Raising Safety and Efficiency: The Move to ATEX-Certified Vacuum Systems

In industries where hazardous dust, fine particulates, or potentially explosive environments are present, safety and compliance are paramount. Recently, a major UK industrial distributor made a significant investment by acquiring four Morclean ATEX‑certified industrial vacuum cleaners from Morclean’s 2022 range. This shift signals not only a commitment to operational excellence, but also a strategic alignment with the most rigorous safety standards.

Why ATEX Vacuum Cleaners Matter

Morclean’s ATEX vacuum cleaners are purpose-built for hazardous environments where combustible dusts or gases may be present. They adhere to the ATEX directives and are engineered to operate safely in defined zones (e.g., Gas Zone 1/2, Dust Zone 21/22) without becoming ignition sources. 

Key features of these units include:

• Triple-stage filtration systems (bag + conductive fabric filter + HEPA or equivalent) to trap ultrafine particles and ensure safe exhaust quality. 

• Anti-static and earth-bonded components (conductive hoses, fittings, and grounded metalwork) that prevent electrostatic discharge. 

• Certified testing and documentation, where each unit is individually tested for filtration efficiency, earth continuity, and compliance. 

• Versatile models for both dry and wet/dry operation, which allow adaptation to different cleaning tasks (dust, debris, non-flammable liquids) depending on the model variant. 

• In the Type H / H‑Type models, features like soft start, tilt or lift-off containers, and automatic on/off functionality (linked to tool use) are often included to improve safety and usability. 

By adopting four of these units, the distributor has dramatically reinforced its internal safety infrastructure and cleaning capacity.

Strategic Benefits of the Deployment

1. Enhanced Compliance and Risk Mitigation

Operating in environments where combustible dust or vapours exist carries legal, health, and reputational risks. Using ATEX‑certified vacuums ensures the company is better placed to comply with UK and EU safety legislation, reduce insurance exposure, and protect personnel from explosive hazards or dust inhalation.

2. Operational Resilience & Redundancy

Having multiple units (four in this case) enables redundancy. If one system is under maintenance, others can continue functioning without halting critical cleaning or extraction operations. It also allows distribution of workload across units, extending lifespans and reducing stress on individual machines.

3. Tailored Cleaning Across Zones

Industrial and processing sites often include multiple zones with differing hazards (e.g. dust generation in processing halls, maintenance workshops, or packaging zones). Equipping multiple ATEX vacuums allows the company to deploy the right machine in the right zone—keeping the safety envelope intact while maximizing throughput.

4. Lower Maintenance Downtime

Because these vacuums are engineered with safety in mind, maintenance intervals, filter changes, inspections, and fault diagnostics can be more predictable. The documented test certificates included with each unit further assist safety audits and regulatory inspections.

5. Strengthened Market and Client Confidence

For a distributor supplying maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) components and solutions, demonstrating that internal operations are built to exacting industrial safety standards enhances credibility. Clients in sectors like food & beverage, petrochemical, pharmaceuticals, or heavy industry will notice the alignment of internal practices with the solutions being sold.

Considerations & Best Practices for Integration

To maximize return and safety, some practical steps and caveats should be addressed:

• Site electrical and infrastructure readiness: Ensure the power supply, earth grounding, compressed air (if applicable), and workshop layouts are compatible with the vacuums’ requirements.

• Training and operational procedures: Operators must understand safe zone transitions, hose changes, filter replacement, static control, and how to interpret alarms or fault indications.

• Routine inspection and documentation: Because these systems operate in hazardous areas, regular inspections of earth continuity, filter integrity, hose condition, and certification checks are essential.

• Mapping application zones: Plan which units will serve which zones (e.g. one per production cell, one as spare, one for maintenance). This helps avoid cross-contamination and ensures you don’t bring a dust-laden vacuum into a cleaner zone unintentionally.

• Monitoring usage and performance: Keep track of metrics like hours of operation, particulate load, suction performance, filter
  differential pressure, downtime, and maintenance hours. These will help justify the investment over time.

Positioning for the Future

This acquisition of four ATEX-rated vacuum systems is more than just capital expenditure—it’s a strategic upgrade. It signals:

• A long-term commitment to site safety and compliance

• The ability to scale or reassign units as operational needs shift

• A demonstration to clients and partners that the company “walks the talk” in industrial best practices

Please contact the Morclean team on 01246 471147 or email info@morclean.com for more information.