January 2018

In modern cities and towns across North America, people have become accustomed to seeing old structures torn down and new ones put up in their places.  As urban infrastructure evolves and communities are developed and re-developed, the landscape around us changes continually.  We all know that building is a huge industry.  But did you know that disposing of old building materials is a multibillion-dollar industry as well?Environmental decon trailers are a crucial part of many abatement and remediation jobs – allowing workers to get clean and return home safely.  As the remediation industry has grown over the years we have worked with some of the industry’s best companies.  Recently, we had the opportunity to partner up with a Canadian company that is one of the largest abatement and remediation contractors in the world.This company takes on some serious demolition projects, and they have a top-notch reputation for professionalism in their field.  When they contacted us to discuss a requirement for several new environmental decon trailers, we were happy to help.  Helping workers make it home safe every day is one of the most rewarding aspects of our business.How Decon Trailers Keep Employees Safe Old buildings contain old building materials, which means that lead, asbestos, arsenic, and other toxic materials are commonplace.  Demolition contractors plan demolition projects, execute demolitions, and manage the removal of all materials in compliance with complex government regulations.  They are involved in every step of the process and their engineers, project managers, and employees follow strict guidelines to maintain safe working conditions in the presence of unsafe materials.Before leaving the jobsite, many workers need to follow a strict decontamination process.  An environmental decon trailer is designed explicitly for this purpose, with tight controls and complex filtration systems to ensure that hazardous materials are securely captured and kept out of the environment.The Anatomy of a Modern Environmental Decon TrailerSome of our more luxurious shower trailers have more than 10 external entries.  But most decon trailers have only two doors – one door in and one door out.  The decontamination process begins outside the trailer, where an external utility sink is available to wash off gear, tools, and equipment.  When workers step into the trailer, they begin a multi-step process to remove even tiny particles of hazardous materials.The first room is the dirty room, where workers undress and place contaminated clothing into a chute which leads to a bin with negative air filtration to contain minute particles.  Workers then step forward through airlock curtains into a private shower stall, where the drain leads to a sophisticated filtration process and a large wastewater tank.After showering, workers step forward through another set of airlock curtains into the clean room, which has private lockers and a dressing area.  Many contractors also order or install laundry machines inside the trailer. There is ample room, and connections are standard.Industrial-Grade Decon Trailers for Abatement and RemediationHere at PRT, we’re always proud to help protect the workers who power our infrastructure and our economy.  In this case, we delivered several of the toughest decon trailers on the market today.  Our units are built with strong materials and superior design, with wet location-rated interior lighting throughout.  Their reputation for durability and longevity is strong in the demolition marketplace, and will continue to grow with our important new partnership in Canada.If you would like to learn more about environmental decon trailers, and how they can help to keep your workers safe, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.  Our staff is well-trained on the intricacies of decontamination, and we would be more than happy to answer any questions you may have.  You can call us at (877) 600-8645, or chat with a live representative on our website today. 

North Carolina Emergency Management is a division of the North Carolina Department of Public Safety that handles a wide spectrum of emergency and disaster management services for the state.  They’re some of the first people onsite for flash floods, chemical spills, hurricanes, and more.  With a long list of critical responsibilities, you might not think that an organization like this would be concerned about portable shower trailers.  But the staff at NCEM know that shower trailers are an irreplaceable part of many disaster response efforts. When the unexpected happens anywhere in the state, staff from North Carolina Emergency Management are among the first people onsite to begin triage and damage control.  And they’re also some of the last people involved in any emergency because of their active role in managing the state’s response and recovery efforts.  For the duration of their involvement, they have hardworking people in the field who need to go home safe and clean after every shift. With decades of experience handling man-made and natural disasters, this is one organization that truly understands the value of a portable shower trailer. Supporting North Carolina’s Emergency Workers North Carolina found itself in need of shower trailers in many coastal areas in the wake of 2016’s category 5 Hurricane Matthew.  Response workers in flood situations were exposed to a wide variety of dangers including waterborne diseases, harmful bacteria, and hazardous chemicals.  Shower trailers helped protect these workers, allowing them to return to their sleeping quarters safe and clean after a hard day’s work. The agency needs to make sure that there will be an ample supply of shower trailers available for instant mobilization along the coast for similar storms in the future.  Towards that end, NCEM has written several grants to fund the purchases of portable shower trailers that will be strategically located in municipalities throughout the state. We were honored when the agency contacted us to consult with them about their requirements, and we were pleased when they selected our shower trailers to protect their workers.  Here at PRT, we take a lot of pride in our support of emergency workers.  And we’re always happy to see one of our units shipping out to support the brave women and men who do this amazing work. Portable Shower Trailers for High-Impact Environments The gritty nature of disaster response work presents a unique challenge for any portable plumbing resource.  Add on the high volume of traffic from relief workers in rotating shifts, and you’re going to need one tough and durable shower trailer to stand up to this task. The Sierra Series 6-station shower trailer that NCEM selected is a great choice.  End-to-end vinyl sheet flooring provides a safe and clean surface that can tolerate high traffic.  Dual 100lb propane tanks fuel an on-demand gas water heater.  And a large 900-gallon waste tank helps keep maintenance to a minimum. The floorplan features 6 unisex shower suites, each with its own private external entry.  Each suite has a corner sink and a fold-down bench, and the entire unit is climate-controlled with a roof-mounted air conditioner and integrated heat strips.  At the back of the trailer is a dedicated laundry room with a stackable washer and dryer to handle soiled clothing and washable gear. Safe and Reliable Emergency Management Resources While shower trailers play an important role in emergency management, there are several other portable plumbing resources that are used to support relief workers and evacuees.  We stock a wide-ranging inventory of environmental decontamination (decon) trailers, portable restroom units, mobile hand-washing stations, laundry trailers, and more. If you are involved in the important work of emergency management or disaster relief, and you would like to learn more about the full suite of shower trailers and portable plumbing resources that PRT offers, get in touch with us today.  Give us a call at (877) 600-8645, or request a quote online.