Vacuum Excavation

Vacuum excavators are incredibly versatile and suitable for operation on almost any kind of terrain. They can excavate with precision and avoid contact with buried objects such as pipes and cables. This makes them a popular choice for excavation in areas that are considered complex, isolated, or compact. While vacuum excavation is most commonly used the in the utility industries – by gas, electricity, water, and telecommunications contractors – these are not the limits of its application.

The VAC-EX AIR-VAC track® is suitable for use in:

✔ Civil engineering and infrastructure – used in building roads and large-scale construction projects.

✔ Emergency services and military – essential to rescue operations, tunnelling, and natural disaster relief.

✔ Rail engineering – provides safe excavation for build, repair, and maintenance projects.

✔ Construction – useful for foundation laying in residential, commercial, and industrial construction projects.

✔ Telecommunications – assists cable-laying efficiency and safety by easily identifying the location of existing utilities.

✔ Utilities – excavates safely around existing water or gas systems, or prepares for installation of new ones.

✔ Landscaping – removes obstructions such as tree roots, transports soil, and works around vegetation.

✔ Power generation – useful in petrochemical, nuclear, and renewable power- generation settings.

✔ Hydro-demolition – ensures safe demolition, transportation, and removal of waste.

Safety

o Minimal manual handling and digging reduce the risk of workplace injury.
o Hydraulic power arm increases manoeuvrability to avoid hazards.
o No utility strikes have been recorded while using VAC-EX® machines– workers are less likely to have accidental contact with electrical cables or gas pipes, which can cause serious injury or death.
o Insulation is provided to workers and vehicles when working in a high-risk area.
o P.E. pipe extension tube reduces utility damage by 60% compared to other methods of excavation, while providing insulation to vehicles and workers while working in high-risk areas.

Efficiency

o A small footprint means the vacuum excavator can be operated in a third less space than a mini-digger.
o Suitable for compact sites.
o Removes waste as it is created, keeping the site clean and reducing disruptions to work.
o No other machinery is needed – the AIR-VAC track is suitable for stand-alone operation.
o Multiple uses.
o Can be used in combination with other soil engineering equipment depending on the use case.

Productivity

o More efficient than manual tools or other machine excavation methods.
o Fewer people are required to operate, reducing the onsite staff workload.
o Capable of collecting and removing both solid and liquid material.
o Speeds up construction time, helping to keep to project deadlines.
o Arrives ready to operate.

Environmental conservation and disruption reduction

o Maintains a working environment clear from debris, protecting workers and the public from accidental injury.
o Fewer vehicles and less equipment are needed onsite, reducing emissions.
o One vacuum excavator and operators can achieve the same as three workers, an excavator and a truck reducing a project’s carbon footprint.
o Can be operated around surrounding trees and shrubs with minimal root damage.
o A third smaller excavation size than conventional methods, reducing unnecessary excess excavation and improving pedestrian and traffic access around the site.
o Faster than other methods, meaning less disruption to local homes, services, and businesses.
o Less invasive and more precise than alternative methods, meaning less restoration work is needed after excavation.

Cost saving

o Reduced chance of vibration damage to the site or surrounding area.
o Reduced manpower and equipment costs.
o Faster than other methods, condensing the length of equipment hires timeneeded.
o Excavated material can be reused when restoring the site of excavation,reducing material costs.

Refer to the VAC-EX track operating and user safety manual for full details of the AIR-VAC
track’s advantages.

Before vacuum excavation became available in the 1950s, hydro excavators and manual methods were the norms. While the technology has existed for several decades, it has taken time for air vacuum excavators to become globally accessible. Vacuum excavation is now as refined and efficient as ever before, and has a wide range of applications. It is the preferred excavation method for engineering, construction, and utility projects.
 
Vacuum excavation is the most cost-effective means of moving and collecting debris, soil, and waste material. This is due to the speed and efficiency of the VAC-EX AIR- VAC® machine.
 
Hydro vacuum excavators operate similarly to air vacuum excavators but use highly pressurised water to break up soil and debris into manageable pieces before suction. Unlike air vacuum excavation, the resulting waste of hydro-vac excavation cannot be reused to refill the hole and must be disposed of. It is also not suitable for excavating sensitive underground pipes and cables, so not appropriate for use in a utilities setting.