Dry ice cleaning glossary.

Also: Solid-to-gas transition, Phase change

The phase change in which a substance moves directly from solid to gas without passing through a liquid state. The basis of dry ice cleaning.

When a -78 °C dry ice pellet hits a warm contaminated surface, it sublimates — going straight to CO₂ gas without melting. The expanding gas occupies 800× the original solid volume, blasting contamination clear. Critically, **no liquid is left behind**, which is why dry ice cleaning works on engine bays, electrical equipment and food production lines where water would cause damage.

The sudden temperature differential between a -78 °C dry ice pellet and a warm contamination layer that causes the layer to contract and break its bond with the substrate.

One of the three simultaneous mechanisms in dry ice cleaning. Thermal shock weakens the contamination-to-substrate bond before kinetic impact and vapour expansion finish the job. It's why dry ice can lift baked-on residue that mechanical or chemical methods leave behind.

The mechanical energy delivered by a dry ice pellet accelerated to 150-300 m/s by the compressed-air stream, lifting loosened contamination away.

The "blast" half of dry ice blasting. Pellets exit the nozzle at high velocity but are softer than the surfaces being cleaned, so they impart kinetic energy to the contamination layer without abrading the substrate. Combined with thermal shock and vapour expansion, this lifts deposits clear in a single pass.

Also: CO₂ expansion

The 800× volumetric increase that occurs when a dry ice pellet sublimates — converting from solid to gas — on impact with a warm surface.

The third simultaneous mechanism. As the pellet sublimates, the gas expands suddenly and powerfully under the contamination layer, blasting it clear of the substrate. This is what makes dry ice cleaning effective on hard-to-reach geometries — the gas finds its way into crevices that mechanical brushes cannot.

Also: Patch test, Spot test

A small, low-pressure dry ice clean of an inconspicuous area performed before a full job to verify the substrate is undamaged.

Standard practice on heritage stone, classic-car decals, and any historically-significant or fragile surface. We document the test result before scope-up. Council heritage architects typically require sample-area sign-off before approving full-facade work.

Also: Pellet hopper, Dry ice rig

The pressurised vessel that meters dry ice pellets from the hopper into the compressed-air stream and out through the blast nozzle.

The core of a dry ice cleaning rig. Hand-held units run 25-40 kg of pellets per hour; trailer-mounted units can sustain 60-80 kg/hr for longer jobs. The pot regulates pellet flow precisely so cleaning power stays consistent across a job.

The interchangeable tip that shapes the dry ice pellet stream as it exits the rig — fan, round, or precision-detail patterns for different surface geometries.

Nozzle choice matters as much as pressure. Fan nozzles cover large flat areas (warehouse beams, hull sides); round nozzles concentrate energy for stubborn deposits; precision-detail nozzles handle electrical components, decals, and tight engine-bay geometry. We swap nozzles mid-job as the surface changes.

Also: Air compressor

The 100-185 cfm compressed-air source that accelerates dry ice pellets to cleaning velocity. Either trailer-mounted or shop-supplied.

For mobile work we bring our own 185 cfm trailer-mounted diesel compressor. For workshop-based jobs we can run off shop air if it meets the cfm spec. A typical engine bay job uses 100-130 cfm at 80-100 psi.

Also: Negative-air enclosure

Plastic-sheet enclosures plus negative-air HEPA-filtered machines that contain airborne particulate during restoration cleaning.

Required for IICRC S520 mould remediation and IICRC S540 fire-damage cleaning where airborne contaminants must not migrate into clean zones of the property. We set up containment, run negative pressure for the duration of the job, and document air quality at handover.

Also: Dry ice pellet, 3mm pellet

Small (typically 3 mm diameter) cylinders of solid CO₂ at -78 °C, manufactured from food-grade carbon dioxide and used as the cleaning consumable.

The pellets are made by extruding food-grade liquid CO₂ through a die. They're used like a consumable — about 25-60 kg disappears (sublimates to gas) during a typical engine-bay job. We source pellets from licensed Australian suppliers and store them in insulated transport bags rated for 24-48 hours of operational use.

Carbon dioxide certified to food-contact purity standards (ISBT-compliant) so the cleaning process leaves no chemical residue on food-production surfaces.

Industry standard for any cleaning that touches surfaces in food, beverage or pharmaceutical production. Food-grade CO₂ is the same purity used in carbonated drinks; it sublimates cleanly with no impurities transferred to the cleaned surface.

Also: Antifouling paint

Marine paint applied to boat hulls below the waterline to prevent barnacle, algae and weed growth. Typically reapplied every 1-2 years.

