Air scrubbers are a practical way to control airborne dust when source extraction alone is not enough. They recirculate room air through high-efficiency filters or exhaust it to create negative pressure, reducing exposure and stopping dust migration to clean areas.

How air scrubbers work

• Air passes through prefilters that catch larger debris, protecting the final filter.
• Final filters should be high efficiency (H13/H14); choose H14 for fine or carcinogenic dusts.
• Units can recirculate within a room or duct out to maintain negative pressure in enclosures.

Selecting and sizing

• Calculate room volume (L × W × H). Aim for 6–12 air changes per hour, more for high-risk tasks.
• Match required airflow to the unit’s performance under load, not free-air figures.
• Consider noise, power availability, and space for safe duct runs and filter changes.

Setup that actually works

• Placement: avoid short-circuiting. Pull air across the workface towards the scrubber and away from exits.
• Ducting: use smooth, short runs. Seal joints and discharge outdoors or into a safe zone if using negative pressure.
• Containment: seal doorways and penetrations; provide make-up air to avoid starving the unit.
• Maintenance: monitor filter loading; swap prefilters early to keep performance steady. Bag and seal spent filters.

When you need one

• Enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces where visible dust persists despite tool extraction.
• Demolition, sanding, grinding, fire/flood remediation and mould-affected areas.
• Occupied buildings where stopping migration is as important as reducing exposure.

Contractors often pair LEV with a portable air scrubber; equipment such as the MAXVAC Dustblocker range is commonly used in temporary enclosures and refurb zones.

Verify performance

• Use a particulate meter (PM2.5/PM10) to confirm reductions and adjust placement.
• Record readings, filter changes and ACH calculations as part of your COSHH assessment.

Practical takeaways

• Choose H14 filtration for fine or high-hazard dusts and size for 6–12 ACH.
• Place and duct to move air across the workface and prevent short-circuiting.
• Track PM readings and maintain prefilters to keep airflow stable under load.

Set up well, an air scrubber is a reliable control that complements source extraction, keeps neighbours safe and leaves rooms cleaner for handover.