Combustible dusts are fine dust particles that have the potential to catch fire and/or explode under certain circumstances. Examples of combustible dusts include most solid organic materials (e.g., sugar, flour, wood dust, etc.), metals (e.g., aluminum, steel dust, etc.), and more.

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What is combustible dust exactly, and why is it dangerous?

Combustible dust is a common result of manufacturing processes. It's an almost invisible danger in most companies. And one of the easiest threats to get rid of. A well-designed, maintained, and operated dust collection system can potentially help reduce the risk of uncontrolled explosions. That's how you help protect your employee safety.

My production facility is clean, should I worry too?

Many production facilities generate, handle, transport, process, or store materials that cause or become combustible dust. The airborne dust created by such processes is not just a housekeeping problem and you do need more than just an explosion vent.

Once those particles have settled in difficult-to-reach places throughout a site, any following disturbance can produce a potentially explosive dust cloud - and when exposed to an ignition source, there is the potential for a fire or explosion. That's where a filtration solution comes in. 

Still not sure if this applies to your company? Let's talk about it. Even if it's impractical to implement, an appropriate and effective industrial ventilation system including dust collection.

So how can I prevent dust fires and explosions?

In manufacturing facilities that generate or handle dust, it’s an important responsibility of the process owner to manage combustion risks. There are several dust collectors that are specifically designed to gather dust from specific sources. These units should always be part of a well-considered plan to mitigate these potential risks.

Simply put: manage combustible dust before it manages you.

Learn more about all things combustible dust 

When you choose a filtration equipment supplier, find one that can deliver solutions customised to your situation and test equipment thoroughly. Read in our brochure how we at Donaldson manage combustible dust.