Category: Combustible Dust

Hazardous Area Classification Explained: Class, Division, and Zone Systems

Posted on by Conversion Technnology

Hazardous Area Classifications

Hazardous area classification is the process of identifying where flammable gases and vapors, combustible dusts, or ignitable fibers can exist at high enough concentrations to ignite or explode. It is commonly used to determine the appropriate electrical fixtures that are required to be installed within the process areas, per NFPA 70 – National Electric Code. Various systems are used nationally and internationally to categorize these environments and ensure safe electrical equipment installation. In all cases, area classification principles guide how locations are assessed and equipment is selected. Continue reading “Hazardous Area Classification Explained: Class, Division, and Zone Systems” →

Maintaining Sawmills in Compliance with Environmental and Safety Rules and Regulations

Posted on by Conversion Technology

Conversion Technology Inc. (CTI) is an environmental, health, and safety (EHS) Consulting firm located in Norcross, GA. We have been in business since 1986 working with clients across all industries.

CTI specializes in maintaining sawmills in compliance with Environmental and Safety rules and regulations. The following is a partial list of consulting services that we provide to our sawmill clients: Continue reading “Maintaining Sawmills in Compliance with Environmental and Safety Rules and Regulations” →

The New Combustible Dust Standard is Here – NFPA 660

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What is NFPA 660?

In the past, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has issued several consensus standards governing the storage, handling, and generation of combustible particulates, along with many other Fire Safety documents. Recently the hard work of committees spanning the different combustible dust standards have fruited a new standard, NFPA 660 – Standard for Combustible Dusts and Particulate Solids. The effective date of the standard was December 6, 2024.

NFPA 660 was written to consolidate the requirements and guidance from the following standards: Continue reading “The New Combustible Dust Standard is Here – NFPA 660” →

News You Can Use

Posted on by Conversion Technology

  • On this holiday season we are grateful for our clients and staff as a part of the CTI Family. Happy Holidays from CTI.
  • The following standards are in the works for updates by 2025:
    • NFPA 660 – All encompassing standard on combustible dust
    • R15.08 Part 3 – Safety Standard for Mobile Robot Systems – User Requirements
    • R15.06 Part 3 – Safety Standard for Industrial Robot Systems – User Requirements

Dust Safety Science Podcast DSS279: Importance of Grounding and Bonding in Dust Collection Systems with Alysha Yinger and Adam Haroz

Posted on by Conversion Technology

Check out the Dust Safety Science Podcast featuring our Director of Engineering, Adam Haroz. The podcast covers the importance of grounding and bonding including hazards, deficiencies, and requirements for static discharges and bonding/grounding in Combustible Dust environments.

DSS279: Importance of Grounding and Bonding in Dust Collection Systems with Alysha Yinger and Adam Haroz

News You Can Use

Posted on by Conversion Technology

  • Happy Holidays from CTI
  • CTI has recently hired a new Environmental Scientist, Xander Clark. We welcome him to the CTI family.
  • Adam Haroz, our Director of Engineering, will be speaking at the 2024 Grain Elevator Processing Society (GEAPS) on Combustible Dust in the Feed and Grain sector. He will be co-presenting with Alysha Paris, the Director of Engineering at RoboVent. https://www.geaps.com/exchange/schedule/
  • Adam Haroz, our Director of Engineering, will be speaking at the 2024 Dust Safety Conference on Hazard analysis and combustible dust considerations for battery storage and manufacturing industries. He will be co-presenting with Alysha Paris, the Director of Engineering at RoboVent. https://dustsafetyconference.com/#speakers

Combustible Dust Standards Are Undergoing a Massive Revision (NFPA 660)

Posted on by Conversion Technology

A major change is coming to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards regarding combustible dusts. Many of you have utilized the NFPA standards in the past. The combustible dust standards are in place to provide guidance on ways to identify materials that may pose fire and explosion hazards, determine where and when these hazards might occur, identify and review safeguards needed to prevent injury to personnel and damage to equipment and property, and to track the progress for improving these safeguards.

Continue reading “Combustible Dust Standards Are Undergoing a Massive Revision (NFPA 660)” →

Combustible Dust Hazards and Abatement Techniques for the Wood Pellet Industry

Posted on by Adam Haroz, EIT

By now most companies and people throughout the manufacturing sector have heard of Combustible Dust as it has become a widely discussed topic. As a review, combustible dust fires and explosions are caused when a combustible atmosphere of dust, or a layer of flammable solids, is introduce to an ignition source. This can be demonstrated by the fire triangle or explosion pentagon. These ignitions can be made worse if there are significant levels of dust accumulation present in surrounding areas, and hazard mitigation techniques are not properly utilized. One of the best ways to identify these dust fire and explosion hazards, as well as being the first step in putting a mitigation action plan together is a Combustible Dust Hazard Analysis (DHA). Besides being a great first step it is also a required one according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards 652 and 61. Continue reading “Combustible Dust Hazards and Abatement Techniques for the Wood Pellet Industry” →

NFPA 61 Dust Hazard Analysis (DHA) Deadline Is Approaching

Posted on by Conversion Technology

Many facilities in the food and agriculture industry have processes that handle combustible dusts and powders. Because of this, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has developed several standards to help facilities have safely manage combustible dust and associated hazards. Many of these standards are commodity-specific standards that are developed to give specific industries combustible dust standards that are based on their types of operation equipment, and the input from those that know the most about those processes and materials. Facilities in the food and agriculture industry should refer to NFPA 61: Standard for Prevention of Fires and Dust Explosions in Agricultural and Food Processing Facilities which was recently updated in 2020. One primary requirement listed in NFPA 61 is the need for facilities to conduct a Dust Hazard Analysis (DHA) by January 1, 2022.

What is a DHA? Continue reading “NFPA 61 Dust Hazard Analysis (DHA) Deadline Is Approaching” →