Vacuum Equipment
Vacuum equipment made for industrial settings use powerful suction to clean large facility areas and are able to gather more material at a faster rate than standard commercial vacuum cleaners, which are designed for at-home use. There are many different types of vacuum systems, all with different methods of power, features, construction and filtration. They may be powered by electricity, gasoline, compressed air or battery. Some are made to meet clean room standards, while others are used for specific applications. Vacuum equipment ranges from small, hand-held and portable machines to permanent systems that are integrated throughout a facility and only need to be emptied a few times per year. There are 7 main types of vacuum systems-canister cleaners, walk behind vacuums, rider sweepers, backpack cleaners, vacuum trucks, HEPA vacuums and central vacuum cleaners.
The main types of vacuum systems can be placed into 3 categories-portable, motorized and integrated. Portable vacuums are carried around and moved by the user. These include canister, which are chassis mounted on wheels and won't tip over easily, walk behind, which are pushed by the operator and are used for cleaning large floor areas, and backpack, which are strapped on the operator's back and never exceed 14 pounds. Vacuums that are powered by motors do not require any manual moving. The rider sweeper is used for large areas and has a platform or seat for the user. It has a high cleaning capacity and a larger storage tank. Vacuum trucks are vehicles with vacuum systems mounted on the back. They are designed to load and carry bulk materials. Central vacuum systems are built-in cleaning systems composed of a large power unit, canister unit and inlets, which are connected together by a series of tubes. High efficiency particulate air vacuum (HEPA) systems are defined by their effective triple-filtration air filters. They are used mainly for sterile cleaning and are able to remove 99.9% of particles .03 microns or larger. HEPA systems are found in canister and backpack vacuum equipment.