In Great Britain, the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR) require employers to eliminate or control the risks from explosive atmospheres in the workplace. This includes adhering to two European Directives including Directive 2014/34/EU, also known as the ATEX Equipment Directive, which concerns equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres. 

Production facilities that use combustible powders as part of their production process, or those which create a very fine waste which is classed as combustible dust, should all use ATEX rated equipment.

Kerstar’s UK manufactured ATEX certified industrial vacuum cleaners are suitable for use in Gas Zones 1 & 2 and Dust Zones 21 & 22 – as specified on the rating plate on every unit. All of Kerstar’s compressed air (KAV range) and electric (KEVA range) ATEX vacuums provide three-stage filtration which includes a specially designed microfibre bag with a cap which, when closed, cannot be re-opened, and a HEPA H14 filter – offering 99.995% efficiency for dusts and powders as fine as 0.3 micron.

All KAV and KEVA models offer stainless steel canisters mounted on a stainless steel caddy fitted with conductive braked castors and wheels - this ensures each vacuum is antistatic and conductive from top to bottom. Every machine is supplied with a fully conductive hose and accessory kit, and a full earth path continuity certificate.

Kerstar Business Development Manager, Brian Folland, comments, “It’s really important that employers ensure they are providing equipment which is fit for purpose – particularly in potentially explosive atmospheres. This is just as important for cleaning equipment as it is for production machinery. Everything used in an ATEX rated Zone must be certified to meet the ATEX Directives.”

Find out more about Kerstar’s ATEX certified and Type H (suitable for use with hazardous dusts) vacuum cleaners by visiting www.kerstar.com.