Silica Air Testing Kit Rentals

 For real-time continuous monitoring:

Trolex Air XS Silica Monitor: Real-time RCS detection with optical refraction technology. Measures 1-10 µm respirable fraction, displays mg/m³ concentrations with 15-min to 12-hour rolling averages. IP66 rated, 6 GB data logging, BreatheXS software included. Ideal for construction site area monitoring during concrete cutting, grinding, jackhammering, and demolition operations.
 
For validation and comparison sampling:
 
SKC AirChek Touch Sampling Pump: Programmable personal sampling pump with touchscreen interface. When paired with cyclone separator and 37mm PVC cassette, collects respirable dust samples for laboratory XRD analysis via NIOSH 7500/7602. Useful for initial exposure assessment validation of real-time monitor readings.
 
Sensidyne GilAir Plus Personal Air Sampling Pump: Compact, lightweight personal sampling pump for gravimetric silica sampling. Typically used with aluminum cyclone and PVC filter cassette for NIOSH 7500 compliance sampling. Battery runtime up to 12 hours for full-shift personal exposure assessment.

Silica testing measures the concentration of respirable crystalline silica in the air to determine worker exposure levels on job sites. It helps ensure compliance with OSHA's exposure limits.

Silica testing is crucial for protecting workers from respirable crystalline silica exposure, which can lead to serious health issues like silicosis, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and kidney disease. Monitoring ensures that exposure levels stay within OSHA’s permissible limits, supporting compliance and helping to create a safer work environment.

OSHA’s rule, 29 CFR 1926.1153, sets the permissible exposure limit (PEL) for respirable crystalline silica at 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air, averaged over an 8-hour workday. OSHA's silica standard does not mandate a specific monitoring method (real-time monitoring or Traditional Pump/Cassette). The regulation requires employers to assess employee exposure using "any combination of air monitoring data or objective data." Real-time optical monitors provide quantitative air monitoring data that meets this requirement, with the advantage of providing continuous verification rather than periodic snapshots.

In most cases yes, for ongoing compliance monitoring during construction operations. However, many industrial hygienists recommend a hybrid approach: use traditional NIOSH 7500/7602 pump samples for initial comprehensive exposure assessment (validating the real-time monitor's readings against a certified lab method), then transition to real-time monitoring for ongoing verification and control optimization.

Independent testing by Bureau Veritas UK demonstrated that the Trolex Air XS provides results within ±25% of laboratory gravimetric analysis using NIOSH MDHS 101 methodology. This accuracy is comparable to the ±30% variability acknowledged in ISO 24095:2021 for standard occupational hygiene analyses. The key difference: the Air XS delivers this accuracy in real-time, not 7-10 days later.

Position the monitor in the breathing zone area where workers are performing dust-generating tasks, typically 3-6 feet from the point of operation, at a height of 4-5 feet (representative of worker breathing zone). Avoid placing directly in the dust plume (which would overestimate exposure) or far from the work area (which would underestimate exposure).

Respirator requirements depend on the level of exposure, but in general, a properly fitted N95 or P100 respirator is commonly used when exposure exceeds the OSHA PEL. Always consult your safety officer for site-specific guidance.

At RAECO Rents, our silica testing equipment rentals start as low as $45 per day. Rent our equipment directly on our website or contact us today for additional help!

If you have questions about our silica dust monitoring and air testing kits, we’ve got you covered. Get in touch today to learn more! For fast and friendly support, please call 866-736-8347.