In 2019, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) revised “NFPA 652, Standard on the Fundamentals of Combustible Dust.” One of the most important updates is the September 7, 2020, deadline for industrial manufacturers to complete a dust hazard analysis (DHA), which is necessary to be compliant with OSHA’s National Emphasis Program (Directive Number: CPL 03-00-008).
However, the simplest way to comply with combustible-dust standards is to have them not apply at all. Clemco Industries can assist customers to determine if the dust their blasting media produces is noncombustible, in which case no further action is needed by them. If dust from a customer’s abrasive blasting process is combustible, Clemco can design safe, cost-effective solutions to ensure compliance with NFPA 652 and OSHA standards.
Three Step Process
- Contact Clemco Customer Service about investigating the combustibility of the media you plan to use:
- Email: custserv@clemcoindustries.com
- Phone: 636-239-4300
- Based on tests Clemco previously has performed on similar abrasive blasting operations, Clemco may be able to determine whether a customer’s operation produces noncombustible dust. If Clemco cannot provide guidance based on previous tests, a simple go/no-go test (pass/fail test), which is part of an ASTM E1226 test series, can be performed for under $1,000. If Clemco determines that a customer’s operation produces noncombustible dust, the customer does not need to take further action.
- If dust from a customer’s abrasive blasting operation is combustible, Clemco’s Product Safety Engineer can apply prescriptive and performance-based approaches to find a safe, cost-effect solution to ensure compliance and to protect employees and facilities. The recommendations will be based on approaches outlined in the primary reference documents “NFPA 652, Standard on the Fundamentals of Combustible Dust” and “NFPA 654, Standard for the Prevention of Fire and Dust Explosions from the Manufacturing, Processing, and Handling of Combustible Particulate Solids.”
Clemco Industries is headquartered in Washington, Missouri. It is the world's largest manufacturer of air-powered abrasive blasting equipment used to clean, deburr, shot peen, remove coatings, finish, or otherwise improve surfaces being blasted. Since the mid-1940s, Clemco Industries has built industrial-grade blast equipment for contractors, facility owners, metal fabricators, and manufacturers around the globe. The company manufactures abrasive blast machines, blast cabinets, and complete blast facilities, as well as safety equipment and blasting accessories.
