Do Air Scrubbers Work for Construction Dust?

Air scrubbers absolutely work for construction dust, and in many cases, they're essential for maintaining air quality and safety on a job site.

 

How Air Scrubbers Help with Construction Dust

Air scrubbers are portable machines that pull in contaminated air, pass it through a series of filters (usually including HEPA), and return clean air to the space.

 

What They Remove:

Drywall dust

Wood sawdust

Silica dust (from cutting concrete, tile, and brick)

Paint or VOC fumes (with optional carbon filters)

General airborne debris

 

Key Features of Air Scrubbers to Look For

Feature:	Why It Matters:
HEPA filter (99.97% @ 0.3 microns)	Captures fine dust that escapes shop vacs and general ventilation
CFM rating (cubic feet per minute)	Higher CFM = faster air cleaning. Look for 500–2,000 CFM based on room size
Pre-filters	Extend HEPA filter life by capturing larger particles
Carbon filter	Helps absorb odors, VOCs, and chemical fumes
Ducting ports	Useful for negative air pressure or venting outdoors

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When Air Scrubbers are Most Useful

During demolition, sanding, drywall installation, or cutting concrete

In occupied buildings, to protect workers or residents from airborne particles

To comply with OSHA regulations (e.g., controlling respirable crystalline silica)

When negative air pressure containment is needed in a sealed area

 

Cautions and Limitations

Issue:	Caution:
Doesn’t remove settled dust	Air scrubbers clean airborne particles only. You’ll still need vacuums or manual cleaning.
Filters can clog quickly	Especially in dusty environments. Check and change pre-filters frequently.
Proper placement is key	Poor airflow = poor dust capture. Place the source near and the exhaust away from clean areas.
Doesn’t replace PPE	Still need respirators, especially during high-dust activities like grinding or demolition.

 

Air scrubbers work very well for construction dust, particularly when fitted with a HEPA filter. They help protect workers, reduce cleanup time, and maintain cleaner, safer air.