Case Study: Industrial Maintenance

Project Type: Decontamination of Industrial Facilities
Service Provided: Industrial Maintenance
Project Location: West Chester, Allentown, Philadelphia
Client Type: Manufacturers, universities

Project Description:

Multiple thousands of square feet of manufacturing equipment and warehouse space were decontaminated. This decontamination step preceded construction activities related to plant expansion and conversion to office space. Much of the contamination was from pigments and powders that contained heavy metals. These presented an airborne contaminant problem that was addressed through the use of sound engineering practices.

The area was comprised of over a dozen rooms. Some rooms were used as laboratories for quality control testing, and others were utilized for warehousing with a floor to ceiling rack storage system for the storing of raw materials and outgoing finished product. Ceiling heights in some instances approached 18 ft. The ceiling finishes ranged from typical acoustical ceiling tile to commercial grade rolled insulation secured between steel I-beams. Obstacles and equipment requiring decontamination included an air handling system, process piping, lighting and a fire suppression system, all suspended from or supported by the ceiling. Many of the small rooms contained cabinets both beneath and above counter tops.

In an effort to minimize the amount of waste generated, TIER employed a manual decontamination procedure instead of the commonly chosen method of power washing. All exposed surfaces were to be HEPA vacuumed then washed by hand with a soap solution. A rinse with clean water followed. All liquid and solid waste was containerized in approved D.O.T. shipping containers and disposed of appropriately.

Research laboratory fume hoods required decontamination prior to dismantling. Air handling systems such as blowers and ductwork were de-energized, HEPA vacuumed and washed with a suitable cleaner. Transite panels in the hoods were disassembled and handled separately from the rest of the waste.