Boss Products Fire and Explosion Protection Distributor
Collectors & Filters is your authorized distributor for Boss Products systems. We spec and deploy these solutions to eliminate explosion risk and protect your people in facilities across Indiana and the Midwest.
Boss Products is engineered for combustible dust hazards in industrial environments. Unlike standard safety components you get passive fail-safe operation and FM Approved detection without the maintenance headaches.
Indiana manufacturers across the production and fabrication environments rely on Boss products to protect their facility. See our dust collection guide for manufacturing and production and our guide on industrial ventilation systems.
Why Choose Boss Products?
Reliability matters. Whether you are running wood processing or metal grinding operations, you need equipment that meets NFPA 652, NFPA 68 (venting), NFPA 69 (suppression/isolation) , ATEX, and FM Approved standards.
Boss Products systems integrate seamlessly into your existing process and protect your bottom line.
We Are Your Boss Products Supplier
We don’t just ship parts; we provide solutions. Collectors & Filters handles the technical calculations and system design to ensure your project lands on time and under budget.
Contact us today to spec the right system for your facility.
The Boss Products Advantage
Most safety systems rely on electricity to function. Boss Products took a different approach. Their core isolation devices operate passively: no power required in the hazard zone. When an explosion hits, spring-loaded mechanisms and pressure-activated flaps respond instantly. Grid failure during a deflagration event? The system still closes. That’s the engineering difference.
Top Products
VigiFlap Explosion Isolation Valves
The VigiFlap is the most widely deployed passive explosion isolation valve in North America. Its straight-through inlet/outlet architecture with round domed flap geometry prevents dust accumulation while maintaining the industry’s lowest pressure drop. Sizes range from 4″ to 32″ diameter (ATEX certified); larger sizes available per manufacturer specification. Install it vertical, horizontal, or diagonal: ATEX certified for any orientation.
- Pressure Drop Efficiency: Straight-through design reduces losses 30 to 40% versus rectangular flaps. Expect thousands in annual energy savings on 10,000 CFM systems running 8,000 hours.
- Zero Electrical Components: Requires no power, sensors, or complex control systems in the hazard zone.
- Dust-Friendly Architecture: Rounded inlet/outlet eliminates corners where dust bridges and cakes.
EcoMAXX Spark Detection and Extinguishing System
The EcoMAXX EM-FCS is FM Approved integrated spark detection and water suppression platform. It detects and extinguishes ignition sources in flight within milliseconds: before particles reach your collector. One control unit monitors multiple detector locations simultaneously. No separate panels for each zone.
- Infrared Detection: 0.7 to 1.1 micron wavelength sensors detect spark and flame signatures while rejecting false alarms from ambient process heat.
- Milliseconds Response: Water suppression activates faster than spark travel time through piping. Prevents dust cloud ignition entirely.
- Multi-Zone Capability: Single control module monitors multiple separate duct zones. Saves thousands in control panels versus dedicated panels.
- Integrated Shutdown Sequences: Spark detected. Abort gate closes. Fan stops. Suppression sprays. All within a blink of an eye.
Additional Product Categories
Explosion Venting Systems
Distinct vent geometries for every pressure profile application. Flat panels for low-vacuum collectors. Domed panels for high-vacuum pulse-cleaning baghouses. High-vacuum panels rated to -250″ W.C. for extreme duty. Flameless vents that contain flames and hot particles inside the vessel: no exterior discharge piping required.
FireBreak Shutters
Source-level fire isolation at dust generation points: grinding stations, saw discharges, welding hoods. Gravity-magnetic or full pneumatic operation. Millisecond response. Sizes from 6″ to 28″ diameter. Dual-mode operation enables deployment in facilities with or without compressed air.
| Category | Boss Products Advantage | What Most Safety Equipment Does | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Explosion Isolation & Diversion | |||
| VigiFlap Isolation Valve | ✓ Passive explosion isolation valve — ATEX certified, NFPA 69 compliant; stops explosion propagation through connected ductwork without power or controls required | Basic check valves and dampers are not rated or tested for explosion isolation — they fail under the pressure wave of a deflagration event | NFPA 69 requires explosion isolation on all suction-side ducts connected to dust collectors handling combustible dust; a non-rated valve provides no actual protection and fails compliance audits |
| No Return Valve | ✓ EcoMAXX No Return Valve — NFPA required device for all ducts transporting material with Kst value above zero; integrates with abort gates, spark detection, and suppression systems | Facilities often install dust collectors without any isolation device on suction ducts — non-compliant with NFPA and leaves adjacent equipment unprotected | A baghouse explosion without duct isolation propagates back through the ductwork to the process equipment and personnel — the NRV is the last line of defense between the collector and the production floor |
| Explosion Diverter | ✓ Redirects explosion pressure wave away from connected equipment and personnel — passive, no power required, no control panel integration needed for basic function | Standard duct configurations with no diverter allow explosion pressure and flame front to travel unrestricted in both directions from the ignition point | In interconnected dust collection systems serving multiple machines, a single ignition point can destroy the entire network without diversion devices at each branch point |
| Explosion Venting | |||
| Vent Panels | ✓ ATEX certified flat (EV-VL) and domed (EV-VD) explosion vent panels — NFPA 68 compliant; sized by calculation per EN 14491, EN 14994, EN 14797 standards | Generic vent panels sold by size without explosion vent sizing calculations — may be undersized for the actual Kst value and volume of the vessel being protected | An undersized vent panel fails to relieve pressure fast enough during a deflagration — the vessel ruptures anyway; Boss provides vent sizing calculation services to ensure the panel matches the actual hazard |
