contained in theBest Practices document, as well as compliancewith any government environmentalrequirements.
Environmental management plans can range in sizeand detail depending upon the scope of the project.Ideally, the environmental management plan shouldaddress all pollutants to all media (air, water andsoil ), as well as management of solid and liquidwastes. It is therefore possible that the environmentalmanagement plan for air pollutants may be acomponent of a broader environmental strategy oreven an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
2.2 Contents of the Plan
The plan should first document the size, location,timing, prevaili ng winds, geographical features,landscape, and nature of the construction activitiesand relate them to communities and ecosystems thatwill be sensiti ve to potential emissions from the site.It is important to identify/recognize the targetreceptors that are in need of environmentalprotection from the potential emissions fromconstruction activities. The evaluation andmeasurement of existing (pre-construction)environmental conditions can serve as a usefulbaseline of the environmental qualit y that is to bepreserved during the various phases of construction.Prevention and reduction objectives should be
documented relative to the anticipated emissionsfrom construction activities to be undertaken. Thesecan be qualitative (e.g., visual, zero neighbourcomplaints) as well as quantitative (e.g., maximumconcentrations in air in or around the site, dustplume height).
The plan should include site-specific designelements, operating practices, specific technologies,products, and equipment that will be applied toprevent or control emissions. Differences in linearand area surface disturbances should be taken intoaccount when identifying dust mitigation measures.In keeping with environmental principles, pollutionprevention practices are preferred to controls thatcontain the pollution after it has been generated.Typicall y, pollution prevention practices are lesscostly to implement.
The plan should identify the frequency and durationover which these emission reduction practices areemployed (e.g., one day, one week, one month, oneyear). The plan should also document anymeasurement, monitoring, and record keeping thatwill be used during the course of the project. Keepingrecords will allow construction site owners,managers, and operators to demonstrate compliancewith local by-laws, permits, and other governmentenvironmental requirements. Records can also beused to show community members the actions thatare being undertaken and their effectiveness inpreserving the qualit y of their environment.
2.3 Further Information
To assist in the preparation of an environmentalmanagement plan, those within the constructionindustry are encouraged to obtain and review:
• Canadian Construction Association’s, “A Guideon Construction Environmental ManagementPlanning” (http://www.cca-acc.com/documents/ccalist.html).
• Alberta Transportation’s, “EnvironmentalConstruction Operations Plan (ECO PLAN)Framework(http://www.trans.gov.ab.ca/Content/doctype245/production/eco5.pdf).
Best Practices for the Reduction of Air Emissions From Construction and Demolition Activities 4
CHEMINFO
3. Index of Actions to Mitigate Emissionsfrom the Construction and Demolition Sector
3.1 Introduction
The construction and demolition sector is a verydiverse industry with project sites ranging insize from single family dwelling additions tomulti-billion dollar heavy engineering projects.In addition, emissions occur at many differentstages during construction and demolitionoperations, irrespective of the size and scope ofthe project. These and other factors result inchallenges in presenting a Best Practicesdocument that is comprehensive andrepresentative of all potential constructionsituations, while being reader-friendly andconcise.
Many of the work practices and technologiesthat are identified and described in this BestPractices document can be applied irrespectiveof the size and scope of the construction anddemolition project. For example, most of theactions to address dust emitted from storagepiles can be applied at just about anyconstruction site. Therefore, it is useful toidentify and describe the practices/technologiescontained in this document according toemission sources. This should allow readers toquickly scan the Table of Contents and identifythe pages in the Best Practices document whereactions to mitigate emissions from specificsources can be found. This presentation alsoensures that the Best Practices document is keptconcise (i.e., avoids repeating the samepractices).
One of the challenges associated with groupingand describing the work practices/technologiesby emissions source is that there are somedifferences between the PM mitigation optionsthat can be utilized by different segments of theindustry. For instance, some actions that may beapplicable to road construction companies arenot relevant for firms that are buildingresidential homes.
It is difficult to identify where these distinctionsare located within the Best Practices documentwhen the practices/technologies are grouped byemission source. The Construction andDemolition Multi-stakeholder Working Grouprecommended that some method be applied tothe Best Practices document to allow those inthe industry to quickly identify which workpractices/technologies are most relevant for theirparticular operations.
As a result, a series of cross-referenced tableshave been prepared and presented in thischapter. These tables enable variousconstruction firms to quickly identify thepractices/technologies that are relevant for theiroperations. The utilization of this approach hasallowed the various work practices to bepresented in this Best Practices document bothby emission source as well as by constructionand demolition segment.
3.2 Presentation of Cross-Referenced Tables
The segmentation of the construction industrythat has been chosen for this document is asfollows:
• Residential Building ConstructionOperations;
• Industrial, Commercial and InstitutionalConstruction Operations;
• Road-building and Other HeavyConstruction Operations; and
• Demolition and Deconstruction.
The work practices/technologies that arerelevant for firms within these segments arepresented in tables on the following four pages.Note that the use of pollution preventionpractices to mitigate emissions are preferred andconsequently these options have been bolded inthe various tables.
Bes
t P
ract
ices
for
th
e R
edu
ctio
n o
f A
ir E
mis
sion
s F
rom
Con
stru
ctio
n a
nd
Dem
oliti
on A
ctiv
ities
5
CH
EM
INF
O
Tab
le 1
: S
um
mar
y o
f P
ract
ices
fo
r R
esid
enti
al B
uild
ing
Co
nst
ruct
ion
Op
erat
ion
sG
uida
nce
On
Pra
ctic
es to
Red
uce
Em
issio
nsP
age
Gui
danc
e O
nP
ract
ices
to R
educ
e E
mis
sions
Pag
eW
ater
App
licat
ion
Wid
e ra
nge
of p
ract
ices
app
lied
to s
ite
prep
arat
ion,
sto
rage
, etc
.9-
10C
ontr
ol m
ud a
nd d
irt t
rack
out
and
carr
yout
19D
ust
Supp
ress
ants
Wid
e ra
nge
of p
ract
ices
app
lied
to s
ite
prep
arat
ion,
sto
rage
, etc
.9,
11
Min
imiz
e m
ater
ial d
rop
at t
he tr
ansf
er p
oint
and
enc
losu
re21
Pla
n fo
r m
inim
izin
g du
st g
ener
atio
n12
Uti
lize
foa
m s
uppr
essi
on s
yste
ms
21C
hoos
e bu
ildin
g m
ater
ials
to r
educ
e du
st g
ener
atio
n12
Secu
re lo
ads
on h
aul t
ruck
s21
Min
imiz
e di
stan
ces
trav
elle
d fo
r de
liver
y of
mat
eria
ls14
Pre
vent
PM
em
issio
ns fr
om s
pills
22U
se g
reen
bui
ldin
g m
ater
ials
14M
inim
ize
mat
eria
l han
dlin
g op
erat
ions
22
Des
ign
Des
ign
and
cons
truc
t for
max
imum
ene
rgy
effi
cien
cy15
Cap
ture
fug
itiv
e du
st e
mis
sion
s22
Gra
de th
e co
nstr
ucti
on s
ite
in p
hase
s16
Util
ize
win
d ba
rrie
rs22
Uti
lize
win
d fe
ncin
g16
Mat
eria
l Han
dlin
g &
Tra
nsfe
r Sy
stem
s
Red
uce
cert
ain
acti
viti
es d
urin
g w
indy
con
diti
ons
22St
abili
ze su
rfac
es o
f co
mpl
eted
ear
thw
orks
wit
h ve
geta
tion
16E
stab
lish
on-s
ite
vehi
cle
rest
rict
ions
23St
abili
ze e
arth
wor
ks w
ith
ston
e/so
il/ge
otex
tiles
17Su
rfac
e im
prov
emen
ts to
unp
aved
roa
d su
rfac
es23
Cre
ate
ridg
es to
pre
vent
dus
t17
Pro
per
mai
nten
ance
of u
npav
ed r
oads
23C
ompa
ct d
istu
rbed
soi
l17
Roa
d Su
rfac
es
Wor
k pr
acti
ces
asso
ciat
ed w
ith
de-i
cing
mat
eria
ls23
Elim
inat
e op
en b
urni
ng17
Cut
ting
, gri
ndin
g an
d dr
illin
g24
Site
Pre
para
tion
Red
uce
cert
ain
acti
viti
es d
urin
g w
indy
con
diti
ons
18A
void
ing
cutt
ing
and
grin
ding
24St
orag
e pi
le a
ctiv
ity
shou
ld b
e co
nduc
ted
dow
nwin
d18
Sand
and
gri
t bl
asti
ng a
nd f
açad
e cle
anin
g24
Util
ize
encl
osur
es/c
over
ings
for
stor
age
pile
s18
Con
cret
e cu
ttin
g25
Uti
lize
win
d fe
nces
/scr
eens
for
sto
rage
pil
es18
Mix
ing
proc
esse
s25
Use
veg
etat
ion
cove
r as
a w
ind
brea
k19
Fab
rica
tion
Inte
rnal
and
ext
erna
l fin
ishi
ng a
nd r
efur
bish
men
t25
Pro
perl
y sh
ape
stor
age
pile
s19
Dur
able
and
hi
gh
perf
orm
ance
co
atin
gs w
ith
a lo
w
VO
Cco
nten
t sh
ould
be
used
32
Stor
age
Pile
s
Pro
perl
y sc
hedu
le th
e de
liver
y of
land
scap
ing
mat
eria
ls19
Min
imiz
e em
issio
ns fr
om s
tora
ge, h
andl
ing
& p
repa
rati
on33
Use
die
sel
part
icul
ate
filt
ers,
fue
l-bo
rne
cata
lyst
s, d
iese
l ox
idat
ion
cata
lyst
s27
-28
Min
imiz
e co
atin
gs w
asta
ge th
roug
h sp
illag
e/sp
lash
ing
34
Ens
ure
cata
lyti
c co
nver
ters
are
ope
rati
ng e
ffic
ient
ly28
Surf
ace
to b
e co
ated
sho
uld
be p
rope
rly
prep
ared
34E
valu
ate
alte
rnat
ive
tech
nolo
gies
to r
educ
e em
issi
ons
28P
aint
hea
ters
shou
ld b
e us
ed in
stea
d of
pai
nt t
hinn
ers
34P
rope
rly
mai
ntai
n en
gine
s an
d ex
haus
t sy
stem
s29
Tec
hnol
ogic
ally
adv
ance
d sp
ray-
guns
shou
ld b
e ut
ilize
d34
Use
low
sul
phur
die
sel
29A
pply
cor
rect
app
licat
ion
tech
niqu
es35
Alt
erna
tive
fuel
s sh
ould
be
utili
zed
whe
re fe
asib
le29
Pro
per
tech
niqu
e sh
ould
be
used
whe
n cl
eani
ng s
pray
gun
s35
Red
uce
or e
limin
ate
idlin
g ti
me
30A
lter
nati
ve c
oati
ng a
pplic
atio
n te
chni
ques
shou
ld b
e us
ed36
Eva
luat
e al
tern
ativ
es fo
r he
at a
nd a
ir co
ndit
ioni
ng30
Alt
erna
tive
cle
aner
s or
low
-VO
C c
lean
ers
shou
ld b
e us
ed36
Min
imiz
e co
ld s
tart
s30
Solv
ents
use
d fo
r cl
eani
ng s
houl
d be
min
imiz
ed36
Veh
icle
s an
dE
quip
men
t
Eva
pora
tive
loss
es sh
ould
be
min
imiz
ed31
Pai
nt c
olou
r ch
ange
s sh
ould
be
opti
miz
ed36
Tem
pera
ture
s of
mat
eria
l ins
ide
kett
les
shou
ld b
e m
inim
ized
38
Surf
ace
Coa
ting
s
Alt
erna
tive
fini
shin
g pr
acti
ces
shou
ld b
e us
ed37
Clo
se fi
ttin
g lid
s on
roo
fing
ket
tles
shou
ld b
e us
ed38
Ket
tle
shou
ld b
e ke
pt c
lose
d38
Asp
halt
Roo
fing
Roo
fing
ket
tles
sho
uld
be e
quip
ped
wit
h af
terb
urne
rs38
Bes
t P
ract
ices
for
th
e R
edu
ctio
n o
f A
ir E
mis
sion
s F
rom
Con
stru
ctio
n a
nd
Dem
oliti
on A
ctiv
ities
6
CH
EM
INF
O
Tab
le 2
: S
um
mar
y o
f P
ract
ices
fo
r In
du
stri
al, C
om
mer
cial
an
d In
stit
uti
on
al O
per
atio
ns
Gui
danc
e O
nP
ract
ices
to R
educ
e E
mis
sions
Pag
eG
uida
nce
On
Pra
ctic
es to
Red
uce
Em
issio
nsP
age
Wat
er A
pplic
atio
nW
ide
rang
e of
pra
ctic
es a
pplie
d to
sit
e pr
epar
atio
n, s
tora
ge, e
tc.
9-10
Con
trol
mud
and
dir
t tra
ckou
t an
d ca
rryo
ut19
Dus
t Su
ppre
ssan
tsW
ide
rang
e of
pra
ctic
es a
pplie
d to
sit
e pr
epar
atio
n, s
tora
ge, e
tc.
9, 1
1M
inim
ize
mat
eria
l dro
p at
the
tran
sfer
poi
nt a
nd e
nclo
sure
21P
lan
for
min
imiz
ing
dust
gen
erat
ion
12U
tili
ze f
oam
sup
pres
sion
sys
tem
s21
Cho
ose
build
ing
mat
eria
ls to
red
uce
dust
gen
erat
ion
12Se
cure
load
s on
hau
l tru
cks
21M
inim
ize
dist
ance
s tr
avel
led
for
deliv
ery
of m
ater
ials
14P
reve
nt P
M e
mis
sions
from
spi
lls22
Use
gre
en b
uild
ing
mat
eria
ls14
Min
imiz
e m
ater
ial h
andl
ing
oper
atio
ns22
Des
ign
Des
ign
and
cons
truc
t for
max
imum
ene
rgy
effi
cien
cy15
Cap
ture
fug
itiv
e du
st e
mis
sion
s22
Gra
de th
e co
nstr
ucti
on s
ite
in p
hase
s16
Util
ize
win
d ba
rrie
rs22
Uti
lize
win
d fe
ncin
g16
Mat
eria
l Han
dlin
g &
Tra
nsfe
r Sy
stem
s
Red
uce
cert
ain
acti
viti
es d
urin
g w
indy
con
diti
ons
22St
abili
ze su
rfac
es o
f co
mpl
eted
ear
thw
orks
wit
h ve
geta
tion
16E
stab
lish
on-s
ite
vehi
cle
rest
rict
ions
23St
abili
ze e
arth
wor
ks w
ith
ston
e/so
il/ge
otex
tiles
17Su
rfac
e im
prov
emen
ts to
unp
aved
roa
d su
rfac
es23
Cre
ate
ridg
es to
pre
vent
dus
t17
Pro
per
mai
nten
ance
of u
npav
ed r
oads
23C
ompa
ct d
istu
rbed
soi
l17
Roa
d Su
rfac
es
Wor
k pr
acti
ces
asso
ciat
ed w
ith
de-i
cing
mat
eria
ls23
Elim
inat
e op
en b
urni
ng17
Cut
ting
, gri
ndin
g an
d dr
illin
g24
Site
Pre
para
tion
Red
uce
cert
ain
acti
viti
es d
urin
g w
indy
con
diti
ons
18A
void
ing
cutt
ing
and
grin
ding
24St
orag
e pi
le a
ctiv
ity
shou
ld b
e co
nduc
ted
dow
nwin
d18
Sand
and
gri
t bl
asti
ng a
nd f
açad
e cle
anin
g24
Util
ize
encl
osur
es/c
over
ings
for
stor
age
pile
s18
Con
cret
e cu
ttin
g25
Uti
lize
win
d fe
nces
/scr
eens
for
sto
rage
pil
es18
Mix
ing
proc
esse
s25
Use
veg
etat
ion
cove
r as
a w
ind
brea
k19
Fab
rica
tion
Inte
rnal
and
ext
erna
l fin
ishi
ng a
nd r
efur
bish
men
t25
Pro
perl
y sh
ape
stor
age
pile
s19
Dur
able
and
hi
gh
perf
orm
ance
co
atin
gs w
ith
a lo
w
VO
Cco
nten
t sh
ould
be
used
32
Stor
age
Pile
s
Pro
perl
y sc
hedu
le th
e de
liver
y of
land
scap
ing
mat
eria
ls19
Min
imiz
e em
issio
ns fr
om s
tora
ge, h
andl
ing
& p
repa
rati
on33
Use
die
sel
part
icul
ate
filt
ers,
fue
l-bo
rne
cata
lyst
s, d
iese
l ox
idat
ion
cata
lyst
s27
-28
Min
imiz
e co
atin
gs w
asta
ge th
roug
h sp
illag
e/sp
lash
ing
34
Ens
ure
cata
lyti
c co
nver
ters
are
ope
rati
ng e
ffic
ient
ly28
Surf
ace
to b
e co
ated
sho
uld
be p
rope
rly
prep
ared
34E
valu
ate
alte
rnat
ive
tech
nolo
gies
to r
educ
e em
issi
ons
28P
aint
hea
ters
shou
ld b
e us
ed in
stea
d of
pai
nt t
hinn
ers
34P
rope
rly
mai
ntai
n en
gine
s an
d ex
haus
t sy
stem
s29
Tec
hnol
ogic
ally
adv
ance
d sp
ray-
guns
shou
ld b
e ut
ilize
d34
Use
low
sul
phur
die
sel
29A
pply
cor
rect
app
licat
ion
tech
niqu
es35
Alt
erna
tive
fuel
s sh
ould
be
utili
zed
whe
re fe
asib
le29
Pro
per
tech
niqu
e sh
ould
be
used
whe
n cl
eani
ng s
pray
gun
s35
Red
uce
or e
limin
ate
idlin
g ti
me
30A
lter
nati
ve c
oati
ng a
pplic
atio
n te
chni
ques
shou
ld b
e us
ed36
Eva
luat
e al
tern
ativ
es fo
r he
at a
nd a
ir co
ndit
ioni
ng30
Alt
erna
tive
cle
aner
s or
low
-VO
C c
lean
ers
shou
ld b
e us
ed36
Min
imiz
e co
ld s
tart
s30
Solv
ents
use
d fo
r cl
eani
ng s
houl
d be
min
imiz
ed36
Veh
icle
s an
dE
quip
men
t
Eva
pora
tive
loss
es sh
ould
be
min
imiz
ed31
Pai
nt c
olou
r ch
ange
s sh
ould
be
opti
miz
ed36
Tem
pera
ture
s of
mat
eria
l ins
ide
kett
les
shou
ld b
e m
inim
ized
38
Surf
ace
Coa
ting
s
Alt
erna
tive
fini
shin
g pr
acti
ces
shou
ld b
e us
ed37
Clo
se fi
ttin
g lid
