Containment tents isolate small, dusty tasks so the rest of a building stays clean and operational. Used well, they limit spread, protect occupants and cut end-of-job cleaning to minutes rather than hours.

When a tent is the right choice

• Short, localised works: coring, drill-and-fix, small repairs, ceiling access.
• Occupied or sensitive settings: healthcare, schools, food production and live offices.
• Where full barriers would be slow or disruptive.

Build it to work, not just stand up

• Choose a size that allows safe tool handling and waste staging.
• Seal to floors, walls and ceilings; close cable/pipe penetrations with sleeves or tape.
• Provide make-up air and maintain slight negative pressure with an air scrubber or compact negative air machine; a MAXVAC unit is a practical option.
• Check pressure direction with a smoke pencil or tissue test.

Run the job inside the tent

• Capture at source: tool-mounted extraction or water suppression; reduce cutting speed if needed.
• Air control: use H13/H14 filtration for fine or respirable dusts; position return air to pull across the workface.
• Housekeeping: vacuum surfaces with an H-class industrial vacuum; avoid sweeping and compressed air.
• Waste: bag inside the tent and wipe outer bags before removal.

Handover with minimal clean-up

• Final top-down vacuum, then remove the scrubber last.
• Fold the tent in on itself to trap residual dust.
• Record a short note on negative pressure checks and cleaning for client assurance.

Practical takeaways

• Use tents for short, high-risk, localised tasks in live environments.
• Seal thoroughly and maintain slight negative pressure to prevent escape.
• Combine source capture, air filtration and disciplined housekeeping.
• Bag waste before exit and dismantle methodically to avoid recontamination.

With a simple setup and a few checks, tents deliver clean handovers and minimal disruption, especially in occupied buildings where dust spread is not acceptable.