
MILWAUKEE TOOL
13135 West Lisbon Road • Brookfield WI 53005 • 262-781-3600
To Whom It May Concern,
Milwaukee®, in partnership with Industrial Hygiene Sciences, LLC, has conducted testing on the Milwaukee M18™
FUEL™ 6 Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum (0910-20) with HEPA filter (49-90-1977) paired with the M18™ FUEL™ 7’ / 9”
Large Angle Grinder (2785-20), 2” Diamond Long Dry Core Masonry Bit (48-17-0020), and SDS Max Dust Extraction
Attachment (5317-DE). Results show that the user will be below the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) as described by
OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1153 when using the above combination, assuming it is used in accordance with manufacturer’s
instructions. Testing results and procedures are outlined below:
Unit Tested
• All coring was performed using a Milwaukee M18™ FUEL™ 6 Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum (0910-20) with HEPA
filter (49-90-1977) paired with the M18™ FUEL™ 7’ / 9” Large Angle Grinder (2785-20), 2” Diamond Long
Dry Core Masonry Bit (48-17-0020), and SDS Max Dust Extraction Attachment (5317-DE).
• The coring was completed horizontally through standard cinder concrete blocks mounted in an upright fixture.
• The cinder blocks were 1900 PSI concrete.
• A new HEPA filter and clean box were used for each trial.
• The vacuum was turned to low speed.
• The trials were performed in an enclosure with no outside air ventilation. Ambient air cleaner with HEPA
filtration was used between each trial.
• Samples were collected on 3-piece 37 mm diameter preweighed PVC filter mounted in a BGI GK2.69 respirable
dust sampler, run at 4.2 lpm and connected to a GilAir Plus air sampling pump. The flow rate through the
sampling train was measured using a TSI 4146 Calibrator before and after each Trial. A field blank was submitted
with each day’s set of samples.
• Samples were analyzed using OSHA ID-142 by the Wisconsin Occupational Health Laboratory, an AIHA
Accredited laboratory. The sampling method used meets the definition of respirable crystalline silica in
1926.1153 (a) and Appendix A of the OSHA Respirable Crystalline Silica Standard (1926.1153).
• The Time Weighted Average (TWA) was calculated assuming zero exposure to respirable crystalline silica for the
non-sampled portion of a 480 minutes (8 hour) shift. Longer exposure times, assuming that the dust exposures
would be similar to those collected in these trials, would likely result in higher TWAs. Factors, including, but not
limited to, the ventilation and air flow patterns in the space where the work is done, how the tool is used, how
sharp the blade is, the user’s technique, the silica content of the cement board, how many cuts are made, the
presence of other respirable silica dust generating activities in the area, and vacuum maintenance could affect
actual user exposures.
Average # of
Cores Drilled
24
N/A= Not available. The percent silica could not be quantified as the weight gain on the filter was too low.
Average Sample
Duration
60 minutes
% Silica
(Quartz) in
Sample
N/A
Respirable
Crystalline Silica
Concentration
(µg/m³)
3.13 µg/m³ TWA
OSHA PEL in
1926.1153
(µg/m³)
50 µg/m³

*A 2” Diamond Dry Core bit reflects the dust generating application used in this test, the table below suggest other bit
sizes, based on volume of dust, would also be compliant when using the Milwaukee M18™ FUEL™ 6 Gallon Wet/Dry
Vacuum.
Details on how to properly implement as a part of a complete exposure plan are outlined below*:
Maximum Number of Holes per Day**
*These calculations are offered for reference and are calculated values based on previously recorded test data and
represent a full workday of the tested application
** The user must drill the same number or fewer holes than those listed above for the given application in order to be
considered compliant with the objective data clause of 29 CFR 1926.1153 OSHA regulation on crystalline silica dust.
It is the responsibility of the user to operate the tool in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions. For the latest listings
of approvals, visit milwaukeetool.com. For technical or service assistance, contact Milwaukee Customer Service at 1-800729-3878.