s on
roo
fing
ket
tles
shou
ld b
e us
ed38
Ket
tle
shou
ld b
e ke
pt c
lose
d38
Asp
halt
Roo
fing
Roo
fing
ket
tles
sho
uld
be e
quip
ped
wit
h af
terb
urne
rs38
Bes
t P
ract
ices
for
th
e R
edu
ctio
n o
f A
ir E
mis
sion
s F
rom
Con
stru
ctio
n a
nd
Dem
oliti
on A
ctiv
ities
7
CH
EM
INF
O
Tab
le 3
: S
um
mar
y o
f P
ract
ices
fo
r R
oad
-bu
ildin
g a
nd
Oth
er H
eavy
Co
nst
ruct
ion
Op
erat
ion
sG
uida
nce
On
Pra
ctic
es to
Red
uce
Em
issio
nsP
age
Gui
danc
e O
nP
ract
ices
to R
educ
e E
mis
sions
Pag
eW
ater
App
licat
ion
Wid
e ra
nge
of p
ract
ices
app
lied
to s
ite
prep
arat
ion,
sto
rage
, etc
.9-
10C
ontr
ol m
ud a
nd d
irt t
rack
out
and
carr
yout
19D
ust
Supp
ress
ants
Wid
e ra
nge
of p
ract
ices
app
lied
to s
ite
prep
arat
ion,
sto
rage
, etc
.9,
11
Min
imiz
e m
ater
ial d
rop
at t
he tr
ansf
er p
oint
and
enc
losu
re21
Pla
n fo
r m
inim
izin
g du
st g
ener
atio
n12
Uti
lize
foa
m s
uppr
essi
on s
yste
ms
21C
hoos
e bu
ildin
g m
ater
ials
to r
educ
e du
st g
ener
atio
n12
Secu
re lo
ads
on h
aul t
ruck
s21
Mit
igat
e tr
affi
c co
nges
tion
13P
reve
nt P
M e
mis
sions
from
spi
lls22
Min
imiz
e di
stan
ces
trav
elle
d fo
r de
liver
y of
mat
eria
ls14
Min
imiz
e m
ater
ial h
andl
ing
oper
atio
ns22
Use
gre
en b
uild
ing
mat
eria
ls14
Cap
ture
fug
itiv
e du
st e
mis
sion
s22
Des
ign
Des
ign
and
cons
truc
t for
max
imum
ene
rgy
effi
cien
cy15
Util
ize
win
d ba
rrie
rs22
Gra
de th
e co
nstr
ucti
on s
ite
in p
hase
s16
Mat
eria
l Han
dlin
g &
Tra
nsfe
r Sy
stem
s
Red
uce
cert
ain
acti
viti
es d
urin
g w
indy
con
diti
ons
22U
tili
ze w
ind
fenc
ing
16E
stab
lish
on-s
ite
vehi
cle
rest
rict
ions
23St
abili
ze su
rfac
es o
f co
mpl
eted
ear
thw
orks
wit
h ve
geta
tion
16Su
rfac
e im
prov
emen
ts to
unp
aved
roa
d su
rfac
es23
Stab
ilize
ear
thw
orks
wit
h st
one/
soil/
geot
extil
es17
Pro
per
mai
nten
ance
of u
npav
ed r
oads
23C
reat
e ri
dges
to p
reve
nt d
ust
17
Roa
d Su
rfac
es
Wor
k pr
acti
ces
asso
ciat
ed w
ith
de-i
cing
mat
eria
ls23
Com
pact
dis
turb
ed s
oil
17C
utti
ng, g
rind
ing
and
drill
ing
24E
limin
ate
open
bur
ning
17A
void
ing
cutt
ing
and
grin
ding
24
Site
Pre
para
tion
Red
uce
cert
ain
acti
viti
es d
urin
g w
indy
con
diti
ons
18Sa
nd a
nd g
rit
blas
ting
and
faç
ade
clean
ing
24St
orag
e pi
le a
ctiv
ity
shou
ld b
e co
nduc
ted
dow
nwin
d18
Con
cret
e cu
ttin
g25
Util
ize
encl
osur
es/c
over
ings
for
stor
age
pile
s18
Mix
ing
proc
esse
s25
Uti
lize
win
d fe
nces
/scr
eens
for
sto
rage
pil
es18
Fab
rica
tion
Inte
rnal
and
ext
erna
l fin
ishi
ng a
nd r
efur
bish
men
t25
Use
veg
etat
ion
cove
r as
a w
ind
brea
k19
Dur
able
and
hi
gh
perf
orm
ance
co
atin
gs w
ith
a lo
w
VO
Cco
nten
t sh
ould
be
used
32
Pro
perl
y sh
ape
stor
age
pile
s19
Min
imiz
e em
issio
ns fr
om s
tora
ge, h
andl
ing
& p
repa
rati
on33
Stor
age
Pile
s
Pro
perl
y sc
hedu
le th
e de
liver
y of
land
scap
ing
mat
eria
ls19
Min
imiz
e co
atin
gs w
asta
ge th
roug
h sp
illag
e/sp
lash
ing
34U
se d
iese
l pa
rtic
ulat
e fi
lter
s, f
uel-
born
e ca
taly
sts,
die
sel
oxid
atio
nca
taly
sts
27-2
8Su
rfac
e to
be
coat
ed s
houl
d be
pro
perl
y pr
epar
ed34
Ens
ure
cata
lyti
c co
nver
ters
are
ope
rati
ng e
ffic
ient
ly28
Pai
nt h
eate
rs sh
ould
be
used
inst
ead
of p
aint
thi
nner
s34
Eva
luat
e al
tern
ativ
e te
chno
logi
es to
red
uce
emis
sion
s28
Tec
hnol
ogic
ally
adv
ance
d sp
ray-
guns
shou
ld b
e ut
ilize
d34
Pro
perl
y m
aint
ain
engi
nes
and
exha
ust
syst
ems
29A
pply
cor
rect
app
licat
ion
tech
niqu
es35
Use
low
sul
phur
die
sel
29P
rope
r te
chni
que
shou
ld b
e us
ed w
hen
clea
ning
spr
ay g
uns
35A
lter
nati
ve fu
els
shou
ld b
e ut
ilize
d w
here
feas
ible
29A
lter
nati
ve c
oati
ng a
pplic
atio
n te
chni
ques
shou
ld b
e us
ed36
Red
uce
or e
limin
ate
idlin
g ti
me
30A
lter
nati
ve c
lean
ers
or l
ow-V
OC
cle
aner
s sh
ould
be
used
36E
valu
ate
alte
rnat
ives
for
heat
and
air
cond
itio
ning
30So
lven
ts u
sed
for
clea
ning
sho
uld
be m
inim
ized
36M
inim
ize
cold
sta
rts
30P
aint
col
our
chan
ges
shou
ld b
e op
tim
ized
36
Veh
icle
s an
dE
quip
men
t
Eva
pora
tive
loss
es sh
ould
be
min
imiz
ed31
Surf
ace
Coa
ting
s
Alt
erna
tive
fini
shin
g pr
acti
ces
shou
ld b
e us
ed37
Hot
Mix
Asp
halt
Pro
duct
ion
Mai
nten
ance
, ins
pect
ions
, cal
ibra
tion
, low
-sul
phur
fue
ls31
-32
Tra
ffic
Mar
king
sA
lter
nati
ves
to V
OC
coa
ting
s, u
se m
inim
izat
ion
tech
niqu
es37
Asp
halt
Con
cret
eP
avin
gM
inim
izat
ion
of c
utba
ck a
nd e
mul
sifi
ed a
spha
lts,
oth
er o
ptio
ns37
Asp
halt
Roo
fing
Ket
tles
Min
imiz
e te
mpe
ratu
res,
clo
se fi
ttin
g lid
s, v
ents
, aft
erbu
rner
s38
Bes
t P
ract
ices
for
th
e R
edu
ctio
n o
f A
ir E
mis
sion
s F
rom
Con
stru
ctio
n a
nd
Dem
oliti
on A
ctiv
ities
8
CH
EM
INF
O
Tab
le 4
: S
um
mar
y o
f P
ract
ices
fo
r D
emo
litio
n a
nd
Dec
on
stru
ctio
n O
per
atio
ns
Gui
danc
e O
nP
ract
ices
to R
educ
e E
mis
sion
sP
age
Gui
danc
e O
nP
ract
ices
to R
educ
e E
mis
sion
sP
age
Wat
er A
pplic
atio
nW
ide
rang
e of
pra
ctic
es a
pplie
d to
sit
e pr
epar
atio
n, s
tora
ge,
etc.
9-10
App
ly d
econ
stru
ctio
n te
chni
ques
26
Dus
t Sup
pres
sant
sW
ide
rang
e of
pra
ctic
es a
pplie
d to
sit
e pr
epar
atio
n, s
tora
ge,
etc.
9, 1
1M
inim
ize
drop
hei
ghts
for
debr
is26
Stor
age
pile
act
ivit
y sh
ould
be
cond
ucte
d do
wnw
ind
18E
nclo
se c
hute
s an
d co
ver
bins
26
Uti
lize
encl
osur
es/c
over
ings
for
stor
age
pile
s18
Use
fogg
ing
syst
ems
26U
tiliz
e w
ind
fenc
es/s
cree
ns fo
r st
orag
e pi
les
18B
arri
ers
to p
reve
nt d
ispe
rsio
n26
Use
veg
etat
ion
cove
r as
a w
ind
brea
k19
Avo
id b
last
ing
whe
n fe
asib
le26
Stor
age
Pile
s
Pro
perl
y sh
ape
stor
age
pile
s19
Vac
uum
deb
ris
26
Con
trol
mud
and
dir
t tra
ckou
t and
car
ryou
t19
Wor
k pr
acti
ces
for
load
ing
debr
is26
Min
imiz
e m
ater
ial d
rop
at th
e tr
ansf
er p
oint
and
enc
losu
re21
Dem
olit
ion
and
Dec
onst
ruct
ion
Avo
id p
rolo
ng s
tora
ge o
f deb
ris
26U
tiliz
e fo
am s
uppr
essi
on s
yste
ms
21U
se
dies
el
part
icul
ate
filte
rs,
fuel
-bor
ne
cata
lyst
s,
dies
elox
idat
ion
cata
lyst
s27
-28
Secu
re lo
ads
on h
aul t
ruck
s21
Ens
ure
cata
lytic
con
vert
ers
are
oper
atin
g ef
fici
ently
28
Pre
vent
PM
em
issi
ons
from
spi
lls22
Eva
luat
e al
tern
ativ
e te
chno
logi
es to
red
uce
emis
sion
s28
Min
imiz
e m
ater
ial h
andl
ing
oper
atio
ns22
Pro
perl
y m
aint
ain
engi
nes
and
exha
ust s
yste
ms
29C
aptu
re fu
gitiv
e du
st e
mis
sion
s22
Use
low
sul
phur
die
sel
29
Uti
lize
win
d ba
rrie
rs22
Alt
erna
tive
fuel
s sh
ould
be
utili
zed
whe
re fe
asib
le29
Mat
eria
l Han
dlin
g&
Tra
nsfe
r Sy
stem
s
Red
uce
cert
ain
acti
viti
es d
urin
g w
indy
con
diti
ons
22R
educ
e or
elim
inat
e id
ling
tim
e30
Est
ablis
h on
-sit
e ve
hicl
e re
stri
ctio
ns23
Eva
luat
e al
tern
ativ
es fo
r he
at a
nd a
ir c
ondi
tion
ing
30
Surf
ace
impr
ovem
ents
to u
npav
ed r
oad
surf
aces
23M
inim
ize
cold
sta
rts
30
Pro
per
mai
nten
ance
of u
npav
ed r
oads
23
Veh
icle
s an
dE
quip
men
t
Eva
pora
tive
loss
es s
houl
d be
min
imiz
ed31
Roa
d Su
rfac
es
Wor
k pr
acti
ces
asso
ciat
ed w
ith
de-i
cing
mat
eria
ls23
Best Practices for the Reduction of Air Emissions From Construction and Demolition Activities 9
CHEMINFO
4. Using Water and Chemical DustSuppressants at Construction Sites
4.1 Introduction
There are numerous PM emission sources atconstruction sites where water and variouschemical dust suppressants can be applied inorder to reduce emissions. For instance,water/dust suppressants can be applied tomitigate fugitive dust from site preparation,storage piles, materials handling and transfer,unpaved roads, etc. The discussion related to theutilization of these dust control options has beenconfined to this chapter. This serves to reducethe length of the Best Practices document andalso makes the document more reader-friendly.
The application of water is typically the mostcommon dust control method that is employedby construction companies across Canada.Practically all construction companies that areimplementing options to reduce dust areapplying water to mitigate dust generation fromat least one emission source on theirconstruction site. Water can be applied by avariety of methods, for instance trucks, waterpulls, water canons, hoses, fire hydrants,sprinklers, etc.
A variety of chemical dust suppressants areavailable to suppress fugitive dust emissionsfrom construction sites. While being moreexpensive that water, they are also moreeffective in suppressing dust and have to beapplied much less frequently. Examples of dustsuppressants include the following: (i) liquidpolymer emulsions (ii) agglomerating chemicals(e.g., lignosulfonates, polyacrylamides); (iii)cementitious products (e.g., lime-basedproducts, calcium sulphate); (iv) petroleumbased products (e.g., petroleum emulsions); and(v) chloride salts (e.g., calcium chloride andmagnesium chloride).
While the application of water and chemicaldust suppressants are proven and effectiveoptions for mitigating dust, they have to be
applied judiciously. Their usage, whilemitigating dust, can trigger other (just asserious) environmental consequences. It isimportant to keep these environmentalconsequences in mind when deciding on theextent to which water and chemical dustsuppressants are to be utilized.
4.2 Factors to Consider
The following potential environmental impactsof applying chemical dust suppressants must betaken into consideration before application:
• the hazardous, biodegradable and water-soluble properties of the substance;
• the effect their application could have onthe surrounding environment, includingwater-bodies (e.g., surface water pollutionfrom runoff, contaminated ground water,pH) and wildlife (e.g., fisheries); and
• whether the use of chemicals has beenlimited due to nearby watershedconsiderations for protection of fish and fishhabitat from surface runoff.
There are potential environmental consequencesresulting from the over-application of water thatmust be considered. These include: runoffproblems; soil instability; spreading ofcontaminants in the environment (e.g., oil orcoolant from engines), and erosion. In addition,consideration should be given to waterconservation or water allocation limitations inareas where construction occurs.
The over-application of water can also lead toequipment mobility problems and reduce theability of earth-moving equipment to efficientlymove saturated soils. If the moisture contents ofsoils used in construction are sufficient, watermay not always need to be added prior tohandling, crushing, etc.
Bes
t P
ract
ices
for
th
e R
edu
ctio
n o
f A
ir E
mis
sion
s F
rom
Con
stru
ctio
n a
nd
Dem
oliti
on A
ctiv
ities
10
CH
EM
INF
O
Tab
le 5
: G
uid
ance
on
Ap
ply
ing
Wat
er a
t C
on
stru
ctio
n S
ites
Stag
eG
uida
nce
on th
e A
pplic
atio
n of
Wat
erSi
te P
repa
ratio
n•
Wat
er m
ay b
e ap
plie
d pr
ior
to e
arth
mov
ing
activ
ities
to in
crea
se th
e m
oist
ure
cont
ent o
f the
soils
ther
eby
incr
easi
ng th
eir
stab
ility
. The
pre
-app
licat
ion
of w
ater
may
be
to th
e de
pth
ofth
e pr
opos
ed c
uts
or e
quip
men
t pen
etra
tion.
The
are
a sh
ould
con
tinue
to b
e pr
e-w
ette
d if
it is
not
moi
st to
the
dept
h of
the
cut.
• A
fter
gra
ding
the
cons
truc
tion
site
, wat
er s
houl
d be
app
lied
with
in a
ctiv
e ea
rth-
mov
ing
area
s at
suf
fici
ent
freq
uenc
y an
d qu
antit
y to
pre
vent
vis
ible
em
issio
ns fr
om e
xten
ding
mor
eth
an 3
0 m
eter
s fr
om th
e po
int o
f ori
gin.
Sch
edul
e th
orou
gh a
nd co
nsis
tent
wat
erin
g th
at d
oes
not r
un o
ff th
e si
te th
roug
hout
the
dura
tion
of t
he c
onst
ruct
ion
proj
ect.
At
the
end
of e
ach
wor
kday
, wat
er tr
ucks
may
trea
t all
expo
sed
area
s to
cre
ate
a st
abili
zing
crus
t on
the
soil.
Wat
er m
ay a
lso
be a
pplie
d at
the
end
of t
he d
ay to
soak
the
next
day
’s w
ork
area
. Wat
er m
aybe
app
lied
into
the
back
fill
mat
eria
l unt
il th
e op
timum
moi
stur
e le
vel i
s re
ache
d.•
Wat
er m
ay b
e ap
plie
d co
ntin
uous
ly i
n fr
ont
of e
arth
mov
ing
equi
pmen
t by
mea
ns o
f w
ater
tru
ck/w
ater
pul
l. I
f th
e so
il is
dry
, th
e ea
rthm
ovin
g eq
uipm
ent
shou
ld c
ease
fur
ther
dist
urba
nce
whe
n th
e w
ater
truc
k/w
ater
pul
l ru
ns o
ut o
f w
ater
and
shou
ld n
ot r
esum
e un
til t
he w
ater
tru
ck/w
ater
pul
l is
oper
atio
nal
agai
n. O
ptim
ally
, one
wat
er t
ruck
may
wor
k fo
rev
ery
1-3
pie
ces
of h
eavy
ear
thm
ovin
g eq
uipm
ent t
hat a
re in
ope
ratio
n, d
epen
ding
on s
oil
and
wea
ther
con
diti
ons
(if p
ract
ical
).•
Wat
er m
ay b
e ap
plie
d on
a d
aily
bas
is to
all
inac
tive
dist
urbe
d su
rfac
e ar
eas,
whe
re th
ere
has
been
no
activ
ity f
or s
even
day
s or
mor
e da
ys.
Wat
er m
ay b
e ap
plie
d w
ith s
uffi
cien
tfr
eque
ncy
to p
reve
nt v
isib
le em
issio
ns (a
t lea
st e
very
2 h
ours
). A
utom
atic
spri
nkle
r or
spr
ay b
ar s
yste
ms
are
optim
al i
n th
ese
area
s.•
Con
stru
ctio
n si
tes
shou
ld e
mpl
oy a
suff
icie
nt n
umbe
r of
wat
er tr
ucks
and
hav
e ba
ck-u
p w
ater
truc
ks a
vaila
ble
if th
e si
te ex
peri
ence
s du
st c
ontr
ol p
robl
ems.
• Pe
rim
eter
wat
erin
g sy
stem
or
fenc
e lin
e m
istin
g co
nsis
ting
of p
orta
ble
irri
gatio
n eq
uipm
ent m
ay b
e ap
plie
d to
miti
gate
dus
t im
pact
ing
surr
ound
ing
resi
denc
es a
nd b
usin
esse
s.St
orag
ePi
les
• Fo
r so
me
mat
eria
ls, h
ard
crus
ts c
an b
e bu
ilt-u
p on
stor
age
pile
s by
app
licat
ion
of w
ater
. Cru
sts
redu
ce th
e du
st b
low
n of
f th
e st
orag
e pi
les.
Car
e is
requ
ired
to a
void
app
licat
ion
ofw
ater
to a
deg
ree t
hat m
ay e
rode
or
settl
e th
e fi
nes
to th
e bo
ttom
of t
he p
ile.
• W
ater
may
be
appl
ied
to a
t lea
st 8
0% o
f the
surf
ace
area
of a
ll op
en st
orag
e pi
les
on a
dai
ly b
asis
whe
n th
ere
is ev
iden
ce o
f win
d dr
iven
fugi
tive
dus
t.•
Stor
age
pile
s th
at a
re g
reat
er t
han
2.5
met
res
(8 fe
et)
in h
eigh
t an
d no
t co
vere
d m
ay h
ave
a ro
ad b
lade
d to
the
top
to a
llow
wat
er t
ruck
acc
ess
or s
houl
d ha
ve a
n op
erat
iona
l w
ater
irri
gatio
n sy
stem
that
is ca
pabl
e of
com
plet
e st
ockp
ile co
vera
ge (w
ater
truc
k ac
cess
on
larg
e vo
lum
e ag
greg
ate
stor
age
pile
s is
unr
ealis
tic).
Mat
eria
l Han
dlin
gan
d T
rans
fer
Syst
ems
• M
ater
ial t
o be
tran
spor
ted
may
be
mix
ed w
ith w
ater
pri
or to
load
ing
and/
or th
e en
tire
surf
ace
area
of
mat
eria
l may
be
wat
ered
aft
er lo
adin
g. W
ater
sho
uld
be a
vaila
ble
whi
le lo
adin
gan
d un
load
ing
in o
rder
to p
reve
nt v
isib
le d
ust p
lum
es.
• M
ater
ial m
ay b
e te
sted
to d
eter
min
e m
oist
ure
cont
ent a
nd si
lt lo
adin
g. O
nly
mat
eria
ls th
at h
ave
optim
um m
oist
ure
cont
ent s
houl
d be
crus
hed
or s
cree
ned.
• M
ater
ials
may
be
spra
yed
with
wat
er 1
5 m
inut
es p
rior
to h
andl
ing
and/
or a
t poi
nts
of t
rans
fer.
• W
ater
may
be
appl
ied
at th
e fe
ed a
nd/o
r in
term
edia
te p
oint
s in
the
conv
eyor
sys
tem
as
need
ed.
