Page 38 - OHS, September 2024

COMBUSTIBLE DUST
Safeguarding Your Workspace: Strategies to Prevent Industrial
Dust Collector Explosions
Effective dust collection and explosion protection strategies are essential for maintaining safety and preventing catastrophic incidents in industrial facilities.
BY TODD WILLEY
Industrial dust collection systems properly engineered for your facility enhance safety and efficiency by capturing airborne par- ticles generated during dust-producing processes. This mea- sure ensures cleaner air for personnel to breathe and helps keep
products and equipment free from damaging dust.
However, dust collectors themselves pose a significant explosion
risk if they lack protective devices. These collectors are essentially closed vessels filled with dry particles. A single spark entering the collector can trigger a catastrophic explosion, endangering person- nel safety and causing structural damage and equipment destruction.
Combustible dust is a hidden danger in many industries, includ- ing manufacturing, agriculture and metal-working. Materials such as metal powders, organic dusts and plastics can become explosive un- der the right conditions. Recognizing these hazards is the first step in preventing incidents. Conducting a thorough hazard analysis to assess the types and quantities of dust produced in your facility is essential.
Fortunately, there are ways to mitigate the risks of dust collec- tor explosions. Let’s explore key points on how to protect against such incidents.
Where to Start: Dust Control Standards
and Recommendations
The National Fire Protection Agency is working on a new standard called NFPA 660 Standard for Combustible Dusts. This standard
will consolidate all existing NFPA regulations related to com- bustible dust. By merging six different NFPA standards into one thorough guideline, NFPA 660 aims to simplify compliance. It will offer both fundamental and industry-specific standards for man- aging combustible dust, advancing best practices to protect facili- ties from fires and explosions associated with dust.
While awaiting the release of NFPA 660, facility operators should refer to NFPA 652 Standard on the Fundamentals of Combustible Dust.1 This comprehensive standard outlines the necessary steps for managing combustible dust fires and explosions across various industries, processes and dust types. Under NFPA 652, owners or operators of facilities where combustible dust is present must per- form a dust hazard analysis, create a hazard management plan and provide training for personnel whom these hazards may affect.
NFPA 654 Standard for the Prevention of Fire and Dust Explo- sions from the Manufacturing, Processing and Handling of Com- bustible Particulate Solids offers performance-based explosion protection choices that can increase the safety of your industrial dust collectors.2 Additionally, NFPA 69 Standard on Explosion Prevention Systems details installation requirements for systems designed to prevent and control explosions in enclosures with flammable concentrations of dusts, vapors, gases, mists or hybrid mixtures.3 This standard is intended for use by design engineers, operating personnel and authorities having jurisdiction.
36 Occupational Health & Safety | SEPTEMBER 2024
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