BROOM SWEEPER FULL
BROOM SWEEPER SERIES

Studies have even shown that from an environmental standpoint mechanical broom sweepers may actually have a negative effect on the amount of storm water runoff pollution. Although large debris is removed by mechanical broom sweepers, they are virtually ineffective at removing particles 60 microns and smaller. One reason is that most mechanical sweepers only give the illusion of leaving a clean pavement surface. In recent times, it has been recognized that modern air sweepers have many advantages over mechanical broom sweepers for general road sweeping usage.

BROOM SWEEPER SERIES

Even though mechanical sweepers are usually outfitted with a series of water spray nozzles, because they have no vacuum component, they still tend to create a substantial amount of dust in dry weather. Gutter brooms are relatively small (typically 36 to 50 inches in width), are located to the left, right, or both sides of the sweeper, and are primarily used to transfer debris from the gutterline into the path of the main broom. Mechanical broom machines may or may not be outfitted with a 'gutter broom' on one or both sides of the sweeper.

The broom rotates in a clockwise fashion when viewed from the left side of the vehicle, and collected debris is swept onto some type of a conveyor belt for transfer to a containment hopper.

BROOM SWEEPER FULL

Typically, these machines have a 'main broom' that runs transversely – from one side of the sweeper to the other – such that the broom bristles contact the paved surface the full width of the sweeper unit. Mechanical broom sweepers are still the primary machines in use by municipalities around the US. For years, mechanical broom sweepers were the only machines that were used for road sweeping by municipalities and departments of transportation. Mechanical broom sweeping technology may be likened to cleaning with a broom and a dustpan. And for pollutants such as zinc, which tend to become dissolved in water, there is not even any effective way to filter them out through sophisticated catch-basin or other stormwater filtration technology.įollowing are brief overviews of the major types of sweeping equipment available, as well as examples of usage and applicability: Mechanical Broom Sweepers are killed each year by pollutants attached to small-micron dust particles, and 1,000,000 more sustain serious lung impairment. According to EPA estimates, 30,000 people in the U.S. Either way, these particles pose an environmental challenge. Thats because with rainfall they tend to run off into stormwater systems as total suspended solids (TSS), or to get pounded into the air by passing cars (or blown into the air by wind) as fugitive dust (PM-10s). These small-micron particles are now seen to pose a significant environmental concern. A high level of increased emphasis, by the EPA and others, is now being placed upon the removal of small-micron debris as a Best Management Practice (BMP) for reducing stormwater runoff pollution. From an environmental standpoint, it is exactly this material that it is most important to remove. It has been confirmed that even though a street may look clean (before or after being swept), there still may be a significant loading of small-micron, pollution-laden debris on it. Thats because recent studies have shown that more than 50% of heavy metals and other serious pollutants are attached to particles that are 60 microns in size and smaller (as a comparison, a human hair is about 70 microns in width), even though particles of this size compose a relatively insignificant amount of the total weight and volume of a typical sweepers hopper load.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as well as by public works professionals and others throughout the country. Today, however, this reason for sweeping is undergoing significant re-appraisal by the U.S. It has been so-called because of consensus that if a street looked clean, it was clean. Since its inception, sweeping has been used to remove what might be termed cosmetic or political debris from roadways and other paved surfaces. The information in this article was last updated in December of 2010 First, a brief overview is provided of some of the emerging concerns in the sweeping industry. and international sweeping industry professionals in reaching a better understanding of the differences between the major types of sweeping equipment being used in the American road sweeping marketplace. An Overview of Sweeping Equipment TechnologyĪn Overview of Power Sweeping Equipment Technology This sweeping industry informational white paper is a collaboration between Ranger Kidwell-Ross, Editor of, and Roger Sutherland, Vice-President of Pacific Water Resources, Inc.

Broom sweeper