• W
ashi
ng se
para
ted
or s
cree
ned
mat
eria
ls a
re ef
fect
ive
in c
ontr
olli
ng fu
giti
ve d
ust e
mis
sions
from
chu
tes
and
conv
eyor
s.•
Hol
low
con
e no
zzle
s ar
e be
lieve
d to
pro
duce
the
grea
test
con
trol
whi
le m
inim
izin
g cl
oggi
ng w
hen
usin
g w
et s
uppr
essio
n sy
stem
s. O
ptim
al d
ropl
et s
ize
for
surf
ace
impa
ctio
n an
d fi
nepa
rtic
le a
gglo
mer
atio
n is
abo
ut 5
00
µm
- fin
er d
ropl
ets
are
affe
cted
by
drif
t and
surf
ace
tens
ion
and
appe
ar to
be
less
effe
ctiv
e.•
App
licat
ion
of w
ater
spr
ays
to th
e un
ders
ide
of a
conv
eyor
bel
t im
prov
es th
e pe
rfor
man
ce o
f wet
sup
pres
sion
syst
ems
at b
elt-
to-b
elt t
rans
fer
poin
ts.
Roa
d Su
rfac
es•
Wat
er m
ay b
e ap
plie
d to
all
unpa
ved
road
s us
ed fo
r ve
hicu
lar
traf
fic
at le
ast o
nce
per
ever
y tw
o ho
urs
of a
ctiv
e op
erat
ions
(i.e
., 3
tim
es p
er n
orm
al 8
hou
r w
orki
ng d
ay).
If
the
area
isin
acce
ssib
le to
wat
er t
ruck
s du
e to
slo
pe c
ondi
tion
s or
oth
er s
afet
y fa
ctor
s, w
ater
ing
may
be
cond
ucte
d w
ith h
oses
or
spri
nkle
r sy
stem
s. R
unof
f sh
ould
be
cont
rolle
d so
it d
oes
not
satu
rate
the
surf
ace
of t
he u
npav
ed h
aul r
oad,
ther
efor
e in
crea
sing
the
pote
ntia
l of t
rack
out.
• C
ontr
ol e
ffic
ienc
y of
wat
er d
epen
ds o
n: (
i) a
mou
nt (
per
unit
road
surf
ace
area
) of
wat
er a
dded
dur
ing
each
app
licat
ion;
(ii)
per
iod
of t
ime
betw
een
appl
icat
ions
; (iii
) w
eigh
t, sp
eed
and
num
ber
of v
ehic
les
trav
elin
g ov
er th
e w
ater
ed ro
ad d
urin
g th
e pe
riod
bet
wee
n ap
plic
atio
ns; a
nd (i
v) m
etro
logi
cal c
ondi
tion
s th
at a
ffec
t eva
pora
tion.
Dem
oliti
on a
ndD
econ
stru
ctio
n•
Wat
er m
ay b
e ap
plie
d at
the
follo
win
g tim
es/lo
catio
ns in
ord
er t
o m
inim
ize
dust
gen
erat
ion:
(i)
the
ext
erio
r of
bui
ldin
g su
rfac
es p
rior
to
initi
atin
g de
mol
ition
act
iviti
es a
s w
ell
asco
ntin
uous
ly d
urin
g th
e kn
ock
dow
n ph
ase.
It h
as b
een
sugg
este
d th
at a
ll ex
teri
or s
urfa
ces
of t
he b
uild
ing,
up
to si
x st
orie
s in
hei
ght (
whe
re fe
asib
le),
may
be
wet
ted
befo
re a
nd d
urin
gth
e us
e of
the
wre
ckin
g ba
ll; (
ii) d
ebri
s pi
le im
med
iate
ly f
ollo
win
g bl
astin
g an
d as
nee
ded
afte
rwar
ds; (
iii)
debr
is d
urin
g ha
ndlin
g an
d ha
ulag
e op
erat
ions
; (iv
) th
e su
rrou
ndin
g su
rfac
ear
ea fo
llow
ing
dem
oliti
on; (
v) u
npav
ed ro
ad s
urfa
ces
with
in 3
0 m
eter
s of
the
dem
oliti
on si
te, 1
hou
r pr
ior
to th
e ac
tual
dem
oliti
on;
and
(vi)
unp
aved
sur
face
are
as w
here
equ
ipm
ent
will
ope
rate
.
Bes
t P
ract
ices
for
th
e R
edu
ctio
n o
f A
ir E
mis
sion
s F
rom
Con
stru
ctio
n a
nd
Dem
oliti
on A
ctiv
ities
11
CH
EM
INF
O
Tab
le 6
: G
uid
ance
on
Ap
ply
ing
Du
st S
up
pre
ssan
ts/C
hem
ical
Sta
bili
zers
Stag
eG
uida
nce
on th
e A
pplic
atio
n of
Dus
t Sup
pres
sant
s/C
hem
ical
Sta
biliz
ers
Site
Pre
para
tion
• C
hem
ical
sta
bili
zers
may
be
appl
ied
to g
rade
d ar
eas
with
in 5
wor
king
day
s of
gra
ding
com
plet
ion.
In
addi
tion
, if
an a
rea
hav
ing
0.2
hec
tare
s or
mor
e of
dis
turb
ed s
urfa
ce a
rea
rem
ains
unus
ed fo
r 7
or
mor
e da
ys, t
he su
rfac
e ar
ea sh
ould
be
stab
ilize
d. C
hem
ical
sta
bili
zers
are
gen
eral
ly o
nly
effe
ctiv
e in
are
as th
at a
re n
ot s
ubje
ct t
o da
ily d
istu
rban
ces.
Veh
icle
traf
fic
and
dist
urba
nce
of s
tabi
lize
d so
ils sh
ould
be
limite
d th
roug
h th
e us
e of
fen
cing
, ditc
hes,
bar
rier
s, b
arri
cade
s an
d/or
win
d ba
rrie
rs.
• C
hem
ical
sta
bili
zers
shou
ld b
e ap
plie
d ac
cord
ing
to th
e m
anuf
actu
rers
spec
ific
atio
ns.
• T
he ef
fect
iven
ess a
nd lo
ngev
ity o
f che
mic
al s
tabi
lize
rs ca
n be
aff
ecte
d by
the
rate
of a
pplic
atio
n, s
oil
pH, m
oist
ure
leve
ls in
the
air
or s
oil,
am
ount
of s
unlig
ht, p
lant
gro
wth
and
traf
fic.
• C
onst
ruct
ion
oper
ator
s m
ay c
onsi
der
the
addi
tion
of
wat
er-s
olub
le su
rfac
tant
s to
wat
er. T
hese
surf
acta
nts
incr
ease
the
wet
ting
pow
er o
f w
ater
by
brea
king
dow
n th
e in
itial
res
ista
nce
ofdr
y so
ils to
wat
er. S
urfa
ctan
ts a
re re
lativ
ely
inex
pens
ive
and
grea
tly d
ecre
ase
the
amou
nt o
f wat
er n
eces
sary
dur
ing
dust
con
trol
ope
ratio
ns.
Stor
age
Pile
s•
Dis
turb
ed a
reas
of a
cons
truc
tion
site
, inc
ludi
ng st
orag
e pi
les
of f
ill d
irt a
nd o
ther
bul
k m
ater
ials
, tha
t are
not
bei
ng a
ctiv
ely
utili
zed
for
cons
truc
tion
purp
oses
for
a p
erio
d of
7 c
alen
dar
days
or
mor
e, s
houl
d be
stab
ilize
d w
ith a
chem
ical
dus
t sta
bili
zer
or s
uppr
essa
nt.
• A
muc
h m
ore
effec
tive
tech
niqu
e (t
han
appl
ying
wat
er t
o th
e st
orag
e pi
le)
is to
app
ly c
hem
ical
age
nts
(suc
h as
sur
fact
ants
) di
rect
ly t
o th
e st
orag
e pi
le,
whi
ch p
erm
it m
ore
exte
nsiv
ew
ettin
g. S
urfa
ctan
ts a
llow
par
ticle
s to
mor
e ea
sily
pen
etra
te th
e w
ater
dro
plet
and
incr
ease
the
tota
l num
ber
of d
ropl
ets,
thus
incr
easi
ng to
tal s
urfa
ce ar
ea a
nd co
ntac
t pot
entia
l.•
Foam
can
be
used
inst
ead
of c
hem
ical
sur
fact
ants
to re
duce
fugi
tive
dus
t em
issio
ns fr
om st
orag
e pi
les
(as
wel
l as
mat
eria
l han
dlin
g op
erat
ions
). F
oam
is g
ener
ated
by
addi
ng a
che
mic
al(i
.e.,
dete
rgen
t-lik
e su
bsta
nce)
to a
rela
tivel
y sm
all
quan
tity
of w
ater
that
is th
en v
igor
ousl
y m
ixed
to p
rodu
ce sm
all
bubb
les,
hig
h-en
ergy
foam
.M
ater
ial H
andl
ing
& T
rans
fer
• D
ust s
uppr
essa
nts
shou
ld b
e ap
plie
d an
d m
aint
aine
d pr
ior
to a
nd a
fter
to st
abili
ze sc
reen
ed m
ater
ials
and
surr
ound
ing
area
aft
er s
cree
ning
.•
Mat
eria
l bei
ng tr
ansp
orte
d in
a v
ehic
le sh
ould
be
spra
yed
with
a d
ust s
uppr
essa
nt.
Roa
d Su
rfac
es•
The
con
trol
eff
ectiv
enes
s of
chem
ical
dus
t su
ppre
ssan
ts d
epen
ds o
n: (
i) t
he d
ilutio
n ra
te u
sed
in th
e m
ixtu
re;
(ii)
the
appl
icat
ion
rate
(vol
ume
of s
olut
ion
per
unit
road
sur
face
d ar
ea);
(iii)
the
time
betw
een
appl
icat
ions
; (iv
) th
e si
ze, s
peed
and
am
ount
of t
raff
ic d
urin
g th
e pe
riod
bet
wee
n ap
plic
atio
ns; a
nd (v
) m
eteo
rolo
gica
l con
diti
ons
(rai
nfal
l, fr
eeze
/thaw
cyc
les,
etc
.)du
ring
the
peri
od.
• C
hem
ical
dus
t sup
pres
sant
s ha
ve m
uch
less
freq
uent
rea
pplic
atio
n re
quir
emen
ts a
s co
mpa
red
to w
ater
.•
Dus
t su
ppre
ssan
ts a
re g
ener
ally
app
lied
to t
he r
oad
surf
ace
as a
wat
er s
olut
ion
and
shou
ld b
e un
ifor
mly
app
lied
to a
ll ar
eas
dist
urbe
d by
veh
icle
s. W
hen
used
to
stab
ilize
hea
vily
traf
fick
ed a
reas
, dus
t sup
pres
sant
s ty
pica
lly r
equi
re g
roun
d pr
epar
atio
n pr
ior
to a
pplic
atio
n an
d re
appl
icat
ion
1-4
tim
es a
yea
r to
rem
ain
effe
ctiv
e.•
Bec
ause
mos
t che
mic
al p
rodu
cts
need
to s
oak
into
the
soil,
they
gen
eral
ly r
equi
re a
bove
-fre
ezin
g te
mpe
ratu
res
to w
ork
(exc
eptio
ns in
clud
e m
agne
sium
chl
orid
e an
d ca
lciu
m c
hlor
ide)
.C
alci
um c
hlor
ide
and
mag
nesi
um c
hlor
ide
are
the
mos
t co
mm
only
use
d du
st s
uppr
essa
nts
for
unpa
ved
road
s. P
rope
r ro
ad s
urfa
ce p
repa
ratio
n, g
radi
ng a
nd s
cari
fica
tion
is r
equi
red
befo
re a
pply
ing
calc
ium
chl
orid
e or
mag
nesi
um c
hlor
ide.
It
shou
ld b
e no
ted
that
cal
cium
chl
orid
e an
d m
agne
sium
chl
orid
e us
e m
ay b
e re
stri
cted
in
cert
ain
area
s by
mun
icip
al o
rpr
ovin
cial
aut
horit
ies.
Env
iron
men
t Can
ada'
s B
est P
ract
ices
For
The
Use
And
Sto
rage
Of C
hlor
ide-
Bas
ed D
ust S
uppr
essa
nts ,
(M
arch
20
04)
pro
vide
s gu
idan
ce o
n th
e ap
plic
atio
n of
chlo
ride
-bas
ed d
ust s
uppr
essa
nts.
• Fo
r gr
eate
st e
ffec
tiven
ess a
nd lo
wes
t cos
t it i
s im
port
ant t
o fo
llow
the
man
ufac
ture
r’s
inst
ruct
ions
for
mix
ing
and
appl
ying
thes
e ch
emic
als.
• PV
A p
olym
ers,
acr
ylic
cop
olym
ers,
and
wat
er-e
mul
sifi
ed p
etro
leum
resi
ns, e
tc. c
an a
lso
be u
sed
to m
itiga
te d
ust g
ener
atio
n on
unpa
ved
road
s.•
Surf
acta
nts
can
be a
dded
to th
e w
ater
ing
oper
atio
n to
incr
ease
fugi
tive
dus
t con
trol
. Sur
fact
ants
are
age
nts
that
bre
ak t
he su
rfac
e te
nsio
n of
the
wat
er t
hat
allo
ws
for
bette
r pe
netr
atio
nan
d sa
tura
tion
of t
he so
il pa
rtic
les.
Dem
oliti
on a
ndD
econ
stru
ctio
n•
Dus
t sup
pres
sant
s/ch
emic
al s
tabi
lize
rs m
ay b
e ap
plie
d du
ring
the
follo
win
g si
tuat
ions
: (i)
unp
aved
sur
face
are
as w
ithin
30
met
ers
(10
0 fe
et)
whe
re m
ater
ials
from
dem
oliti
on w
ill f
all;
(ii)
debr
is p
iles
imm
edia
tely
fol
low
ing
blas
ting
and
peri
odic
ally
aft
erw
ards
; (ii
i) t
he s
urro
undi
ng a
rea
fol
low
ing
dem
oliti
on;
and
(iv)
unp
aved
sur
face
are
as w
here
equ
ipm
ent
will
oper
ate.
Best Practices for the Reduction of Air Emissions From Construction and Demolition Activities 12
CHEMINFO
5. Design Considerations to ReduceEmissions from Construction and Buildings
5.1 Introduction
Proper planning during the design stage ofconstruction projects can effectively reduce emissionsgenerated during construction and li fecycleemissions. Suitable design can also minimizeemissions during demoliti on or deconstruction.Design considerations to reduce emissions associatedwith construction projects include the following:
• site planning;• building materials used;• minimizing vehicle traff ic congestion;• minimizing distances travelled for deli very of
construction materials;• utili zing "green" building materials; and• constructing buildings to maximize energy
eff iciency.
5.2 Plan for Minimizing DustGenerationSite planning should be conducted in order tomaximize construction eff iciency and consequentlyminimize emissions. The layout of the constructionsite should be designed to minimize fugiti ve dustgeneration potential, including access roads,entrances and exits, storage piles, vehicle stagingareas, and other potential sources of dust emissions.
One of the most criti cal design considerations thatshould be implemented is to develop a site dustmanagement plan. The dust management planshould identify potential fugiti ve emission sourcesfrom the construction operation. This can beaccomplished by starting with a facilit y site map. Allpaved haul roads, unpaved haul roads, stockpiles,material transfer points, material conveyances,parking lots, staging areas, and other open areassubject to wind erosion should be identified on themap. The prevaili ng wind direction should also beidentified on the map.
Daily traff ic volumes should be studied in order todetermine whether roads and open areas are usedfrequently or occasionally. Daily routine traff icmodifications should be considered that will reducetraff ic in some areas or eliminate it altogether. Theappropriate dust control method for each sourceidentified on the map should be determined. For eachsource and each control method identified, thefrequency of application should be defined. A self-inspection checkli st should be prepared in order to beable to record the scheduled applications.
Other site planning considerations that can serve toreduce dust generation during the constructionproject, include the following:
• before construction operations are initiated, asurvey should be conducted that assessesmaterials/tools/equipment to be used/handled.Decisions can then be make with respect toappropriate materials/tools/equipment that willserve to minimize dust generation; and
• infrastructure repair and maintenance should beco-ordinated – e.g., water, sewer and electricalunderground work should be carried out insequence rather than having to dig up andrepave the road several times.
Sensiti ve receptors in the area (e.g., schools,hospitals, wildli fe in urban areas, etc.) that requireenvironmental protection from dust generationshould be identified and taken into considerationwhen designing dust mitigation strategies.
5.3 Choose Building Materials toReduce Dust GenerationThe proper choice of building materials to be used atconstruction sites can serve to reduce the generationof fugiti ve dust during the construction phase as well
Best Practices for the Reduction of Air Emissions From Construction and Demolition Activities 13
CHEMINFO
as during the li fetime of the structure. Pre-fabricatedmaterials and modular construction units should beused whenever possible. These units are deli vered tothe construction site in a finished state, whichreduces the amount of cutting, grinding, etc. (andconsequently on-site dust emissions) that is requiredat the construction site. Potential emissions at thefactory where the pre-fabricated materials/modularconstruction units are made should be suitablyaddressed through effective pollution controlmeasures. It is easier to implement emissionreductions at large enclosed permanent faciliti es thanat open construction sites.
Examples of pre-fabricated components include pre-mixed brick mortar, exterior wall systems and shot-crete. Shot-crete is a concrete product sprayed inplace for footings on buildings. Shot-crete can bemixed on-site or premixed and delivered to the siteready for use. Using pre-mixed shot-crete reduces theemissions associated with its preparation on site.This can involve emissions associated with storage,handling and mixing of cement and aggregates. Theuse of modular components (e.g., walls that can bedismantled) minimizes waste and dust generatedduring retrofits of a floor or deconstruction of thebuilding.
Improving construction qualit y increases the serviceli fe of buildings and other constructed structures.This reduces the need for maintenance, rehabilit ationand reconstruction of structures. Often rehabilit ationand reconstruction can produce more emissions thanthe original construction. Therefore, improvingconstruction qualit y provides numerous li fecycleemissions benefits.
New developments in material science and theirapplications continue to provide opportunities forconstruction operations to reduce emissions.Continual improvements are being made to thequalit y and durabilit y of construction materials.Increased material durabilit y results in extendedservice li fe of structures, pavements, etc. andconsequently reduced li fecycle emissions (as lessfrequent repairs and replacement of materials isrequired as well as the fact that the overall structurewill l ast longer). The most advanced constructionmaterials should be used, whenever possible, inconstruction projects.
Many North American jurisdictions are promotingthe use of recycled materials. Currently, severalexisting material specifications, including asphalt,concrete, and granular, allow for partialincorporation of recycled material. Materialspecifications should require that the contractor use agreater percentage of recycled material for someconstruction operations including hot mix pavingand resurfacing, concrete structures and generalconcrete construction, and the construction ofgranular base and ‘shouldering’ operations. Fly-ash(by-product of coal combustion at electric powergeneration stations) which is used as a replacementfor Portland cement in ready-mix concrete can alsoresult in reduced li fecycle emissions as it reduces theamount of Portland cement that has to be produced.
All of these options can result in reduced li fecycleemissions. It should be noted that care must beexercised to ensure that the increased use of recycledmaterial does not result in reduced stabilit y andsafety of structures.
When designing walls, standard dimensions shouldbe incorporated to match standard dimensionmodules. This reduces the amount of material cuttingand related dust emissions. For dry wall systems,“dustless” fill er compound is available to jointfilli ng. This reduces the amount of dust generatedduring sanding of joints.
5.4 Mitigate Traffic CongestionTraff ic delays result from road closures, laneclosures, and lane narrowing which cause vehiclespeed reduction on roads and highways. Delays resultin increased emissions from vehicle enginestravelli ng slowly through the construction zone.Options to consider that increase traff ic flow andthereby mitigate potential emissions are: adding anew lane on the shoulder; carrying out activities onelane at a time; and re-routing traff ic.
Rapid on-site construction would reduce the durationof traff ic interference and therefore reduce emissionsfrom traff ic delay. Several strategies have beeninvestigated by the U.S. Transportation ResearchBoard to reduce the duration of on-site roadconstruction. In addition to ways of improvingproduction rates, off-site fabrication of structures
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such as bridges also reduce on-site construction time.Off-site fabrication of structural components can alsoenhance the qualit y of work, as the production takesplace in controlled settings and external factors suchas weather and traff ic do not interfere. Enhancedstructural qualit y will result in extended li fecycle ofstructures and thus result in reduced li fecycleemissions.
