One of the best ways to manage combustible dust hazards is with proper housekeeping – not only is cleaning effective in preventing fires and explosions, but it’s also required by OSHA to keep your workplace safe for employees.

But, until recently, there hasn’t been a certified vacuum solution appropriate for both every application and every budget. In 2021, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) introduced a new standard for vacuum cleaners used to pick up combustible dust in non-rated commercial and industrial areas: Appliance for Combustible Dust, or ACD.

ACD is an international standard that was first published by the IEC in 2021. It specifies design requirements for vacuum cleaners used to collect combustible dust in locations where there isn’t the risk of a dust cloud. In this way, ACD fills the gap between Class II Division II rated locations, where there is a very high risk of a combustible dust incident, and locations where an ordinary vacuum can be used.

Many of the design elements are the same across categories, such as grounding a bonding, using spark-reducing construction material, and antistatic features. The main differences between ACD and Class II, Division 2 vacuums are in the electrical details, the motor, and the accessories. For Class II Division II vacuums, these elements have more stringent requirements to ensure that the equipment itself doesn’t cause an explosion in the presence of a dust cloud.

The ACD certification is designed for applications where an explosion-proof Class II, Division 2 vacuum isn’t necessary, and a regular commercial vacuum isn’t sufficient. In fact, a commercial vacuum – which likely doesn’t have proper bonding, grounding, and antistatic construction – could provide the spark that causes a newsworthy incident.

For example, in a bakery facility, the processing area may be rated Class II, Division 2 (flour is more explosive than gunpowder!), but the ingredient storage area is not. However, if a forklift accidentally punctures a bag of flour, you will need to clean up a potentially highly combustible material. For applications like this, ACD-certified vacuums provide OSHA compliance at a budget-friendly price.

Here are a few more examples of areas that should be cleaned with ACD-certified vacuums:

• Tablet presses and other enclosed processing machines outside of rated areas
• Warehouses where combustible materials are stored
• Additive manufacturing prototyping areas
• Powder coating cabinets
• Indoor and outdoor gun ranges
• Small wood shops

On August 21st, Nilfisk vacuum solution expert Roger Guerra will host a webinar that takes an in-depth look at the different types of environments where combustible dust is present and how to choose the right one for your facility.

In the meantime, visit Nilfisk’s combustible dust page to learn about our certified vacuum solutions and book your free site assessment.