Dust explosions happen in an instant, or I should say that they happen in milliseconds. Thus, immediate detection is the difference between containment and catastrophe; between life and death. Are you at risk?

Many of the dust and flammable particles present in industrial process facilities are explosive. What seems like the most benign substance becomes extremely dangerous when in the form of dust. Products like sugar, egg white, garlic powder, coffee and lactose have potential to cause violent explosions when reduced to dust.
Combustible dust fires in process equipment happen daily. Simply abiding by current combustible dust industry standards and OSHA regulations is not enough to prevent a disaster. What actions should you take?

1. Have your process materials tested for explosibility.
2. Employ proper detection, isolation, ventilation or suppression systems.
3. Maintain good housekeeping practices.

Explosibility testing can help determine the potential for a dust explosion, as well as provide a basis for safe plant design and operating parameters. Tests are performed in accordance with ASTM standards and some of the most common are as follows:

• Explosibility Screening – determines the potential for combustion
• Dust/Gas Explosibility – measures explosion severity of a fuel-air mixture.
• Minimum Explosive Concentration of Dusts – measures the relationship between dust concentration and explosion severity
Read more about explosion testing.

If you find you are at risk you have several options for protection.
1. Explosion Venting – One of the most common and effective forms of passive explosion protection, it provides overpressure protection by providing a planned pathway for the expanding gases to escape.
2. Explosion Isolation – Prevent the spread of a flame from one part of the process to another by using isolation valves and/or chemical barriers.
3. Explosion Suppression – Detect and chemically suppress an explosion in its earliest stages before a disaster.
To learn more about what a dust explosion is and how they occur, watch the Chemical Safety Board’s dust explosion video.

Certified Fire is a leader in design, installation, monitoring, and maintenance of fire alarm and detection, fire suppression, and explosion protection systems. We represent Notifier, Fike, and Ansul; three of the best known and highest quality manufacturers in the fire protection industry. Certified Fire is registered at the state and federal level as a veteran-owned small business. You can learn more about Clean Agent Fire Suppression, Fire Alarm Systems, Dust Testing and Explosion Protection Systems at  www.certifiedfire.com.