5.5 Minimize Distances Travelled forDelivery of MaterialsThe delivery of materials such as concrete, asphaltand aggregates to construction sites can generatesignificant amounts of road dust and result inincreased vehicle emissions, especiall y for sites thatare relatively far from material manufacturers. Somematerial deli veries can be eliminated by establi shingtemporary, portable concrete and/or asphalt plants,located on construction sites. This practice may befeasible for large-size projects that require substantialquantities of these materials. However, in many casesthese portable plants will not be feasible due to thecosts involved (e.g., installation, permitting, etc.).Establi shing temporary plants would reduce thenumber of transport trucks travelli ng on public andon-site roads.
5.6 Use Green Building MaterialsGreen building materials should be selectedwhenever possible in order to reduce emissionsassociated with the li fecycle of the building.Alternative paints, flooring, windows, insulation,walls, and other construction materials should beevaluated. There is an extensive amount ofinformation on green building materials located onthe internet. The following sites can be accessed tohelp identify green building materials that are mostapplicable and appropriate for specific constructionactivities:
• Canadian Green Building Council(http://www.cagbc.org/);
• Leadership in Energy and EnvironmentalDesign (LEED Canada)(http://www.cagbc.ca/building_rating_systems/leed_rating_system.php);
• Canadian Construction Association’s GreenBuilding Resource Centre(http://www.cca-acc.com);
• Athena Sustainable Materials Institute(http://www.athenasmi.ca/)
• Master Painters Institute(http://www.paintinfo.com/mpi/)
• Canadian Mortgage and Housing CorporationHealthy Housing(http://www.cmhc.ca/en/imquaf/hehosu/index.cfm)
• Green Globes Canadahttp://www.greenglobes.com/design/homeca.asp
• U.S. Green Building Council(http://www.usgbc.org/);
• Leadership in Energy and EnvironmentalDesign (LEED U.S.)(http://www.usgbc.org/LEED/LEED_main.asp).
• Environmental Choice Program(www.environmentalchoice.com)
5.6.1 Choosing Road Surface TypeThe best road surface for reduction of emissionsdepends largely on the situation (the type of surfaceput on a road, such as gravel, chip seal, or concrete,is based on the level of traff ic and amount of heavyloads carried). Different surface types requiredifferent amounts of aggregate materials as a base(concrete pavement structures have less aggregatethan asphalt structures). Proximity of aggregatematerials also plays a role in the cost of the pavementstructure and potentiall y on the pavement chosen.The amount of digging and earth moving also variesaccording to road surface type. Less subgrade widthis normally required for a concrete pavement than anasphalt pavement. In addition, less blasting isrequired due to the narrower subgrade.
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5.7 Design and Construct forMaximum Energy EfficiencyThere are many opportunities to improve the energyeff iciency of buildings and consequently reduce theirli fecycle emissions (e.g., selection of appliances,heating and cooling, home electronics, lighting,off ice equipment, etc.). The following resourcesshould be accessed in order to identify additionalinformation:
• The Canadian Model National Energy Code forBuildings is a model energy eff iciency codepublished in September 1997 by the NationalResearch Council of Canada (NRCC). The codesets minimum energy eff iciency standards forcommercial building construction in Canada.Detail s on how to obtain the Model NationalEnergy Code for Buildings can be found athttp://irc.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/catalogue/energy2.html.
• The Model National Energy Code of Canada forHouses provides assistance in designing energy-eff icient housing that minimize air-conditioningand heating bill s given construction cost trade-offs. This code applies to single family houses ofthree story’s or less, and to additions of morethan 10m2. Detail s on how to obtain the ModelNational Energy Code of Canada for Houses canbe found at: http://irc.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/catalogue/energy1.html.
• Natural Resources Canada’s R-2000 Programpromotes the use of cost-effective energy-eff icient building practices and technologies.(http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/r-2000/).
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6. Reducing Fugitive Dust Emissions FromConstruction and Demolition Sites
6.1 Introduction
This section of the Best Practices document identifiesand describes various technologies and workpractices that can be applied to minimize fugitivedust emissions during construction and demolitionactivities. The various actions have been describedunder the following construction activities thatgenerate fugitive dust emissions:
• Site preparation;• Storage piles;• Material handling and transfer systems;• Road surfaces;• Fabrication processes; and• Demolition and deconstruction.
6.2 Site Preparation
Site preparation steps such as earthworks,excavation, soil stripping, clearing and grubbing,earthmoving and landscaping, can result insignificant dust emissions, especially during dryweather periods and particularly if followed by highwinds. Outlined below are various work practicesand technologies that may be employed prior to,during and after the site preparation process in orderto minimize dust emissions.
6.2.1 Grade the Construction Site inPhases
Each area of the construction site should be gradedseparately (i.e., not all at once), timed to coincidewith the actual construction in that area. This allowsvegetation and cover to remain intact within theconstruction zone, until just prior to constructionoccurring on that segment of the construction site.Construction should be started at the location that isupwind from the prevailing wind direction. Phasingis considered to be especially critical for project sitesgreater than 40 hectares in size.
6.2.2 Utilize Wind Fencing
Permanent perimeter or temporary interior fencingshould be installed within construction sites as earlyin the construction operation as possible. Detailedguidance on wind fencing includes the following:
• One to two-meter barriers with 50% or lessporosity, berms or equipment should be locatedadjacent to roadways or urban areas.
• The bottom of wind fences should be sufficientlyanchored to the ground to prevent material fromblowing underneath the fence.
• Barriers placed at right angles to prevailingwind currents at intervals of 15 times the barrierheight are suggested to be the most effective incontrolling wind erosion.
• Windbreaks and fabric fences should bemaintained in an upright and functionalcondition at all times until no longer needed.
• All accumulated material on the windward sideof the windbreak should be periodically removedto prevent failure of the windbreak.
Examples of wind fencing include: trees or shrubsleft in place during site clearing; sheets of plywood;wind-screen material such as that used around tenniscourts; snow fences; hay bales; crate walls; sedimentwalls; burlap fences; etc. Block walls, if part of thefinal project, can replace wind fencing during the siteconstruction phase.
6.2.3 Stabilize Surfaces of CompletedEarthworks with Vegetation
Surfaces of completed earthworks (includinglandscaping) should be re-vegetated (i.e., seeded andmulched) within 10 days after active operations haveceased.
Ground cover should be of sufficient density toexpose less than 30% of un-stabilized ground within90 days of planting, and all times thereafter. Suchrestoration control measure(s) should be maintained
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and reapplied, if necessary, so that a stabili zedsurface is formed within 8 months of the initialapplication. Ground cover should be establi shed priorto final occupancy. The area should be restored suchthat the vegetative ground cover and soilcharacteristics are similar to adjacent or nearbyundisturbed native conditions (e.g., reseed usingnative grasses). Care must be taken to avoidintroducing or promoting the spread of noxiousweeds and plants. Prevent motor vehicle and/or off-road vehicle trespassing, parking, and/or access, byinstalli ng barriers, curbs, fences, gates, posts, signs,shrubs, trees or other effective control measures.
Temporary seeding and mulching may be applied tocover bare soil and to prevent wind erosion. The soilmust be kept moist to establi sh cover. Mulch canprotect the soil surface until newly seeded vegetationcan take over and improves the chance of getting agood grass stand quickly. Some types of mulchrequire tilli ng to integrate them into the upper layerof soil , if they are to be effective in dust control.Light mulches such as straw should be tacked inplace, either mechanicall y or by application of achemical tacking agent. Areas to be reseeded shouldbe mulched as described below:
• Hay mulch – perennial native or introducedgrasses of fine-stemmed varieties should be used.At least 65% of the herbage by weight of eachbale of hay should be 10 inches long in length orlonger. Rotted, brittle or mouldy hay are notacceptable. Hay should be properly cured prior touse. Hay that is brittle, short fibered orimproperly cured is not acceptable. Hay mulchshould be crosshatched crimped to a minimumdepth of two inches.
• Straw mulch – small grain plants such as wheat,barley, rye or oats should not be used. Alfalfa orthe stalks of corn, maize or sorghum are notacceptable. Material which is brittle, shorterthan 10 inches or which breaks or fragmentsduring the crimping operation are not consideredacceptable. Straw mulch should be crosshatchedcrimped to minimum depth of two inches.
• Gravel mulch –should be a maximum of threequarters to one inch in diameter and must havebeen crushed or screened with a minimum of oneangular face.
It is recommended that existing trees and largeshrubs (and other li ve perennial vegetation) beallowed to remain in place to the greatest extentpossible during site grading processes. Perimetervegetation should be planted early.
6.2.4 Stabilize Surfaces of CompletedEarthworks with Stone/Soil/Geotextiles
The following materials may be used to stabili zesurfaces, when re-vegetation is not possible (e.g.,highly erodible soil s):
• Stone (coarse gravel or crushed stone) can be aneffective dust deterrent. The sizes of the stonecan affect the amount of erosion that takes place.In areas of high wind, small stones are not aseffective as large stones (e.g., 8 inches).
• Topsoil uses less erodible soil material placed ontop of highly erodible soil s.
• Geotextiles can be used on graded slopedsurfaces to prevent wind and water erosion.
6.2.5 Create Ridges to Prevent Dust
A disk or other implement may be run on contours ofslopes to disturb the soil and leave ridges as well asbring clods of soil to the surface. These ridges deflectand raise wind 5 or 6 inches above the soil surface.Plowing should begin on the windward side of thesite using chisel-type plows spaced about 12 inchesapart, spring tooth harrows, or similar plows.
6.2.6 Compact Disturbed Soil
Disturbed soil may be compacted with rollers orother similar equipment in order to reduce theerosion potential of the area.
6.2.7 Eliminate Open Burning
Open burning of vegetative waste or other burnmaterials (e.g., trash, demoliti on debris, etc.) shouldnot be carried out at the construction site. Openburning is typicall y prohibited because it can causeair pollution that is harmful to human health and theenvironment, and endanger property. Wastematerials disposed of via open burning typicall yconsist of plastics, other synthetics and chemicals.The low-temperature burning of these materials leadsto incomplete combustion and emissions of several
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toxics. In addition, emissions from open burning arehighly concentrated.
Municipaliti es have preferred managementapproaches to vegetative waste depending on localcircumstances. These can include mulching,firewood, resale for cost recovery, used at waste toenergy faciliti es, etc. Operators should determinelocal preferences for addressing vegetative waste andensure that this approach reduces dust generation.
During site clearing, vegetative material may bechipped and then stored for subsequent use as covermaterial for vehicle access lanes or storage piles.
6.2.8 Where Possible, Reduce CertainActivities During Windy Conditions
During times of windy conditions, where feasible,construction operations that generate greater levels ofdust may be avoided or reduced. Instead, theseactivities can be conducted when more favourableweather conditions occur. Increased application ofother dust suppressant techniques may also beconsidered in times of very windy weather.
6.3 Storage Piles
Several work practices can be employed to mitigatefugiti ve dust emissions resulting from storage piles.These work practices primaril y reduce the exposureof storage piles to wind.
6.3.1 Storage Pile Activities Should beConducted Downwind
Storage pile activity (i.e., loading and unloading)should be confined to the downwind side of thestorage pile. This practice applies to areas around thestorage pile as well as the pile itself. Storage pilesshould also be located away from downwind siteboundaries.
6.3.2 Utilize Enclosures/Coverings forStorage Piles
Enclosures or the covering of inactive piles areeffective in reducing wind erosion and controlli ngfugiti ve dust emissions from storage piles.Enclosures can either full y or partiall y enclose the
source. Examples of enclosures used for reducingfugiti ve dust emissions from storage piles include:
• three-sided bunkers that are at least as high asthe stockpiled materials. The sides’ length mustbe no less than equal to the length of the pile;the sides distance from the pile must be no morethan twice the height of the pile; the sides heightmust be equal to the pile height; and the materialof which the sides are made must be no morethan 50% porous;
• storage silos (in lieu of open piles). Bulk cement,bentonite and similar fine dry materials (e.g.,less than 3 millimetres in particle size) should bestored in silos. Silos should be equipped withparticulate matter emission control technology(e.g., fabric filters); and
• open-ended buildings or completely enclosingthe pile within a building furnished withparticulate matter emission control technology.
Tarpaulins, plastic, or other material can also be usedas a temporary covering. When these temporarycoverings are used, they should be anchored toprevent the wind from removing them. Small orshort-term inactive storage piles should be enclosedor kept under sheeting while larger inactive storagepiles should be shrouded, capped or grassed over. Forexample, turf removed early in the constructionproject may be re-used to grass over long-terminactive storage piles. It should be noted thatenclosures/coverings may not be suitable undercertain conditions.
6.3.3 Utilize Wind Fences/Screens forStorage Piles
Porous wind fences/screens provide an area ofreduced wind velocity that reduces wind erosionpotential and fugiti ve dust emissions from theexposed surface on the leeward side of thefence/screen. Wind fences/screens reduce theturbulence generated by ambient winds in an area thelength of which is many times the physical height ofthe fence. It should be noted that wind fences/screensmay not be suitable under certain conditions.
Wind fences/screens can either be man-madestructures (e.g., wind fences, berms, parkingconstruction equipment in a position to block thewind) or vegetative (see below) in nature and are
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considered to be very cost effective since they incurlittle or no operating and maintenance costs.
The level of emission reductions achieved with windfences/screens depends upon the physical dimensionsof the fence relative to the source being controlled(e.g., storage pile). The length of the windfence/screen should be no less than the length of thepile and the height must be equal to or greater thanthe height of the pile.
A vertically-abrupt barrier will provide largereductions in velocity for relatively short leewarddistances, whereas porous barriers provide smallerreductions in velocity but for more extendeddistances. If complete control is desired, then barriersmust be placed at frequent intervals. In addition, thedirection of wind influences the size and location ofthe protected areas. The area of protection is greatestfor winds perpendicular to the barrier length andleast for winds parallel with the barrier.
A porosity (i.e., percent open area) of 50% achievesoptimum results for most applications. The porositycan be achieved by vertical or horizontal slatting orby a mesh structure, as long as the element size is nomore that about a fifth of the fence height. Someresearch has indicated that for a small soil storagepiles, a screen length of five times the pile diameter,a screen to pile distance of twice the pile height and ascreen height equal to the pile height is optimal.
In addition to storage piles, wind fences/screens canbe used to mitigate fugitive dust emissions from awide variety of other fugitive dust sources (e.g.,variety of exposed areas, materials handlingoperations, etc.). Since fences and screens can beportable, they are therefore capable of being movedaround the site, as needed.
6.3.4 Use Vegetation Cover as a WindBreak
Vegetation can be grown on and around storage pilesin order to mitigate fugitive dust emissions.Vegetative cover that can act as a windbreak mayconsist of perennial grass, trees or shrubs in 1 to 10rows. One, two, three, and five-row barriers of treesare found to be the most effective arrangement forplanting to control wind erosion. The type of treespecies planted also has considerable influence on
the effectiveness of a windbreak. In arid and semiaridregions where rainfall is insufficient to establishvegetative cover, mulching may be used to conservemoisture, prevent surface crusting, reduce runoff anderosion, and help establish vegetation.
Storage piles can also be situated in order to takeadvantage of existing landscape features andvegetation, which can act as a windbreak.
6.3.5 Properly Shape Storage Piles
Storage piles should be maintained so that they donot have steep sides or faces. In addition, sharpchanges of shape in the final storage pile should beavoided. The disturbance of storage piles should alsobe minimized where feasible.
6.3.6 Properly Schedule the Delivery ofLandscaping Materials
Material should not be ordered unless it will be usedshortly after delivery. This will minimize storagetime and reduce the potential for emissions.
6.4 Material Handling and TransferSystems
There are many actions that can be employed tomitigate dust emissions resulting from materialhandling and transfer operations such as crushing,grinding mills, screening operations, bucketelevators, conveyor transfer points, conveyor baggingoperations, storage bins, and fine product truck andrailcar loading operations.
6.4.1 Control Mud and Dirt Trackout andCarryout
Mud and dirt trackout/carryout from constructionsites can account for a temporary but substantialincrease in paved road emissions in many areas.Elimination of trackout/carryout can thussignificantly reduce paved road emissions. There areseveral techniques that can be employed to removematerial from truck underbodies and tires prior toleaving the site as well as techniques to periodicallyremove mud/dirt trackout/carryout from paved streetsat the access point(s).
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6.4.1.1 Street Cleaning
The accumulation of mud, dirt or similar debris thatis deposited on paved roads (including shoulders)adjacent to the site should be removed. This cleaningshould occur at the end of each workday, or at aminimum of once every 24 hours when operationsare occurring. In urban areas, this cleaning should beundertaken immediately if the trackout/carryoutextends more than 10 metres (33 feet) onto the pavedpublic road. If the trackout/carryout extends less than10 metres, clean up should occur at the end of theworkday. In addition to public roads that are locatedoutside of the construction site, accumulated mudand dirt should also be frequently removed from thepaved interior roads to prevent trackout/carryout ontothe paved public roadway.
The recommended street cleaning can be conductedby: manually broom sweeping and picking upmaterial; rotary brush or broom accompanied with orpreceded by suff icient wetting; vacuum sweeping;water flushing; and water sweeper. If wet systems areused, the runoff should be controlled so it does notsaturate the surface of the adjacent unpaved haulroad.
Vehicle waiting areas should also be regularlyinspected and kept clean by brushing or vacuumsweeping.
Street sweeping technology should be selected that ismost eff icient in the use of water while at the sametime minimizes dust generation. Since vacuumsweepers are more effective in removing smaller,finer soil particles, they have replaced conventionalbroom sweepers.
Municipaliti es often operate street sweepingequipment. These municipaliti es should coordinatetiming, costs and use of the equipment to ensurestreet clean-up occurs as soon as dust generatingactivity is completed or during the tracking period.
6.4.1.2 Haul Roads
Paved haul roads or gravel strips should be createdearly in the project. These haul roads are designed tolimit mud and dirt deposits on public paved roads.The paved or gravel haul roads should be maintainedat the point of the intersection of a paved publicroadway and a work site entrance. Haul roads enable
construction vehicles to clean their tires beforemovement to a more heavily travelled paved publicroadway.
When paving, the surface should extend at least 30meters into the site and be at least 7 meters wide (23feet wide). Mud and dirt deposits accumulating onpaved interior roads should be removed withsuff icient frequency, but not less frequently than onceper workday, to prevent carryout and trackout ontopaved public roads.
When using a gravel bed, washed gravel, rock,crushed rock or other low silt (<5%) content materialshould be used (minimum size – one inch indiameter, preferably between 1 and 3 inches indiameter) and maintained in a clean condition to adepth of at least six inches and extending at least 7meters wide and at least 15 meters long and aminimum of 6 inches deep. The gravel bed shouldcover the full width of the unpaved exit surface.When installi ng the gravel bed ensure that it isproperly graded. The gravel should be re-screenedand washed or additional gravel should be applied inorder to maintain effectiveness. Any gravel depositedonto a public paved road travel lane or shouldershould be removed at the end of the workday orimmediately following the last vehicle using thegravel pad, or at least once every 24 hours,whichever occurs first.
Installation/stabili zation of curbing and/or paving ofroad shoulders can prevent tracking of dirt fromconstruction sites.
6.4.1.3 Trackout Control Devices
There are various trackout control devices that can beinstalled in order to remove mud, dirt, etc. fromtruck tires and the undercarriage of motor vehiclesand/or haul trucks prior to leaving the work site, forinstance a grizzly or a wheel washing system. Itshould be noted that track-out control devices requireenvironmental management plans to control surfacedeposition.
A grizzly is also known as a wheel shaker/wheelspreading device and consists of raised dividers(rail s, pipe or grates) that are at least three inchestall , at least six inches apart, at least 8 meters longand 3 meters wide. Wheel washers may be adjusted
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to spray the entire vehicle including bulk-storedmaterial in haul vehicles. Grizzlies and wheelwashers should be cleaned/maintained on a regularbasis to ensure their effectiveness.
These systems should be installed on all work siteswith a disturbed surface area of 3 hectares or moreand from all work sites where 75 cubic metres (~100cubic yards) of bulk materials are hauled on/or off-site per day. All traffic should be routed over theinstalled trackout control devices.
6.4.1.4 Truck Wash
A truck wash, using hoses and ample water supply,should be installed at access points to removemud/dirt from vehicles prior to exiting the site. Thewheels and the body of each truck can then becleaned to remove spilled materials after the truckhas been loaded and prior to leaving the constructionsite. Vehicles may be washed prior to each trip.Construction equipment may also be washed at theend of each work day. It should be noted that truckwheel washes require environmental managementplans to control surface runoff of wheel wash water.
