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Lorchem Learning Center | Combustible Dust | Explosion-Proof VacuumsCombustible Dust Poses A Very Real Threat To Your FacilityHazardous locations (HazLoc) are areas where a fire or explosion hazards may exist due to the presence of flammable gases, vapors or liquids, combustible dust or ignitable fibers or flyings. Most people are familiar with the explosion hazards of common fuels (i.e. gasoline, kerosene) but many are unaware of the hazards posed by combustible dusts. Because many gases and vapors are odorless and invisible, special methods and equipment have been developed for handling, processing and detecting these flammable substances. Dust, on the other hand, is a common byproduct of many ordinary manufacturing processes and is so common in our everyday lives that we tend not to treat it as an explosion hazard. History has proven, however, that combustible dust can cause deadly and devastative explosions. The Dust Explosion PentagonFuel, oxygen and heat—this combination of elements will produce a simple fire but is not enough to create an explosion. Add two more elements, dispersion and confinement, and you have the 5 elements needed to start an explosion. The 5 basic elements needed to start an explosion: 1. Fuel to burn (combustible dust); Traditional plant maintenance methods like sweeping and blowing down with compressed air only make the situation worse by spreading the combustible dust around and making it airborne. This actually increases your chances of a combustible dust explosion.
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News, Articles and Whitepapers"When the Dust Settles: Combating Combustive Dust in Food Manufacturing" - PDF Download "Fired Up: Combustible Dust Raises Explosive Issues" - PDF Download Combustible dust has been the culprit of deadly work-place blasts for decades, but it wasn’t until an explosion in 2008 that killed 14 people at the Imperial Sugar Refinery in Port Wentworth, GA, that the issue began getting the attention it deserved. OSHA stepped in, reissuing its Combustible Dust National Emphasis Program. OSHA's Maintenance and Housekeeping Guidelines for Combustible Dust. |