Key functionality, limitations, and examples of street sweeping equipment. Modified from Kuehl et al, 2008
Link to this table

Sweeper type Sub-type Functionality Limitations Hopper capacity (cubic yards) Dump style Addresses
Water quality Air quality Appearance Safety Road maintenance
Mechanical Chain-and-paddle Effective for wet/matted leaves and digging/ sweeping packed dirt; Able to sweep millings and coarse sand better than belt sweepers (no “inside” areas of buildup); Compared to belt sweepers, less daily build up; Requires less power than regenerative air and vacuum sweepers Paddles limit debris size to 6” diameter or smaller; Compared to the belt, chain-and paddle needs to be replaced more often; Does not pick up fine materials as well as other sweepers; Particles that do not get picked up are spread across the street surface sometimes making the street look dirty or streaked 4.5-7.5 Side Multi-Level
Rear Mid-Level
Small Particles (Poor)
Large Particles (Fair)
X X X
Belt Able to pick up large debris (plastic bottles, cans, branches); Able to pick up wet/matted and large amount of leaves better than other sweepers; Effective at “digging into” and removing packed dirt from roadway; Requires less power than regenerative air and vacuum sweepers Conveyor must be cleaned daily to prevent buildup of debris; Chip seal aggregate and winter abrasive (sand) can build up inside belt; Does not pick up fine materials as well as other sweepers; Particles that do not get picked up spread across the street surface sometimes making the street look dirty or streaked 3.5-4.5 Side Multi-Level
Rear Mid-Level
Small Particles (Poor)
Large Particles (Fair)
X X X
Vacuum NA Removes fine sand and silt, but surface must be dry; Best for situations with most debris in gutter; Will vacuum material directly from gutter; Ability to pick up entrained material within cracks under vacuum head; Can have vacuum hose attachment (i.e. for catch basins) Difficulty picking up wet/matted leaves; Cannot pick up tree brush; Water must be used in the hopper for dust suppression (prevents dust from being blown out via the fan exhaust); Debris is limited to 3-inch diameter or smaller; Requires more power than mechanical broom sweepers; noise may be a consideration; Water should be used or excessive fan wear will occur; More efficient operation on flat pavement surface; Should be used in above freezing temperatures only 8.0-8.5 Rear tilt Small Particles (Fair)
Large Particles (Fair)
X X
Regenerative air NA Can remove fine sand and silt, but surface must be dry; Ability to pick-up materials entrained within cracks; Can have a larger than average hopper; Can have vacuum hose attachment (i.e. for catch basins); Regenerative head reaches up to eight feet in width Debris is limited to diameter of air out hose; Difficulty in picking up wet/matted leaves; Particles that do not get picked-up are spread across the street surface sometimes making the street look dirty or streaked; Requires more power than mechanical broom sweepers; noise may be a consideration; Should be used in above freezing temperatures only; More efficient operation on flat pavement surface 4.0-9.6 Rear tilt Small Particles (Good)
Large Particles (Fair)
X X X
High Efficiency / Newer Technology Mechanical/ Vacuum Removes fine sand and silt; Able to pick up wet, matted vegetation; Able to pick up large debris (plastic bottles, cans, small branches); Wet operation with skirts removed; Can use dry vacuum or water to suppress dust; Year round operation Broom skirting limits ingestion of large amounts of leaves in the fall; More skirting parts that are prone to wear 3.5-4.5 Front Multi-Level
Side Mid-Level
Small Particles (Good)
Large Particles (Good)
X X X X
Regenerative air Removes fine sand and silt; Year round operation Should be used on flat surface to seal sweeper head; Debris is limited to diameter of vacuum hose; Difficulty in picking up wet, matted vegetation 4.5-7.3 Rear tilt Small Particles (Good)
Large Particles (Fair)
X X X

This page was last edited on 7 August 2022, at 11:54.