6.4.1.5 Site Restrictions
Some site restrictions that should be considered tominimize trackout/carryout include the following:
• confine load-in/load-out procedures to leeward(downwind) side of the material;
• designate a single site entrance and exit; and• ensure that vehicles stay on established traffic
routes within the construction site.
6.4.2 Minimize Material Drop at theTransfer Point and Enclosure
When loading materials onto vehicles and conveyors,the drop heights should be kept to a minimum andenclosed whenever possible. Where feasible, transferpoints and conveyor belts should be totally enclosed(or conveyor belts are to be equipped with no lessthan 210 degrees of enclosure) on the top and sidesas needed and the collected emissions directed toparticulate matter control equipment (i.e., baghouseor similar control device) at all times when theconveyors are in operation. The distance betweenmaterial transfer points should also be minimized.
Conveyor belts should be equipped with belt wipersand hoppers of proper size to prevent excessivespills. Conveyor belts as well as the ground underconveyors should be periodically cleaned to removeresidue material. The speed of the conveyor beltshould also be restricted to minimize spills.
6.4.3 Utilize Foam Suppression Systems
Foam systems (combination of water and a chemicalsurfactant) may be used on material transfer systemsto mitigate dust generation. The surfactant, orsurface active agent, reduces the surface tension ofthe water. As a result, the quantity of liquid neededto achieve good control is reduced. The primaryadvantage of foam systems is that they provideequivalent control at lower moisture addition ratesthan water spray systems.
Some specific application guidelines for foamsystems include the following:
• Foam can be made to contact the aggregatematerial by any means (high velocity impact isnot required);
• Foam should be distributed throughout theproduct material - inject the foam into free-falling material rather than cover the productwith foam; and
• Amount applied should allow all of the foam todissipate. Presence of foam with the productindicates that either too much foam has beenused or it has not been adequately dispersedwithin the material.
6.4.4 Secure Loads on Haul Trucks
There are several work practices that can beemployed to minimize the amount of fugitive dustemissions that occur from the transportation ofaggregate material within a construction site.
6.4.4.1 Partial or Total Enclosures
The entire surface area of hauled bulk materialsshould be covered with an anchored tarp, plastic orother material whether the cargo container is emptyor full. Alternatively, completely enclosed trucks canbe used. For instance, the transport of fine powderymaterial should be carried out in closed tankers,while dusty materials and aggregates should betransported in enclosed or sheeted vehicles.
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Where feasible, the cargo compartment of haul trucksshould be cleaned and/or washed at the deli very sitebefore/after loading or unloading. This practice canbe applied judiciously, for instance to specific trucksthat appear to be particularly dirty (i.e., not necessaryfor some trucks that appear to be quite clean).
The cargo compartment of all haul trucks should beconstructed and maintained so that spill age and lossof bulk material cannot occur from holes or otheropenings in the cargo compartment’s floor, sideand/or tailgate or bottom dump gate. Seals on anyopenings used to empty the load including, but notlimited to, bottom-dump release gates and tailgatesshould be properly maintained to prevent the loss ofbulk material from those areas. Belly-dump truckseals should be checked regularly, with any trappedrocks removed in order to prevent spill age.
6.4.4.2 Freeboard
If feasible, trucks may be loaded such that thefreeboard is not less than 7 cm (~3 inches). In otherwords, trucks may be loaded so that no part of theload that makes contact with any sideboard, sidepanel or rear part of the load comes within 7 cm (~3inches) of the top part of the enclosure for bulkmaterials.
6.4.4.3 Loader Bucket
Aggregate material should be emptied from theloader slowly, keeping the bucket close to the truckwhile dumping (to minimize drop height).
6.4.5 Prevent PM Emissions from Spills
Spill age of material caused by storage pile load-outand maintenance equipment can significantlyincrease fugiti ve dust emissions associated withvehicle traff ic. If spill age cannot be prevented due tothe intense use of mobile equipment in the storagepile area, then the following work practices should beadhered to:
• Methods and equipment to immediately clean-upaccidental spill ages of dusty or potentiall y dustymaterials should be readily available. Ifnecessary, use audible and visual alarm systems;
• A vacuum truck should be used to clean up spill sof cement powder and similar dusty materials;and
• The material transfer site (as well as the entireconstruction site) should be regularly inspectedfor spill s. There should be regular removal ofspill ed material in areas within 100 metres of thestorage pile. Consider designating an individualto be responsible for spill response and clean-upas well as reporting requirements.
6.4.6 Minimize Material HandlingOperations
The number of material handling operations shouldbe kept to a minimum by ensuring that dusty materialis not moved or handled unnecessaril y. Processspeeds should be minimized in order to reducefugiti ve dust emissions.
6.4.7 Capture Fugitive Dust Emissions
Fugiti ve dust emissions escaping through buildingopenings where material handling operations occurmay be controlled by installi ng a removable filtersover appropriate building openings, capturingemissions within the building by a proper hoodsystem and conveying the dust through a duct toparticulate collection systems.
6.4.8 Utilize Wind Barriers
Where practical, wind barriers may be installed witha porosity of no less than 50% upwind of screeningoperations to the height of the drop point.
6.4.9 Where Possible, Reduce CertainActivities During Windy Conditions
During very windy conditions, where feasible,specific material handling/transfer activities thatgenerate greater levels of dust may be avoided orreduced. Instead, these activities can be conductedwhen more favourable weather conditions occur.Increased application of water or other dustsuppression techniques may also be considered, if itis not possible to reschedule activities.
6.5 Road Surfaces
The following work actions can be employed toreduce the potential for fugiti ve dust emissions fromthe various road surfaces located within constructionsites. Examples of these road surfaces include
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unpaved roads, haul routes, parking lots, equipmentstaging areas, etc. An evaluation should be made todetermine which road surfaces, if treated, wouldmitigate the most dust (li kely all unpaved surfacescannot be treated).
6.5.1 Establish On-site VehicleRestrictions
Vehicle restrictions limit the amount and type (e.g.,restriction of roads to certain vehicle types orvehicles under a certain weight) of traff ic present onunpaved roads or lowers the mean vehicle speedtravelli ng on the road. For instance, reducing theamount of trips (e.g., by 50%) will reduce thegeneration of fugiti ve dust from unpaved roadsurfaces. General site traff ic should also be limited toestabli shed haul routes which have been watered ortreated and unnecessary vehicle movements andmanoeuvring should be avoided. Barriers should beutili zed to prevent motor vehicle and/or off-roadvehicle trespassing, parking, and/or access, byinstalli ng barriers, curbs, fences, gates, posts, signs,shrubs, trees, or other effective control measures.
Construction sites should limit the speed of vehiclestravelli ng on unpaved access/haul roads withinconstruction sites to a maximum of 16-24 kilometresper hour (10-15 miles per hour) and to 10 kilometresper hour (6 miles per hour) on unmade surfaces.Speed limit signs should be posted at eachconstruction site’s uncontrolled unpaved access/haulroad entrance. At a minimum, speed limit signsshould also be posted at least every 150 meters (500feet) and should be readable in both directions oftravel along uncontrolled unpaved access/haul roads.
6.5.2 Surface Improvements to UnpavedRoad Surfaces
Paving of the internal roadway network includingroads and parking lots (using recycled asphalt,asphalti c concrete or concrete) early in a project’sdevelopment phase will significantly reduce fugiti vedust emissions. If an internal roadway network ispaved, employees are to be instructed to park only onpaved areas. It should be noted that paving internalroadways has significant costs and will only befeasible in certain situations, for instance when workis to be carried out at a site for a significant time-period. Alternatively, the unpaved road can be double
chipped and sealed and subsequently maintained onan as needed basis.
If not paved, the road surface should be covered withmaterial that has a low silt content (i.e., less than5%) to a depth of three or more inches. Examplesinclude gravel, slag, recrushed/recycled asphalt androad carpets. Gravel should be used in areas wherepaving, chemical stabili zation or frequent watering isnot feasible. These roads should be gravelled on aregular basis.
Vegetative cover has been suggested as a surfaceimprovement for very low traff ic volume roads.
6.5.3 Proper Maintenance of UnpavedRoads
The edges of roads and footpaths should be cleanedregularly, using brooms and damping as necessary.Weekly scraping of roads with a grader may beundertaken to clear off dirt and debris.
6.5.4 Work Practices Associated withDe-icing Materials
Some work practices to reduce fugiti ve dustemissions associated with de-icing operations withinconstruction sites include the following:
• Use of de-icing materials with either a lowerinitial silt content or greater resistance toforming silt -size particles will result in lowerroad surface silt l oadings and subsequently lowerfugiti ve dust emissions;
• Plow road surfaces instead of sanding;• Sand and chips remaining from road de-icing
should be swept-up and transported to adesignated storage area for reuse; and
• Improvements in planning and applicationtechniques limit the amount of de-icing materialthat has to be applied to roads on a constructionsite.
6.6 Fabrication Processes
Outlined below are work practices that may beapplied to reduce fugiti ve dust emissions from thevarious fabrication processes that occur atconstruction sites. A common work practice to
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reduce fugiti ve dust emissions (among many of thesefabrication processes) is the use of high eff iciencyparticulate arrestors (HEPA). HEPA filters controlfine particulate matter emissions from dry work onconcrete such as blasting, crushing, jack-hammering,grinding, boring holes, sandblasting, poli shing, andsawing. HEPA filters can capture 95% of sili ca dust.
Enclosures should also be used whenever possible asthey are an effective way to prevent the transport ofdust throughout buildings and from buildings to theenvironment. Wood frame and plastic filmenclosures can be designed with negative pressure toensure that dust does not flow out of the enclosedspace. The potential of increased workplace exposureto dust must be considered when utili zing enclosuresinside structures.
Ducting systems should be cut-off to prevent thecirculation of dust during construction andrenovation activities.
Material drop heights for building debris should beminimized whenever possible. When debris is beingdropped from high levels, this material should bedropped over several sequential stages instead of theentire distance at once. Chutes that are used to dropmaterials to the ground level should be enclosed, iffeasible. In addition, bins that are used to receivematerials should also be covered when not in use.
6.6.1 Cutt ing, Grinding and Drilli ng
Work practices to minimize fugiti ve dust emissionsfrom various cutting, grinding and drilli ngoperations include the following:
• Use prefabricated materials whenever possible,to avoid the necessity of using these processes onthe construction site;
• Apply water sprays in conjunction with cuttingequipment;
• Avoid cutting out errors and re-bars;• Always try to fill whenever possible rather than
cutting back oversized work;• Always use dust extraction/minimization
systems with angle grinders and disc cutters;• When cutting roadways, pavements, blocks, etc.,
a diamond bladed floor saw with water pumpedthrough the system should be used; and
• When raking out mortar/pointing, a mortarraking kit, fitted on to a standard 5 inch (13
centimeter) angle grinder can be used on softmortar. For hard mortar, a super-saw withoscill ating blades can be used.
6.6.1.1 Design Considerations to Avoid Grindingand Cutting
If possible cutting and grinding should be avoidedthrough the design and other techniques, such as:
• Designing tolerances for infilli ng rather thancutting back oversize work;
• Increasing the size of concrete pours to reducethe need for grinding;
• Use of bonding agents;• Designing the concrete components themselves
to affect interfaces; and• Using wet grit blasting for outside work.
Should grinding be necessary, PM emissions can bemitigated by: (i) fitting tools with dust bags; (ii ) pre-washing work surfaces; (iii ) screening off areas to beground; and (iv) vacuuming up, as opposed tosweeping away, residual dust.
6.6.2 Sand and Grit Blasting and FaçadeCleaning
6.6.2.1 Utilize Wet or Other Processes ThatMinimize Dust Generation
When sand, grit or shot blasting or façade cleaning,wet processes (e.g., high pressure water blasting orwater blasting supplemented by abrasives) should beused whenever possible. Wet processes introducewater into the air/grit stream, which reduces dustgeneration. In addition, it should be ensured that theslurries do not dry out. Spent abrasive materialsshould be wetted and periodicall y removed from thejob site. Hydroblasting, vacuum blasting andcentrifugal wheel blasting are also alternatives thatreduce fugiti ve dust generation vs. dry blasting.
6.6.2.2 Utilize Enclosures
If dry grit blasting is necessary, then curtains,enclosures or shrouds should be erected to completelysurround the blasting operation. This includes thearea around and underneath the operation. Theground cannot be used as the bottom of the enclosureunless completely covered with plastic sheeting or atarpaulin. The enclosure should be constructed of
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flexible material such as tarpaulins or containmentscreens which are specifically designed for thispurpose or for rigid materials such as plywood. Allmaterials should be maintained free of tears, cuts orholes.
All debris which has been collected by this operationor which has fallen to the ground should be collectedand subsequently disposed of. Collection and storageshould be done as often as needed, but as aminimum, at the end of each workday. Storageshould be in steel dumpsters or drums. All containersshould include lids that should be secured at the endof each workday.
Dry blasting should be conducted indoors, wherepossible, with enclosures equipped with emissioncontrols. Negative pressure dust collectors shouldalso be used in conjunction with enclosures and keepdoors closed to reduce fugitive dust emissions.
6.6.2.3 Stabilize Particulate Matter in SurroundingArea Following Blasting
Particulate material from the surrounding areashould be cleaned up during and following blastingactivities. Water or a dust suppressant should beapplied to the disturbed soils after blasting as well.
6.6.2.4 Alternative Abrasive Material Should beUsed
More durable abrasives with lower dust generationpotential should be used, such as non-friableabrasives. The reuse of abrasives containing highquantities of fines and/or toxic compounds should beavoided.
6.6.3 Concrete Cutting
Concrete cutting operations use diamond or abrasivediscs for hand-cutting operations and a Vermeergrinder wheel mounted on a construction vehicle forlarge cutting or trenching operations. The use ofwater in sufficient quantities to wet the cutter, theimmediate surrounding work area, and the fugitivedust immediately emanating from the cuttingoperation is effective (e.g., use of a wet vacuumsystem). This work practice also applies to asphaltcutting as well.
Enclosures, curtains or shrouds surrounding the workarea that contain the emission of fugitive dust may
also be utilized. In this case, the surface dust createdshould be promptly cleaned from the surface using awet sweeping process. A vacuum should be used tocollect dust when cutting materials.
6.6.4 Mixing Processes
Actions that can be employed to mitigate thegeneration of PM emissions from mixing operationsinclude the following:
• Utilization of pre-mixed concrete, plasters andmasonry compounds will serve to reduce on-sitePM emissions generation;
• Use correctly-sized pre-cast sections in order toreduce the need for cutting and drilling on theconstruction site;
• Enclosed or protected areas should be used tomix concrete or bentonite slurries;
• Fine materials should be palletized and shrinkwrapped when possible;
• Keep foundations moist; and• Use larger pours of concrete rather than repeated
small pours.
6.6.5 Internal and External Finishing andRefurbishment
Dust suppression/collection equipment should beattached when using sanding and cutting machinery.In addition, vacuum cleaning should be usedwhenever possible. When installing fire-proofing orinsulation material, dust suppressants should be usedwhen blowing fibres into empty spaces orencapsulated materials should be used instead.
Floor sweeping can generate dust. Inside of homesshould be power vacuumed of dust and debris. Whencleaning after work has been completed, dampsweeping using fine mist can also be utilized. Drysweeping should only be utilized with vacuumextraction methods attached. Floor sweepingcompounds can also be used where appropriate, orwet sawdust can be used.
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6.7 Demolition and Deconstruction
Unique work practices and technologies that can beapplied to reduce fugitive dust emissions fromdemolition and deconstruction activities are outlinedbelow. There are many additional actions that canalso be employed, but those common to demolitionand construction activities are not repeated withinthis section. Demolition firms are encouraged toreview Section 4 in order to identify additionalactions that can be employed to reduce fugitive dustemissions from their operations.
6.7.1 Apply Deconstruction Techniques
Buildings that must be taken down should, to theextent possible, be deconstructed rather thandemolished so that materials can be reused in otherbuildings. Deconstruction generally results in lowerfugitive dust emissions compared to demolition.
6.7.2 Minimize Drop Heights for Debris
Material drop heights for building debris should beminimized whenever possible. When debris is beingdropped from high levels, this material should bedropped over several sequential stages instead of theentire distance at once.
6.7.3 Enclose Chutes and Cover Bins
Chutes that are used to drop demolished materials tothe ground level should be enclosed, if feasible. Inaddition, bins that are used to receive materialsshould also be covered when not in use.
6.7.4 Use Fogging Systems
A fogging system can be used to direct fog into thefugitive dust area. If fog droplets and airborne dustmix, dust particles stick to the water droplets therebyadding weight to the dust particles. The increasedmass of the dust particles causes them to fall out ofthe air. Fogging systems can only be used in an areathat has a pocket or cover.
6.7.5 Barriers to Prevent Dispersion
Enclosures, curtains or shrouds can be utilizedduring the demolition phase to confine dustgeneration. Negative pressure dust collectors can beused to collect the dust that has been confined by theenclosures, etc. Enclosures, curtains or shrouds may
be impractical during demolition activities lasting afew days or less.
Prior to blasting, buildings should be screened withsuitable debris screens and sheets.
6.7.6 Avoid Blasting When Feasible
Blasting with explosives has the potential to generatelarge amounts of fugitive dust emissions in a veryshort period of time. Blasting should be avoided andother demolition and deconstruction methods usedwherever possible. It is noted that in some instances,blasting is the safest manner in which to quicklybring down a structure.
Blasting operations can significantly reduce the sizeof the building and its component materials. Thegeneration of a large amount of fugitive dust in theshort term through blasting may reduce the potentialfor prolonged periods of fugitive dust emissions thatwould otherwise occur in ongoing size reductionoperations.
6.7.7 Vacuum Debris
Vacuums or similar cleaning devices should be usedto thoroughly clean blast debris from paved and othersurfaces following blasting operations. An industrialvacuum should be used to clean debris prior to theuse of high pressure air to blow soil and debris.
6.7.8 Work Practices for Loading Debris
Loaders should tip debris into haulage trucks with aminimum fall distance to minimize dust emissionsfrom tumbling debris. If possible, fine debris shouldbe placed into the truck bin first, followed by largerdebris on top. Alternatively, if possible, dry debrisshould be placed into the truck bin first, followed bywet debris on top. Debris loads should be balanced intruck bins. Debris loads should not be compactedusing the impact of a loader bucket.
6.7.9 Avoid Prolonged Storage of Debris
Avoid prolonged storage of debris on site and itsexposure to wind.
Waste and refuse bins should be covered when theyare being removed from the construction site.
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7. Reducing Other Emissions at Constructionand Demolition Sites
7.1 Introduction
This chapter of the Best Practices documentidentifies actions that can reduce emissions fromconstruction and demoliti on activities, beyondfugiti ve dust emissions. Three separate emissionsource categories are addressed in this section of theBest Practices document, specificall y:
• Vehicle and equipment engines;• Hot mix asphalt production at portable plants;
and• Volatile organic compounds (hydrocarbon
solvents).
While the focus of this chapter is on emissions otherthan PM, the section on vehicle and equipmentengines identifies actions that can also reduceparticulate matter emissions from vehicle andequipment stacks (i.e., not fugiti ve PM emissions).
7.2 Vehicle and Equipment Engines
Road and heavy engineering construction activitiesrely on the utili zation of a wide range of mobileequipment, such as bulldozers, graders, dump trucks,pavers, excavators, and bobcats. The engine exhaustfrom these vehicles, especiall y from those operatingon diesel fuel, represent a source of particulate andother emissions (e.g., SO2, NOx, VOC, PAH, CO2)from the construction site. Outlined below aretechnologies and work practices that can beemployed to reduce these emissions. Constructioncompanies are advised to ensure that their warrantieson vehicles will not be voided, should they beretrofitted with emission control technologies or useof alternative fuels.
It should be noted that Environment Canada, throughthe Federal Agenda on Cleaner Vehicles, Enginesand Fuels is establi shing initiatives, includingregulatory measures under the CanadianEnvironmental Protection Act, 1999, that aredesigned to reduce emissions from the various off-
road vehicles and engines that are typicall y used at road and heavy engineering construction sites. TheOff-Road Compression-Ignition Engine EmissionRegulations introduce emission standards for newdiesel engines such as those typicall y found inconstruction, mining, farming and forestry machines.The Regulations apply to engines of the 2006 andlater model years. In addition, the Off-Road SmallSpark-Ignition Engine Emission Regulationsestablish emission standards for small spark-ignitionengines rated up to 19 kW (25 hp). Small spark-ignition engines are typicall y gasoline-fuelledengines found in lawn and garden machines, inlight-duty industrial machines (e.g., generator sets,welders, pressure washers, etc.), and in light-dutylogging machines. These Regulations apply to 2005and later model-year engines. Further informationcan be obtained by visiting Environment Canada’sCEPA Environmental Registry website atwww.ec.gc.ca/CEPARegistry/regulations or calli ngthe Inquiry Centre at 1-800-668-6767. Note thatthese Regulations do not set limits for GHGemissions.
