Flooring adhesive removal can release a mix of dusts and fumes: concrete and screed particles (including respirable crystalline silica), fibres, and vapours from heat or solvents. A simple plan that prioritises source capture, airflow control and rigorous housekeeping will minimise exposure and rework.

Plan, survey and isolate

• Survey first: in buildings pre-2000, stop and assess for asbestos-containing materials in tiles or bituminous adhesive residues before disturbance.
• Isolate the work area with sheeting and door zips. Establish a clean route for waste.
• Stage tools, bags and vacuums to avoid unnecessary traffic in and out.

Capture at source

• Low-dust methods: use shrouded scrapers and grinders connected to an M/H-Class industrial vacuum. Match blade or cup wheel to the adhesive type to reduce abrasion of the subfloor.
• Set extraction for the tool’s under-load airflow, not a free-air number. Check the shroud seal and keep the skirt intact.
• If using heat to soften adhesive, apply local extraction to capture fumes and loosened particulates at the point of removal.

Control dust in the air

• Keep the work zone slightly negative to adjacent rooms using a portable air scrubber with high-efficiency filtration. Exhaust to a safe area if possible.
• Use smoke tests to confirm airflow direction from clean to dirty zones.
• A MAXVAC air scrubber can provide temporary negative pressure during strip-out and edging tasks.

Housekeeping and waste

• Avoid sweeping. Use an H-Class vacuum with fine filtration for floors, edges, skirtings and tooling between passes.
• Fit sticky mats at exits and vacuum footwear before leaving.
• Bag waste immediately; double-bag if contaminated and label per site rules. Do not crush dust-laden waste to save volume.

Monitoring and PPE

• Where silica exposure is possible, remember the HSE WEL for RCS is 0.1 mg/m³ (8-hr TWA). Use a particulate meter to spot-check PM and adjust controls.
• Provide fit-tested RPE (P3), eye protection and gloves. Rotate tasks to limit exposure during heavy grinding.

Practical takeaways

• Survey for asbestos before disturbing legacy adhesives.
• Pair shrouded tools with M/H-Class extraction and verify under-load airflow.
• Maintain slight negative pressure with an air scrubber and confirm with smoke tests.
• Vacuum only; never sweep. Control tracking with sticky mats.
• Use a PM meter to validate controls, especially when grinding subfloors.

With planned isolation, source extraction and disciplined cleaning, adhesive removal can proceed with minimal dust spread and fewer callbacks for re-cleaning or air quality complaints.