VAC-U-MAX receives ATEX Certification for CD Series, FL Series and SR Series industrial vacuum cleaning product ranges.
Industrial vacuum cleaning systems manufacturer, VAC-U-MAX has announced three of its compressed-air-powered (non-electrical) systems have successfully received ATEX Certification.
The machines, designed for use in explosion-hazard environments, were fully tested by Intertek, a Nationally Recognized Testing Lab (NRTL) as designated by OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration). ATEX Certification required a third-party review and full testing of VAC-U-MAX equipment which VAC-U-MAX says was a “key factor” is meeting the requirements for the OSHA Combustible Dust National Emphasis Program. Successful testing resulted in a “Type Examination Certificate” in accordance with the latest revision of the EN ISO 80079-36 and EN ISO 80079-37.
Kyle Goltsch, VAC-U-MAX Mechanical Designer for the ATEX Certification effort commented: "The submittal documentation such as the Ignition Hazards Analysis was a collective of our 65 years of experience in handling combustible dusts, resulting in a proof-of-design that passed the tests. It was gratifying that our standard products did not have to change to meet the latest ATEX standards - in the end, all we needed were a few new labels."
The three product ranges to receive ATEX approval were the CD Series for Combustible Dusts, FL Series for Flammable Liquids and SR Series for Submerged Recovery applications such as reactive metal powders from 3D printing and explosives used in ordnance production.
David Kennedy, Director of Business Development for VAC-U-MAX added: “VAC-U-MAX was founded in 1954 with the world’s first alternative-energy vacuum - one that operated on compressed air instead of electricity - for safe operation in the textile mill industry of New Jersey. The safe design of our equipment is part of our DNA. We did not need regulation to hold us to a higher standard. We opted for the full 3rd-party testing process for our industrial vacuums. We did not like the self-certifying option that is available in the ATEX standards, and some of our customers don’t like it either.”
