E-mail Print PDF

How to choose an Explosion Proof Vacuum Cleaner System

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

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:

 

Tiger-Vac's responsibility Customer's responsibility

 
Ex. proof vacuum cleanerCategory for gas Suitable for ATEX gas zone Application Potentially
Explosive
atmosphere
(Dir. 94/9/EC)		 Vacuum cleaner's
CERTIFICATION
1 G *
Stationary
vacuum cleaners		 Zone 0
Zone 1
Zone 2		 To recover
mainly flammable gases,
vapors or mists.		 Continuously or long periods of time or frequently Notified bodies
2 G
Portable
vacuum cleaners		 Zone 1
Zone 2		 To recover occasionally
a visible or easily detectable quantity of flammable gases, vapors, or mists.**		 Likely to occur Notified bodies
3 G Zone 2 To recover rarely an insignificant, not visible and not easily detectable quantity of flammable gases, vapors, or mists. Infrequently
short-period of time		 Manufacturer or notified bodies

* 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:

Tiger-Vac's responsibility Customer's responsibility
Ex. proof
vacuum cleaner
Category for dust		 Suitable for ATEX dust zone Application Potentially
Explosive
atmosphere
(Dir. 94/9/EC)		 Vacuum
cleaner's
CERTIFICATION
1 D *
Stationary
vacuum cleaners		 Zone 20
Zone 21
Zone 22		 To recover mainly
flammable dust,
conductive or not		 Continuously or long periods of time or frequently Notified bodies
2 D
Portable vacuum cleaners		 Zone 21
Zone 22		 To occasionally recover
a visible or easily detectable quantity of flammable dust, conductive or not **		 Likely to
occur		 Notified bodies
3 D Zone 22 To recover rarely
an insignificant, not visible
and not easily detectable
quantity of non conductive flammable dust.		 Infrequently short-period of time Manufacturer or notified bodies


* 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.

How to choose an Explosion Proof Vacuum Cleaner System

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

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.

(top)

 

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.

(top)

 

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.

(top)

 

Table for Gas zones:

Tiger-Vac's responsibility Customer's responsibility

 
Ex. proof vacuum cleanerCategory for gas Suitable for ATEX gas zone Application Potentially
Explosive
atmosphere
(Dir. 94/9/EC)		 Vacuum cleaner's
CERTIFICATION
1 G *
Stationary
vacuum cleaners		 Zone 0
Zone 1
Zone 2		 To recover
mainly flammable gases,
vapors or mists.		 Continuously or long periods of time or frequently Notified bodies
2 G
Portable
vacuum cleaners		 Zone 1
Zone 2		 To recover occasionally
a visible or easily detectable quantity of flammable gases, vapors, or mists.**		 Likely to occur Notified bodies
3 G Zone 2 To recover rarely an insignificant, not visible and not easily detectable quantity of flammable gases, vapors, or mists. Infrequently
short-period of time		 Manufacturer or notified bodies

* 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.

(top)

 

Table for Dust zones:

Tiger-Vac's responsibility Customer's responsibility
Ex. proof
vacuum cleaner
Category for dust		 Suitable for ATEX dust zone Application Potentially
Explosive
atmosphere
(Dir. 94/9/EC)		 Vacuum
cleaner's
CERTIFICATION
1 D *
Stationary
vacuum cleaners		 Zone 20
Zone 21
Zone 22		 To recover mainly
flammable dust,
conductive or not		 Continuously or long periods of time or frequently Notified bodies
2 D
Portable vacuum cleaners		 Zone 21
Zone 22		 To occasionally recover
a visible or easily detectable quantity of flammable dust, conductive or not **		 Likely to
occur		 Notified bodies
3 D Zone 22 To recover rarely
an insignificant, not visible
and not easily detectable
quantity of non conductive flammable dust.		 Infrequently short-period of time Manufacturer or notified bodies


* 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.

 

With forty years of experience, Tiger-Vac has successfully established itself in the international market as a manufacturer of high-quality industrial, explosion proof, cleanroom and ATEX, IECEx, NFPA-NEC compliant vacuum cleaner systems for contamination controlled environments & hazardous locations.

ex-mat-logo