FAQ - Häufig gestellte Fragen
Legal framework conditions apply to the different dust classes. They are written in the international norm IEC 60 335-2-69, which divides the dusts in three different dust classes: L, M and H.
Dust class L:
Simple and harmless dusts such as household dust and materials such as soil.
Dust class M:
All wood dusts and dusts from spatulas, fillers and varnish, plaster, cement, concrete, tile cement and colours such as latex and oil colours or quartziferous materials such as sand and gravel.
Dust class H:
Carcinogenic dusts, dusts with carcinogenic and pathogenic particles as well as dusts with mould spores, asbestos, mineral fibres, bitumen and artificial mineral fibres such as glass wool.
AGW stands for occupational limit values. They replace the previous MAK- and TRK values since the beginning of 2012.
The AGW value describes the maximum permissible concentration at work (specified in mg/m³), which is not hazardous to health even with prolonged exposure (8 hours per day).
The lower the AGW value, the higher the health hazard due to the dust. Depending on the limit value, various requirements are set on the degree of dust separation of the vacuum.
The international norm IEC 60 335-2-69 requires the use of filter or disposal bags in case of mobile extractors of the dust classes M and H, as even the disposal of the dusts must take place in a dust-free manner, which can only be ensured by the use of filter bags or disposal bags.
Additionally, it must be considered that it clearly takes more time to empty and clean the collection vessel while vacuuming without a filter bag or disposal bag than changing the bag. If one applies the respective customary hourly rates to this additional time, the price for a filter bag/disposal bag turns out to be the cheaper alternative in the end.
As dusts of grade M (such as dusts from spatulas, fillers and varnish, plaster, cement, concrete, tile cement and colours such as latex- and oil colours or quartziferous materials...) generally arise on the construction site, an M-vacuum must be used even in this case.
It should be noted that in case of hazardous dusts (wood dust, mineral dusts), sweeping is not permitted and the sue of a mobile extractor is mandatory.