Facts At Your Fingertips: NFPA 652 and Dust Hazards Analyses

The National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA; Quincy, Mass.; www.nfpa.org) NFPA 652 (Standard on the Fundamentals of Combustible Dust) creates a single, unified combustible-dust standard that applies to “all facilities and operations that manufacture, process, blend, convey, repackage, generate, or handle combustible dusts or combustible particulate solids.” This one-page reference provides information on the NFPA 652 standard and the requirements for conducting a dust-hazard analysis (DHA). Dust sampling NFPA 652 includes procedures that all facilities can follow to identify areas where potential combustible-dust hazards exist (Figure 1). An initial step involves collecting dust samples from throughout the facility to determine the combustible or potentially explosive qualities of the dust. A sampling plan should include the following elements: • Identification of locations where fine particulate materials and dusts exist • Collection of representative samples • Methods to ensure preservation of sample integrity • Communication with the test laboratory regarding proper sample-handling procedures • Documentation of samples taken • Safe sample-collection practices Following a rigorous sampling plan helps…