1. What is the primary application for your vacuum?
Before you start exploring features like capacity or filter types, make sure you have a solid understanding of exactly what you need your vacuum to do.- Do you need to clean up powders or dusts?
- What about liquid spills?
- Are any of the materials you’re working with hazardous?
2. Do you need to comply with any regulatory standards?
In many industries, like food processing and pharmaceuticals, housekeeping is a regulatory requirement. If you’re in the food industry and not under the jurisdiction of the USDA, you are probably required to comply with the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). USDA-regulated facilities must continue to implement Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) in all of their processes. For the pharmaceutical industry, the main industry standard is Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs). Even if you’re outside these industries, you must likely meet the standards issued by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) regarding how to keep your facility clear of combustible dust. Many of these standards require specific types of industrial vacuum cleaners to be used in different types of locations. If you don’t comply, you could find yourself the recipient of some pretty hefty fines.3. Will the vacuum be in use continuously or intermittently?
If your vacuum will be used intermittently -- for example, your facility is shut down at the end of every day for cleaning -- we recommend a single-phase vacuum cleaner powered by a universal motor. These are excellent for general and scheduled cleaning, as well as cleaning around production lines. You can even connect them directly to intermittent-use production equipment to keep dust and waste at a minimum. If, on the other hand, your vacuum will be used continuously -- for example, in conjunction with production equipment that runs 24/7 -- we recommend a vacuum cleaner powered by a three-phase regenerative blower. These are more economical, and more energy-efficient, for continuous use.4. What capacity do you require?
Vacuums aren’t a one-size-fits-all solution. For example, our industrial vacuum cleaners can hold anywhere from 3 ¼ to 100 liters. If you buy one too big, you’ll lose out on efficiency. On the other hand, if you buy one too small, you’ll spend more time than you’d like to emptying the tank.5. What type of filtration do you require?
The ideal filtration system depends on the materials you need to collect as well as the regulatory requirements for your industry. Industrial applications typically require either HEPA or ULPA filtration:- High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters retain 99.97% of all particles, down to and including 0.3 microns.
- Ultra-low particulate air (ULPA) filters retain 99.999% of all particles, down to and including 0.12 microns.