When it comes to maintaining hygiene and safety within the food and pharmaceutical sectors, Teknomek’s range of Delfin ATEX vacuum cleaners offer the perfect solution for cleaning combustible materials. These vacuum cleaners are designed to meet the most stringent of hygiene standards by combining advanced technology with a robust construction to ensure a clean, safe and compliant environment. In this blog, we will explore when ATEX vacuum cleaners are essential, how they mitigate the risk of explosion and what the ATEX zone certifications found on our website mean.
Why use ATEX vacuum cleaners?
ATEX vacuum cleaners are indispensable for food and pharmaceutical environments that handle fine powders (such as flour or pharmaceutical ingredients) as these materials can form explosive atmospheres when mixed with air. The ATEX-certification ensures that the risk of ignition and explosion in these scenarios is mitigated to protect facilities and their staff.
How do they work?
These ATEX vacuum cleaners are constructed from anti-static materials and spark-resistant components to prevent ignition while advanced filtration systems ensure that only clean air is expelled back into the environment. Both of our ATEX models feature an M-class antistatic polyester filter inside the filtration chamber which provides high resistance against clogging and the passage of fine dust. This is further aided by the vacuum gauge that provides quick insights into filter health, alerting users to possible clogging and indicating when the filter needs to be cleaned. We recommended that the filter is cleaned after each use and replaced regularly for best performance.
What do the zones mean?
Zone 20 (dusts) / Category 1D: an area where an explosive mixture is continuously present or is present for long periods of time.
Zone 21 (dusts) / Category 2D: an area where an explosive mixture is likely to occur during normal operations.
Zone 22 (dusts) / Category 3D: an area where an explosive mixture is not likely to occur in normal operation and, if it occurs, it will exist only for a short amount of time.
Our Delfin ATEX vacuum cleaners are designed for Zones 20 (internal) and 22 (external), making them ideal for handling combustible dust in food and pharmaceutical facilities.
What are the most common combustible materials in my sector?
We’ve prepared a list of the most common combustible materials and divided them by industry below:
Food Processing:
Combustible materials in the food industry are primarily fine organic powders and residues that can ignite when dispersed in the air.
Grains and grain dust: Wheat, corn, rice, and barley.
Sugars: Powdered sugar, granulated sugar.
Flour and starches: Wheat flour, corn starch, potato starch.
Cocoa and coffee dust: Cocoa powder, coffee grounds.
Spices: Ground spices like paprika, turmeric, chili powder.
Dried milk powders: Non-fat dry milk, whey powder.
Seeds and nuts: Powder from seeds (flax, chia) or nuts (almonds, peanuts).
Animal feed and dust: From feed mills or processing facilities.
Pharmaceutical environments:
In the pharmaceutical industry, combustible materials are often fine powders used in the formulation of drugs or production processes.
Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs): Fine powders of APIs used in tablet and capsule manufacturing.
Lactose, cellulose and starch-based fillers
Chemical powders: Powders used in chemical synthesis or intermediate production.
Dust residue: Created during tablet coating or grinding processes.
Packaging materials: Combustible paper or plastic dust from packaging lines.
Cleaning residues: Powders or particles from cleaning processes.
Construction:
In construction, combustible materials typically involve fine dust from raw materials and the resultant by-products of construction processes.
Wood dust: Sawdust and fine wood particles from cutting or sanding.
Concrete dust: Fine particles from grinding, cutting, or drilling concrete.
Gypsum dust: From drywall or plasterboard processing.
Metal dust: Aluminium, steel, and other metal powders generated during fabrication.
Paint and coating residues: Powdered residues from spray painting or sanding.
Silica dust: From cutting, grinding, or drilling stone and masonry materials.
Asphalt dust: From processing or handling bitumen and asphalt products.
Construction adhesives and resins: Residues from adhesives and resin-based products.
Keeping you audit ready
Our Delfin ATEX vacuum cleaners are built with hygiene and safety in mind, making them a reliable choice for industries where cleanliness and compliance are critical. By investing in our vacuum cleaners, customers can protect their workforce, safeguard their facilities and maintain the highest standards of quality, hygiene and safety.
Ready to learn more? Speak to the Teknomek sales team today to find the correct vacuum cleaner for your needs by calling 01603 788 833 or feel free to email us at mail@teknomek.co.uk.
