1. The Dollars & Sense of going green Combustible Dust… an Explosive Issue
Presented by
Jamison Scott
More info on combustible dust:
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2. Air Handling Systems - Copyright 2009 For informational use only
Combustible Dust
What is it?
Who is in charge?
Can it happen in my shop?
Prevention
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3. Air Handling Systems - Copyright 2009 For informational use only
What is It?
Combustible dusts are fine particles that present an explosion hazard when suspended
in air in certain conditions.
Source: OSHA Fact Sheet.
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4. Air Handling Systems - Copyright 2009 For informational use only
What is It?
Combustible Fine Particles:
Deflagrable Wood Dust 420 micons (.425 mm, 425 um micrometers, .0165”) or smaller (having moisture content of less than 25%). Material that will pass through U.S. No. 40 Standard Sieve. Size of fairly coarse sand.*
1/32 of dust – thickness of dime.
OSHA continues crackdown on combustible dust hazards Published: August 11, 2009, By Rich Christianson
*Source NFPA
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5. What is It – Classic Fire Triangle
Fuel (combustible dust)
Ignition (heat, spark)
Oxygen (air)
Remove any one element eliminates the possibility of fire.
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6. What is It – Dust Explosion Pentagon
Fuel (combustible dust)
Ignition (heat, spark)
Oxygen (air)
Dispersion (Dust Suspension)
Confinement
Remove any one element prevents explosion, but not necessarily fire!*
*the concentration of suspended dust must be within an explosible range, lowest amount of dust in air that will explode, referred to as Minimum Explosible Concentration (MEC) – (1)
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7. What is It – Primary, Secondary
Primary Issues
Explosion
Secondary Issues
Disturbing of dust on structural supports can create a secondary source of fuel
Video Clip:
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8. Air Handling Systems - Copyright 2009 For informational use only
Who’s in charge
Regulatory Alphabet of Organizations & Agencies
OSHA - Occupational Safety and Health Administration
July 2005 – Combustible Dust in Industry: Preventing and Mitigating the Effects of Fire and Explosions
February 2008 – Imperial Sugar, dust explosion and subsequent fire at a sugar refinery in Port Wentworth, Georgia, caused 14 deaths and left many others seriously injured.
March Hazard Alert: Combustible Dust Explosions. OSHA Fact Sheet
April 2009 – See Congress below
Hazard Communication Guidance for Combustible Dust OSHA
October 21, Combustible Dust ANPR
October 2009 – Status Report on Combustible Dust National Emphasis Program
Congress
April The House passes the Worker Protection Against Combustible Dust Explosion and Fire Act, H.R by a vote of and referred to the Senate.
Feb 2009 – H.R. 849: Worker Protection Against Combustible Dust Explosions and Fires Act of Same as H.R Status: Refferred to Committee. Since OSHA is taking action, the bill will probably NOT make it out of committee.
NFPA – National Fire Protection Association
NFPA 68: Standard on Explosion Protection by Deflagration Venting.
NFPA 654: Standard for the Prevention of Fire and Dust Explosions from the Manufacturing, Processing, and Handling of Combustible Particulate Solids. NFPA 654: Standard for the Prevention of Fire and Dust Explosions from the Manufacturing, Processing, and Handling of Combustible Particulate Solids. Recommendations commonly referred to Fire Local Fire Officials.
US Chemical Safety Board
October 6, (minutes 3-5:30)
Insurance Companies
FM Global - Prevention and mitigation of combustible dust
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Who’s REALLY in charge
YOU!!!!!!
Sugar Refinery Ignored Explosive Dust Before Blast
September 25, 2009 by Rruss Bynum, Associated Press Writer
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10. Air Handling Systems - Copyright 2009 For informational use only
Can it happen in my shop?
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(2)

11. Air Handling Systems - Copyright 2009 For informational use only
Can it happen in my shop?
We will assume you are not Fred and you already have a dust collection system.
Dust Collector.
Hanging Air Filter for ambient dust.
Shop Vac or Vac Kit which attaches to your dust system for everything else.
How big is your shop?
Combustible Dust - Size of shop doesn’t matter, size of dust does.
NFPA 664 larger than 5,000 sq ft or collector greater than 1500 cfm
OSHA can inspect any facility (reduced FINES for smaller shops).