Layered antifoul builds up over years and eventually needs full removal back to the gel coat or barrier coat before a fresh recoat. Dry ice strips antifoul without scoring the gel coat — a common failure mode of media blasting.

The pigmented outer fibreglass layer on a boat hull. Smooth, glossy, and the surface that absolute care must be taken not to score during antifoul stripping.

Damage to gel coat is what makes media-blasting risky for marine work — abrasive media can score the surface, ruining the hull's finish. Dry ice pellets sublimate before they can score the gel coat, which is why dry ice is now the standard for premium yacht antifoul work.

The waterproofing layer applied between the gel coat and antifoul on a boat hull. The target depth for full antifoul removal jobs.

A correct full antifoul strip removes everything down to the original epoxy barrier coat — no further. Dry ice gives the operator the precision to stop at the barrier coat without damaging the gel coat below.

Carbon-rich particulate produced by incomplete combustion that deposits on surfaces during a fire. The primary contamination removed in fire-damage restoration.

Soot is acidic — left untreated it continues to etch substrates for weeks after the fire. Dry ice cleaning lifts soot from porous timber, masonry and concrete surfaces without water (which would set the soot deeper), making it the preferred method for IICRC S540 fire-damage restoration.

Also: S520, IICRC mould standard

The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification's standard for professional mould remediation.

S520 defines the procedures, containment, PPE and documentation requirements for mould remediation in residential and commercial buildings. Our restoration crews work to S520 — including HEPA containment, third-party clearance testing, and full photo-log documentation suitable for insurance claims.

Also: S540, IICRC fire & smoke standard

The IICRC standard for professional fire and smoke damage restoration.

S540 sets the methodology for assessing fire damage, classifying smoke residues, and removing them from porous and non-porous surfaces. Dry ice cleaning is recognised under S540 as a non-water-bearing method for cleaning sensitive substrates that would be damaged by traditional wet methods.

Also: Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points

A food safety management system that identifies and controls biological, chemical and physical hazards throughout a food production process.

Australian food production facilities work to HACCP plans. Dry ice cleaning is HACCP-friendly because it leaves no chemical residue and no water on cleaned surfaces, making allergen changeovers faster and post-clean swab-testing more likely to pass.

Also: Current Good Manufacturing Practice

The international quality-assurance system for pharmaceutical, food and beverage manufacturing, enforced by the TGA in Australia.

Pharmaceutical facilities operate under cGMP. Introducing dry ice cleaning into a cGMP environment requires pilot testing, documented swab-test results, and inclusion in the validated cleaning procedure before routine use.

Also: Australian high-vis standard

The Australian/New Zealand standard for high-visibility safety garments worn by trades workers.

Our crews wear AS/NZS 4602-compliant hi-vis vests on every job site. Mention this when verifying contractor compliance for site-induction or insurance purposes.

Also: Personal protective equipment

The eye, ear, respiratory and skin protection required for safe operation of dry ice cleaning equipment.

Standard PPE for dry ice work: ANSI Z87-rated eye protection, hearing protection (the rig is loud), insulated gloves (pellets are -78 °C), and respiratory protection in confined or particulate-heavy environments. For arc-flash work on live electrical equipment, full arc-rated gear is added.

The cleaning procedure required between production runs of different food allergens (e.g. nut → dairy → gluten-free) to prevent cross-contamination.

Traditional wet allergen changeovers can take 8-14 hours of downtime. Dry ice cleaning typically halves that — and because it leaves no water, the line is dry and ready immediately, with a higher rate of passed ATP swab tests.

Also: Adenosine triphosphate test

A rapid post-clean validation test that measures organic residue on a surface — used to verify cleaning effectiveness in food production.

A QA technician swabs a cleaned surface, runs the swab through a luminometer, and gets a numerical reading in seconds. ATP pass rates after dry ice cleaning are typically higher than after traditional CIP/COP methods because there's no chemical residue to interfere with the test.

Also: Energised cleaning, Online cleaning

Cleaning of energised electrical equipment without taking it offline. Possible because dry ice is non-conductive and leaves no residue.

Standard for medium-voltage switchgear, substations and critical infrastructure where outage costs are high. Our crews work in arc-rated PPE under switchgear-specific safety procedures. Pre/post insulation-resistance tests are documented for each panel cleaned.

The level of presentation required for a vehicle judged at a concours d'elegance event — original-finish preserved, decals intact, no visible cleaning marks.

For concours work we run dry ice at lower pressure (70-90 PSI on decal-bearing areas), sample-test inconspicuous spots first, and produce a full pre/post photo log for provenance. The car comes out cleaner than factory delivery — without disturbing anything original.