Choose the right machine for the job
Dust class and filter grade are not preferences — for most of the environments below they are a legal minimum, set by the material you are disturbing and the building you are working in. Find your environment, confirm the specification the law requires, then pick the machine that fits the site.
I'm working in…
Environment
- Server room, data centre & AI infrastructure
- Construction sites & silica dust
- Asbestos & pre-2000 buildings
- Damp & mould in occupied housing
- Healthcare & hospital construction
- Explosive dust atmospheres (ATEX)
- Food production & commercial kitchens
- Dairy, livestock & grain stores
- Gutters, roofs & high-level access
Reference tables
How to use this page
- Start with the environment, not the machine. The law attaches to where you are working and what you are cutting, grinding or removing.
- Check the jurisdiction. For housing and wash-down work the governing legislation differs between England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. See the table below.
- Match the power supply to the site. 110 V for construction sites under CDM, 240 V for commercial premises, 415 V three-phase for fixed wash bays, battery where there is no supply or no trailing cable is acceptable.
- Size on capacity and airflow. Airflow determines whether the machine keeps up with the tool; capacity determines how often you stop to empty it.
Server room, data centre & AI infrastructure
- What applies
- ISO 14644-1 cleanroom classification, commonly Class 8 where the hardware OEM specifies it. ISO 14644-5 governs cleaning operations.
- Specification required
- H13 HEPA minimum — H14 where the OEM references Class 8 directly
- Site conditions
- Live equipment, restricted access, 240 V supply. Cordless avoids trailing cables across a working floor.
| Machine | Class | Capacity | Airflow | Supply |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MIDI H 21L | H-Class | 21 L | 101.9 m³/h | 240 V |
| MAXi 50L | H-Class | 50 L | 159.7 m³/h | 240 V |
| RUCKVAC HSV Cordless | H-Class | 5 L | — | Battery |
Construction sites & silica dust
- What applies
- COSHH 2002 requires LEV at source. The workplace exposure limit for respirable crystalline silica is 0.1 mg/m³ over 8 hours. HSE is running a dedicated silica inspection programme.
- Specification required
- M-Class minimum — H-Class for high-silica and heritage stone (see below)
- Site conditions
- 110 V under CDM on most sites. On-tool take-off for cutting and drilling; floor units for clean-down.
| Machine | Class | Capacity | Airflow | Supply |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GRINDEX1100LP | M-Class | 20 L | 200 m³/h | 110 V |
| MIGHTY HSV 21L | M-Class | 21 L | 250 m³/h | 110 V |
| MIGHTY XL HSV 37L | M-Class | 37 L | — | 110 V |
Asbestos & pre-2000 buildings
- What applies
- Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. Any building constructed before 2000 must be presumed to contain asbestos until proven otherwise. BS 8520-3 governs vacuum selection, use and DOP testing.
- Specification required
- H-Class, Type H disposal, DOP-tested — no substitution permitted
- Site conditions
- 110 V site supply. Machines must be enclosure-compatible and disposed of as asbestos waste at end of life.
| Machine | Filter grade | Capacity | Format | Supply |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MIDI HSV 21L | ULPA15 | 21 L | Wheeled | 110 V |
| MAXi 50L | H14 HEPA | 50 L | Wheeled | 110 V |
| RUCKVAC HSV | H14 HEPA | 21 L | Backpack | 110 V |
Damp & mould in occupied housing
- What applies
- Legally enforceable remediation timescales in England under Awaab's Law, with separate regimes in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
- Specification required
- Set by COSHH risk assessment — H-Class for significant contamination
- Site conditions
- Occupied properties on 240 V domestic supply. Cordless avoids running cables through a tenant's home; larger capacity suits void properties.
| Machine | Class | Capacity | Best for | Supply |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RUCKVAC HSV Cordless | H-Class | 5 L | Occupied homes | Battery |
| MIDI H 21L | H-Class | 21 L | Single dwelling | 240 V |
| MAXi 50L | H-Class | 50 L | Voids, communal | 240 V |
Healthcare & hospital construction
- What applies
- Infection Control Risk Assessment governs construction and maintenance in live healthcare settings, alongside the NHS National Standards of Healthcare Cleanliness and SHTM guidance.
- Specification required
- H-Class mandatory for ICRA Type C and Type D works
- Site conditions
- Occupied clinical areas, 240 V, low noise, sealed enclosures. Immunocompromised patients nearby.
| Machine | Class | Capacity | Airflow | Supply |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MIDI H 21L | H-Class | 21 L | 101.9 m³/h | 240 V |
| MAXi 50L | H-Class | 50 L | 159.7 m³/h | 240 V |
| RUCKVAC HSV | H-Class | 21 L | — | 240 V |
Explosive dust atmospheres
- What applies
- DSEAR 2002 where combustible dust can form an explosive atmosphere — aluminium and magnesium fabrication, flour and sugar handling, wood dust, and cobalt, nickel and lithium in EV battery manufacturing.
