Precision Laser Cleaning is at the forefront of lead paint removal across Australia, using Netalux laser technology and highly skilled operators to deliver safe, precise, and extremely low waste cleaning.
Our expertise is crucial for projects where lead paint poses a health risk to workers, particularly in weld preparation, civil construction, and heritage restoration.
One of our most significant heritage projects is the restoration of Melbourne’s iconic Queen Victoria Market—a National Heritage-listed site and the largest open-air market in the Southern Hemisphere. As part of an extensive preservation effort, our laser cleaning technology ensured that critical structural elements were restored safely and efficiently while maintaining the integrity of this historic landmark.
Challenges
The restoration of Queen Victoria Market presented several key challenges:
Lead Paint Hazards – Originally constructed in the late 19th century, the market’s framework contains layers of lead-based paint, which poses serious health risks when disturbed by welding, grinding, or mechanical removal methods.
Structural Integrity – The market’s 100-year-old roof and trusses require reinforcement through extensive welding. Any damage to the existing material could compromise the restoration.
Public Safety & Environmental Concerns – Given the market’s high foot traffic and central location, it was essential to prevent lead contamination in the surrounding environment and ensure a safe worksite for workers and the public.
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Solutions
To address these challenges, Precision Laser Cleaning deployed our highly portable, non-destructive laser cleaning technology to remove lead-based coatings from the market’s roof trusses and welding points.
Precision in Weld Preparation – Our laser systems selectively removed lead paint from hundreds of welding points without affecting the surrounding material, ensuring clean and safe surfaces for structural reinforcement.
Minimised Disruption – Using scissor lifts, our portable laser cleaners accessed difficult-to-reach areas with ease, allowing for efficient paint removal without interfering with other restoration works.
Fume-Free & Waste-Free Process – Unlike traditional removal methods that generate hazardous dust and debris, our laser cleaning process ablates lead paint into fumes, which are safely captured in a HEPA filtration system, preventing contamination of the market environment.
Outcomes
Safer Worksite – By removing lead paint prior to welding, we eliminated the risk of toxic lead exposure for workers.
Preserved Heritage Structure – Our non-abrasive method ensured that only necessary paint layers were removed, protecting the integrity of the historic market’s materials.
Public Health Protection – Our laser cleaning approach prevented airborne lead contamination, ensuring a safer environment for the public and surrounding businesses.
Through Precision Laser Cleaning’s advanced technology and expertise, the Queen Victoria Market restoration progressed with greater safety and efficiency.