Dust Suppression (also Dust Control) is any activity that aims to reduce the amount of dust raised from an Unsealed Road due to the passage of a vehicle along it.
Photo: Dust Control Solutions
Dust Suppression Techniques
Application of a wearing surface
The best way to permanently reduce dust is to construct a sealed road. This typically requires a costly new sealed road pavement to be constructed, but some Councils have experimented with applying a GATT Seal to an existing gravel pavement, and Narrandera Shire Council has been successfully trialing Otta Seals.
Application of water
The application of water with a water truck is a tried an true method of dust suppression especially during road construction, but it is typically effective for only a short period of time.
Application or a chemical.
A number of chemical dust suppressants have been used, including;
- Polymers
- Bitumen Emulsions
- Magnesium Chloride
- Waste Oil
Better Unsealed Pavement Materials & Road Design
- The type of rock used when resheeting a road will obviously effect the amount of dust liberated. A crusher dust for example will typically produce less dust than limestone gravels.
- A combination of processed gravel and exagerated road cross fall as been shown to reduce dust.
Speed Limits
- Reducing vehicle speed reduces the amount of dust lifted.
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