Surface preparation equipment, such as needle guns with multiple reciprocating needles completely enclosed within an adjustable shroud, can be substituted for abrasive blasting under certain operations. The shroud captures dust and debris at the cutting edge and can be equipped with a HEPA vacuum filtration system with a self-drumming feature. One such commercial unit can remove lead-based paint from flat steel and concrete surfaces, outside edges, inside corners, and pipes. Chemical strippers used primarily on the exterior of buildings, surfaces involving carvings or molding, or intricate iron works, can be used in place of hand scraping using a heat gun. Chemical removal generates less airborne lead dust.
Replacement is a permanent solution.
This method of application introduces little or no paint mist into the air where the mist can present a lead inhalation hazard. The free silica portion of the dust presents a respiratory health hazard. When using abrasive blasting with vacuum on exterior building surfaces, care should be taken that the configuration of the heads on the blasting nozzle match the configuration of the substrate so that the vacuum is effective in containing debris. Heat guns used to remove lead-based paints in residential housing units should be of the flameless electrical softener type. Heat guns should have electronically controlled temperature settings to allow usage below 700 degrees F. Heat guns should be equipped with various nozzles to cover all common applications and to limit heated work area.