1. High-risk industries for explosion hazards
Industries with a high risk of dust explosion include:
-
Cement production
-
Animal feed production
-
Flour and cereal processing
-
Wood and furniture manufacturing
-
Paint production
-
Chemical and solvent industries
-
Instant coffee production
-
Veterinary pharmaceuticals
-
Paper production
-
Sugar production
These industries belong to Group II (medium explosion risk level).
Today, most industrial plants are equipped with advanced monitoring systems to detect gas and dust leaks that may lead to explosions. These systems help minimize serious incidents.
However, due to the continuous production process, dust generation cannot be completely eliminated. In industries such as cement, flour, animal feed, coffee powder, and wood processing, dust is typically:
-
Fine and lightweight
-
Airborne and adhesive
-
Difficult to detect with the naked eye
Over time, dust accumulates in hidden areas such as:
-
Machinery gaps
-
Storage tanks
-
Pipelines
-
Ceilings
This creates a highly hazardous environment when three elements are present:
👉 Dust – Oxygen – Ignition Source (Spark)
A practical example:
A solid aluminum block does not burn,
A thin aluminum wire may burn,
Aluminum powder burns easily,
But an aluminum dust cloud + spark can cause an explosion
Therefore, to eliminate these risks, factories must use explosion-proof industrial vacuum cleaners to continuously remove dust at the source.
2. How to choose the right explosion-proof vacuum cleaner
Continuous dust removal reduces airborne particles down to sizes as small as 0.5 µm, 0.3 µm, or even 0.1 µm, depending on requirements.
When selecting an ATEX vacuum cleaner, at least 6 key criteria must be considered:
(1) Spark-free motor
-
Use EC Drive (brushless motor)
-
Prevent ignition risks
(2) No secondary dust emission
-
Ensure sealed system design
-
Prevent dust leakage
(3) Multi-stage filtration system
-
Includes primary and exhaust filters
-
Filtration efficiency must reach:
-
99.995% @ 0.3–0.5 µm
-
99.997% @ 0.1 µm
(4) Anti-static accessories
-
Conductive or anti-static kit required
-
Surface resistance: < 10⁸ – 10¹⁰ Ω
(5) Automatic filter cleaning system
-
Technologies such as:
-
Push&Clean
-
ExtremeClean
-
InfiniClean
-
Maintain long-term filtration performance
(6) Minimum filter class (M-class)
-
For dust with OEL > 0.1 mg/m³
-
Maximum penetration: 0.1%
Regular industrial cleaning with specialized vacuum systems helps factories transition from basic dust control to strict contamination control.
3. Recommended Nilfisk explosion-proof vacuum models
Nilfisk is a global pioneer in industrial cleaning equipment, offering a wide range of ATEX-certified vacuum solutions:
Zone 22 – Single phase
-
Nilfisk IVB 7 M-B1 Z22
-
Nilfisk IVB 995 Atex Z22
-
Nilfisk VHS110 Atex Z22
Zone 22 – Three phase
-
Nilfisk T22 Plus Atex Z22
-
Nilfisk T40 Plus Atex Z22
-
Nilfisk CTS22 / CTS40 Atex
-
Nilfisk CTT22 / CTT40 Atex
Zone 22 – Pneumatic (compressed air)
-
Nilfisk VHC110 Z22
-
Nilfisk VHC120 Z22
-
Nilfisk VHC200 Z22
Zone 21 – Three phase
-
Nilfisk CTT40 IECEx Z1
-
Nilfisk T40 Plus Ztex Z21
-
Nilfisk T40W Plus Ztex Z21
Conclusion
Proper risk assessment and equipment selection are critical in preventing dust explosions in industrial environments. By choosing the right ATEX-certified vacuum cleaner, businesses can:
-
Reduce explosion risks
-
Improve workplace safety
-
Ensure compliance with international safety standards