Video: NFPA's Derek Duval talks about dust explosion mitigation in NFPA 61 and NFPA 654

Are you familiar with the changes to NFPA Standard 61 for the prevention of fires and dust explosions in agricultural and food processing facilities?  Do you currently know the all the definition changes and new areas added into NFPA standard 654?   In this short video by NFPA fire and protection engineer Derek Duval explores key revisions made to both standards.  This interview was recorded during the NFPA Conference and Expo held in Las Vegas, Nevada earlier this year.  

You can learn more about NFPA 61 The Prevention of Fires and Dust Explosions in Agricultural and Food Processing Facilities ‪http://www.nfpa.org/61 and NFPA 654 Standard for the Prevention of Fire and Dust Explosions from the Manufacturing, Processing, and Handling of Combustible Particulate Solids at ‪http://www.nfpa.org/654

Stay up to date with the latest NFPA Conference and Expo news and view a Laser and Plasma cutting application meeting NFPA 654.

Article: 10 Ways A Dust Collection System Can Contribute To Your Plant’s Sustainability

A dust collector is designed to clean a factory of dust and fumes, thus making it fundamentally green.  By designing a dust collection system properly you can contribute to sustainability in many additional ways. An article appearing in Green Manufacturer magazine titled "10 Ways a dust collection system can contribute to your plant’s sustainability" written by air pollution control expert John Dauber, gives an easy overview in helping increase and maintain sustainability.

Make sure that the dust collector is compliant with the new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) Rule 6x regarding weld fumes and other airborne contaminants.   You can request a written guarantee from the equipment manager stating the dust collector meets the standards.  Size the collector properly for the application and area.  An undersized dust collector can result in high pressure drop, frequent filter changes, high energy usage, and a host of larger maintenance issues.

If you are being accountable for a  high standard of sustainability shouldn't you require your dust collector supplier to do the same.  You can request a sustainability report or other documentation as evidence of its green manufacturing initiatives.   The use of a VFD variable-frequency drive controls fan speed effectively and efficiently.

To read the full article and learn additional steps to consider for a truly sustainable dust collection system please visit Green Manufacturer Magazine.
You may also find more information regarding the EPA Standards here.

Industrial Dust And The Human Body

Sometimes we get caught up in the mechanics, regulations, and safety of why an industrial dust collection system is needed.  Other times we are concerned with combustible dust and it's dangers, but what about the effects of dust on the human body.

Whenever people inhale airborne dust at work, they are at risk of occupational disease. Year after year, both in developed and in developing countries, overexposure to dusts causes disease, temporary and permanent disabilities and deaths.  The World Health Organization offers documents to help educate and train people and employers in the prevention and control of dust in the workplace.

Irritant dust can settle in the nose and may lead to inflammation of the mucus membrane as well as inflammation of the trachea or the bronchi.  According to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety "The lungs are constantly exposed to danger from the dusts we breathe."  The most dramatic dust reaction of the lung occurs in the deepest parts of the organ, leaving scarring and impaired normal lung function.  The amount of dust particles that settle in the lung also effect the capacity of the lung and the ability to take full deep breathes.   Many lung diseases are caused by inorganic dust exposure to silica, tin, tungsten carbide and coal.  Even organic dust such as hair particles, hay, and dust of heat treated sludge can cause disease to the lung.

The eyes are not immune to the effects of dust particles.  Even most safety glasses allow small dust particles to reach the eye causing irritation and/or possible damage to the cornea.   OSHA has certain standards in place to limit exposures to specific dust and fumes.  Inhalation of cobalt metal, dust and fumes may cause interstitial fibrosis, interstitial pneumonitis, myocardial and thyroid disorders, and sensitization of the respiratory tract and skin.   Some diseases of the heart have been linked to dust and fumes.

You can find out more about health and dust related issues through the following links.
World Health Organization
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety
OSHA

Article: From Dust To Death - Six tips to stop dust collector explosions

Preventing combustible dust explosions has been an industry concern for years.   Increasing the stress for emergency health and safety managers trying to find the correct solution and maintain that solution for the future as well.  With so many standards, regulations, and codes one can get easily overwhelmed.  A recent article in ISHN Magazine by industry experts Tony Supine and Mike Walters condense the tedious task into a few informative tips.   

