Industrial Fire Prevention

Industry Insights brought to you by Powder and Buld Solids https://www.powderbulksolids.com/explosion-protection-safety/how-many-dust-explosions-happen-each-year How Many Dust Explosions Happen Each Year? Dr. Chris Cloney, PEng, managing director and lead researcher at DustEx Research Ltd, and runs dustsafetyscience.com, dustsafetyacademy.com, and dustsafetyprofessionals.com Dust explosions are largely unreported or misreported events Chris Cloney, PEng, managing director and lead researcher, DustEx Research Ltd | Nov 01, 2022   Ever since starting our incident reporting work at DustSafeyScience.com, this practical question of lives touched by combustible dust incidents has always loomed in the back of my mind. The challenge of increasing dust explosion awareness can be highlighted by a quote first published in German by Beyersdorfer (1925) 1 and more recently translated by the late Dr. Rolf Eckhoff (2003) 2 : “The first [question]--asked by most people--was, “...

 From Powder and Bulk Solids and Rembe The Who, What, When, and Why of Dust Hazards Analysis Image courtesy of REMBE Inc. REMBE’s Jeramy Slaunwhite explains the ins and outs of DHAs and how they help operators address and manage hazards. Jeramy Slaunwhite P.Eng, Senior Explosion Safety Engineer, REMBE Inc. | Sep 20, 2022 Many industrial facilities handle combustible particulate material which pose fire and explosion hazards. Managing combustible dust hazards is critical to ensure the safety of the plant personnel and operations. In order to effectively manage combustible dust hazards they must first be identified and understood. A dust hazards analysis, or DHA, is a systematic review and assessment of a process and/or facility led by someone with knowledge and experience in understanding and identifying combustible dust hazards. A DHA is a tool to help plant managers and operators address and manage hazards that may not have been otherwise obvious....

From our friends at: Donaldson Overview Help Prevent and Protect Against Combustible Dust In manufacturing facilities that generate or handle dust, it’s an important responsibility to manage combustion risks. When a combustible dust encounters an ignition source, there is the potential for a fire or explosion. It’s essential to have a comprehensive plan to manage and mitigate that potential risk. Many operations are subject to the requirements of NFPA Standard 652: Fundamentals of Combustible Dust, which has a dust hazard analysis (DHA) requirement due by September 7, 2020. A well-designed, maintained, and operated dust collection system is an integral part of your effort to comply with this and other standards and regulations. Donaldson can assist you in developing a strategy for the specific needs of your facility.   Strategy Here are some basic steps to get started on a mitigation plan: 1. Know your standards and codes.  Research the local, state, and federal mand...

From our friends at: Donaldson Facebook Twitter n Email Food and agricultural processors have led the manufacturing industry in combustible dust risk mitigation. Now that the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has published new editions of its standards on the risks of combustible dust, it’s a good time to review, and possibly revise your mitigation strategies. Regulatory Background Although NFPA standards are not part of federal law, they are considered industry best practices. Many municipalities adopt them in their code and OSHA inspectors sometimes reference them under the General Duty clause when citing unsafe work conditions. In food and agricultural processing, the most relevant standard is  NFPA 61, Standard for the Prevention of Fires and Dust Explosions in Agricultural and Food Processing Facilities . The latest edition of NFPA 61 requires that any existing food or agricultural processing facility with combustible or explosible dust must complete a dust hazard an...

From: FM Global  Minimize property loss from the coronavirus crisis APRIL 10, 2020   | FEATURE ARTICLE The coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak has forced unprecedented sudden facility closings—or severely impaired abilities to produce or provide services—around the world. To help, FM Global is offering a checklist of actions you can take depending on your current situation. Actions address: Site security Emergency response Fire protection equipment Ignitable liquid Ignition sources Extreme weather Manufacturing operations  And more Review the  Pandemic Property Loss Prevention Checklist  and take the steps you can now.

From: FM Global Finding it is Job #1 NOVEMBER 11, 2021   | FEATURE ARTICLE "When it comes to the freeze hazard, it's the stuff that we can't see that's often of most concern," says Katherine Klosowski, vice president and manager of natural hazards and structures at FM Global. The pipe behind the wall without adequate insulation. The sprinkler riser in the parking garage that stands unprotected where the water and air meet. Under winter conditions, these can become major freeze losses. This winter brings added challenges with the COVID-19 pandemic. First, many locations are operating with open windows to increase fresh air flow into buildings. Second, some locations have cut back on operations and the normal heat generated from production equipment is not there.  “These conditions can increase the risk of a frozen sprinkler pipe or domestic water line, especially those near a window, vent opening, skylight, or in a cold stairwell,” explains Klosowski. “Water expan...

From: Chemical Engineering Online    MITIGATE DUST HAZARDS WITH GOOD EQUIPMENT AND SYSTEM DESIGN By Chuck Kerwin and Gus Carrington, AZO Inc. |  November 1, 2020 By carefully considering equipment and plant design in processes involving powdered materials, fugitive dust issues can be reduced significantly. Powdered ingredients that unintentionally leak from equipment in a manufacturing plant are known as fugitive dust. The risks associated with fugitive dust are very real.  The three major risk factors are: 1) combustion risk  2) operator exposure (inhalation and contact) risk and  3) product hygiene risk.  It is difficult, if not impossible, to eliminate all dust from a manufacturing plant, but controlling fugitive dust starts with equipment design. Minimizing dust in and around bulk-material-handling systems is most effective when less dust is allowed to escape from your material-handling system.  This article provides information on design stra...