7.2.1 Use Diesel Particulate Filters
The use of state-of-the-art catalyzed diesel particulatefilters can significantly reduce particulate matteremissions from the exhaust of diesel-poweredvehicles or equipment. Particulate traps can comeequipped on newly purchased vehicles or can beinstalled on the existing fleet of diesel-poweredvehicles operated by a construction company (i.e.,retrofit existing vehicles).
All new diesel-powered vehicles should use state-of-the-art catalyzed diesel particulate filters. Allexisting vehicles should be evaluated, and wherevertechnicall y feasible and cost effective, retrofitted withdiesel particulate filters.
Catalyst-based diesel particulate filters use catalystmaterials to reduce the temperature at whichcollected diesel particulate matter oxidizes. Thecatalyst material can either be directly incorporated
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into the filter system, or can be added to the fuel as afuel-borne catalyst (see below). Catalyst-based dieselparticulate filters can be used with diesel fuels ofvarying sulphur content. However, very low sulphurfuel (i.e., no more than 15 mg/kg) should be usedwith vehicles equipped with these filters in order toachieve optimal emission reduction results.
7.2.2 Use Fuel-Borne Catalysts
Fuel-borne catalysts may be used to reduce theemissions of PM, NOx, VOC and carbon monoxidefrom off-road diesel-fueled engines. These productstypically contain an in-line solid metal oxidation/fuelmodification catalyst that changes the composition ofdiesel fuel immediately prior to its use in an engine.Subsequent combustion of the modified fuel resultsin a reduction of both the elemental carbon andsoluble organic fraction of diesel particulate matter,as compared to untreated fuel.
Another version of this technology is a concentratedliquid fuel-borne catalyst containing 4 to 8 parts permillion of fuel-soluble platinum and cerium metalthat reduces diesel particulate matter emissions fromdiesel-fueled engines. The fuel-borne catalystcatalyzes the rate of soot oxidation and lowers thetemperature at which soot oxidation takes place.
7.2.3 Use Diesel Oxidation Catalysts
A diesel oxidation catalyst uses a catalytic substance(such as platinum or palladium) to acceleratechemical reactions. When exhaust gases contact thecatalyst, the residual hydrocarbons and carbonmonoxide are oxidized. The hydrocarbon oxidationalso extends to such materials as polycyclic aromatichydrocarbons (PAH) and the soluble organic fractionof diesel particulates. Diesel oxidation catalystsshould be used by construction companies to reduceemissions associated with their diesel-poweredvehicles.
The sulphur content of diesel fuel is critical for theperformance of diesel oxidation catalysts. Thecatalyst used to oxidize the soluble organic fractioncan also oxidize sulphur dioxide to form sulphateparticulate, which is measured as part of particulatematter. Active diesel oxidation catalysts can alsooxidize nitric oxide to from nitrogen dioxide.Catalysts have been developed that selectively
oxidize the soluble organic fraction, carbonmonoxide and PAH, while minimizing the oxidationof sulphur dioxide and nitric oxide. In general, dieselfuel with a sulphur content of 500 mg/kg by weightor less is recommended for any retrofit program.
7.2.4 Ensure Catalytic Converters areOperating Efficiently
Catalytic converters are used in gasoline-poweredengines to reduce emissions (e.g., carbon monoxide,nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds)associated with vehicle operation. A catalyticconverter changes these gases to carbon dioxide,nitrogen, oxygen, and water. Construction operationsshould ensure that the most advanced catalyticconverters are installed on their gasoline-poweredvehicles and that these converters are operating totheir maximum efficiency.
Practices that serve to reduce the effectiveness ofcatalytic converters on gasoline-powered constructionvehicles should be avoided. For instance, someengine oil additives or engine problems that causethe mixture or the temperature of the exhaust gasesto change reduce the effectiveness and life of thecatalytic converter. For instance, the over-use of fueladditives can shorten the life of a catalytic converterconsiderably. Gasket sealers and cements can alsopoison a converter. In addition, any time an engine isoperating outside proper specifications, unnecessarywear and damage may be caused to the catalyticconverter as well as the engine itself.
7.2.5 Evaluate Alternative Technologiesto Reduce Emissions from VehicleEngines
There are various emission control technologies atvarious stages of commercialization, a few of whichare described below. These or others should beevaluated for utilization on construction vehicles.
• Selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technologywas developed to mitigate NOx emissions fromstationary sources. Recently, SCR technologyhas been applied to selected large mobilesources. A chemical agent (ammonia or urea) isinjected upstream of the SCR catalyst. It reactswith NOx, reducing it to harmless products. SCR
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can also provide reductions in particulate matterand volatile organic compound emissions.
• Exhaust gas recirculation routes a portion of theexhaust to the charger inlet or intake manifold.In most systems, an intercooler lowers thetemperature of the recirculated gas. The cooledrecirculated gas, which has a higher heatcapacity than air and contains less oxygen,lowers the combustion temperature in the engineand reduces NOx formation.
• Lean NOx catalysts introduce a small amount ofdiesel fuel into the exhaust stream. This dieselfuel acts as a reducing agent for the catalyticconversion of NOx to nitrogen. The catalyticsubstrate is usually a porous material, oftenmade up of zeolite, which provides microscopicsites for fuel (hydrocarbon rich) to react andreduce potential NOx emissions.
7.2.6 Properly Maintain Engines andExhaust Systems
Vehicle and equipment engines should be properlymaintained to reduce exhaust emissions of CO,VOCs, and PM. Equipment that is in good conditionwill also reduce fuel consumption. Equipment shouldbe inspected prior to the start of a project. Whileequipment is on site, a dail y inspection should beconducted and parts and hoses showing signs of wearshould be promptly replaced. Damaged parts shouldalso be repaired or replaced.
Contractors should be asked to provide maintenancerecords for their fleet as part of the contract bid andat regular intervals throughout the li fe of thecontract.
7.2.7 Use Low Sulphur Diesel
The sulphur content in off-road diesel is notcurrently regulated at the national level in Canada.However, voluntary standards set a 5,000 mg/kgspecification for sulphur in off-road diesel. The U.S.Environmental Protection Agency finali zed an off-road regulation that will limit t he level of sulphur inoff-road diesel fuel to 500 mg/kg starting in 2007,reduced to 15 mg/kg in 2010. Environment Canadahas proposed the Amendment to the Sulphur inDiesel Fuel Regulations in October, 2004 to controlthe level of sulphur in off-road diesel fuel, inalignment with the proposed U.S. standards. Further
information on the proposed regulations can beobtained by visiting Environment Canada’s CEPAEnvironmental Registry website: www.ec.gc.ca/CEPARegistry/regulations.
It should also be noted that the Cali fornia AirResources Board presently has a limit of 500 mg/kgfor off-road diesel reduced to 15 mg/kg limit startingin 2006. In addition, the City of Montreal prohibitsthe use of diesel fuel that has sulphur content inexcess of 500 mg/kg for all engines and vehicles.
Low sulphur fuels can improve air qualit y in twodistinct ways: (i) by reducing vehicle emissions ofSO2 and PM due to lower sulphur levels; and (ii ) byincreasing the effectiveness of existing emissioncontrol devices and enabling the use of moreadvanced emission control devices.
Off-road diesel fuel currently contains a sulphurcontent of approximately 1,000-3,000 mg/kg inCanada. Diesel fuel with much lower sulphur levelsis currently available in Canada. For instance, thecurrent Sulphur in Diesel Fuel Regulations requiresthat the concentration of sulphur in diesel fuelproduced or imported for use in on-road vehicles notexceed 500 mg/kg until May 31, 2006; and 15 ppmafter May 31, 2006. Therefore, constructioncompanies are encouraged to use the low sulphurdiesel fuel that has been primaril y produced for on-road vehicles. A Low Sulphur Fuels ProcurementGuide available to aid in the purchase of low sulphurdiesel fuel is available at:www.ec.gc.ca/energ/ecology/LSF/ecological_measures_e.cfm
7.2.8 Alternative Fuels Should beUtilized Where Feasible
There are several alternative fuels that should beused to reduce the level of emissions that otherwisewould have occurred with the use of diesel fuel (orgasoline). Alternative fuels that could be usedinclude biodiesel, ethanol, propane, natural gas andvarious fuel additi ves. Electricity can also be used,primaril y for equipment purposes, however also forvehicles. Biodiesel is described in greater detailbelow.
Biodiesel can be used in pure form or it can be mixedwith diesel fuel (e.g., B20, which is a mixture of 20%biodiesel and 80% standard diesel). Biodiesel reduces
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the carbonaceous fraction of diesel particulate matterthrough improved in-cylinder combustion, which isprimaril y attributed to biodiesel’s high oxygencontent. B20 can be used without changes to dieselengines or the fuel distribution infrastructure.However, the use of pure biodiesel may requirechanging some engine seals and fuel li nes in olderengines. Biodiesel generall y contains no sulphur oraromatics, however it may increase NOx emissions by5-10%.
7.2.9 Reduce or Eliminate Idling Time
Idling of off-road vehicles on construction sites isoften practised for the following reasons:
• to provide heat or air conditioning for thevehicle;
• to keep the fuel and engine warm in coldweather to avoid cold starting;
• while being actively operated such as whenwaiting to load and unload commodities; and
• trucks and truck-trailer combinations may needto idle in order to operate auxili ary equipment,including power take-off (PTO) equipment.
The reduction of idling provides benefits (besidesenvironmental) in terms of reduced fuel consumptionand engine wear and consequently the saving ofmoney to the owner/operator. The idling of off-roadengines when the vehicle is not moving, or when theoff-road equipment is not performing work, shouldbe limited to less than 5 minutes at any one location.Construction companies are encouraged to institutean anti-idling campaign. Additional detail s can belocated at http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/idling/home.cfm.
Technologies are available which automaticall y shutthe engine off after a preset time. These idlingcontrol technologies should be used whereeconomical. The installation of such systems onconstruction vehicles avoids the reliance on theoperators to comply with a time limitation.Additional detail s on alternatives to truck idling canbe located at: http://www.ctre.iastate.edu/pubs/truck_idling/index.htm
The City of Toronto has a by-law not allowedvehicles to idle for more than three minutes in asixty-minute period.
7.2.10 Evaluate Alternatives for Heat andAir Conditioning for Off-Road Vehicles
There are technology-based alternatives to theprovision of heat/air conditioning through idling.Examples of available technologies include auxili arypower systems or main engines and on-boardelectrification. The purpose of these alternativetechnologies is to displace the use of the higherpolluting main engine for providing power andcomfort to the cab. These systems are typicall y usedby on-road tractor trailers, however there may beopportunities now or in the future for utili zationwithin construction vehicles.
An auxili ary power system typicall y consists of anengine and compressor to supply electrical power andclimate control to the truck cab. The unit is generall yinstalled in place of one fuel tank and weighsapproximately 140 kilograms. There are severalmethods to power an auxili ary power systemincluding diesel fuel and electrical power. Severalheavy-duty diesel engine manufacturers aredeveloping integrated auxili ary power systems fortheir engines that will be available as an OEMoption. Auxili ary power systems are designed as self-contained units that require no external power sourceother than fuel.
On-board electrification is an alternative to providethe power for HVAC climate control and to powerancill ary devices. A simple outlet on the perimeter ofthe truck space typicall y supplies the 110-volt or 220-volt power. In order to use on-board electrificationfor climate control, the purchase of additionalequipment may be needed. It should be noted thatthere are systems that can be powered alone by 110-volt power such as a space heater or small cooler butthere are questions as to the practicalit y of suchdevices for this use.
7.2.11 Minimize Cold Starts
Both the combustion eff iciency of the engine and theeffectiveness of the emission control device are at aminimum during a cold start and therefore emissionstend to be high. In order to correct this problem,engine block heaters and pre-heated catalyticconverters (using an electrical heat source) may beretrofitted onto engines for more eff icient combustion
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and more complete oxidation of the exhaust in thecatalytic converters.
Note that minimizing cold starts does not meanincreasing idling times.
7.2.12 Evaporative Losses Should beMinimized
Evaporative losses from construction equipment areprimaril y associated with the fuel tanks. There areevaporative emission control technologies that canreduce such emissions by as much as 96%. Thesetechnologies include: (i) the closed fuel system(modified tank); (ii ) tank ventilation to carboncanisters; and (iii ) tank fill ed with expanded metalmesh. These technologies can be retrofitted to theexisting fleet of construction vehicles as well asinstalled on new vehicles.
7.3 Hot Mix Asphalt Production atPortable Plants
The Canadian Construction Association has recentlypublished Environmental Best Practices Guide forHot Mix Asphalt Plants, which detail s various workpractices and technologies that should be employedto minimize emissions of particulate matter, gaseousemissions, odour, and noise. This document shouldbe consulted for additional detail s on practices thatcan be employed to minimize the environmentalimpact of portable hot mix asphalt plants.
The focus of this section is on work practices toreduce gaseous emissions from portable hot mixasphalt plants (work practices to reduce particulatematter emissions were discussed in Chapter 6). Thesegaseous emissions occur from the combustion processemployed at portable hot mix asphalt plants, which isused to dry aggregate prior to it being mixed withasphalt. Gaseous emissions include sulphur oxides,nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide and volatileorganic compounds. The various work practicesoutlined below have been summarized from thedocument published by the Canadian ConstructionAssociation. For more extensive and detailedinformation, this document should be reviewed. Itshould be noted that recommendations are providedlater in this Best Practices document concerning
actions to mitigate emissions from hot mix asphaltoperations at construction sites.
7.3.1 Maintain Proper Air to Fuel Ratio inthe Combustion System
The proper air to fuel ratio in the combustion systemshould be maintained in order to completely andeff iciently burn the fuel provided. Incompleteburning of fuel results in higher levels of carbonmonoxide and volatile organic compounds.
7.3.2 Burner and Air Systems Should beRegularly Inspected and Maintained
The burner and air systems should be regularlyinspected and maintained in order to ensure that fuelconsumption is reduced and carbon monoxide andvolatile organic compound emissions are minimized.Quali fied personnel should perform tune-ups orrepairs to the burner system as necessary and a tune-up should be conducted annually to ensure eff iciency.The following inspections of the burner system arerecommended to ensure that these parts arefunctioning according to manufacturer’sspecifications:
• all burner valves and linkages;• fuel pressure, air-fuel ratios, and combustion air
pressure;• all moving parts are lubricated;• all filter systems and stainers are regularly
maintained;• nozzles are clear of foreign materials; and• blowers.
Leaking air directly affects the air to fuel ratio,thereby resulting in ineff icient combustion andhigher emissions. Therefore, drum and duct air sealpoints (i.e., the air systems) should be regularlyinspected and maintained. Air leaks furthest from theburner result in the most negative impacts on thecombustion process.
7.3.3 Conduct Regular Inspections ofOther Equipment
Other equipment within portable hot mix asphaltplants (apart from the burner and air systems) shouldbe regularly inspected and maintained to ensure thatthe combustion process operates to its maximum
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eff iciency. Regular inspections of the followingequipment should be conducted to ensure that it isoperating properly and to manufacturer’sspecifications:
• damper - key component in controlli ng the fuelto air ratio;
• dryer flights - proper veili ng of aggregateenables the burner system to work at optimumlevels;
• primary and secondary collectors - for materialbuild-up that may reduce the flow of airthroughout the system; and
• hot oil heater systems – ensure that hot oil heaterburner systems are clean and hot oil heater linesare working properly. The hot oil heater shouldbe tested annually to ensure oxidation is nottaking place.
7.3.4 Aggregate Should Not be Allowedto Pass Through Combustion Zone
Aggregate should never be allowed to veil or passthrough the combustion zone of the burner’s flame. Ifthis occurs incomplete combustion will result,leading to increased carbon monoxide and volatileorganic compound (VOC) emissions.
7.3.5 Thermocouples and Other SensorsShould be Regularly Calibrated
Thermocouples and other sensors are installed tomonitor temperature and pressure change within theburner system. Thermocouples and other sensorsshould be regularly calibrated to ensure that they arefunctioning at their optimum levels.
7.3.6 Low Sulphur Fuels Should be Used
Low sulphur fuels should be utili zed to the extentpossible in portable hot mix asphalt plants in order toreduce SO2 emissions (as well as particulate matteremissions).
7.4 Volatile Organic Compounds
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are primaril yemitted from the construction and demoliti on sectorthrough the following sources: (i) architecturalsurface coatings; (ii ) traff ic marking operations; (iii )asphalt concrete paving; and (iv) asphalt roofing
kettles. Outlined below are the various work practicesthat should be employed in order to reduce VOCemissions from these sources.
7.4.1 Architectural Surface Coatings
Architectural surface coating operations consist ofapplying a thin layer of coating such as paint, paintprimer, varnish or lacquer to architectural surfaces.Architectural surface coatings are applied to a varietyof surfaces (e.g., metal, wood, plastic, concrete,bricks and plaster). VOCs that are used as solvents incoatings are emitted during the application of thecoating as well as when the coating dries. Theamount of coating used and the VOC content of thecoating are the primary factors that determineemissions from this source. Solvents are also used asthinners in the coatings and for cleanup activities.
7.4.1.1 Durable and High Performance Coatingswith a Low VOC Content Should be Used
Coatings having a low VOC content and meetingestabli shed performance standards should be used.Information on VOC contents of coatings purchasedfor use in construction operations should berequested from suppliers and if unavailable, frommanufacturers. Currently, Canada has norequirement for labelli ng of VOC content ofcoatings. All manufacturers provide material safetydata sheets (MSDSs) for their coatings products andsome of these MSDSs provide VOC contentinformation. Some manufacturers also providetechnical data sheets for their products and some ofthese also provide VOC content information. Thebest source of this information is the website of acoatings manufacturer.
Environment Canada is currently examiningpotential VOC limits on Architectural and IndustrialMaintenance (AIM) coatings, following recentinitiatives on AIM coatings by the U.S. EPA, theCali fornia Air Resources Board (CARB) and theOzone Transport Commission (OTC, whichrepresents 12 northeast States). The proposedEnvironment Canada regulations will be developedthrough the regulatory process throughout 2005.
Outlined in the Table below are the VOC contentlimits, establi shed in various jurisdictions in theU.S., for coatings that are commonly used in the
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construction sector. The environmental certificationcriteria included in these programs are therequirement to meet specific VOC content limits forflat paint, non-flat paint, stains and varnish. Thesecontent limits can be used as a guide to select lowVOC coatings until the Environment Canadaregulation limiti ng VOC content has beenestablished and is in force in Canada.
Table 7: Comparison of VOC Content Limitsfor Coatings Used in the Construction Sector
(grams of solvent/litre of paint, excluding water)CoatingsCategory
EPA SCAQMD CARB OTC
Flat Coatings 250 100(50 by Jul/08)
100 100
Non-flatCoatings
380 150(50 by Jul/06)
150 150
FloorCoatings
400 100(50 by Jul/06)
250 250
IndustrialMaintenanceCoatings
450 250(100 by Jul/06)
250 340
Lacquers &Sealers
680 550(275 by Jul/06)
550-680 550-680
Note: EPA – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; SCAQMD –South Coast Air Quality Management District (Cali fornia); CARB –Cali fornia Air Resources Board; OTC – Ozone TransportCommission.
A national guideline for surface coatings is publishedby the Environmental ChoiceM Program (ECP). TheECP uses the EcoLogoM to label coatings productsthat quali fy under its environmental certificationcriteria. Further information on the EnvironmentalChoice Program can be found at:[http://www.environmentalchoice.com].
The Canadian Council of Ministers of theEnvironment has also published the followingdocument, “Recommendations for CCME Standardsand Guidelines for the Reduction of VOC Emissionsfrom Canadian Industrial Maintenance Coatings” .
In addition, the Masters Painters Institute publishesan approved products li st for architectural coatings.The li st is published twice a year in booklet form andcan be accessed at [http://www.paintinfo.com/mpi/].Information is currently being developed on lowodour/low VOC coatings.
