VHS110 Atex Zone 22 Vacuum Cleaner Type 22 - Nilfisk

What is an Atex Vacuum?

An Atex rated vacuum cleaner such as the 791 is specially designed for use in areas where dust is present that under the right circumstances can ignite by a spark. A normal vacuum cleaner has many potential sources of ignition within it that make it unsuitable for Zone 22 areas, these sources of ignition can include the motors, static discharge from accessories and static discharge from the drum. Atex rated vacuum cleaners are built specifically with earthed drums, conductive accessories and castor wheels that all work together to dissipate any static charge before it can build to become an ignition source. The motors within the machine are a brushless long life EC type, meaning another source of ignition has been removed. 

Do I need an Atex Vacuum?

It is always important to ensure that you are using the right vacuum cleaner for the job at hand, we would always suggest having a full risk assessment done on any areas where an Atex or hazardous dust is or may be present. When conducted correctly a full risk assessment will tell you what type of vacuum is needed, and also if any other precautions need to be taken whilst dealing with the disposal of the dust.

Some examples of potentially explosive dust can include:

• Flour,
• Cardboard Dust,
• Paint Dust,
• Wood dust

The above list is just an example and should always be confirmed by a risk assessment. For further information on ATEX rated dust and explosive atmospheres check out this great resource.