Ultra high-pressure water jetting, or UHP water jetting, is simply the practice of using highly pressurized water to remove a coating or contaminant from a substrate. Sometimes this is achieved by blasting glass, grit or another abrasive material at high pressures onto a surface. But for a few reasons, in some circumstances, there’s no smarter choice than pure water and high pressure.

A versatile option

Ultra high-pressure water jetting (defined by the SSPC as pressures exceeding 25,000 psi) can be used to remove rust, resins, chemical residues, paints and epoxies, all without the disposal measures necessitated by blasting with chemicals, solvents and abrasives. This makes the practice an attractive option in many of the industries in which we at Thomas Industrial Coatings work.

Often, ultra high-pressure water jetting is less expensive than alternative methods. This is because the costs associated with recollecting large amounts of abrasive material can become quite high. Because fewer potentially harmful materials are involved in the process, there are fewer issues pertaining to containment and fewer relevant industry regulations.

The benefits of UHP

Environmental friendliness is one of the main attractions of removing coatings via the practice of ultra high-pressure water jetting. Especially in potentially sensitive settings, UHP water jetting reduces the possibility of introducing waste elements into the environment. The use of abrasives can produce a good deal of waste from the blast media, paint debris and rust products, but these byproducts are reduced with UHP. This makes the practice especially attractive for work in the marine industry.

Lead remediation jobs are also prime opportunities for the use of UHP water jetting. Harmful dust is eliminated and, since lead chips don’t mix well with water, the remnant can easily be filtered out before the water is sent for treatment.

Also, when blasting around sensitive machinery involving many moving parts, grit from abrasive blasting has the potential to affect the performance of that machinery. Pure water blasted at high-pressure is a sensible alternative in these situations as well.

Talk to the professionals

Despite its many benefits, Ultra high-pressure water jetting isn’t perfect for every job, and blasting with abrasives is sometimes required. To find out which option best suits your needs, talk to an experienced contractor. There are many out there, so before you choose, download our Buyer’s Guide below to discover some things you should keep in mind before deciding who to trust with your next project.

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