It should be noted that durabilit y and performanceare criti cal factors in selecting coatings and have animpact on the li fecycle VOC emissions. A moredurable product with a higher performance willreduce the frequency of recoating, thereby reducingVOC emissions. As an example, a coating systemwith 20% higher VOC content than an alternativeproduct can reduce the number of times an object hasto be repainted, thereby actuall y lowering li fecycleVOC emissions. Also when comparing product VOCcontent, the total amount of product to be applied hasto be taken into consideration. For example, if acoating has a low VOC content, but requiresnumerous applications, it can result in higherli fecycle VOC emissions than an alternative higherVOC content coating.
7.4.1.2 VOC Emissions from the Storage,Handling and Preparation of Coatings Should beMinimized
Work practices that will reduce VOC emissions fromthe storage, handling and preparation of coatings areprimaril y focused on minimizing the duration ofexposure of the liquid coating surface to surroundingair, and include the following:
• all coatings containers should be tightly sealedduring transportation and storage;
• a new container of paint should not be opened ifone is open already;
• containers should be kept covered when not inuse (to avoid excessive evaporation fromconvection air movement);
• a small amount of solvent should be added toempty containers (establi sh agreement with thesupplier) prior to their return to suppliers inorder to prevent the drying of paint on the insidewalls. This will ensure that only a minimumquantity of cleaning solvent is used in the drumcleaning operation;
• coatings should be mixed in bulk prior totransfer rather than in smaller containers. Ifsmall containers are used, then they should befull i n order to reduce the number of mixingoperations that must be undertaken;
• thinners should be added to coatings just prior toapplication in order to avoid long dwell times;
• coatings should be thinned with water or VOC-exempt compounds, where possible;
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• always mix thinner with the coating according tothe manufacturer’s instructions; and
• mixing operations should be undertaken tominimize the exposure of the coating to air (e.g.,in sealed containers).
Some coatings manufacturers provide technical datasheets that include important information about theproper preparation and application conditions fortheir products. This information should be reviewedwhen preparing a coatings management plan andcommunicated to coatings applicators.
7.4.1.3 Coatings Wastage Through Spillage andSplashing Should be Minimized
Handling procedures should be designed to minimizecoatings wastage through reduced spill age andsplashing, for instance by adhering to the following:
• During transfers, container lids, bungs, plugs, orvalves may be opened or removed, but should bereplaced or closed immediately after the transferis complete;
• If it is necessary to open coating containers forprolonged periods, the use of flexible coverings(e.g., plastic film or sheet, fabric cloth) to coverthe surface of the coating should be consideredto minimize VOC losses;
• During transfers of coatings from one containerto another, a pump and hose system should beused where possible to minimize fugiti ve VOCemissions. Vent holes in the source containershould be opened to prevent the creation of avacuum that might prevent adequate drainageand potentiall y lead to an unexpected largespill age;
• If manual decanting from one container toanother must be done, it should be performedslowly and carefull y to minimize spill age andsplashing; and
• Where possible, separate pumping systemsshould be used for different paint colours tominimize flushing requirements. If this is notpossible, colour applications should besequenced to minimize flushing.
7.4.1.4 Surface to be Coated Should be ProperlyPrepared
Well -prepared surfaces will not need an excessivevolume of coatings. Proper surface preparation caninclude: (i) removal of undesirable material from thesubstrate; (ii ) sealing of cracks and fissures; and (iii )sanding to achieve desirable roughness for propercoating adhesion. Surfaces to be coated should beprepared as per the coating manufacturersspecifications. All dirt, rust, scale, splinters, looseparticles, disintegrated paint, grease, oil , and othersubstances should be removed from all surfaces thatare to be painted or otherwise finished. Surfacecracks or fissures should be fill ed with appropriatesolid materials (putty, joint compounds), sealers orprimers to minimize spaces where coatings canaccumulate.
7.4.1.5 Paint Heaters Should be Used Instead ofPaint Thinners
Paint heaters should be used to heat coatings toreduce viscosity immediately before spraying. Paintheaters use an in-line heating element located justupstream of the spray gun. The use of paint heatersprovides the necessary viscosity to the coatingoperation, without the use of solvent-based thinners.It should be noted that the use of paint heaters is notalways applicable. For instance, the application ofheated paint to cold surfaces in winter months resultsin poor paint surface characteristics (i.e., cracking)because of the rapid cooling of the hot paint after it isapplied to the cold surface.
7.4.1.6 Technologically Advanced Spray-GunsShould be Utilized to Apply Coatings
The most technologicall y advanced spray-gunsshould be utili zed in order to apply coatings. VOCemissions can be significantly reduced by utili zingthe most eff icient spray guns with the highesttransfer eff iciency. Transfer eff iciency is defined asthe ratio of paint that adheres to the surface of theproduct to the total amount of paint that leaves thegun’s nozzle.
Conventional high-pressure spray guns operatebetween 30 and 90 psi. The transfer eff iciency ofthese high-pressure spray guns is poor. The highpressures associated with these spray guns force paint
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out of the nozzle at high velocities. When paintparticles leave the nozzle at high velocities, they tendto bounce off the targeted surface. If these guns haveto be used, the air pressure on these systems shouldbe lowered.
High volume/low pressure spray, low pressure/lowvolume and airless spray techniques are more recentdevelopments with much higher transfer efficiencythan conventional high-pressure spray guns. High-Volume/Low-Pressure (HVLP) and Low-Pressure/Low-Volume (LPLV) spray guns operate ator below 10 psi. The lower pressure ensures thatpaint particles leave the nozzle at slower velocitiesthan typical spray guns, resulting in a reduction inoverspray of up to 50%. Airless spray guns providehigh transfer efficiency when applying thickmaterials. Some companies can reduce thinning ofcoating as well by using airless spray guns.
7.4.1.7 Spray-Gun Operators Should ApplyCorrect Application Techniques
Significant reductions in wasted coatings andconsequently VOC emissions can result fromimplementing proper application techniques byoperators. The following application techniquesshould be adhered to:
• The distance of the spray gun from the surfaceshould be consistent. If the gun is too close to thesurface, the coating will be applied to heavilyand run and sag. If the gun is too far from thesurface, excessive overspray, dry spray, a sandyfinish and low transfer efficiency will result.HVLP spray guns should be held 15 to 20 cm (6to 8 inches) away from the surface being coated.Air assisted spray guns should be held 20 to 25cm (8 to 10 inches) away (20 to 30 cm or 8 to 12inches if it is electrostatic, air-assisted airless).Airless spray guns should be held 30 to 26 cm(12 to 14 inches) away;
• The speed of the gun as it is moved across thesurface should be consistent. A steady gun speedwill help obtain a uniform thickness of coating.A gun speed higher than manufacturerspecifications can distort the spray pattern andnot permit the maximum amount of material toreach the surface;
• The proper overlap of the spray pattern shouldbe applied. This overlap is determined by the
coating being applied. Proper overlap may rangefrom 50-80%. Greater overlap may result inwasted strokes, and less overlap may result instreaks;
• The spray gun should be held perpendicular tothe surface being coated. Arcing the gun for hardto reach areas results in wasted material, sincean uneven coat is applied. These areas should becoated by changing the position of the gun or theoperator. Some coatings are applied to irregularsurfaces (e.g., staircase banisters, decorativemolding) for which the coating transferefficiency using spray equipment is quite low.For irregular surfaces, manual applicationmethods should be used to increase transferefficiency;
• The manufacturers recommended systemsettings should be used for air and fluid pressureand coating consistency. These parameters canthen be adjusted through a trial and errorprocess; and
• VOC emissions can also be reduced by avoidingexcessive application of topcoats. Primers shouldbe applied as per manufacturersrecommendations in order to minimize thequantity of topcoat that has to be applied.Application of topcoats should respectmanufacturers recommended coverage rates andapplication thickness (wet-film thickness & dry-film thickness in mils).
7.4.1.8 Proper Technique Should be Used WhenCleaning Spray Guns
For equipment that requires solvent cleaning,methods that reduce evaporation should beimplemented wherever practical, for instancethrough the use of a gun washer to clean spray guns.A gun washer is similar to a dishwasher in that it isdesigned to hold a number of spray guns and relatedequipment and cleans by circulating solvent inside aclosed chamber. Gun washers result in extendedsolvent cleaning life, reduced solvent waste andreduced VOC emissions from evaporation. The spentsolvent from the gun washer can be reused foradditional cleanings. Once the solvent has beenreused to the point that it is no longer effective forcleaning the gun, it can be sent to a solventreclaimer.
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Keeping the spray gun clean maintains the gun’seff iciency and reduces the risk of poor results due toclogged tips or passages or foreign mattercontamination. Proper and regular maintenance ofspray guns will also serve to mitigate VOCemissions. The following practices should be adheredto:
• Clean the spray gun regularly to ensure optimumatomization and spray pattern;
• Clean equipment as specified by themanufacturer; and
• Disassemble and inspect spray guns regularly.
Another cleaning practice where VOC emissions canbe reduced through special equipment is linecleaning. One method that can improve line cleaningeff iciency is to introduce turbulence into the solventgoing through the line during cleaning. Equipmentthat forces alternating pulses of solvent andcompressed air is one way to accomplish this.
In addition, lines should never be cleaned byspraying VOCs into the air or into filters. Clean-upsolvents should always be directed using minimalpressure into containers. Solvents should be drawnfrom a closed supply solvent container anddischarged into a closed container with an openingonly large enough to accommodate the tip of a spraygun. In addition, the spray gun pressure should belowered (decreasing air and paint pressure) tominimize atomization of the solvent during cleaning.
7.4.1.9 Alternative Coating ApplicationTechniques Should be Used
Where feasible, rollers or brushes should be usedinstead of spray guns in order to reduce the quantityof solvent-based paint thinners that are required. Inaddition, transfer eff iciency for direct applicationmethods (i.e., rollers, brushes) can approach 100%.
7.4.1.10 Alternative Cleaners or Low-VOCCleaners Should be Used Instead of Solvents
Where possible, non-VOC or low-VOC cleaningagents should be used instead of solvents. For surfacepreparation as well as clean-up operations,alternative cleaning agents to solvents (e.g., aqueoussurfactant solutions) should be used.
7.4.1.11 Solvents Used for Cleaning Should beMinimized
When cleaning products containing VOCs are used,the following work practices should be applied inorder to reduce the amount that has to be used:
• Solvents with a low vapour pressure (flash pointgreater than 60°C) should be used. The use ofcommon mineral spirits that typicall y have a40°C flash point should be avoided;
• A standard should be establi shed to assure thatused solvent is disposed of or recycled only whenit loses its cleaning effectiveness, not justbecause it looks dirty;
• The amount of cleaning agent to be used shouldbe minimized by blowing as much old paint aspossible back through the lines with compressedair (or by scraping the paint off the surface);
• Pre-determined and measured amounts ofsolvent should be used (i.e., know how much isto be used beforehand);
• When soaking is required, containers with airtight lids should be used;
• Used solvents should be returned to sealedcontainers of a waste collection system forrecycling and re-use;
• Cleaners should be contained (i.e., covered) andtightly sealed) whenever feasible in order toreduce evaporative losses.
• Solvent-soaked rags should be disposed of in acovered container;
• Segregate cleanup solvents and recover/reusethem;
• Self-closing funnels on barrels and hoses forsolvent transfer should be used;
• The spray gun should be emptied of paint priorto cleaning so that the gun system is completelydry; and
• Equipment should be cleaned promptly after usein order to prevent the drying of coatings andconsequently the need to use additional solventsin the cleaning operation.
7.4.1.12 Paint Colour Changes Should beOptimized to Reduce the Use of Cleaning Solvents
The amount of cleaning with solvents can be reducedthrough various strategic operating practices, forinstance:
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• specific equipment should be assigned to handlespecific paint types and colours;
• paint colour changes should be scheduled fromlight to dark;
• no more coating than necessary should be mixedto complete the work; and
• mixing and application equipment should bededicated to commonly used coatings.
7.4.1.13 Alternative Finishing Practices Should beUsed
Non-VOC surface coverings (walls, floors, ceili ngs)should be used whenever economical and feasible.
7.4.2 Traffic Marking Operations
Traff ic marking operations include the marking ofhighway centre lines, edge stripes, directionalmarkings and parking lots. The Canadian Council ofMinisters of the Environment, in its publication,Recommendations for CCME Standards andGuidelines for the Reduction of VOC Emissions fromCanadian Industrial Maintenance Coatings,discusses traff ic markings.
The following painting materials, typicall y used fortraff ic marking, emit VOCs:
• Non-aerosol traff ic paint;• Aerosol marking paint – paints used to apply
stripes or markings to outdoor surfaces, such asstreets, golf courses, athletic fields, etc.; and
• Preformed tapes applied with adhesive primer.
Alternatives to solvent-based traff ic paints are water-based paints, thermoplastics, preformed tapes, field-reacted systems and permanent markers. Some ofthese alternatives (e.g., water-based traff ic paints)can be used in the summer months to avoid the use ofVOCs during the time of the year when ground levelozone forms. In addition, consideration should begiven to refraining from traff ic line paintingcompletely when smog alerts have been issued in thearea.
Many of the work practices outlined above forarchitectural surface coatings can also be applied totraff ic marking operations.
7.4.3 Asphalt Concrete Paving
There are three categories of asphalt concrete,specificall y: (i) hot-mix; (ii ) cutback; and (iii )emulsified. Hot mix asphalt is a mixture of aggregate(rock) and asphalt cement (glue) that can becustomized to specific paving applications. Cutbackasphalt is made by adding petroleum distill ates (e.g.,naphtha, kerosene, etc) to asphalt cement. As aresult, cutback asphalt contains the highest diluentcontent of the three asphalt categories andconsequently emits the highest levels of VOCs pertonne used. The primary use of cutback asphalt is intack and seal operations (related to the repair ofroads) and for preparing roads for the application ofhot-mix asphalt. Emulsified asphalt is made byadding water and an emulsifying agent (such assoap) to asphalt concrete. Emulsified asphalt is usedin most of the same applications as cutback asphalt,but emits less VOCs.
7.4.3.1 Use of Cutback Asphalts Should beMinimized
Several jurisdictions in North America havecompletely or partiall y banned the use of cutbackasphalts, since they result in high levels of VOCemissions. There are three classes of cutbackasphalts: (i) rapid cure; (ii ) medium cure; and (iii )slow cure. Where possible, rapid cure and mediumcure cutback asphalts should not be used. Slow curecutback asphalts containing more than 0.5% byvolume organic compounds that evaporate at 260°Cor lower should also not be used, where feasible.
7.4.3.2 Use of Emulsified Asphalt Should beRestricted
Emulsified asphalts that contain organic compoundsin excess of 3% by volume which evaporate at 260°Cor lower should not be used for paving, roadconstruction or road maintenance.
7.4.3.3 Temperature of Asphalt Operations Shouldbe Monitored and Controlled
VOC emissions from the storage, mixing andapplication of asphalt cement double for everyincrease of approximately 11°C (above 125°C) inoperating temperature of the asphalt cement.Operating temperatures should be closely monitored
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and minimized to the extent possible in order toreduce the potential for VOC emissions.
7.4.4 Asphalt Roofing Kettles
VOCs are emitted from the installation and repair ofasphalt roofs on commercial and industrial buildings,specificall y from roofing kettles. Roofing kettles areused for melting, heating, or holding asphalt or coaltar pitch.
7.4.4.1 Temperature of Material Inside RoofingKettle Should be Restricted
The temperature of material inside a roofing kettleshould be limited to the following in order to reducethe generation of VOC emissions:
• Asphalt 260°C• Coal tar pitch 200°C
Devices capable of correctly indicating andcontrolli ng the operating temperatures of roofingkettles should be properly installed and maintainedin good working order.
7.4.4.2 Close Fitting Lids on Roofing KettlesShould be Used
During roofing kettle draining operations, the VOCvapours from the kettle should be contained by aclose fitting lid. A close fitting lid is a VOCimpermeable cover that fits securely over a roofing
kettle or other container so that no gap greater than 1cm (3/8 inch) exists between the kettle body and lid.The lid(s) should not be opened except for loadingthe kettle with solid roofing material or unless thematerial in the roofing kettle is less than 65°C.
Within 2 minutes after the draining operation hasbeen completed, the vessel that received the hotroofing material should be covered with a closefitting lid or capped to prevent the release of visiblesmoke from the vessel.
7.4.4.3 Kettle Vent Should be Kept Closed
Any kettle vent should remain closed during apressure release caused by flashing of the roofingmaterial.
7.4.4.4 All Roofing Kettles Should be Equippedwith Afterburners
If feasible, roofing kettles should be equipped withafterburner lids, which virtuall y eliminate VOCemissions from this source. Existing roofing kettlescan be retrofitted with these afterburners.
These afterburner lids are different than the closefitting lids identified earlier, as these lids actuall ydestroy VOC emissions from the roofing kettle.These lids will achieve higher levels of VOCemission reduction than the close fitting lids(however they are more expensive).
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8. Measuring/Monitoring andRecord-Keeping
8.1 Introduction
A criti cal aspect of managing fugiti ve dustgeneration at construction and demoliti on sites is toundertake the necessary measuring and monitoringof specified activities and parameters. Themeasurement and monitoring program can assist indetermining the need for and extent of fugiti ve dustactions as well as the effectiveness of these actions inmitigating fugiti ve dust. Equally important is that asystematic record-keeping process be establi shed andmaintained throughout the duration of theconstruction/demoliti on project. This typicall y takesthe form of maintaining a dail y record-keeping log.Guidance and examples of measuring/monitoringand record-keeping activities are provided within thissection of the Best Practices document.
It is recognized that measuring, monitoring andrecord-keeping is a time-consuming and costlyendeavour. Regulatory authorities as well asconstruction companies are encouraged to considerthese practices and implement where feasible andpractical.
8.2 Measuring and Monitoring
The recommended procedures to measure andmonitor opacity, stabili zed surfaces and wind speedare provided below. Key parameters are considered tobe among the most criti cal to measure/monitor atconstruction and demoliti on sites. There are otherparameters that can also be monitored that relate tothe generation of fugiti ve dust emissions.Construction and demoliti on firms are encouraged towork with their local permitting authority in order toidentify which parameters should be measured andmonitored in conjunction with their fugiti ve dustgenerating activities.
8.2.1 Opacity Monitoring
The opacity of dust leaving the property line whereconstruction and demoliti on activities are beingconducted, should not exceed 20%. The steps tofollow in order to monitor opacity from fugiti ve dustsources are provided below.
Step 1: Stand at least 5 meters from the fugiti ve dustsource in order to provide a clear view of theemissions with the sun oriented in the 140-degreesector to the back. Following the above requirements,make opacity observations so that the line of vision isapproximately perpendicular to the dust plume andwind direction. If multiple plumes are involved, donot include more than one plume in the line of sightat one time.
Step 2: Record the fugiti ve dust source location,source type, method of control used if any, observer’sname, certification data and aff ili ation, and a sketchof the observer’s position relative to the fugiti ve dustsource. Also, record the time, estimated distance tothe fugiti ve dust source location, approximate winddirection, estimated wind speed, description of thesky condition (presence and colour of clouds),observer’s position to the fugiti ve dust source, andcolour of the plume and type of background on thevisible emission observation from both when opacityreadings are initiated and completed.
Step 3: Make opacity observations, to the extentpossible, using a contrasting background that isperpendicular to the line of vision. Make opacityobservations approximately 1 meter above the surfacefrom which the plume is generated. Note that theobservation is to be made at only one visual pointupon generation of a plume, as opposed to visuallytracking the entire length of a dust plume as it iscreated along a surface. Make two observations persource, beginning with the first reading at zeroseconds and the second reading at five seconds. Thezero-second observation should begin immediately
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after a plume has been created above the surfaceinvolved. Do not look continuously at the plume, butinstead, observe the plume briefly at zero secondsand then again at five seconds.
Step 4: Record the opacity observations to thenearest 5% on an observational record sheet. Eachmomentary observation recorded represents theaverage opacity of emissions for a 5-second period.
Step 5: Repeat Step 3 and 4 until you have recordeda total of 12 consecutive opacity readings. There isno limit as to when the 12 consecutive readings mustbe taken. Observations immediately preceding andfollowing interrupted observations can be consideredconsecutive.
Step 6: Average the 12 opacity readings. If theaverage opacity reading equals 20% or lower, thesource is below the recommended opacity standardfor construction and demolition sites.
