How to choose an Explosion Proof Vacuum Cleaner System

The recovery of combustible / flammable material inside or outside of an ATEX zone is a hazardous application. 

For safety reasons it is mandatory to use vacuum cleaners specifically designed to recover combustible / flammable material.

ATEX category 3 vacuum cleaners available on the market are not designed to recover safely combustible / flammable material.

To recover regularly significant quantities of combustible / flammable material verify that:

1.        The vacuum cleaner is at least certified ATEX category 2 by a Notified Body
2.        The instruction manual specifically mentions that the vacuum cleaner can be used to recover safely the combustible / flammable material you need to recover

When considering the acquisition of a vacuum cleaner systems you should base
your choice on:

• The zone for the working area
• The presence or not of conductive (metal) dusts in the working area
• The substances that the EX. proof vacuum cleaner will recover

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Tiger-Vac's Category 1 (1 G/D) EX. proof vacuum cleaner for ATEX zone 0 (gas) and zone 20 (dust):

Due to the very large quantity of flammable gases, vapors, mists or dusts present in zones 0 and 20 that submerge the unit, Tiger-Vac does not offer regularly category 1 EX. proof vacuum cleaners. Tiger-Vac might provide pneumatically (air) operated EX. proof vacuum cleaners for zones 0 and 20 for specific applications only.

Note: Electrically operated vacuum cleaners should never be used in zones 0 and 20.

Tiger-Vac's Category 2 (2 G/D) EX. proof vacuum cleaner for ATEX zone 1 (gas) and zone 21 (dust):

Designed to be used:

1. In zones

• Where the risk of explosion is likely to occur in normal operation occasionally or is not likely to occur but, if it does occur, will persist for a short period only.
• Where flammable gases, vapors, mists or dusts are visible or easily detectable in the working area and can airborne from other locations.
• Defined as zones 1 or 2 for gas and zones 21 or 22 for dust.

2. When the Ex. proof vacuum cleaner will be used to occasionally recover a visible or easily detectable quantity of flammable gases, vapors, mists or dusts conductive or not. With the exception of Tiger-Vac's category 2 Pneumatically (air) operated AVSD vacuum cleaners models that cannot recover flammable gases, vapors, mists or dusts neither in zone 1 for gas nor in zone 21 for dust.

Tiger-Vac's electrically operated category 3 (3 G/D) Ex. proof vacuum cleaner for ATEX zone 2 (gas) and zone 22 (dust):

Designed to be used

1. in zones:

• Where the risk of explosion is not likely to occur but, if it does occur, will persist for a short period only.
• Where conductive (metal) dusts will never be present.
• When flammable gases, vapors, mists or dusts are not visible or not easily detectable in the working area and can airborne from other locations.
• Defined as zones 2 for gas and zone 22 for dust.

2. When the EX. proof vacuum cleaner will recover rarely an insignificant, not visible and not easily detectable quantity of flammable gases, vapors, mists or non conductive dusts.

Table for Gas zones:

* Category 1G electrically operated vacuum cleaners are not available.
* Category 1G pneumatically (air) operated vacuum cleaners are available for specific applications only.
** With the exception of Tiger-Vac's category 2 pneumatically (air) operated AVSD vacuum cleaners models that cannot recover flammable gases, vapors, or mists in zone 1.

Table for Dust zones:

* Category 1D electrically operated vacuum cleaners are not available.
* Category 1D pneumatically (air) operated vacuum cleaners are available for specific applications only.
** With the exception of Tiger-Vac's category 2 pneumatically (air) operated AVSD vacuum cleaners series that cannot recover flammable dusts in zone 21.