Uses For Dry Ice Blasting for Mold Remediation

Dry ice blasting accomplishes mold remediation faster and more completely than mechanical abrasion. Dry ice blasting does not require toxic chemicals and does not create a toxic dust hazard from remediation operations. Remediation operators have learned that one operator using dry ice blasting can accomplish the same mold removal as three operators using manual scraping and sanding. The range of available nozzles for dry ice blasting equipment enables operators to access tight corners quickly, and in many cases, clear mold from areas inaccessible to hand tools, such as inside corners of wood framing trusses and joists

Dry ice is a non-conductor of electricity, so live electrical equipment and wiring does not have to be removed or de-energized during the remediation process.

Dry ice blasting for mold remediation uses four physical properties of dry ice: velocity, abrasion, thermal shock, and evaporation. Dry ice is solid (frozen) carbon dioxide. For blasting uses, dry ice is manufactured in pellets of various sizes appropriate to the substrate to be cleaned. The pellets are hurled from a blasting gun by air pressure, which provides the velocity. When the pellets strike the surface to be cleaned, three things happen. First the velocity of the pellet strikes the substance to be removed. Because dry ice is at a temperature of -109 degrees F., the thermal shock helps loosen and lift the substance to be removed. Finally, the dry ice pellet flashes into carbon dioxide gas, providing more lift to the substance to be removed. The carbon dioxide gas is harmless, leaving no cleaning material such as sand or solvents to be cleaned up after the cleanup.

Three safety provisions for the use of dry ice blasting are: wearing gloves when handling the dry ice to prevent freeze injury to the worker; providing adequate ventilation in confined spaces to avoid excessive carbon dioxide accumulation; and wearing safety glasses to protect against particle eye contact. Experience has shown that particle ricochet in dry ice blasting is much less that with sandblasting or machine sanding.

Complete mold removal and remediaton requires first, solving the moisture problem that enabled the mold to grow in the first place. A mold needs food, such as wood; moisture; and a temperature range favorable to the growth of the specific mold organism. Grinding, sanding, or wirebrushing to remove mold growth does not sanitize the surface and kill the mold spores. Additional time and labor is required to apply a biocide to kill the spores. Dry ice blasting will almost rid the operator of the need for biocides and thus enhances worker safety, in addition to the obvious labor savings.

A large capital investment is not required to use dry ice blasting. Continental Carbonic has rental and lease plans which enable even the smallest remediation operator to get the labor-saving advantages of dry ice blasting. Please contact Continental Carbonic for more information about equipment suitable for your operation.