Choosing and comparing vacuum cleaners for professional use
The intensive use of these products by communities, cleaning companies, industries, tradespeople, and generally anyone looking for powerful, robust, and efficient equipment requires a suitable vacuum cleaner. Voussert has been offering a wide range of professional vacuum cleaners from major brands such as Nilfis, Numatic, and Taski for 45 years.
Let's find out how to differentiate between models, ranges and features.
What do the classes correspond to?
There are two main types of vacuum cleaner models: dust vacuum cleaners and wet and dry vacuum cleaners . In both cases, and in order to ensure safe professional and industrial use of your vacuum cleaner, it is essential to know which dust class level your use must comply with, particularly for the protection of people.
The classes are divided into Class L, Class M and Class H detailed as follows:
Difference between L/M and H class
This classification is governed by standard EN 60335-2-69
Class L - low risk: Dust vacuum cleaner model with exposure limit value > 1 mg/m3
Non-hazardous dust type such as earth, sand, coating, plaster, paints, etc.
Class M - moderate risk: Dust 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 laden with pathogens. Harmful dust, silica, lead, coal, tar, mold, bacteria, asbestos. H13 same requirement as H often dedicated to asbestos. In this type of range it is imperative to have vacuum cleaner bags adapted to the range.
Definition of a safety vacuum cleaner
A so-called safety vacuum cleaner is classified according to the European standard EN 60335-2-69 which defines dust classes according to 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 work for a whole day; it is calculated in relation to a reference period of eight hours, time-weighted average.
The lower the ELV of a dust, the more dangerous the dust is.
Professional vacuum cleaner families
Vacuum cleaners for dry dust and HEPA filtration
The professional vacuum cleaner with Hepa filtration is designed for vacuuming fine dust and dry debris. The vacuum cleaner is often equipped with advanced filtration systems, such as HEPA filters, to capture the finest particles. Indeed, since the Covid pandemic , the notion of fine suspended particles and in particular viruses have become a major issue in hygiene, thus favoring vacuum cleaners equipped with Hepa type H13 filters.
This Hepa filtration issue has also impacted the ranges of electric hand dryers and more particularly the pulsed 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 because they can vacuum both dust with suitable accessories and vacuum bag and liquids such as water. They are particularly suitable for washing operations, floor stripping, flooding or simply when water or liquids are spilled on the floor. However, special care must be taken when switching from water to dust by adding the dust filter bag on certain models so as not to damage the motor. In fact, generally a wet and dry vacuum cleaner is often only dedicated to liquids to avoid this kind of inconvenience. It is therefore best to use a vacuum cleaner for dust and a vacuum cleaner for liquids...
Vacuum cleaners for hazardous waste type class H asbestos
Designed for the collection of toxic, hazardous or explosive materials such as asbestos , these vacuum cleaners are equipped with special filters and containment systems to ensure the safety of the user and the environment. They are often intended for the removal of asbestos from premises and require an asbestos kit or category III disposable suit suitable for the user.
Designed for use in environments at risk of explosion such as shooting ranges, explosives factories or arms-related industries, spark zones, and sometimes even in the bakery sector (flour), these vacuum cleaners are made with non-sparking materials and have specific safety systems to prevent any risk of deflagration in these sensitive areas.
Risks linked to explosive dusts St1, St2 and St3 in zone 22.
Regardless, we recommend choosing models that offer good ergonomics and ease of maintenance for intensive and professional use. You'll find a wide range of professional vacuum cleaner models in our Voussert catalog, sure to meet all your needs.
Special case of pneumatic vacuum cleaners
Operating on compressed air rather than mains power, 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.
Air flow (in dm³/s) : This reflects the vacuum cleaner's ability to direct dust into its container, thanks to the quantity of air circulating each second.
Vacuum (in kPa) : This corresponds to the suction speed and allows you to know the suction capacity of the device. The higher the vacuum, the more powerful the suction will be.
The ideal ratio between airflow and vacuum is around 40 dm³/s for 40 kPa. This ratio allows the overall suction efficiency of the vacuum cleaner to be assessed.
What tank capacity should I choose?
The capacity of the vacuum cleaner tank, expressed in liters, is a determining factor in the vacuum cleaner's autonomy. It must be selected according to the surface 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, choose a tank of 20 liters or more, to limit interruptions to empty the tank.
You must also use vacuum bags that are 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?
Filtration quality plays a central role in the efficiency of suction and the purity of the air emitted by the vacuum cleaner. This element has taken on a significant role during the Covid pandemic as part of reducing the airborne spread of microparticles.
There are several options available to you:
Disposable vacuum bags : Practical and hygienic, but require regular purchases of replacement bags. Some bags, such as Numatic bags, are Hepaflo-coated to limit airborne emissions.
Washable vacuum bags : More economical and environmentally friendly, 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.
What is the best-selling professional dust vacuum cleaner?
The best-selling model and the benchmark for cleaning companies is the Nupro from Numatic . Its robustness, combined with its simplicity of design and its efficiency make it the favorite vacuum cleaner for cleaning companies or craftsmen. The Nupro is also made from recycled plastic for its tank (ReFlo). Available with a number of different accessories and filters to meet all uses. An unbeatable price for a product made in the United Kingdom.
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