IS A DUST EXPLOSION MORE LIKELY TO HAPPEN IN WINTER?

by Erin Long | Jan 17, 2019 | Uncategorized

The basic answer is that yes, a dust explosion is more likely during this season. The U.S. Chemical Safety Board found that since 1995, 7 out of 8 serious dust explosions occurred in the winter. February was the most dangerous month.

Why does dust explode more often in the winter? There are several factors responsible:

DRY AIR AND LOW HUMIDITY

When the air is cold and dry in the winter, dust contains less moisture. This means it can become airborne more easily. Clouds of dry airborne dust can ignite quickly. Make sure the dust collection system is in good working order and get rid of any escaped dust as soon as possible to prevent this situation.

What if you live in an area where the humidity is always low? This creates the same risks that dry winter air creates in other places. A combustible dust explosion is more likely to occur any time that the air is dry.

STATIC CHARGES

Dry air encourages static electricity charges to build up more easily than when the air is humid. A spark from static electricity can be enough to ignite a combustible dust explosion. Many of the dust collectors we’ve seen when doing maintenance visits are not properly grounded, or not grounded at all.

The best way to prevent the buildup of static electricity in the dust collection system (and other places) is to properly ground all dust-handling equipment. This is an important protective measure no matter what season it is.

The fact that so many systems are not grounded shows why your experienced professionals should design and install your dust collection system.

HOUSEKEEPING

Some facilities keep doors, windows, and vents open during warm weather, which increases natural airflow. In the winter, though, it means lost heat which means lost money. Most places are sealed up as much as possible in the winter to keep the cold out, but this also keeps the dust in. Shops that count on open doors and vents to keep the air clean in the summer might be at risk of a dust explosion in the winter.

Dust buildup inside the facility in winter can also cause a dangerous situation: the potential for a secondary explosion. These happen when dust builds up somewhere, which can happen on any flat surface.

This is more likely to happen in a closed-up shop in the winter. However, it can happen any time. Secondary dust explosions happen when a first, smaller explosion happens. This might not be that bad, but the secondary dust explosion can be much worse. The first explosion blows all the accumulated dust into the air, and then it can ignite in a much bigger explosion.

IGNITION SOURCES

Heaters get turned on in the winter. There’s a good chance they haven’t been turned on since last winter. They can act as an ignition source, especially if they have any faulty wiring. Just one spark is enough for ignition. This has led to some of the worst combustible dust explosions in recent history.

In already dry winter conditions, a spark from a damaged heater is even more likely to ignite an explosion. Sparks from static can also cause ignition.

DUST CONTROL

For dust to ignite, the classic “fire triangle” has to be present: fuel (combustible dust), oxygen, and an ignition source. If you remove any of those things, you can stop a dust explosion from occurring.

Because you can’t guarantee a lack of ignition sources, the best solution is to remove the fuel. A dust collection system fitted with appropriate NFPA safety devices can remove dust from your facility. With explosion isolation valves and other safety features, the dust collection system can also control a dust explosion and vent it safely.

As an added bonus, a dust collection system with high efficiency nanofiber DeltaMAXX filters can usually return air to your facility after filtering. This means that in the winter, the dust gets removed, but the heat stays inside where it belongs.

DON’T HAVE A WINTER WHERE YOU ARE?

Not everyone can be lucky enough to enjoy the ice, snow, and frigid weather of a Pennsylvania winter like we are. Maybe where you’re located, there isn’t really a cold season where the doors are closed or the heaters are on.

Do you have a dry season? During any time when the humidity is low, you have an increased risk of a combustible dust explosion.

Besides, steps, like grounding your equipment, removing ignition sources, and cleaning up your dust, are always a good idea no matter where you’re located.

Size Matters When Searching for the Right Commercial Dust Collector

by Erin Long | Jan 7, 2019 | Uncategorized

Imagine that you’re doing an online search for “dust collector”. You’re going to get a lot of results. Some will be for large commercial dust collectors. However, some will be for small units made to fit in a home garage. How do you get through the maze of search results to find the dust collector that you’re looking for? First of all, what do you need your dust collector to do? Commercial dust collection systems, like the ones we make, are a major investment. Let’s look at some examples of who needs a commercial dust collector and who needs a smaller and less expensive solution.

Consider These  Scenarios

“My home business produces a lot of sawdust and it’s a mess.”

Jim has a one-man woodworking business and operates it out of his garage. He cuts, saws, and sands wood. As a result, his work produces a lot of sawdust, which he knows is a fire hazard as well as a mess. However, Jim does not need a commercial dust collector. So, if he does a search for home dust collection system, he’ll find lots of options that will do the job for him.

“The three of us weld and grind metal a lot during the work day.”

Anne owns a small metalworking business. She does a lot of welding. In addition, she has two employees who weld and grind metal for part of the day. To stay safe, Anne and her employees definitely need dust and fume collection. There are many search results for small business dust collector that will offer Anne some good options. In this case, a commercial dust collector is too big and too expensive for her needs.

“We’re getting a lot of fumes in the shop and I’m worried about everybody’s health.”

Adam is the owner of a metalworking shop. He has ten employees, but plans to add more. They usually spend the entire work day welding and grinding. The shop also has a laser cutting table. As a result, air in the shop is often cloudy with fumes. Opening the doors helps a little in the summer, but it’s a huge waste of heat in the winter. Even in the summer, the cutting table creates a cloud of fumes. Therefore, Adam’s business might want to invest in a commercial dust collector system. This system would be a good investment because it would be able to handle the dust from the welding and grinding. It would also be big enough to deal with the cutting table.  If Adam searches for commercial dust collection systems, he will get results that are more in line with his needs.

“We’ve got dust going everywhere and it’s a huge problem for our business.”

ABC Company is a food processing company that packages powdered food products. Most noteworthy, many of these are combustible. The company has some small dust collectors located over some of the conveyors. However, they have dust built up around the facility and when loads are dumped into bins, dust goes everywhere. This company absolutely needs to look at a commercial dust collector. They have a serious dust problem that’s coming from many different applications in their building. Consequently, a high danger of having a large fire or explosion exists. They are also in danger of serious OSHA fines for the fire hazard. Above all, their dust collection system needs to have solid flame and explosion protection equipment for their combustible material.

“We got fined because our current system isn’t efficient enough for new standards.”

Batteries R Us is a large company that manufactures batteries for vehicles. They have a commercial dust collector in place already. However, they recently got fined for an EPA violation because their system was not capturing enough of the lead dust from their process. Also, their dust collector is old and was installed before some of the newer EPA and OSHA regulations were put in place. To get back into compliance, this company needs to invest in a new, updated commercial dust collector. Plus, the new system will need to have HEPA filters to catch the maximum amount of lead dust. 

Get Expert Advice for a Commercial Dust Collector

For any business, a commercial dust collector system is a serious investment. However, if that’s what it takes to keep people healthy and keep your facility safe, it’s worth it. You might only need a small home unit, or perhaps only one or two small portable units for your small shop. But if you’ve got big dust and fume problems and you need to make a major investment to help solve them, please allow us to help you plan the best system for your needs.