- THE MAGAZINE Smaller dust particles react more quickly with
oxygen and require less energy to ignite. Alot of recent
discussion has centered on explosion potential as it relates to
dust collectors. Manufacturers are now required by the National
Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to minimize explosion
potential in their dust collector equipment. Combustible vs.
Non-Combustible Dust can be separated into two categories:
combustible and non-combustible. As its name implies, non-
combustible dust will not, under predictable conditions, ignite,
burn, release flammable gases, or support combustion when
subjected to fire or heat. Combustible dust, on the other hand,
will pose a fire or deflagration hazard when suspended in an
oxidizing medium, regardless of the size or shape of the dust.
However, particle size does have an effect on the hazard level
of dusts. The largest size that is classified as “dust” is any
material that can sift through a 0.420 mm screen mesh, as shown
in Table 1. Thus, a dust particle is gene