There are some updates coming to the regulations around ATEX vacuums that will come into effect from 1st January 2025, in this blog we tell you all you need to know about the changes.
What is ATEX?
ATEX stands for “atmosphères explosives” and refers to the directives of the European Union that regulate the production and certification of equipment for areas where there is a risk of explosion.
ATEX environments are a result of the presence of combustible gas or dust and are categorised into zones depending on the likelihood of a risk of explosion.
The New ATEX Standard EN17348:2022
The European standard UNI EN 17348:2022 has been brought into line with the ATEX directive since March 2023 and in August it was harmonised with the machinery directive. The new standard specifies the requirements for design, construction, testing and marking of hand-held, portable, and transportable vacuum cleaners and vacuum systems, including their accessories, intended for the collection of combustible or non-combustible dusts and flammable or non-flammable liquids in potentially explosive environments.
New concept of filtration barriers related to the internal marking category for zone 20
Filtration Level 1: Main Filter – 95% Efficiency Minimum Requirement. A main filter shall be placed inside the collection tank to prevent the majority of collected substances from coming into contact with the power system. The dust filtration efficiency of the main filter shall allow at minimum the installation of Category 2D vacuum powerhead or equipment downstream of the main filter. Huuvan ATEX vacuums guarantee antistatic M-Class filters with 99.9% efficiency as standard.
Filtration Level 2: High-Efficiency Particle Air Filter Upstream – 99.95% Efficiency HEPA Minimum Requirement. The second level of filtration is implemented as a backup protection in case the main filter were damaged. To install a Category 3D power system or components inside the vacuum cleaner where the working air passes through, a high efficiency particle air filter shall be placed after the main filter as a second level of filtration. Huuvan ATEX vacuums guarantee HEPA filters with 99.995% efficiency as standard.
Categorisation of ATEX vacuums according to their intended use
The European standard UNI EN 17348:2022 has classified ATEX vacuum cleaners based on types and applicable requirements. It has defined three different types of collection systems, based on the table below which classifies the specific materials the vacuums are designed to collect. Vacuums need to be selected depending on the application, the features of the flammable substances and the potential external conditions.
Huuvan vacuum cleaner systems are designed for the collection of dry dust of all types, combustible or non-combustible, in any mix except where self-heating dust and/or chemical aggressive substances result from the mixing. Huuvan vacuums achieve filtration level 1 with an efficiency of 99.9% and filtration level 2 of 99.995%.
Huuvan wet type dust collectors are designed to efficiently precipitate and neutralize the collected combustible dust, including hot particles, or self-heating dust which otherwise can act as a source of ignition inside the collection tank. Huuvan vacuums were tested according the new standard to grant less than 5 % dust weight collected in the + HEPA filter.
Huuvan solutions for the collection in ATEX zones of non-flammable liquids. A mechanical system applies the suction cutoff system when the tank is full. This vacuum offers dual collection options for either dry debris or liquids depending on the filtration kit used.
The new ACD sticker – for combustible dust in non-ATEX environments
The ACD safety label was introduced with the new international product standard IEC 60335-2-69 for vacuum cleaner systems, published in 2021. This classification is aimed at increasing the safety level in non-ATEX areas, i.e. ordinary locations where however there is a need to collect combustible dust. In many applications working areas are safe unclassified even if dust is present in the process of production. This is possible because dust is well contained in the production machines and the areas are always cleaned. These areas are considered ordinary locations and equipment is not required to be ATEX certified. Vacuum cleaner systems are just for this reason, preventing dust dispersion, collecting directly from inside of other machinery, at the points of dust emission, of during maintenance.
More than applying the ACD label, Dupuy has certified ATEX the internal part of its solutions as Category 1/- through a third-party certification body to grant full conformity of products to ATEX regulation
These Dust collectors are designed and certified as Zone 20 internally compliant, granting higher safety requirements than an ordinary vacuum, even when Atex is not mandatory. They are designed and certified not to generate ignition sources, and to collect and contain safely combustible dust, thus guaranteeing both the workplace’s and the worker’s safety.
Want to discuss this with one of our in-house experts? Give us a call on 01789 415 695 or drop us an email at info@c-ind.co.uk .
