Henry Cecil Booth registered the British Vacuum Cleaner Company in 1903 to exploit his patented innovation, the first mechanically-powered vacuum cleaner. Nearly 120 years later the BVC range of industrial vacuum cleaners, now manufactured by Quirepace Ltd, continues to deliver innovative and robust vacuum cleaning solutions to Industry.
BVC equipment is manufactured to meet the specific requirements of our customers; machines can be configured with many different options to meet specific demands. One of the most important sectors of the market is for ATEX rated machines capable of operating in hazardous environments.
The hazards of combustible dusts and fumes within the industrial workplace are well known. Companies whose core business involves creating large quantities of flammable dusts, such as wood processing and flour mills are well aware of the risks, and take appropriate precautions. However, in Quirepace’s experience there are many environments where hazardous dusts are not necessarily found in day to day operations, but where appropriate precautions must still be taken.
Most of the BVC ATEX rated product range is designed to operate in dust zone 22. The HSE describes zone 22 as “A place in which an explosive atmosphere in the form of a cloud of combustible dust in air is not likely to occur in normal operation but, if it does occur, will persist for a short period only”. Such an environment is very common in many workplaces, and an appropriate risk assessment should conclude that even if the risk is very low, if there is any perceivable risk, ATEX rated vacuum cleaners should be used when cleaning.
Quirepace manufacture a full range of ATEX rated Industrial Vacuum Cleaners from 1kW to large 3 phase 15kW units. The BVC range is manufactured in the UK in our own factory. BVC machines retain the traditional qualities of robust British Engineering. This means that you will find very little plastic on BVC equipment. We manufacture predominantly from castings, robust metal sections and metal pressings from our own press-shop; our equipment is built to last, and we offer a 5 year parts guarantee to end-user customers.
Our Zone 22 ATEX rated machines incorporate ATEX rated control panels and motor starters, ATEX rated motors, stainless steel (non-sparking) inlets, antistatic filters and tools and conductive hoses. In addition, some of the units in our ATEX range can also be certified as “Type H”, which means that they are not only suitable for operation in a potentially hazardous environment; they are also suitable for use where the dust itself is hazardous. For example our Type H ATEX Zone 22 Industrial Vacuum Cleaners are approved by the MOD for use on indoor firing ranges where the potential hazards are both propellant residue and lead dust.
It is important to make the distinction between Industrial Vacuum Cleaners suitable for use within an ATEX rated environment, and vacuum cleaners capable of handling hazardous products. The hazards associated with the product itself must be individually risk assessed by the operator. For example, some products, such as some finely powdered metals cannot be cleaned by vacuum cleaner at all because their Minimum Ignition Energy is too low. It must always be appreciated that the ATEX rating refers to the environment in which the equipment operates and not the environment inside the machine itself when product is recovered by vacuum cleaning.
For both ATEX and non-ATEX rated environments there will be a suitable Industrial Vacuum Cleaner in the BVC range. Call us and talk to our specialists, who will guide you towards the optimum solution.
Quirepace Ltd
023 9260 3700
www.quirepace.co.uk
