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”
Tag: Dust Hazard Analysis
An increasing number of facilities that handle combustible dusts have conducted a Dust Hazard Analysis (DHA). A DHA, in summary, is an evaluation of the fire, deflagration, and explosion hazards present at a facility due to the handling, generating, and otherwise production of combustible particulates. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) requires that all facilities handling and/or generating combustible dusts have a DHA completed by September 7, 2020 (NFPA 652 Chapter 7.1.1.2). The deadline for food and agricultural facilities to conduct a DHA is January 1, 2022 (NFPA 61 Chapter 7.1.2.2). Continue reading “DHA Revalidation. I’ve done my DHA. Am I done?”
Most facilities that are handling combustible dusts are now familiar with the term “Dust Hazard Analysis” or “DHA” and understand that it comes from a standard issued by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), nfpa.org. The most referred to standard is NFPA 652 – Standard on the Fundamentals of Combustible Dust. From NFPA 652, the key requirements for conducting a DHA are: Continue reading “Combustible Dust Hazard Identification and the Dust Hazard Analysis (DHA)”
Most facilities that are handling/producing combustible dusts are now familiar with the term “Dust Hazard Analysis” or “DHA” and understand that it comes from a standard issued by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), nfpa.org. Furthermore, by now, many facilities subject to the requirements for conducting a DHA on their existing processes have had that completed. The most referred to standard is NFPA 652 – Standard on the Fundamentals of Combustible Dust. This set the requirement to have the DHA completed for existing processes by September 7, 2020. Now the commodity specific standard for agricultural and food: NFPA 61 – Standard for the Prevention of Fires and Dust Explosions in Agricultural and Food Processing Facilities did set a different date of January 1, 2022. This is the only commodity specific standard that did this; all other standards refer to the date in NFPA 652. There are a few other differences around the DHA requirements between NFPA 61 and 652. For the purposes of this article, we will just focus on the requirements in NFPA 652. Continue reading “Dust Hazard Analyses (DHAs) for New and Modified Processes”