Industrial Vacuum Cleaner Bags and Attachments
An industrial vacuum is a powerful piece of equipment that can help keep facilities running smoothly. They use alternating current power to drive high-pressure fans to generate negative pressure that sucks in waste debris.
Choosing the right industrial vacuum depends on the types of materials and environments involved in each job. Understanding the size of particles and whether they are flammable or combustible will guide your decision.
Negative pressure
Industrial vacuum cleaners work using alternating current to create negative pressure within the collection pipe. This draws in air and particulate matter that passes through a series of filters before being deposited into a bag or collection space. The amount of negative pressure created varies depending on the size of the collection pipe and blower power.
To understand how an industrial vacuum works, it’s helpful to have a basic understanding of pressure and vacuum terms. Most mechanical pressure gauges are calibrated at atmospheric (or barometric) pressure which is 30 inches of mercury or 14.7 pounds per square inch (psi).
This type of pressure varies with location and weather conditions but is typically the same everywhere on Earth. Vacuum pressure refers to any pressure that is less than atmospheric or barometric pressure and can be positive or negative. It can also be measured as absolute or gauge pressure.
A negative pressure environment can help limit cross-contamination and volatile working conditions, especially when dealing with combustible materials. It can also be used to isolate contaminated areas so that the contaminants don’t spread to production materials or batch processes. This is why many facilities choose to use industrial vacuums in their cleaning applications. Many of these systems are designed to handle a wide variety of particles and materials including flammable, non-flammable and hazardous materials.
Bags
Bags for vacuum sealing machines protect food and other sensitive products from oxidation and air diffusion. They are made from a high-quality barrier film that is impermeable to oxygen and moisture. They are also strong enough to prevent mechanical damages from occurring. There are several different types of bags available for various purposes, including food vacuum sealer bags and vapor barriers. Food vacuum bags are a great choice for packaging deli meats, baked goods, beef jerky, and other foods. These bags are FDA-approved and are made from poly-nylon woven materials. They can be used for edible and non-edible items, and they are available in three and four mil thicknesses.
Vacuum sealing bags can be customized with printed industrial vacuum ingredients and labels, a feature that is especially important in the case of food vacuum sealer bags. Adding a custom label helps customers identify the contents of their packages, making it easier for them to find what they’re looking for when they open them. These bags are also useful for storing paper supplies, since they prevent moisture penetration.
To use a vacuum sealing bag, first fill it with your items and close the zipper. Then press the hose of your vacuum cleaner firmly against the valve opening on the bag. It will take only a few seconds to a minute for the machine to suck out all of the air and compress your items into a smaller volume. This will save storage space and help you conserve energy by reducing your power consumption.
Attachments
Industrial vacuum cleaners are not your standard household type of vacuum and there is a wide range of attachments available to make the machine more useful. These accessories are designed to help you get more from your equipment and save time and money on your floor maintenance.
A common feature of many industrial vacuum cleaners is their ability to collect liquids. This makes them a great choice for cleaning hazardous waste sites such as shipyards, rail yards, and mining operations. Some models have a special hose that is attached to the canister and used for collecting liquids. This helps keep the machine clean and prevents the liquid from leaking back into the air during collection.
Another type of industrial vacuum accessory is the high vacuum unit, which collects large quantities of heavy dust and granular materials that are dispersed during production. It is particularly helpful in cement plants, steel mills, and mining applications. This kind of industrial vacuum doesn’t use cleaning bags and requires a dedicated power system to operate.
The pharmaceutical industry relies on industrial vacuums to remove chemicals and powders from the manufacturing process and assist in product packaging and transfer. They are also useful for cleanup and maintenance in confined spaces and hazardous conditions, such as chemical spills. In addition to a standard industrial vacuum, these facilities often require HEPA filters to comply with strict efficiency standards.
Combustible dust
Many materials that burn easily in solid form can explode in dust form. These materials include sugar, flour and grain, timber, wood fibres, coal, metals (including aluminum and iron), pesticides and dyes, rubber, plastic, paper and textiles. Any activity that creates dust is potentially combustible and every workplace needs to be aware of this potential hazard.
Combustible dust fires and explosions are deadly, causing employee deaths and destruction of buildings and equipment. Fortunately, such incidents are preventable with regular industrial vacuum cleaning routines that ensure all dust is collected and stored correctly. In addition, the correct equipment should be used to remove combustible dust from hard-to-reach surfaces like rafters, roofs, suspended ceilings and ducts.
The key to preventing industrial vacuum combustible dust fires and explosions is understanding the characteristics of your materials, including ignition sensitivity and explosion severity. Laboratory testing is necessary to determine these factors so that proper risk assessments can be made and good housekeeping practices are followed.
SpaceVac offers a range of high reach ATEX industrial vacuums that can safely be used for combustible and explosive material collection and removal in hazardous areas. For more information about our products and how they can benefit your facility, please contact us.