8.2.2 Stabilized Surfaces
The purpose of this test is to check whether aproperty is sufficiently crusted to prevent windblowndust. The equipment that is needed for this test is asfollows:
• One steel ball. Diameter - 1.6 cm (5/8 or 0.625inches). Mass - 16-17 grams;
• A ruler or measuring tape; and• A cardboard frame with a 30 by 30 cm (1 foot by
1 foot) opening (optional).
Step 1: Select a 30 by 30 cm (1 by 1 foot) survey areathat is representative, or a typical example, of thecrusted surface.
Step 2: Hold the small steel ball one (1) foot off theground directly above your survey area. Use a ruleror measuring tape to make sure that your hand is atthe correct distance above the ground. Drop the ballwithin the survey area.
Step 3: Pass/Fail Determination. Observe the groundaround the ball closely before picking it up. Did theball sink into the surface so that it is partially or fullysurrounded by loose grains of dirt? Has it droppedout of view entirely? Then pick up the ball. Lookclosely where the ball fell. Are loose grains of
dirt visible? If you have answered "yes" toany of the previous questions, the surface hasfailed the first drop test. Note that if the ball causes aslight indentation on the surface but you do not seeloose grains, the surface has passed the test.
Step 4: Select two additional areas within the 1 by 1foot survey area to drop the ball. Repeat steps 2 and3. If the surface passes two or all three of the droptests, the survey area is considered as passing thetest.
Step 5: Select at least two other survey areas that arerepresentative of the crusted surface. Pick the areasrandomly and make sure they are spaced somedistance apart. Drop the ball 3 times within each ofthese additional survey areas. Once again, if thesurface passes the test twice or three times, count thesurvey area as passing the test.
Step 6: Examine Results. If all of the survey areashave passed the test, the surface is stable, orsufficiently crusted. If one or more survey areas havefailed the test, the surface is insufficiently crusted.
8.2.3 Wind Speed
Site-specific wind monitoring at construction anddemolition sites is encouraged due to improvedaccuracy when compared to regional wind monitors.Additionally, site-specific wind monitoring maydocument high winds that are not captured byregional wind monitors. The following guidance hasbeen prepared to assist activities that conduct windmonitoring. Much of the guidance provided formeasuring wind speed will only be practical for thelargest of construction sites.
Aspects of a successful monitoring program includethe selection of proper equipment, instrument siting,instrument and site maintenance, periodic audits andfrequent data review. The instruments should be sitedso as to characterize airflow between the source andreceptor areas. In flat terrain, or where receptors areclose to the source, one meteorological site may beadequate. Additional wind monitoring sites may beneeded in complex terrain.
The standard sensor height for measuring surfacewinds in 10 meters above ground level over open,level terrain. This usually requires the installation of
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a tower or mast. For the instrument to be sited overopen terrain, there should be minimal obstructions tothe wind flow, such as from buildings, hill s or trees.In general, wind sensors should be located where thedistance from the sensors to any obstruction is atleast 10 times the height of that obstruction. Whenmounted on a building, wind sensors should bemounted 1.5 times the height of the building abovethe rooftop. Since these siting guidelines aresometimes not possible, especiall y in urban areas, itis recommended that siting that deviates from theseguidelines be reviewed by local permitting authoritiesor an experienced consultant prior to installation.
Data recorders are the preferred method of recordingand archiving the data. They are more precise andrequire less maintenance that strip chart recorders.Data loggers also allow data to be transmitted bytelephone or radio to a central computer. Datarecords must be kept for a period of at least threeyears after the need for data collection has ended.Data recovery from a self-maintained meteorologicalsystem should be at least 90% complete on an annualbasis, with no large data gaps (i.e., gaps greater thantwo weeks). The use of data recorders will li kely onlybe practical for the largest of construction sites.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agencyrecommends a sampling frequency of once persecond, which is typical for qualit y data loggers.Wind-averaging periods may depend on the purposeof the data collected and the need to meet specificregulatory requirements. Either 1 hour or 15-minuteaveraging periods are common.
For wind sensors, the starting threshold must berated at no higher than 0.5 meters per second (m/s).If there is some suspicion that the site would have asignificant number of hours of wind speeds under 0.5m/s, sensors with a lower threshold, such as 0.2 m/s,should be used. Wind speed systems should beaccurate to within 0.2 m/s ± 5% of the observedspeed. Total wind direction system errors should notexceed 5 degrees. This includes an instrumentaccuracy of ± 3 degrees for linearity and ± 2 degreesfor alignment to a known direction.
Frequent data review, preferably on a dail y basis, iscriti cal for collecting good meteorological data. Inaddition, visual inspections of each site should bemade at least once every month. This will help to
identify sensor alignment problems that may not beobvious in the data.
In order to ensure that the sensors operate within themanufacturer’s specifications, a calibration of thesensors should be performed once every six monthsby a trained technician or the sensor manufacturer.In corrosive, marine or dusty conditions, morefrequently calibrations may be needed. Spare sensorsare helpful to avoid data loss while sensors arebrought down for calibration and repair. A logbookof calibrations and repairs should be kept.
Data that is criti cal for regulatory purposes should beindependently audited by a quali fied individual whois not aff ili ated with the organization that maintainsand calibrates the instrument. The audits should beon a schedule that is appropriate for themeasurements. Typicall y, once per year is adequate ifa routine maintenance and calibration schedule iskept. An audit report should be written and problemsshould be corrected as soon as possible. The auditshould compare the individual sensors to the sensorperformance criteria and also look at the datacollection system as a whole, including the datalogger and siting, to ensure that the data arerepresentative and accurate.
8.3 Record-keeping
Construction/demoliti on projects should maintaindaily self-inspection records and this informationshould be retained for at least 3 years after projectcompletion. Fuel use records should be kept.Additionally, any activity that utili zes chemical dustsuppressants for dust control should maintain recordsindicating type of product applied, vendor name, andthe method, frequency, concentration and quantity ofapplication. All record-keeping information shouldbe made available to the local permitting authorityimmediately upon request. A copy of the record-keeping should also be retained on-site.
Provided below are examples of dail y record-keepingforms that can be used by construction anddemoliti on firms, specificall y related to practices toreduce PM emissions. Consideration should also begiven to maintaining records of fuel usage/equipmentmaintenance in order to ensure proper managementof fuel consumption.
Best Practices for the Reduction of Air Emissions From Construction and Demolition Activities 42
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Sample Daily Record-keeping Form for Fugitive Dust Abatement
Project Name:__________________ Project Location:__________________ Date:___________________
Each time you visuall y check an area for dust control measure implementation, write the time in the shaded box at thetop of the table and write a “Y” , “N” or “NA” , in the boxes below your recorded time. Use the “Comments” columnto record other pertinent information (e.g., describe the corrective action taken).
Comments1. Before Dust Generation Operations OccurPre-watering to depth of cuts?Pre-watering storage piles?Work phased/disturbance minimized?Water trucks being operated?Water trucks being fill ed?Other (specify in Comments column)2. During Dust Generating OperationsIs visible dust present?Applying water?Applying dust suppressant(s) other than water?Fences 3’-5’ with 50% porosity intact?Shut down operations?Checked control measures before leaving thework site for the day?Other (specify in Comments column)3. Unpaved Haul/Access RoadsIs visible dust present?Vehicles travelli ng less than 15 miles per hour(24 kilometers per hour)?Is road visibly moist?Is road covered with gravel, recycled asphalt orother suitable material?Applying dust suppressant(s) other than water?Other (specify in Comments column)4. Loading, Unloading and Storage PilesIs visible dust present?Pre-watering material?Water being applied during loading/unloading?Other (specify in Comments column)5. Trackout/Access PointsIs trackout control device intact?Cleaned-up trackout?Other (specify in Comments column)6. Temporary Site StabilizationApplying water?Applying dust suppressant(s) other than water?Other (specify in Comments column)
Total Number of Litres Applied:_________ Responsible Person’s Signature and Title:________________
Best Practices for the Reduction of Air Emissions From Construction and Demolition Activities 43
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Sample Daily Record-keeping Form for Fugitive Dust Abatement
A daily log should be maintained that records the actual implementation of measures to mitigate fugiti vedust generation. Write “yes” or “no” for each question in the Table below.
ElementsMonitored
8AM 9AM 10AM 11AM 12PM 1PM 2PM 3PM 4PM 5PM Comments
Forecasted highwindsWind speedWind direction# of water trucksoperating# of water trucksavailableRoadsmoist/wateredUnstabili zed areasmoist/wateredDry areas observedIrrigation workingWater tanks fill edWater pumpsworkingChemicalstabili zation usedTrack-out observedBlow sandobserved on-siteBlowing dustobserved on-siteBlowing dustobserved off-siteWind/snow fencemaintained# of complaintsreceivedCorrective actiontaken
N = No or None Y=Yes N/A = Not ApplicableName_____________________ Date_____________________
Additional Comments:
Best Practices for the Reduction of Air Emissions From Construction and Demolition Activities 44
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9. Members of the Construction andDemolition Multi-stakeholder Working Group
Name OrganizationPatrick Georges Environment CanadaMonique Gilbert Vill e de MontréalDave Gylywoychuk Manitoba Heavy Construction AssociationJohn Jonasson Manitoba Conservation Pollution PreventionDan Jutzi Environment CanadaJim Mahon Ontario Environment NetworkTim Smith Cement Association of CanadaGerry Ternan Environment Canada, Atlantic RegionBruce Walker STOPShelley Wearmouth Wearmouth Demoliti onObservers:Roch Berubé Association de la construction du QuébecJacques Blanchard Vill e de Montréal
Demolition/Deconstruction Sub-committee
Name OrganizationEstelle Coté ConsultantCorinne Fulton 3R Demoliti on Corp.Monique Gilbert Vill e de MontréalTracey Inkpen Environment CanadaJim Mahon Ontario Environment NetworkOlga Schwartzkopf Soil and Water Conservation Society, BC ChapterJo-Anne St. Godard Recycling Council of OntarioFred Topley Greenspoon Specialty ContractingGeorge Venta Cement Association of CanadaShelley Wearmouth Wearmouth Demoliti onObservers:Roch Berubé Association de la construction du Québec
Best Practices for the Reduction of Air Emissions From Construction and Demolition Activities 45
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Residential and Commercial Building Design Sub-committee
Name OrganizationVince Catalli Royal Architectural Institute of CanadaEstelle Coté ConsultantBruce Gilli es Environment Canada, Ontario RegionDan Jutzi Environment CanadaJo-Anne St. Godard Recycling Council of OntarioAnna Tilman Save the Oak Ridges MorraineGeorge Venta Cement Association of CanadaAlex Zimmerman Canada Green Building Council
Residential and Commercial Building Construction Sub-committee
Name OrganizationEstelle Coté ConsultantMonique Gilbert Vill e de MontréalTracey Inkpen Environment CanadaChristopher Morgan City of TorontoOlga Schwartzkopf Soil and Water Conservation Society, BC ChapterAnna Tilman Save the Oak Ridges MoraineJohn Volcko PCL ConstructionObservers:Roch Berubé Association de la construction du QuébecJacques Blanchard Vill e de Montréal
Architectural Surface Coatings Sub-committee
Name OrganizationHeather Atkinson Environment CanadaVince Catalli Royal Architectural Institute of CanadaEstelle Coté ConsultantSue Fraser Environment CanadaBarry Law Master Painters InstituteIan Meredith Terra Choice Environmental MarketingOlga Schwartzkopf Soil and Water Conservation Society, BC ChapterBruce Walker STOP
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10. Bibliography
1. Antelope Valley Air Quality Management District, Rule 1108 – Cutback Asphalt, amendedFebruary, 1985.
2. Arizona State University, The Dust Devel Academy – Air Qualit y – It’s Everybody’s Business,September, 2000.
3. Associated General Contractors of America, Federal & State Authority to Regulate Emissionsfrom Construction Equipment Frequently Asked Questions.
4. Baxter, Roberta., Arrest that Fugiti ve Dust!, published in Erosion Control.5. Beardwook, Jack., Dust – Gets in Your Eyes….Lungs, Wallet, and Other Wear Parts, published
in Grading & Excavation Contractor.6. Bennett, Siobhan L., Dust – Invisible, Dangerous, Avoidable, published in Erosion Control.7. Building Research Establishment Ltd., Control of Dust from Construction and Demoliti on
Activities, February, 2003.8. Butte County Air Quality Management District, Rule 231 – Cutback and Emulsified Asphalt,
recodified August, 2002.9. California Air Resources Board, Risk Reduction Plan to Reduce Particulate Matter Emissions
from Diesel-Fueled Engines and Vehicles, October, 2000.10. Canadian Centre for Pollution Prevention, Survey Methods Used to Prevent and Reduce
Pollutant Emissions from Construction and Demoliti on Activities.11. Chemical Manufacturers Association Solvents Council, Solvents: Meeting Performance Needs
for the 21st Century.12. City of Palm Desert, Notice to Grading Permit Applicants – New Dust Control Ordinance
Requirements.13. Clark County Department of Air Quality Management, Construction Activities Dust Control
Handbook, March, 2003.14. Coachella Valley County, Coachella Valley Fugiti ve Dust Control Handbook, May, 2003.15. Coachella Valley County, Draft Coachella Valley Model Dust Control Ordinance, May, 2003.16. Colusa County Air Pollution Control District, Rule 2.33 – Cutback and Emulsified Asphalt,
amended July, 1997.17. Dona Ana County, Suggested Best Available Control Measures (BACM) for Reducing
Windblown Dust from Manmade Sources in Dona Ana County, December, 2000.18. Earth Tech Canada Inc. and Millennium EMS Solutions Inc., Pollution Prevention Manual for
the Heavy Construction Industry, prepared for The Alberta Roadbuilders Heavy ConstructionAssociation, March, 2002.
19. El Dorado County Air Quality Management District, Rule 224 – Cutback and Emulsified AsphaltPaving Materials, revised June, 1994.
20. Engle, David., The War on Fugiti ve Dust – EPA’s Crackdown is Clearing the Air in ChokedWestern Deserts, published in Erosion Control.
21. Enviro-Access Inc., First National Multi -stakeholder Workshop on Strategies to Reduce Smog-Related Air Pollution from Construction & Demoliti on Activities, prepared for EnvironmentCanada, March, 2004.
22. Feather River Air Quality Management District, FRAQMD Best Available Mitigation MeasuresConstruction Activity, effective January, 2004.
23. Gluck, Robert., A New Approach to Maintenance in the Field, published in Grading &Excavation.
24. Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, Air Qualit y in Idaho: Supplemental Fugiti ve DustControl Information.
Best Practices for the Reduction of Air Emissions From Construction and Demolition Activities 47
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25. Imperial County Air Pollution Control District, Rule 426 – Cutback Asphalt and EmulsifiedPaving Materials, revised September, 1999.
26. Imperial County Air Pollution Control District, Rule 800 – Fugiti ve Dust Requirements forControl of Fine Particulate Matter (PM-10), revised November, 1996.
27. Innovative Management Solutions Inc., NMS Guide to Environmentall y ResponsibleSpecifi cations for New Construction and Renovations, February, 2000.
28. Kern County Air Pollution Control District, Cutback, Slow Cure & Emulsified Asphalt Pavingand Maintenance Operations, amended March, 1996.
29. Kern County Air Pollution Control District, Fugiti ve Dust, amended September, 1995.30. Manitoba Floodway Expansion Authority, Guidelines for the Preparation of an Environmental
Impact Statement for the Red River Floodway Expansion Project, February, 2004.31. Maricopa County Environmental Services Department, A Guide for Reducing Air Pollution from
Spray Coating Operations – Save Money and Prevent Air Pollution.32. Maricopa County Environmental Services Department, Guidance for Filli ng-out An Application
for an Earthmoving Project.33. Maricopa County Environmental Services Department, Control Fugiti ve Dust at Construction
Projects – Prepare Your Site for a Compliance Inspection.34. Maricopa County, Rule 310.01 – Fugiti ve Dust from Open Areas, Vacant Lots, Unpaved Parking
Lots, and Unpaved Roadways, revised February, 2000.35. Michigan Department of Environmental Qualit y, Managing Fugiti ve Dust – A Guide for
Compliance with the Air Regulatory Requirements for Particulate Matter Generation, March,2003.
36. Michigan Department of Environmental Qualit y, Natural Resources and EnvironmentalProtection Act, amended July, 1998.
37. Mojave Desert Air Qualit y Management District, Rule 1103 – Cutback and Emulsified Asphalt,December, 1994.
38. Mojave Desert Air Qualit y Management District, Rule 471 - Asphalt Roofing Operations,amended January, 1994.
39. Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District, Rule 425 – Use of Cutback Asphalt, revisedMarch, 1997.
40. Montreal Urban Community, Codifi cation Administrative Des Règlements 90, 90-1, 90-2, 90-3,90-4, 90-5 et 90-6. Règlement 90 – Règlement Relatif à l’assainissement de l’air et remplaçantles Règlements 44 et 44-1 de la Communauté.
41. National Paints and Coatings Association, Issue Backgrounder – The Paint and CoatingsIndustry Addresses Spray Paint Issues, June, 2000.
42. National Park Service, Envirofacts – Waste Paint/Coatings Management, March, 1999.43. Nevada Division of Environmental Protection – Bureau of Air Pollution Control, Surface Area
Disturbance Permit Dust Control Plan Preparation Guidelines, October, 2002.44. Northcutt, Greg., Working with Dirt When the Wind Blows, published in Grading & Excavation
Contractor.45. Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Engineering Guide #57, revised April 1996.46. Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Pollution Prevention in Painting and Coating
Operations, September, 1994.47. Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Pollution Prevention Opportunities for
Painting & Coating Operations, May, 1997.48. Pima County Department of Environmental Qualit y, Dust Control Methods for Landscaping.49. Pinal County Air Qualit y Control District, Article 3 – Construction Sites and Earthmoving
Activities – Fugiti ve Dust, December, 2002.50. Placer County Air Pollution Control District, Rule 217 – Cutback and Emulsified Asphalt Paving
Materials, revised September, 1990.
Best Practices for the Reduction of Air Emissions From Construction and Demolition Activities 48
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51. San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District, Compliance Assistance Bulletin – Fugiti veDust Control for Public Agencies, October, 2002.
52. San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District, Rule 4641 – Cutback, Slow Cure, andEmulsified Asphalt, Paving and Maintenance Operations, amended December, 1992.
53. San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District, Rule 8041 – Carryout and Trackout,amended August, 2004.
54. San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District, Rule 8021 – Construction,Demoliti on, Excavation, Extraction, and Other Earthmoving Activities, amended August, 2004.
55. San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution Control District, Rule 420 – Cutback Asphalt PavingMaterials, revised January, 1997.
56. Saunders, Marc., Just Say “ No” to Dust….Maybe, published in Grading & ExcavationContractor.
57. Senes Consultants, Foundation Analysis Report for the Canadian Construction and Demoliti onSector, prepared for Environment Canada, March, 2004.
58. Shasta County Air Qualit y Management District, Rule 3:15 – Cutback and Emulsified Asphalt.59. Shearing, Jennifer., Analysis of the Current Strategies to Reduce Fugiti ve Dust Emissions from
the Construction and Demoliti on Sector in Canada, prepared for Environment Canada, August,2001.
60. South Coast Air Qualit y Management District, Rule 403 – Fugiti ve Dust, amended April , 2004.61. Statistics Canada, Useful Information for Construction 2002 (Catalogue No. 64F0004XIE),
December, 2002.62. Tehama County Air Pollution Control District, Rule 4:26 – Cutback and Emulsified Asphalt,
June, 1997.63. Thurrock Council , Good Practice During Construction and Demoliti on, September, 2004.64. Tilton, Joseph Lynn., Corralli ng Dust and Stabili zing Soil , published in Erosion Control.65. U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Particulate Emission Measurements from Controlled
Construction Activities, April , 2001.66. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, AP42 – Aggregate Handling and Storage Piles (Section
13.2.4.1), January, 1995.67. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, AP42 – Heavy Construction Operations (Section 13.2.3),
January, 1995.68. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Fugiti ve Dust Background Document and Technical
Information Document for Best Available Control Measures, September, 1992.69. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Storm Water Management Fact Sheet – Dust Control,
September, 1999.70. University of Missouri, Fugiti ve Dust: Nonpoint Sources, October, 1999.71. Ventura County Air Pollution Control District, Rule 74.28 – Asphalt Roofing Operations.72. Vill e de Montréal, Emissions Control from Roadworks.73. Washington State Department of Ecology, Clean Air Guidelines – Building and Construction
Projects, May, 1998.
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