Reviewing the NFPA 654 standard will give you information on how to design a safe dust collection system.  It will also guide you to other NFPA standards regarding deflagration venting, explosion protection where venting is not possible, as well as standards for specific types of combustible dust and industries.   The NFPA has incorporated performance-based options, since 1995 using calculations in its standards for explosion protection equipment.   Since 2006 the NFPA has been allowing real world destructive test data to be used in place of the calculations data, as long as adequate testing has been proven.   Although often overlooked, real world data is permissible and your dust collection supplier may help you with cost savings and from over engineering,  all while not compromising safety.  

A hazard analysis is required to determine the level of fire and explosion protection required.  Testing the dust to determine the KST rating and Pmax by ASTM E 1226-10 standard needs to be established.  Quality is often overruled by a low price.   Is the value what it seems?  As documented a low-end dust collector will most likely need replacing after an explosion, where as a high quality gauge collector often only requires replacing only the explosion vent and filter cartridges.   High quality compliant equipment is reassurance and an investment in the future.   Keeping a clean facility is another key element in preventing dust explosions.  Hazardous levels of dust accumulation are the most common of all OSHA violations, often ending with fines.  The NFPA definition of hazardous surface dust is now 1/64 inch or 0.4mm in depth.   Staying alert of any changing conditions that can contribute to potential explosive problems should be normal practice.

You can read the full article here From Dust To Death - Six tips to stop dust collector explosions.

Article: Determining Total Cost of Ownership of Your Dust Collector Filters

Many of you may have an existing dust collector and have a need to replace or add an additional collector to a new process or application. A recent article in the 2011 Q4 issue of SprayTime, a quarterly magazine published by the International Thermal Spray Association (ITSA), addresses ways of determining your true cost of ownership. To most facilities a replacement filter is just a commodity and the cheapest priced filter is often purchased. So how much does that filter really cost you in the long run?

There are so many things to be considered when deciding on the true cost of a dust collector replacement filter. Emission thresholds, dust size and shape, energy, disposal, and even maintenance costs to name a few. This four page article is full information that can assist you in making informed decisions when it comes time to replace your dust collector filters.

You can visit the ITSA website, get a free subscription to the magazine, or download the PDF file of the complete issue and article from the highlighted links.

FAQ: When Choosing a Dust Collector, Is There an Advantage to Using Vertical Filters Versus Horizontal Style Filters?

We have covered many topics over the last few weeks for you to consider when purchasing a dust collection system. Our goal is to provide you with the information and tools necessary for you to make the best decision for your application. This week we explore the pros and cons of horizontal filters versus vertical dust collector filters. Something as simple as how a filter is installed or mounted in a collector whether vertical or horizontal can have a major impact on both safety and performance.

A horizontal filter has a tendency for dust to build up on the top side of the filter. This reduces the efficiency of the filter and can also increase the chance for a fire from a spark. Bridging as it is commonly called is when the build up of dust on the top of a filter is thick enough to reach a filter above it as seen in the photo. You can read more of the comparisons through this link:

When choosing a dust collector, is there an advantage to using vertical filters versus horizontal style filters?

Article: Good Housekeeping for Five Problem Areas

A recent article in EHS Today magazine covers some important information regarding keeping you facility clean and organized and give you greater compliance with environmental, health and safety regulations. You will notice many of the recent governmental agencies mentioned have been discussed in our blog updates.

Among the areas explored are spills and liquids, dust, clutter, and lack of a housekeeping plan. Planning around production schedules and keeping the proper cleaning tools is a necessity.

You can read the full article by Karen Hamel here Good Housekeeping for Five Problem Areas

Article: Five Ways New Explosion Venting Requirements For Dust Collectors Affect You

We have mentioned government agencies like OSHA, EPA, and the US Chemical and Safety Board in some of our previous blog updates. There is one more agency that you should be familiar with and it is known as the National Fire Protection Agency. The NFPA was established in 1896, with a mission to reduce the worldwide burden of fire and other hazards on the quality of life by providing and advocating consensus codes and standards, research, training, and education.