| Flameless Vent | ✓ Flameless explosion vent — vents pressure and quenches the flame front inside the device; safe for indoor installation where standard venting to atmosphere is not possible | Standard explosion vents discharge a flame front and pressure wave to atmosphere — cannot be used indoors or in occupied areas without a vent duct to the outside | Many Indiana manufacturing facilities have dust collectors located indoors with no exterior wall access; flameless venting is the only NFPA 68 compliant option for indoor installations without duct routing |
| Spark Detection & Suppression | |||
| Raptor Spark Detection | ✓ Raptor spark detection and extinguishing system — detects ignition sources in the duct before they reach the collector; activates water suppression in milliseconds | No spark detection means the first warning of an ignition event is smoke, fire, or explosion — by then the collector filters are already burning | Laser cutting, grinding, and conveying operations continuously generate sparks; detection and suppression in the duct prevents filter fires that destroy baghouses and trigger NFPA 652 incident reporting requirements |
| Raptor X Suppression | ✓ Raptor X active explosion suppression and isolation — detects pressure rise at the earliest stage of deflagration and discharges suppressant before the explosion fully develops | Passive venting and isolation devices react after the explosion is underway — they mitigate consequences but cannot prevent the deflagration itself | Active suppression stops the explosion before peak pressure is reached — protects the vessel, the ductwork, and connected equipment from any pressure damage; required in applications where venting to atmosphere is not feasible |
| Fire Isolation & Abort Gates | |||
| FireBreak Shutter | ✓ EcoMAXX FireBreak Shutter — isolates fires in process ventilation and dust collection ductwork; passive (fusible link) and active (pneumatic) configurations available | Standard butterfly dampers and manual gates are not rated for fire isolation — they do not close reliably under fire conditions and provide no thermal activation | A duct fire that reaches the dust collector ignites accumulated dust in the filters and hopper — a FireBreak Shutter between the process and the collector stops fire propagation before it reaches the collector |
| High Speed Abort Gate | ✓ EcoMAXX High Speed Abort Gate — NFPA compliant safety device for return air systems; automatically vents fire, harmful gases, and burning material to atmosphere on spark detection signal | Recirculating dust collectors without abort gates return potentially contaminated or burning air to the facility — a single spark detection event with no abort gate means burning air re-enters the occupied space | NFPA 654 requires abort gates on recirculating collectors in combustible dust applications; the abort gate is the device that makes recirculation safe — without it, recirculation is not permitted |
| Rotary Valves & Process Components | |||
| HT Series Rotary Valve | ✓ Cast iron rotary airlock valve — ATEX certified, NFPA 69 compliant; explosion and flame proof rated to 25 PSI / 670″ W.C.; differential pressures to 40″ W.C. | Standard rotary valves are airlocks only — not explosion rated, not ATEX certified, not compliant for use below combustible dust collectors | A rotary valve below a dust collector hopper is an isolation point; if it is not explosion-rated, an ignition event in the hopper propagates through the valve to the conveyor or bin below — defeating the entire isolation strategy |
| HTS & BS Series Valves | ✓ HTS Series for high-vacuum applications to 160″ W.C.; BS Series for standard duty to 28″ W.C. — rotor tip options: neoprene, silicone, polyurethane for material compatibility | Single-configuration rotary valves require over-specifying for low-pressure applications or under-specifying for high-vacuum systems — no material-matched rotor tip options | Conveying system vacuum levels and material characteristics vary significantly across applications; matching the valve series and rotor tip to the specific application prevents premature tip wear, material leakage, and seal failure |
| Controls, Automation & Services | |||
| Automatic Blast Gates | ✓ EB-ABG automatic blast gates — integrated with energy management control system; open and close automatically based on which machines are running | Manual blast gates require operators to open and close gates as machines start and stop — gates are routinely left open, reducing airflow to active collection points | Automatic blast gates eliminate the human factor in airflow management; the system always directs full suction to active machines and closes unused branches — consistent capture velocity at every hood regardless of operator behavior |
| Energy Management | ✓ Boss energy management control systems — monitor and control dust collector fan speed, blast gates, and system pressure in real time; VFD integration reduces fan energy consumption | Fixed-speed dust collectors run at full power regardless of how many machines are operating — energy waste on low-production shifts and weekends | VFD-controlled fans matched to actual system demand reduce energy consumption 30–50% on variable production schedules; payback periods of 12–24 months are common on systems over 25 HP |
| Dust Hazard Analysis | ✓ Boss provides NFPA 652-required Dust Hazard Analysis (DHA) services — identifies combustible dust hazards, documents compliance gaps, and specifies corrective equipment | Equipment suppliers provide equipment only — DHA documentation and compliance gap analysis require a separate engineering firm, adding cost and coordination complexity | NFPA 652 requires a DHA for all facilities handling combustible dust; facilities without a documented DHA face OSHA citations and insurance coverage gaps — Boss completes the analysis and supplies the corrective equipment from one source |
| Boss Products America — part of the STIF Group. ATEX certified. NFPA 68 & 69 compliant. Distributed by Collectors & Filters, Whitestown, Indiana. Contact us: 317-910-1497. | |||
