This article distills six expert questions from the Is My Facility Compliant with Combustible Dust Hazards? Webinar, featuring Joseph Kastigar, Regional Sales Manager of Boss Products and Matt Coughlin, Engineer and Owner of Baghouse.com, into practical guidance for managing combustible dust risks across industries.
— "In a food industry that handles dust and sugar with some humidity, is a mitigation system necessary?"
A DHA (dust hazard analysis) is recommended and will specify whether a mitigation system is needed, with the final decision depending on the DHA outcomes, and for isolation, a mechanical passive isolation valve is typically used, with pneumatic options depending on what the DHA indicates.
— "How to prevent fire events in laser cutting applications when both aluminum and ferrous dusts are present?"
Spark detection with a mechanical fire break shutter can be recommended, along with spark traps; and because a dust mix could be highly explosive, a DHA is important, as it may indicate the need for a wet collector or other protections, while if the dust is manageable, protection can include spark detection and mechanical valves and related safeguards.
— "What are some OSHA regulations regarding combustible dust?"
OSHA has a National Emphasis Program (NEP) for combustible dust, and while OSHA points to NFPA as the benchmark, NFPA is not the law; regulators may require additional items, so involve regulators early and plan so they can sign off, with NFPA serving as the guideline basis.
— "What are the proper steps for confirming the appropriate building occupancy based on a DHA?"
Building occupancy depends on architectural standards (IFC tables) and DHA results; simply having combustible dust does not automatically trigger H2 if mitigation like vents, isolation, and CO2 suppression is in place, and the regulator ultimately determines occupancy; the DHA firm knows NFPA, but the architectural regulator decides the occupancy designation, so if needed a follow-up discussion can be arranged.
— "Is coal dust a hazard? Do you have any case study or experience with this kind of dust?"
Coal dust can be a hazard and a full on-site DHA is recommended to determine the exact risk; past projects with coal dust have DHA outcomes guiding protection needs.
If coal dust is present, sharing process details can enable a DHA-based assessment.
— "How does zinc dust affect ignition and explosion risk compared to other metals?"
Zinc dust from galvanizing presents a combustible dust risk, with spark arresters and chemical fire suppression as reasonable protections already in place; to be fully NFPA-compliant, additional explosion protection such as venting and isolation between vessels may be needed, and a DHA is still recommended to review the entire protection setup alongside fire protections.
Every facility is different, and combustible dust challenges can vary widely depending on your dust, equipment, layout, and production demands.
If you didn’t see your question here—or if you’re dealing with a specific issue in your system—don’t hesitate to reach out. Our team is always available to help you find practical, effective solutions and guide you through any challenges you may be facing.
We’d be glad to answer your questions and support you in improving the safety of your dust collection system.