- Specification required
- ATEX-certified to the zone — a standard M or H-Class machine is not compliant
- Site conditions
- Zone 22 classified areas. Earthed, antistatic construction throughout; stainless bodies for corrosive dusts.
| Machine | Rating | Capacity | From | Supply |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATX2000 45L | M-Class ATEX Z22 | 45 L | £3,399.99 | 110 V |
| ATX4500i 45L | M-Class ATEX Z22 | 45 L | £4,999.99 | 110 V |
Food production & commercial kitchens
- What applies
- Food Hygiene Rating Scheme inspection, FSA and Environmental Health enforcement, and BRCGS where you supply retail. Wash-down water may need trade effluent consent.
- Specification required
- Stainless steel construction and hot water — 90 °C for fat and protein soils
- Site conditions
- Wash-down areas, 240 V or 415 V three-phase for fixed bays. Where diesel burners are not permitted indoors, specify electrically heated.
| Machine | Pressure | Flow | Max temp | Supply |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RAPID VSC | 100 bar | 12 L/min | 90 °C | 240 V |
| RAPID VSC 415V | 150 bar | 15 L/min | 90 °C | 415 V |
| MAMMOTH STAINLESS 80L | — | — | — | 240 V |
Dairy, livestock & grain stores
- What applies
- APHA and DEFRA biosecurity requirements for livestock units, milking parlour hygiene regulations, and Red Tractor and TASCC standards for grain storage.
- Specification required
- Hot water to 90 °C for disinfection — cold water will not sanitise
- Site conditions
- Yards, parlours and grain stores. 240 V or 415 V where available, diesel or petrol where it is not. Foam systems for contact-time chemistry.
| Machine | Pressure | Flow | Max temp | Supply |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HD140HOT | 140 bar | 8 L/min | 90 °C | 240 V |
| RAPID VSC 415V | 150 bar | 15 L/min | 90 °C | 415 V |
| MAMMOTH STAINLESS grain store | — | — | — | 240 V |
Gutters, roofs & high-level access
- What applies
- The Work at Height Regulations 2005 require you to avoid work at height where it is reasonably practicable to do the job from the ground. Pole-fed gutter vacuums remove the ladder from the method statement.
- Specification required
- Wet & dry capability with reach matched to the building
- Site conditions
- Aluminium poles for weight and cost; carbon fibre where operatives are working reach all day. Match capacity to how far you are from the van.
| Kit | Capacity | Reach | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| GCX4000 + 20ft alu | 37 L | 20 ft | £912.99 |
| GCX5000 + 40ft alu | 50 L | 40 ft | £1,673.99 |
| GCX8000 + 40ft carbon | 80 L | 40 ft | £2,519.99 |
Where you are working changes the law that applies
The specification does not change across the UK and Ireland — an H-Class machine is an H-Class machine in Glasgow as much as in Guildford. What changes is which statute compels it, the timescales you are held to, and which regulator enforces the wash-down water. If you work across borders, check the regime before you quote.
| Nation | Housing damp & mould | Water & effluent regulator | Guidance |
|---|---|---|---|
| England | Awaab's Law; HHSRS; Decent Homes Standard | Environment Agency | Awaab's Law |
| Wales | Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 | Natural Resources Wales | Renting Homes (Wales) Act |
| Scotland | Repairing Standard; Tolerable Standard | SEPA / Scottish Water | Scottish housing legislation |
| Northern Ireland | Housing fitness standard; landlord registration | NIEA / NI Water | NI housing legislation |
| Republic of Ireland | Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations | EPA / Irish Water | Republic of Ireland |
In construction, the local stone decides the class
Silica content varies enormously by geology, and that moves the requirement from M-Class to H-Class. If you work in one region consistently, specify for the material you actually cut — not for the national average. The materials below are worked examples, not a closed list.
| Material | Where | Class required | Guidance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard brick & concrete | Most modern sites, UK-wide | M-Class | M-Class |
| Magnesian limestone | York & the Vale of York | H-Class | York limestone |
| Bath stone (oolitic limestone) | Bath & north-east Somerset | H-Class | Bath stone |
| Firebrick & cristobalite | Stoke-on-Trent bottle ovens | H-Class — mandatory for demolition | Stoke firebrick |
| Mourne granite | Newry & South Down | H-Class | Mourne granite |
| Engineered stone (quartz) | Kitchen worktop fabrication | H-Class — HSE prohibits dry cutting; water suppression required | Engineered stone |
Cutting something that isn't on this list?
Do not read the gap as M-Class by default. The class is not set by the name of the stone — it is set by how much respirable crystalline silica the work actually puts into the air. RCS is treated as a carcinogen, which is why materials known to generate heavy RCS exposure sit at H-Class. The materials named above are the ones where that has been established and documented; plenty of others simply have not been tested and published.
For a material not listed, establish three things before you specify the machine:
- Silica content. From the quarry or manufacturer declaration, or the safety data sheet. Reconstituted and engineered products are frequently higher than the natural stone they imitate.
