How to Hire a Dry Ice Blasting Contractor: 12 Questions to Ask
Anyone can rent a machine. Here is how to tell an experienced industrial contractor from a rental operator before you let them near your equipment.
Dry ice blasting equipment is easy to rent, which means the contractor market ranges from seasoned industrial crews to operators on their third job. The equipment is identical; the outcome is not. These questions separate them quickly.
Experience and references
- Have you cleaned this specific equipment type before? Ask for a comparable job, not a generic list.
- Can you provide references in my industry that I can actually call?
- Who will be on site — employees or subcontracted operators?
Safety and compliance
- Show me your CO₂ monitoring and confined-space procedure.
- What is your EMR and OSHA recordable rate?
- Are your operators trained to NFPA 70E if electrical work is in scope?
- Provide a certificate of insurance with general liability and workers' comp limits.
Method and parameters
- What media form and pressure range will you use on my substrate, and why?
- Will you run a test area before production blasting?
- How will you contain and capture the removed contamination?
Commercial clarity
- Is the quote a day rate or a fixed scope, and what is included?
- Who supplies compressed air, and is fuel included?
- What is the acceptance criteria for 'clean' on this job?
Red flags
- Quoting without seeing photos or walking the equipment
- No written safety plan for CO₂ in enclosed areas
- Promising a surface profile — dry ice does not profile
- Guaranteeing complete removal of deeply absorbed staining sight-unseen
- No test-area step on molds, historic substrates, or coated assets
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I get multiple quotes?+
Yes, but compare scope and acceptance criteria, not just price. A cheaper quote often covers less area or fewer hours.
Should the contractor visit before quoting?+
For anything beyond a simple, well-photographed scope, yes. Site conditions drive access, air supply, and ventilation planning.
What should a written scope include?+
Equipment covered, acceptance criteria, media and pressure range, containment method, air supply responsibility, hours, and mobilization terms.
Ready to compare us against that list? request a quote and we will answer every question above in writing.
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