The NFPA develops, publishes, and disseminates more than 300 consensus codes and standards intended to minimize the possibility and effects of fire and other risks. It is one of these standards that could influence your dust collection decision or may concern the system you may already have in place. NFPA 68: STANDARD ON EXPLOSION PROTECTION BY DEFLAGRATION VENTING

Reading and understanding this standard can be overwhelming to some, but an article that appeared in Powder & Bulk Magazine may offer some help. The article by experts Lee Morgan and Tony Supine will help you better understand the changes in this revised standard and how it will affect your dust collection choices now as well as the future.

You can read and download a PDF of the full article here Five Ways New Explosion Venting Requirements For Dust Collectors Affect You.

Video - Inferno: Dust Explosion at Imperial Sugar

This month is the four year anniversary of the deadly combustible dust explosion at Imperial Sugar Refinery in Georgia. We wanted to depart from our dust collection series this week to remember the 14 employees that were fatally burned. This explosion was preventable and sadly there have been many more deadly combustible dust explosions elsewhere since.

This video is part of a safety video series put out by the CSB (U.S. Chemical and Safety Board). The video report contains footage, animations, and interviews surrounding that investigation and details of how the explosions happened.

Article: Understanding Your Dust - Six Steps to Better Dust Collection

I would like to continue our dust collection journey by exploring past the dust identification and testing stages. An article by dust collection experts Lee Morgan and Mike Walters will help take the mystery out of the dust collector choosing process, by explaining how to analyze your application needs and dust characteristics.

The six sections will detail the steps in the decision making process. Let's face it, dust collection decisions are not easy and can be confusing with all the filter media choices, air flow requirements, regulations, preventive maintenance. By educating yourself, you will make the best dust collector choice for your application, thus avoiding unwanted and unnecessary issues down the road.

You can read the full article here. Understanding Your Dust - Six Steps to Better Dust Collection

Article: What's The Best Type Of Dust Collector Filter For Applications Involving Sticky Dusts?

This week I would like to get away from combustible dust and address a different and unique application involving sticky dusts. This is not a common issue but it comes up from time to time and the solution can be hard to find. When moisture is combined with dust the outcome can produce many types of issues for a dust collector.

A recent article by John Dauber in Powder and Bulk Engineering PBE-News addresses testing, types of filter media, coatings, and external devices involved in the solution process.

You can read the full article here.

Article: How Well Do You Know Your Dust?

In my last post we explored an OSHA bulletin that highlighted the hazards associated with combustible dust. This week I would like to expand on how to determine the explosibility and physical properties of the actual dust. It is one thing to collect the dust but what exactly are you collecting?

While knowing your dust has always been good practice, it is rapidly becoming a necessity in today's regulatory climate. OSHA has identified and contacted 30,000 companies considered to be at risk of explosion from combustible dusts. The importance of dust testing has changed and the implications have become even more significant over the past few years.

Full article can be read here: How Well Do You Know Your Dust?

OSHA Bulletin - Combustible Dust in Industry: Preventing and Mitigating the Effects of Fire and Explosions

Recently the US Chemical Safety Board has called on the Occupational Health and Safety Administration to develop and publish a combustible dust standard that includes coverage for metal dusts by the end of 2012. As of today no such standard exists. OSHA Bulletin labeled "Combustible Dust in Industry: Preventing and Mitigating the Effects of Fire and Explosions" is not a standard or regulation. The purpose of the bulletin is to highlight the hazards associated with combustible dust. Work practices and guidelines that reduce the potential for a combustible dust explosion, or that reduce the danger to employees if such an explosion occurs, and training to protect employees from such hazards.

The bulletin covers accidents that occurred, elements needed for a combustible dust explosion, how to access for combustible dust, dust control, and education of management and employees. It's important to know what OSHA has in place currently and hopefully this will help prevent combustable dust incidents until the standards are released.

You can view the CSB video titled, Combustible Dust: An Insidious Hazard, at http://www.farrapc.com/comply/.

Video: Mining Expert Explains the Cost Comparison of Dust Collector Bags vs. Cartridge Filters in Mining

In this video Dave Stock explores the various factors to consider when making the evaluation between using a traditional baghouse or cartridge filter dust collector in a mining application. He will cover the cost involved in both dust collection options.

Dave starts by answering the frequently asked question about bag filter versus cartridge filter costs. Other comparisons involve the often unforeseen or hidden costs such as filter replacement time, production downtime, lost revenue and energy costs.

For more information on dust collector for mining applications such as moisture concerns and proper sizing, click here.