Silica dust is generated during tasks such as drilling, cutting, and grinding materials like concrete. The dust particles are so small that they can penetrate deep into the lungs, causing serious damage. However, according to Lindapter, by using its decking fixings and engineering solutions, workplace safety can be improved while maintaining high levels of performance and efficiency.
That said, the threat is very real, according to research commissioned by the UK’s the Health & Safety Executive (HSE), which shows that exposure to silica dust can cause serious health problems, including silicosis, lung cancer, and other respiratory diseases. Workers in the construction industry are at the highest risk of exposure to such silica dust.
Safety-conscious fixings
Lindapter states its decking fixings offer several advantages over traditional methods for securing building services to composite decking profiles. The fixings are designed to be easily installed, as they fit inside the dovetail re-entrant channels – therefore completelyemoving the need to drill through the deck into the concrete above, which can typically release large amounts of silica dust into the air, posing a health risk to workers. This installation method can save time and labour costs during construction, offering users efficiency gains because it can be installed on-site in a matter of seconds without the need for specialised labour, costly equipment, or power.
These fixings are fabricated to be strong and durable, ensuring a secure and long-lasting connection for fixing building services to composite decking profiles. Also, Lindapter’s fixing method offers multiple safety benefits, including eliminating silica dust exposure for the operative and preserving the strength of the decking profile by avoiding delamination. Fire integrity is also ensured, as these fixings have been fire tested to BS EN 1991-1-2.
Lindapter’s decking fixings have a capacity of between 1.00kN and 2.10kN, depending on the type of fixing, and hold building services securely, thanks to the company’s independently approved, safe-working loads and stringent quality procedures. Lindapter insists all its decking fixings have been designed in conjunction with various decking manufacturers to ensure they fulfil necessary requirements, from ease of installation to carrying capacity.
Additionally, Lindapter’s decking fixing products carry CE and UKCA markings, verifying that product performance has been independently evaluated and certified to satisfy internationally and domestically recognised standards.
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