The construction industry should continuously seek ways to improve, whether by adding more efficient machinery or finding ways to minimise employee workload. Unfortunately, challenges like slow technology adoption, labour shortages, and rising material cost are making it difficult for firms to evolve.
However, the industry’s biggest issue is its damage to the environment. Beyond gas and dust emissions, noise pollution, and the generation of solid waste, big machines damage the topsoil, perturbing eco-structures. The top layer of soil is rich in minerals and nutrients needed for plants to grow, but disturbing it means affecting the Earth’s ability to filter water and produce food.
Protecting the topsoil means using smart machinery, such as vacuum excavators. These technologies are much more productive than traditional digging and produce less noise and pollution. So, let’s analyse their numerous benefits.
Non-invasive excavation
Vacuum excavators work by breaking up the soil and excavating through high-pressure flow of water or air stream. The dirt and debris are being sucked by the vac and stored in a tank safely. For example, the machinery can precisely remove soil around a tree without affecting its roots and structure.
Know that if you’re looking for a vacuum excavator hire, its use cases vary, from suctioning polluted water and vacuuming materials to emptying crawl spaces. On the other hand, a suction excavator can vacuum soil around tree trunks or debris without damaging pre-existing ground or underground utilities.
Ensured onsite safety
Among the common hazards employees are exposed to when using traditional excavators, we recall overturns, falls, or run-overs. Of course, companies must teach employees how to control the risks by choosing machinery equipped with proper visibility aids and maintaining at least 0.5 m between machines and obstructions.
Still, using a vacuum excavator instead of a traditional one increases safety on site. First, vacuum excavators can be parked away from the zone and still be useful due to their hoses, which can reach the digging zone safely. In addition, there are fewer risks of falling off the vehicle into dangerous areas, which can lower the chances of employees injuring themselves.
Reduced dust
Regular excavators can generate massive quantities of dust into the air, especially when moving spoil around. This can lead to air pollution, which affects the environment frequently. In contracts, a vacuum excavator sucks all the spoil and dust with enough force to reduce respiratory risks to workers and not affect nature.
This aspect is considerably important as air pollution from construction sites, as the air pollution resulting from these tasks can massively impact human health, especially in the summer and autumn, when winds can carry dust past the excavation area.
Enhanced speed and efficiency
Vacuum excavators can remove large amounts of soil, liquids, or debris in a shorter period than traditional machinery. First, the team doesn’t have to worry about damaging underground facilities or other structures, so they can get the job done seamlessly.
At the same time, vacuum excavators are more precise, as you can vacuum exactly what needs to be taken away from the structure, which saves time and effort. Plus, they can be used anywhere, from sites with limited access to bigger locations, so they’re great for multiple jobs.
Supported compliance
Since they’re safe and efficient, vacuum excavators can better comply with regulations. For example, in the case of a traditional excavator, you may need to relocate trees instead of chopping them down, which is impossible with the machinery.
However, using a vacuum excavator is more efficient as it does not damage the tree’s structure, so you can efficiently relocate it and save its life. Moreover, the excavator will help to avoid exceeding air pollution regulations in the area since standards are set to protect the citizens.
What are some of the best use cases of a vacuum excavator?
As a construction business, you will need to perform different tasks to expand your portfolio or increase customer trust. Therefore, using a vacuum excavator will help you gain experience in various jobs, such as utility work. Digging around cables and utility pipelines will be clean, efficient, and vast with vacuum and suction machines.
In addition, the team can use these excavators for:
- Municipal work, like maintenance of underground sewer lines;
- Potholing small test holes before the actual excavation;
- Digging in cold weather with a jet of pressurised heated water;
- Removing debris at the construction site;
- Landscaping, including removing rock and mulch or digging holes for fencing;
How to choose a vacuum excavator based on your needs?
While the offer for vacuum excavators is impressive, choosing the right one can be confusing. There are many features of a vacuum excavator, but you must also consider the type of jobs you’ll do and the possible situations. Regardless, consider the following:
- Choose a storage tank size based on the volume of spoil to be generated;
- Check power requirements based on the terrains you’ll be working on;
- Mind the soil conditions around the area, as air excavation is fitted for soft soil, while hydro-based excavation is best for hard or frozen soil;
- The disposal sites in your area and the local laws, as the distance between the spot and your site, can determine the size of the tank needed;
Finally, know that vacuum excavators need consistent maintenance to work efficiently and flawlessly, so employees must learn how to do a fast daily check-up of the truck. However, you must contact the provider company’s professionals for annual check-ups to see if there are parts that need to be changed. This will help minimise downtime in the future.
Final take
Traditional excavation founded what we have today, but it’s time to replace it with non-invasive options that are also more efficient and environmentally friendly. That’s why vacuum and suction excavators are better than other options; they operate without damaging the soil or underground utilities. At the same time, they don’t generate as many dust particles as traditional excavators and can help sustain compliance in terms of regulations.