New Brick Clean Ltd | Tel: 0845 050 9713 | Fax: 0845 050 9714 | Email:info@newbrickclean.co.uk

New Brick Clean is an innovative company established by professional brickwork cleaners who have new views on their business. Initially they were looking for environmentally friendly chemicals to replace the concentrated hydrochloric acid commonly used in the trade for new build cleaning. They now use a mixture of organic salt and surfactants to provide better and more responsible services. This recent move generated at the core of the business the idea to carry out their work in a safer and "greener" fashion. Subsequently, New Brick Clean undertook the process of looking at each aspect of their business to minimise the impact on the environment and to improve their overall efficiency.

The Problem
Cleaning new brickwork requires the use of chemicals to dissolve and soften excess mortar on the brick face. A high-pressure jet needs to be applied using 171/min of water at 2500 psi (238 Bar).

The chemical is applied via a manual jet, creating overdosing and over spaying of chemicals on the brickwork. The process is slow and not always reliable.

The pressure washer uses a small diesel motor that produces local pollution such as particle emissions and a high level of noise, the latter being a problem for both the neighbourhood and the operator.

Chemicals such as hydrochloric acid can stain certain types of brick and corrode metals. The rinse water is acidic and normally contains high levels of chloric ions.

The Solution

When talking about environment and waste, everybody has heard about the three "R's": Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. New Brick Clean looked at its own processes and chose to re-think its practices and methods:

Using a more environmentally friendly and less aggressive product

Using an LPG pressure washer to reduce emissions: gas, fumes and noise level

Using an enclosed system to promote better control of chemicals, use of fuel and safeguard equipment and to increase safety on site

The whole process was re-thought combining available technologies to produce a new compact system that is safely enclosed at the rear of the van

The chemical is now efficiently applied at low pressure using a foam lance

The remaining acidity of the run off water, when the building is washed down, can be neutralised. New Brick Clean use dolomite that comes as a quarry by-product and normally is used as a soil improver. This is a simple solution that combines pH correction with run-off water and is an ideal waste water control.

The Benefit

The chemical used is intended to be less harmful to the environment

Applying the chemical as foam has many benefits. It prevents the chemical from penetrating the brick. No more over spray as the operator can effectively see where the chemical has been applied. Foam increases its efficiency by expanding the surface contact and prevents premature dry out of the product that would have dramatic consequences on the brick work. It is believed that less concentrated product will be used to carry out the same work. The chemical cleaning phase will take very little time and effort when compared with the hand spray.

The enclosed system prevents any incident on site, dramatically reduces noise pollution and prevents cables, equipment and chemicals from being a liability around the site. Environmental, health and safety issues are of prime importance to the company.

Continual improvement and future development

New Brick Clean wants to change the image and practices of brickwork cleaning. They aim to offer safe, efficient and environmentally responsible services.

• The company is working towards ISO 14001 and will carry out regular on-site visits and monitoring to ensure quality work is delivered
• An LPG hot box will provide hot water to enhance the product activity and to ensure a reduction in the amounts of chemicals, water, time and energy used to carry out the work

The Environmental Technology Centre is a unique resource in the East Midlands.
It is funded and resourced to help businesses improve their overall competitiveness and performance through the adoption of environmentally efficient technologies and practices. It can provide five days of free assistance to qualifying companies to help monitor water and energy usage and to suggest ways to reduce and treat any waste.

The Centre also has the facilities to carry out trials using a wide range of technologies and in many cases, can even provide assistance in funding the implementation of its recommendations.

If you are looking for solutions and/or advice to improve the competitiveness of your company or if you would like an independent assessment of your technological or business requirements then please contact us.