Housekeeping
Essential in any size shop - Less than 10 employee’s maybe safe from OSHA recording standards, but not Fire Marshall or Insurance Co.
Ever have that cloud of dust in your shop from changing a bag or emptying a drum on a collector?
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12. Air Handling Systems - Copyright 2009 For informational use only
Can it happen in my shop?
Firefighters put out sawdust fire at Cole Hardwood
September, LOGANSPORT, IN – No injuries were reported fire that damaged a silo. The reported 42,000-cubic-foot silo held sawdust that was burned as fuel to generate steam heat for the company’s dry kilns. The newspaper quoted co-owner of the lumber company, as saying that safety valves integrated into the dust collection system prevented a potential serious explosion. “I’m just happy no one got hurt,”. Source:
Dust Causes Plant Fire In Mason City
September 23, 2009, MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say no one was injured in a small fire that forced the evacuation of a door manufacturing plant in Mason City. Fire Capt. says sawdust caught fire and the spark was probably caused by some machinery.
Local business evacuated for fire November 3, 2009 WQOW TV News 18 - Eau Claire,USA "The fire was contained to the dust collection system, caused probably by a spark, some sort of spark from one of the motors in the system.
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13. Prevention (based on OSHA – ANPR)
Hazard Assessment
Engineering Controls
Housekeeping
Building Design
Explosion Protection
Operating Procedures
Worker Training
Source OSHA ANPR
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14. Prevention - Hazard Assessment
Recognition
Assessment
Communication
HazCom Standard, MSDS
Industry Standards
NFPA
State and Local Codes
Source OSHA ANPR
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15. Prevention – Engineering Controls
Fixed measures that are built into a facility or processing equipment to remove or minimize hazard.
Primary (building, facility)
Prevent accumulation of dust on surfaces - beams
Secondary (equipment)
Dust Collection Systems
Sprinkler system
Administrative Controls
Written rules and procedures
Source OSHA ANPR
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16. Prevention - Housekeeping
Good Housekeeping
What is fugitive dust?
Dust layers as thin as 1/32 of an inch, so if you see dust, don’t ignore it.
Clean it up and examine where it’s coming from. Seal all openings in processing and conveying equipment to prevent the release of dust.
When you inspect your workplace also consider overhead beams, electrical cable trays, lighting fixtures, and “invisible” areas such as areas above false ceilings. – Source NFPA
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17. Prevention - Housekeeping
Dust Collectors – Clean it Up!
Explosion Relief – Deflagration Venting
NFPA 68 Example:
Dust Collectors
NFPA 664 larger than 5,000 sq ft or collector greater than 1500 cfm)
Changing filters, bags, tightening clamps.
Sprinklers – Test, Test, Test
Building
Dust Collectors and Ductwork
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18. Air Handling Systems - Copyright 2009 For informational use only
Appendix A Combustible Dust in Industry: Preventing and Mitigating the Effects of Fire and Explosions
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Appendix B Hazard Alert: Combustible Dust Explosions. OSHA Fact Sheet, (2008, March)
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Appendix C Hazard Communication Guidance for Combustible Dusts OSHA
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21. Air Handling Systems - Copyright 2009 For informational use only
Appendix D OSHA ANPR
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22. Appendix E Status Report on Combustible Dust National Emphasis Program
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23. Air Handling Systems - Copyright 2009 For informational use only
Appendix F Congress
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24. Appendix G FM Global – an Insurer’s View
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25. Air Handling Systems - Copyright 2009 For informational use only
Resources
OSHA – Occupational Safety & Health Administration -
Combustible Dust:
OSHA Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking:
Congress -
NFPA -
NFPA 68: Standard on Explosion Protection by Deflagration Venting
NFPA 654: Standard for the Prevention of Fire and Dust Explosions from the Manufacturing, Processing, and Handling of Combustible Particulate Solids
NFPA 664: Standard for the Prevention of Fires and Explosions in Wood Processing and Woodworking Facilities
US Chemical Safety Board -
Imperial Sugar Company Dust Explosion and Fire
Insurance Company - (registration required)
Loss Prevention Data Sheet 7-73, Dust Collectors and Collection Systems
Loss Prevention Data Sheet 7-76, Prevention and Mitigation of Combustible Dust Explosions and Fires
Combustible Dust Policy Institute
Linkedin - The Combustible Dust Forum
Building Code Reference Library
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