School and college refurbishments often run alongside live teaching, so dust control must protect pupils, staff, and sensitive equipment. The goal is to prevent creation, stop airborne spread, and remove settled dust without re‑agitating it.

Plan and zone the work

Sequence high-dust tasks out of hours where possible. Create airtight zones using sheeting and sealed doors, with clear routes for waste. Establish negative pressure in the work area so air flows from clean to dirty, not the other way around. Coordinate with site managers so cleaners and caretakers understand new access and cleaning plans.

Capture at source

Apply water suppression for cutting and chasing. Use tool-mounted extraction connected to an M- or H-class industrial vacuum with a high-efficiency filter. For tasks that generate respirable crystalline silica (RCS) from masonry and concrete, remember HSE’s WEL of 0.1 mg/m³ and select controls accordingly. Reduce cutting speeds and switch to pre-cut materials where feasible.

Control dust in the air

Deploy air scrubbers or negative air machines with HEPA filtration, targeting H14 where fine or carcinogenic dusts may be present. Size equipment on airflow under load, not free-air figures, and position units to draw air from clean areas through the work zone and out via ducting. Seal returns and gaps that could short-circuit airflow. Use make-up air paths to maintain stable pressure.

Housekeeping and waste

Avoid sweeping and compressed air. Vacuum floors, ledges, vents, and fixtures with an industrial unit matched to the hazard. Change pre-filters before they choke and monitor filter loading. Double-bag fine dust and remove waste at set times to avoid peak corridor traffic. Clean adjacent classrooms daily to prevent tracking.

Monitoring, training, and PPE

Use a particulate monitor to check PM10/PM2.5 levels inside and outside the enclosure during dusty tasks and when doors are used. Brief all trades on zone rules, door discipline, and vacuum-only cleaning. Provide fit-tested FFP3 RPE for high-risk activities and confirm it complements, not replaces, engineering controls.

Practical takeaways

• Set negative pressure and test airflow direction before starting.
• Fit tool extraction and wet methods for cutting and sanding.
• Run air scrubbers with correctly rated HEPA filters and change pre-filters regularly.
• Vacuum-only housekeeping; never sweep.
• Track dust levels with a PM meter and adapt controls in real time.

Well-planned zoning, effective extraction, and disciplined cleaning will keep learning spaces safe and open while works progress.