Combustible Dust Safety

The first step in understanding your dust hazard level is to characterize the dusts in your facility—informing a dust sampling and testing strategy. Our state-of-the-art flammability and combustible dust testing laboratory underpins all of our hazard analysis services, providing you with in-depth interpretation of results and realized cost savings

When performing a Dust Hazard Analysis, every facility should have a customized testing plan because conditions can vary from one site to the next. Dust testing using the industry standard 20L vessel requires a smaller sample and has a faster turnaround time but is also prone to overly conservative results. This can result in higher capital and operational costs for explosion protection. Our state-of-the art combustible dust lab features one of the few Cubic Meter testing chambers in North America and can be used to refine test results for marginally explosible dusts — and validate whether a combustible dust hazard exists.

Industrial explosions present serious risk to any company that manufactures or handles combustible dusts and vapors. Ignition of a dust or vapor cloud in process equipment can not only destroy the primary vessel, but also spread to interconnected equipment and into the plant, causing secondary explosions with devastating results. We have developed various methods of deflagration protection, in accordance with NFPA 68 and NFPA 69, that can protect facilities against explosions and limit the extent of damage, including rapid explosion suppression, venting and isolation. We can also conduct third party reviews to ensure compliance.