Central Vacuum Systems

What defines this line

• Engineered piping and inlet layout
• Single consolidated discharge point
• Sized to simultaneous-operator demand
• Explosion-protection options where required

How to choose within this line

1. 01

   Count simultaneous operators

   A central system is sized to how many drops are used at once, not how many exist. That number drives the power unit, piping and separator selection.

2. 02

   Design the piping deliberately

   Run lengths, bends and drop placement determine whether the system performs at the far end of the plant. Piping layout is engineering, not an accessory.

3. 03

   Decide where material consolidates

   One discharge point simplifies handling and disposal — but it needs to be somewhere your team can safely access and empty.

4. 04

   Address classification zone by zone

   A plant rarely has one classification throughout. Explosion-protection provisions are applied where the classified areas actually are.

Where this line is used

• Food Processing
• Pharmaceutical
• Manufacturing

Not listed? Browse the full industry directory or start from your material. New to dust hazards? Start with how dust explosions work or vacuum vs dust collector.

Frequently asked questions

Should I choose an electric or an air-operated vacuum?

It usually comes down to two things: your area classification and whether you have adequate compressed air at the point of use. An air-operated unit is driven by compressed air through a venturi, so there is no electric motor, no switch and no cord in the recovery unit at all — which removes the electrical ignition question from the drive entirely and suits long continuous running. Electric units suit facilities without sufficient plant air. Both are built with the same conductive, grounded and bonded recovery path, because the dust carries static regardless of what drives the machine. Air units are louder, which is worth planning for in occupied areas.

What is the difference between HEPA and ULPA filtration?

They are tested at different particle sizes and efficiencies. Standard HEPA is tested to a minimum of 99.97% efficiency at 0.3 micrometres; PrestiVac units are rated at 99.99% absolute, and factory H14 grades reach 99.995%. ULPA extends further, to 99.9995% at 0.12 micrometres. Which you need follows the requirement — the room classification, the exposure limit, or the sanitation standard — rather than a preference for the larger number. Ask what a filter is tested to rather than what it is called.

Do you supply dust collectors?

No. We manufacture industrial vacuums — explosion-proof, HEPA, air-operated, wet and dry, central systems and custom-built units. A dust collector is a different machine: high air volume at low suction, capturing dust at the source through fixed ducting. A vacuum is lower volume at high suction, removing what has already settled. Most dust programmes need both, and we would rather point you to a collection-system specialist for that half than sell you the wrong equipment.

How must a certified vacuum be grounded?

Grounded and bonded in accordance with the National Electrical Code, Article 250. Static-dissipating hose and filters are part of the required configuration. The practical point is that the path has to be continuous from the tool through the hose to the container — a grounded machine with a non-conductive hose attached leaves the charge generated in the hose with nowhere to go, and the machine will keep working normally without anyone noticing.

Can one vacuum handle several different materials?

Sometimes, but it is worth checking rather than assuming. The constraints are the most demanding material in the mix, the classification of every area the unit will enter, and whether any of the materials should be kept separate. Reactive metal fines should not be combined with other debris or with coolant, and regulated toxic materials such as lead, cadmium and beryllium call for dedicated equipment that never leaves the regulated area. A unit that also cleans the loading dock has no business in a cleanroom.

Selecting equipment for this application

Written for engineers specifying recovery equipment. Each guide covers how the decision is actually made rather than which product to buy.