Tag: combustible dust

New ATEX EasySwitch® Wet-Dry Vac: Safer Industrial Cleanup in Explosive Environments

Published on by Neal RakerLeave a comment

A pneumatic, ATEX-rated wet/dry vacuum built for Zones 1 and 21—switching between dry debris and liquid recovery in seconds.

EXAIR ATEX EasySwicth Vac for explosive environments.

Industrial cleanup is challenging enough—add potentially explosive atmospheres and the stakes go up fast. In ATEX-classified areas, using the wrong equipment can introduce ignition risks from sparks, heat, or static buildup. That is why EXAIR developed the ATEX EasySwitch® Wet-Dry Vac: a compressed-air-powered system designed to deliver reliable wet and dry cleanup in hazardous environments, including ATEX Zones 1 and 21.

What is the ATEX EasySwitch® Wet-Dry Vac?

The ATEX EasySwitch is a pneumatic (compressed-air-driven) industrial vacuum engineered for hazardous locations. It provides powerful suction for both dry materials (dust, powders, chips, absorbents) and liquids (including coolant), and it is designed to let operators switch between dry vacuuming and liquid recovery quickly using a simple latch mechanism.

Why Pneumatic Matters in Explosive Environments

In environments where explosive gases or combustible dust may be present, controlling ignition sources is critical. Because the ATEX EasySwitch operates solely on compressed air, it avoids many risks commonly associated with electric vacuums.

  • No electrical components to create sparks, heat, or motor-related failure points.
  • Static-dissipative design with proper grounding to help reduce electrostatic buildup.
  • No moving parts in the pneumatic vacuum generator, supporting a low-maintenance design for demanding use.
  • Built for ATEX Zones 1 and 21, supporting cleanup needs in hazardous, compliance-driven operations.

One vacuum for wet and dry cleanup

Cleanup needs change quickly on the plant floor. With the EasySwitch system, operators can move from dry debris collection to liquid recovery in seconds—helping reduce downtime when switching tasks. Typical materials include dust, powders, coolant, chips, and absorbents.

Where it fits: hazardous-area industrial cleanup

If operations include combustible dust or flammable atmospheres, a dedicated hazardous area vacuum can be a key part of safe housekeeping. The ATEX EasySwitch is designed to support compliant cleanup in critical environments where maintaining clean workspaces is essential.

Part of EXAIR’s industrial vacuum lineup

The ATEX EasySwitch joins EXAIR’s broader range of industrial vacuum systems built for efficiency and performance, including Reversible Drum Vacs for liquid transfer, Chip Trappers for separating solids from liquids, and Heavy Duty Dry and HEPA Vacs for fine dust collection.

Pricing and next steps

ATEX EasySwitch systems start at $3,900 USD. To learn more about specifications, configuration options, and fit for your application, contact EXAIR at (800) 903-9247 or email techelp@exair.com. More details: https://exair.co/atesv

Neal Raker, Application Engineering Manager
nealraker@exair.com

Class III Hazardous Locations Defined

Published on by Tyler DanielLeave a comment

The National Electrical Code (NEC) has a system for classifying areas deemed hazardous due to flammable or combustible materials. When an area is considered classified, extreme caution needs to be taken to ensure nothing within that area provides a possible ignition source. In the US, Underwriter’s Laboratory (UL) provides third-party certification for products that can safely be used in these areas. EXAIR’s newest addition to the longstanding line of Cabinet Coolers was our Hazardous Location Cabinet Cooler. Designed and built with these types of applications in mind, the Hazardous Location Cabinet Cooler has been independently certified by UL for use in Hazardous Locations in Class I Div 1, Groups A, B, C, and D; for use in Class II Div 1, Groups E, F, and G; and also in Class III areas.

Class III areas can often be overlooked as the materials that generally create a Class III area may not always be considered “explosive” by nature. In Class III areas, the risk of combustion occurs due to the presence of ignitable fibers or materials that produce or process combustible flyings. According to the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), combustible flyings are defined as solid particles, including fibers, where one dimension is greater than 500µ in size, which can form an explosive mixture with air at standard atmospheric pressure and temperature. These areas are most commonly found within the textile and woodworking industries. The video below, posted to YouTube by News Center Maine, shows just how violent an explosion due to wood fibers can be:

When using a Hazardous Location Cabinet Cooler in a Class III area, it’s important to keep the Cabinet Cooler and immediately surrounding area free of settling debris. Implement a regular inspection, and cleaning procedure if necessary, to ensure that the flyings/textiles don’t accumulate on the Cabinet Cooler.

If you have control panels installed in a hazardous location and are sick of the nonstop maintenance associated with an A/C type system, the Hazardous Location Cabinet Cooler is the right tool for you. Contact an Application Engineer today for help determining the most suitable model for your enclosures.

Tyler Daniel
Application Engineer
E-mail: TylerDaniel@EXAIR.com
Twitter: @EXAIR_TD