- What the task does to it. Dry cutting, grinding and scabbling generate RCS at a completely different order to drilling a handful of fixings. The operation matters more than the material.
- How the work is controlled. Duration, enclosure, whether anyone else is in the space, and whether water suppression and on-tool extraction are in use.
Where you cannot establish the first two, specify H-Class. The difference in machine cost is small set against a stopped site, and “the material wasn't on a list” is not a control measure.
If you tell us the material and the operation, we will go through it with you — see below.
Common specification questions
The questions our technical team is asked most often, answered against the regulation rather than the product.
What dust class do I need for cleaning a server room or data centre?
H13 HEPA is the minimum filter grade for routine cleaning. Where the hardware OEM references ISO 14644-1 Class 8 directly, H14 is required. ISO 14644-5 governs the cleaning operation itself.
Filter grade and machine class are two separate things: H13 and H14 describe the filter media, while L, M and H describe the certification of the whole machine including seals, bag change and exhaust. For live equipment we specify H-Class machines — a MIDI H 21L for a comms room, a MAXi 50L for a larger hall, or a cordless RUCKVAC HSV where trailing cables across a live floor are unacceptable.
Is M-Class or H-Class extraction required for silica dust on a construction site?
M-Class is the minimum under COSHH 2002 for most construction dusts. The workplace exposure limit for respirable crystalline silica is 0.1 mg/m³ averaged over 8 hours.
H-Class becomes the requirement for high-silica materials: magnesian limestone around York, Bath stone, firebrick and cristobalite in Stoke-on-Trent, Mourne granite in County Down, and engineered quartz worktops. There is no single silica percentage that switches one to the other — it depends on the material and on what the operation does to it.
My material isn't on your list — what class do I need?
The named materials are worked examples, not a complete list, so absence from the table does not mean M-Class. Get the silica content from the quarry, manufacturer or safety data sheet, then consider what the operation does — dry cutting and grinding put far more RCS into the air than drilling.
If you cannot establish the silica content and the likely exposure, specify H-Class. Send us the material and the operation and our technical team will go through it with you.
What vacuum is legally required for asbestos work?
An H-Class vacuum with Type H disposal, DOP-tested in line with BS 8520-3.
Under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 any building constructed before 2000 must be presumed to contain asbestos until proven otherwise. No substitution is permitted: an M-Class machine is not compliant for asbestos work, and the vacuum itself must be disposed of as asbestos waste at the end of its life.
Can I use an M-Class extractor for mould remediation?
There is no single answer — the COSHH risk assessment sets the control level, based on the extent of contamination and the exposure risk. For light, small-area mould cleaning M-Class may be adequate. For significant remediation, or heavy contamination in an occupied property, H-Class is the prudent specification and the one commonly required.
In occupied housing this matters legally as well as technically. In England, Awaab's Law sets legally enforceable timescales for damp and mould remediation, with separate regimes applying in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
Which damp and mould legislation applies where I work?
England: Awaab's Law, the Housing Health and Safety Rating System and the Decent Homes Standard, with the Environment Agency regulating discharge. Wales: the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016, with Natural Resources Wales. Scotland: the Repairing Standard and the Tolerable Standard, with SEPA and Scottish Water. Northern Ireland: the housing fitness standard and landlord registration, with NIEA. Republic of Ireland: the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations, with the EPA.
The machine specification does not change across borders. What changes is the statute that compels it, the timescales you are held to, and the regulator for wash-down water.
What dust class is required for healthcare and hospital construction?
H-Class is mandatory for ICRA Type C and Type D works.
Infection Control Risk Assessment governs construction and maintenance in live healthcare settings, alongside the NHS National Standards of Healthcare Cleanliness and SHTM guidance. Machines need to be low noise and enclosure-compatible, because the work is taking place near patients who may be immunocompromised.
Is an M-Class or H-Class vacuum suitable for an explosive dust atmosphere?
No. Where combustible dust can form an explosive atmosphere, DSEAR 2002 applies and the machine must be ATEX-certified to the zone. A standard M-Class or H-Class extractor is not compliant, however good its filtration.
This covers aluminium and magnesium fabrication, flour and sugar handling, wood dust, and cobalt, nickel and lithium in EV battery manufacturing. V-TUF's ATEX range is certified to Zone 22: the ATX2000 and ATX4500i, both 45L, in 110 V and 240 V.
What water temperature is needed for food production cleaning?
90 °C for fat and protein soils, with stainless steel construction throughout.
Food Hygiene Rating Scheme inspection, FSA and Environmental Health enforcement, and BRCGS where you supply retail, all bear on wash-down practice. Where diesel burners are not permitted indoors, specify an electrically heated machine instead. Wash-down water may require trade effluent consent from your water authority.
Still not sure?
Tell us the material, the building and the power supply on site, and we will confirm the class you are legally required to use and the machine that fits. We would rather specify it correctly than sell you the wrong thing twice.