The laws are becoming stricter and so manufacturers are advancing on them with solutions. One of the biggest among them, Husqvarna, seemed to us to be the ideal interlocutor because they were already managing the dust issues many years before dust standards were tightened. This led to virtually all machines marketed by the Swedish manufacturer being matched with some kind of dust extraction or dust suppression, as standard. Even Floor Scrapers now offer the connection of a Dust Extractor.

Forerunner in Dust Extraction

We talk about the how and what of dust extraction with Kris De Rudder and Lynsey Slater. At Husqvarna, Kris and Lynsey are sales manager surfaces and floors Benelux (Kris is responsible for everything to do with surfaces and floors in the Benelux) and a Dust & Slurry Specialist in the UK and Ireland, respectively. They will guide us around the wonderful world of dust and illustrate some of the most obvious machines for us.

"I would particularly like to emphasise that all our equipment for dealers or end users are equipped with the ability to utilise dust extraction. This allows us to respond to the requirements of the construction world, which include the dust extraction when working with concrete," Kris De Rudder opens. "A healthy environment is of prime importance, you have a right to be able to work in safe conditions! As an employer, by the way, you are obliged to protect your employees from harmful dust. I cannot exaggerate the importance of this and can immediately report that we literally have all the technology for this."

H Class Dust Extraction

To illustrate the point, Kris and Lynsey refer to the Husqvarna DE range, which includes models that are powered by both cord and battery (handy to know: at Husqvarna, batteries are interchangeable among the various models). This brings us into Lynsey's territory, who explains further.

"These are specifically H Class dust extractors, meaning they meet the standards to be used with power tools, not just a wand and floor tool. Included in these machines are H13 HEPA filters, which ensures 99.99% of dust particles at .03 microns are captured. M is the minimum class for concrete dust, however if I was a professional I would like to have more than the minimum, particularly when I know the risks that come with silica dust exposure. Moreover, this line has a QR code on all machines, which means that if the customer scans it, he or she is then directed to a page on the website with lots of videos on, for example, how to change filters, cleaning the machine with water, and so on..."

"A special feature is that Husqvarna also offers an HMI - an electronic control panel aside. This allows you to select various sizes of hoses and connect different types of equipment, such as a hand grinder, for example. Furthermore, there is also e-Flow functionality, that automatically adjusts the power consumption to the filter saturation level. The machine works so much more efficiently because only the necessary energy is used."

"A brand new machine with new filters doesn't need full power, compared to older equipment," adds Kris De Rudder. "Consequently, you need less energy and the batteries get a longer life. The device also reports when HEPA filters are in danger of becoming full. A special feature is that when new HEPA filters are installed, you have the ability to contain the hazardous dust particles of the old filter with a screwable lid. The DE 120 unit is IP 55-rated, allowing you to hose them down, which is important for cleaning the machine without causing damage. Decontamination with water will also prevent dust from being airborne. Additionally handy is a bag-filling system, which can load up to 25kg or 20kg. Its great advantage is that everything is done in a closed circuit, avoiding contact with the dust as much as possible. With the latest machine, there is another interesting feature in the form of a black rubber lip that covers the bag folds, so when you do clean it with water the water isn’t getting into the bag.  This is also stops dust from becoming airborne when you change the bag.

DE 120 H

In the DE range, the most versatile one for us is the powerful DE 120 H. Launched last year, this line stands out for its compactness, ergonomics and easy transport. This is a unit with two powerful motors, which you can use for various smaller or larger applications and which can also be used as a vacuum. The advantage: because you avoid using a brush to clean up, you do not want to throw dust into the air from using a broom or brush. The DE 120 H is a particularly useful device with carrying handles for the wand, hose and floor tool, weighing only 39 kg, with smaller variants weighing up to 25 kg.

"Airborne dust that stays in the air for a long time is dangerous," Kris De Rudder explains. "All these machines also come with all possible accessories, you get much more than just the machine alone. Also, everything can be connected to the machine, which has a flat top on which, for example, a toolbox can be placed."

"Conveniently, this DE 120 H can also be transported lying down, which is ideal for someone with a small vehicle," Lynsey Slater further explains. "The weight of the machine is at the bottom, so it isn’t top heavy and doesn't topple over. Of course, you have an alarm that sounds if the airflow is below the minimum."

New model to be launched

"The DE 120 H is designed for use with larger portable power tools, floor grinders and hand grinders, floor scrapers and more. Its performance and robustness make it ideal for demanding, heavy-duty applications. I'll also mention that the Dust Extractor has integrated technology, allowing quick monitoring of airflow, maintenance and filter status and other valuable usage data. There are two filters, a pre-filter and 2 H13 HEPA filters, with the unit indicating when to replace. Also innovative is that you can determine the size of the connecting hose, allowing you to create a constant flow depending on what you are connecting."

"Very interesting to pass along is that we are launching a new model on the market from August-September," adds Kris De Rudder. "This will be the DE 130 H, which has automatic filter cleaning."

The importance of air cleaning

Higher up, we mentioned that the majority of the dust is collected, yet there is always room for improvement on site. What is often forgotten is that the dust particles you can't or can hardly see are the most dangerous. It is precisely these particles which escape the dust extraction system and might be airborne for a long time. This is why Husqvarna recommends the combination with an air cleaner for optimum productivity and safety .

"It's not because you can't see dust that it's not dangerous. Air cleaners are anything but a luxury," warns Kris De Rudder. "You have to be well aware that the most dangerous dust is the dust you can't see. However, using an air cleaner is a piece of cake. You leave it running all night and in the morning the air is clean. Using an air cleaner is perfectly in line with Husqvarna's philosophy of doing everything possible to protect the operator. You don't have to believe me, but have no doubt that in the future there will definitely be repercussions and cases filed by operators who were not adequately protected. So never forget to combine dust extraction with air cleaning!"