Stucco Removal Engineering

Construction workers are exposed to fine particulate inhalation hazards during stucco removal. The ultimate goal of this research is to test a new chemical-assisted method that will reduce workers’ exposures to safer levels. To that end, the minimum specimen size must be determined that will replicate this hazardous work environment. Samples of concrete stucco surfacing material (CSSM) of various sizes ranging from 1-in×1-in. to 8-in.×16-in. were applied to masonry blocks. These specimens were tested to determine the minimum size needed to produce 150-mg/m3 (one order of magnitude larger than the OSHA exposure limit of 15-mg/m3) of airborne particulate in a 1-m3 test chamber when removed with a chipping hammer. Testing results revealed that 5-in.× 5-in. specimen size yielded on average 180-mg/m3 of particulates.