If your plant has dust accumulating in receiving and loading facilities, plugged duct work, or accumulation above 0.031” in process enclosures, there is a substantial risk to your facility. NFPA 652 requires that the facility owner(s) complete a Dust Hazard Analysis (DHA) along with the confirmation of the collection system performance, operation and documented maintenance evaluation as part of your permanent onsite records.
At Schust, we help industrial facility owners take it step-by-step as a third-party provider for assessment, confirmation, documentation, improvement, or replacement of ventilation systems. Schust has been helping facility owners and operators safely mitigate combustible dust in their ventilation systems for decades. Learn how Schust can help with mitigating combustible dust and what to do with your process afterwards. We are your partners in success and can support you and your facility to reaching your ventilation compliance goals.
Step One: Inspection
Schust technicians visually inspect the current physical condition of dust collector(s), system components, and building areas containing potentially combustible dust. Goals for preventive maintenance would be to confirm existing installation capacities, equipment condition, proper application, and performance.
- Technicians document existing dust control systems air volume, static and velocity pressure, and filter pressure drop.
- A process flow diagram is developed to illustrate all sources of potentially combustible dust.
- Schust documents areas where combustible dust accumulation is an issue with your existing process.
- If necessary, dust samples are collected and can be coordinated for testing to determine their combustion characteristics.
Step Two: Conduct a DHA per NFPA 652 standards
Schust, with decades of internal experience and in coordination with external consultants, can help facility owners perform a DHA based on the results of the inspection. The DHA will first identify which parts of the process and stages of operation (steady state, start up, shut down, emergency shut down) represent fire, flash fire, and explosion hazards. Then, Schust will move through the process equipment and enclosures and identify safe operating ranges to eliminate those risks. As risks are identified that may require additional mitigation, like mechanical isolation, venting, or chemical suppression, Schust can help plant owners decide which technologies are the most cost-effective way to keep the facility safe because of our experience with all approved suppression and venting suppliers. Schust will document mitigating steps and provide a plan to complete it.
Step Three: Implement corrective actions
Schust is a long-standing partner for grain processing facilities and can assist owners in completing a DHA plan with combustible dust projects of all sizes, from minor hood adjustments to new complete dust collection systems with venting and chemical suppression. In-house engineering, fabrication, and installation capabilities means plant owners have one partner in meeting NFPA requirements from start to finish.
Schust technicians have over 50 years of field and engineering experience in electrical and mechanical backgrounds versatile for your site assessment. They know how to identify and assess operational conditions vs. problems, that’s the experience Schust brings to your site.
Please note: Per NFPA 652, the plant/facility owner(s) are responsible for combustible dust that may be present in their facilities. The owner(s) should consult with the local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ).
