Portable Vacuum Cleaners for Division 2 - Zone 22 Hazardous Locations
At Tiger-Vac we are very attentive regarding new regulations for the certification of portable vacuum cleaners to recover combustible dust.
Our North American standards for hazardous locations are based on requirements pertaining to Division 1 and Division 2, Class II, Groups F and G combustible dusts.
Today the NEC (NFPA 70) has embraced the IEC International Standard for Zone 20, 21, 22 Dust. Does this mean that we should be burying our Division 1 and Division 2? Of course not. Since we are open to International Standardizations we will use the "Zone" system as referenced:
Division 1 = Zone 20, Zone 21
Division 2 = Zone 22
Please be aware of the following when referring to European Zone 22 Equipment – The equipment for ATEX Zone 22 are not certified as per our North American "NRTL" system. This certification is, none the less, a must.
In Europe these "Zone 22 Certified Equipment" are certified by the manufacturer itself and not by an "NRTL" certified laboratory like here in North America.
Since our Division System is different than the European Zone System we must be very vigilant when we compare vacuum cleaners to "recover" or "collect" combustible dust in Division 2 – Zone 22. The eligible portable vacuum cleaner in this case can be called EPL Dc, but these vacuum cleaners are not safe to recover large quantities of combustible dusts. Only EPL Da, Db vacuum cleaners can be used to safely recover large quantities of combustible dusts.Â
Recomendations can be found in NFPA 654. NFPA 654 states: "Where layers of combustible dusts are less than 1/32" (0.8 mm) thick on 5% of the floor surface up to 100 ft² (93 m²) is considered a threat of explosion. So as per NFPA if the thickness of the combustible dust is more than 1/32" (0.8 mm) then an EPL Da or Db vacuum cleaner is required."
We are pleased to feature our latest model ATEX-22E/BLSD-22. This unit is certified EPL Dc for Division 2 – Zone 22 hazardous locations. This vacuum cleaner provides all of the same internal protections as EPL Da, Db vacuum cleaners, except for the external Powerhead. All of the electrical components bare the EPL Dc certification for Division 2 – Zone 22.
This vacuum cleaner is ideal for the recovery of combustible dusts (with limitations), toxic & nuisance dusts and all designated substances (such as asbestos, silica, lead, etc.) within bakeries, firing ranges, etc. in or out of Division 2 – Zone 22 conditions.
Being certified for ISO 9001:2008, CSA, ATEX, IECEx and NRTL worldwide, we have not only met these requirements, we have exceeded them. We continuously strive to improve upon our existing products, as well as to design new systems to serve ever changing industries.
For more information on our product line please visit our website located at: www.tiger-vac.com or contact us at 1-800-668-4437.
Tiger-Vac is a proud member of:
HAZLOC PORTABLE VACUUM CLEANERS ORGANIZATION
