Combustible Dust Testing

ioKinetic testing can help you understand the hazards, and the risks, associated with the dust being handled. Combustible dust hazard management (CDHM) takes many forms, all beginning with the characterization of specific dusts to define potential hazards.

NFPA 652 regulations require facilities to determine if dusts are combustible or explosible using screening tests, such as burn rate and go/no go screening tests.

For materials assumed to be explosible and combustible, characterization of the dust hazard begins with an Explosion Severity Test (K_St) to define the magnitude of a potential explosion and a Minimum Ignition Energy Test (MIE) to define the type of electrostatic ignition sources that need to be avoided. With these characteristics understood, specific preventions and protections can then be chosen. The choice of prevention and / or protection methods may define a need for further analysis using additional techniques. Dust hazards analyses (DHAs) may also define a need for further analysis.