Choosing and comparing vacuum cleaners for professional use
The intensive use of vacuum cleaners by local authorities, cleaning companies, industries, tradespeople, and generally anyone seeking powerful, robust, and efficient equipment, necessitates choosing a suitable vacuum cleaner. For 45 years, Voussert has offered a wide range of professional vacuum cleaners from leading brands such as Nilfis, Numatic, and Taski.
Let's discover how to differentiate between the models, ranges and characteristics.
What do the classes correspond to?
There are two main types of vacuum cleaners: dry vacuums and wet/dry vacuums . In both cases, and to ensure safe professional and industrial use , it is essential to know the dust class level your application must meet, particularly for personal protection.
The classes are divided into Class L, Class M and Class H, detailed as follows:
Difference between class L/M and H
This classification is governed by the EN 60335-2-69 standard.
Class L - low risk: Vacuum cleaner model with exposure limit value > 1 mg/m3
Non-hazardous dust types such as soil, sand, plaster, paints...
Class M - moderate risk: Vacuum cleaner model with exposure limit value = 0.1 mg/m3 and < 1 mg/m3, wood dust. Hazardous dusts such as wood dust, concrete (quartz-based), flour...
Class H - High Risk: Dust with an exposure limit value < 0.1 mg/m³, carcinogenic dust, dust containing pathogens. Harmful dust, silica, lead, coal, tar, mold, bacteria, asbestos... H13 has the same requirements as H, often specifically for asbestos. In this type of range, it is essential to use vacuum cleaner bags specifically designed for the range.
Definition of a security vacuum cleaner
A so-called safety vacuum cleaner is classified according to the European standard EN 60335-2-69, which defines dust classes based on their exposure limit value (ELV). The occupational ELV represents, for a given substance, the maximum permissible concentration in the air of the workplace, where the worker is required to operate for an entire day; it is calculated relative to an eight-hour reference period, a time-weighted average.
The lower the TLV (Total Life Limit) of a dust, the more dangerous the dust.
Professional vacuum cleaner families
Vacuum cleaners for dry dust and HEPA filtration
A professional vacuum cleaner with HEPA filtration is designed for vacuuming fine dust and dry debris. These vacuum cleaners are often equipped with advanced filtration systems, such as HEPA filters, to capture even the finest particles. Indeed, since the Covid pandemic , the issue of airborne fine particles, and viruses in particular, has become a major hygiene concern, thus favoring vacuum cleaners equipped with H13-type HEPA filters.
This Hepa filtration issue has also impacted the ranges of electric hand dryers and more particularly the forced air hand dryers.
Vacuum cleaners for liquids - water and dust
These vacuum cleaners, which can be powered by single-phase or three-phase electricity, have a dual function : they can vacuum both dust (with appropriate accessories and vacuum bags) and liquids such as water. They are particularly suitable for washing, floor stripping, flooding, or simply when water or other liquids are spilled on the floor. However , special care must be taken when transitioning from wet to dry, especially when using the dust filter bag on some models , to avoid damaging the motor. In fact, wet/dry vacuum cleaners are often designed solely for liquids to prevent this type of problem. Therefore, it's best to use one vacuum cleaner for dust and another for liquids.
Vacuum cleaners for hazardous waste, class H asbestos
Designed for collecting toxic, hazardous, or explosive materials such as asbestos , these vacuums are equipped with special filters and containment systems to ensure the safety of the user and the environment. They are often used for asbestos removal and require appropriate asbestos protective equipment, such as a Category III disposable coverall, for the user.
Designed for use in potentially explosive environments such as firing ranges, explosives factories or armament-related industries, spark zones, and sometimes even in the bakery sector (flour), these vacuums are manufactured with non-sparking materials and have specific safety systems preventing any risk of deflagration in these sensitive areas.
Risks related to explosive dust St1, St2 and St3 in zone 22.
In any case, we advise you to prioritize models offering good ergonomics and ease of maintenance for intensive and professional use. You will find many professional vacuum cleaner models in our Voussert catalog, which will meet all your needs.
Special case of pneumatic vacuum cleaners
Powered by compressed air rather than mains electricity, these vacuum cleaners are ideal for areas where electricity is unavailable or poses a risk of explosion.
How do I choose the right power for my vacuum cleaner?
The power of a professional vacuum cleaner is measured according to three essential criteria:
Electrical power (in watts) : It generally varies between 1,800 and 2,400 watts, for an average useful power of 400 watts.
Airflow (in dm³/s) : This reflects the vacuum cleaner's ability to direct dust to its bin, thanks to the amount of air that circulates each second.
Vacuum (in kPa) : This corresponds to the suction speed and indicates the suction power of the device. The higher the vacuum, the more powerful the suction.
The ideal ratio between airflow and vacuum is around 40 dm³/s for 40 kPa. This ratio allows us to assess the overall suction efficiency of the vacuum cleaner.
What tank capacity should I choose?
The vacuum cleaner's tank capacity, expressed in liters, is a key factor in determining its operating time. It should be selected based on the area to be cleaned and the frequency of use:
For occasional use or in confined spaces, a 10 to 20 litre tank may be sufficient.
For intensive cleaning or large areas, opt for a 20-litre or larger tank to limit interruptions for emptying the reservoir.
You must also plan to use vacuum bags compatible with the volume of your tank and remember to empty it regularly, otherwise the suction pressure will collapse and your motor will overheat.
Which filtration system should I choose?
The quality of filtration plays a central role in the efficiency of suction and the purity of the air expelled by the vacuum cleaner. This factor became particularly important during the Covid pandemic in reducing the airborne spread of microparticles.
Several options are available to you:
Disposable vacuum cleaner bags : Practical and hygienic, but requiring frequent purchases of replacement bags. Some bags, like Numatic bags, are Hepaflo certified to limit emissions into the air.
Washable vacuum cleaner bags : More economical and ecological, but requiring regular maintenance. Taski has been offering washable fabric bags for its vacuum cleaners for several years.
HEPA filters : Essential for environments sensitive to allergies and fine dust, they ensure 99.97% filtration of 0.3 micron particles.
Which is the best-selling professional vacuum cleaner?
The best-selling model, and the benchmark for cleaning companies, is the Nupro from Numatic . Its robustness, combined with its simple design and efficiency, makes it the preferred vacuum cleaner for cleaning companies and tradespeople. The Nupro is also made from recycled plastic for its tank (ReFlo). Available with a wide range of accessories and filters to meet all needs. An unbeatable price for a product manufactured in the UK.