Dust Collectors

Dust collectors are essential in controlling dust, but they themselves present certain hazards unless properly operated and protected. Standards & Regulations that apply to dust collectors include: S.5.10 of the Ontario Fire Code, S.18 of the Ontario Electrical Code, NFPA 654, NFPA 664, NFPA 91, NFPA 68, NFPA 69, and various FM Global Standards for combustible dust. The first step in determining whether there is a combustible dust hazard is to look at the dust particle size, the humidity level and/or have the dust tested by a company such as FIKE Canada.

The use of a dust collector involves a risk of ignition or explosion that creates a condition of imminent hazard to a person’s health or safety. A dust collector that collects aluminium, magnesium or other fine dust easily ignitable nature must be located:

a) Outdoors
b) In a room used solely for the housing of dust-collecting equipment and which is:
i.) Separated from the rest of the building by a dust-tight partition having a minimum fire resistance rating of one hour.
ii.) Constructed to provide explosion venting to the outdoors.

HITE Engineering regularly provides the following services to facilities that process combustible dusts:

Determine whether an open floor area is considered a hazardous location under the definitions of NFPA 654 and the Ontario Electrical Code.
Design of dust collection systems.
Tests to determine bonding & grounding quality and recommendations to achieve compliance.
Finite element analysis of dust collectors, receivers, hoppers, elevators, mills, cyclones, dryers, etc. to determine enclosure strength. This is necessary in order to calculate the amount of explosion venting area required under NFPA 68, or the possibility of utilizing a suppression system under NFPA 69.
Recommendations for reinforcement of vessels.
NFPA 68 calculations.
Area classification drawings.
Pre-Start Health & Safety Reviews.
Audits for compliance with current applicable Standards and Regulations for combustible dusts (either as part of a general Fire Code audit or separately).