《Desinging Your Dust Collection System to Meet the NFPA Standards --- Part 1PBE1208》.pdf

As appeared in PBE December 2008 Designing your dust collection system to meet NFPA standards —Part I Gary Q. Johnson Workplace Exposure Solutions tion — differ from those for the published data for the same material, producing different combustible dust re- About 40 per ent of ombustible dust explosions re- sults. The only way to determine your dust’s combustibil- ported in the US and Europe over the last 25 years ity is to have a qualified laboratory run explosion tests on a have involved dust olle tors. Dust olle tion sys- representative sample of the dust. Then, to meet NFPA re- tems are now a primary fo us of inspe tions re- quirements, you’ll need to commission a hazard analysis quired by OSHA’s National Emphasis Program on of your dust collection system to document that its design safely handling ombustible dusts.1 OSHA also has mitigates the explosion risk posed by your dust. (For more information, see reference 4.) the authority to enfor e National Fire Prote tion As- so iation (NFPA) standards for preventing or pro- te ting against dust explosions. This two-part arti le Some dust explosion basi s fo uses on how you an design your dust olle tion The five elements required for a dust explosion can be pic- system’s dust olle tor, du twork, and exhaust fan tured as a pentagon, as shown in Figure 1. The three ele- to meet the intent of these NFPA requirements. Part ment