SES operator dry ice blasting fire-damaged steelwork at an Auckland industrial site

Dry ice blasting - industrial cleaning with nothing left to sweep up

Dry ice pellets hit the surface at high speed, freeze the contaminant and lift it off as the CO₂ vanishes - no water, no sand, no chemicals, no secondary waste. SES uses it where other methods are too wet, too abrasive or too slow.

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Zero secondary waste
Non-abrasive, safe around electrics
Kills bacteria on contact

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Applications

What dry ice blasting is used for

Where water, grit or chemicals would damage the surface, stop production or create a second waste stream.

Fire and smoke damage
Removes soot and char from timber, steel and brick without water or abrasion.
Black mould on timber and framing
Extreme cold kills spores and cleans without wetting the structure.
Food and beverage plant
Sanitises production equipment in place - no chemicals, no wash-down.
Generators, switchgear and electrical plant
Non-conductive, dry cleaning of live-environment equipment.
Lead paint and coatings
Lifts coatings with minimal dust; pairs with our lead-paint removal.
Heritage and delicate surfaces
Cleans brick, stone and timber without etching.

How it works

How a dry ice job runs

Step 01
Test patch
We trial a small area to set pellet size and pressure for the surface.
Step 02
Prepare
Ventilation for CO₂, containment where the contaminant is hazardous (soot, lead, mould).
Step 03
Blast
Contaminant lifted and collected; surface left dry and ready for coating or use.
Step 04
Clear
Residue vacuumed, hazardous waste bagged, area handed back same day.

Dry ice blasting rig in use on industrial equipment

What dry ice blasting costs

Priced per day or half-day including operator, rig and dry ice, typically NZD [x,xxx] per day; small jobs quoted fixed.

Faster than manual methods on soot, mould and coatings, and no drying time or waste-water disposal.

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SES dry ice rig on site at a food processing plant

Why choose SES for dry ice blasting

What comes off the surface - soot, mould, lead - is usually hazardous. SES holds the licences to handle it, so dry ice is one step in the job rather than a separate contractor.

Certified operators - trained and experienced with the equipment, with the pressure set for the surface, not the schedule.
Licensed for the contaminant - fire residue, mould, lead and asbestos are hazardous; SES holds the licences to handle what comes off.
Fits inside a bigger job - fire restoration, mould remediation and strip-outs where dry ice is one step, not a separate contractor.

Talk to the specialist cleaning team

Dry ice blasting across Auckland and the North Island

Auckland-based crews, with regular work in Hamilton and the Waikato, Whangarei and Northland, Napier-Hastings and Wellington.

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Will it damage the surface?
No - dry ice is non-abrasive. We set pellet size and pressure per surface and test a patch first.
Is it safe to use indoors?
Yes with ventilation; CO₂ sublimates to gas so we monitor levels in enclosed spaces.
Is it safe on electrical equipment?
Yes - the process is dry and non-conductive, which is why it is used on generators and switchgear.
How does it compare with sandblasting or water-blasting?
No grit, no water, no drying time and no secondary waste; slower on heavy rust but far cleaner on soot, mould, grease and coatings.
Can you do a small job?
Yes - half-day minimum, or as part of a fire, mould or lead-paint job.