What Is Combustible Dust?

Combustible dust is any type of solid, finely divided material that can become dispersed in the air and explode with exposure to an ignition source. It can take the form of powders, flakes, fibers, or even liquids or gases. In some cases, these materials are not typically combustible at all. However, when airborne particles are of a certain size or present in certain concentrations, they can burn or even explode.

Materials That Can Be a Combustible Dust Hazard

An extensive array of materials can create a hazardous environment under the right circumstances. Some of the most common combustible dust materials include:

  • Agricultural products, like powdered milk, cornstarch, egg whites, flour, sugar, rice, potatoes, and grains
  • Metals like aluminum, magnesium, zinc, and bronze
  • Coal, sulfur, and other chemical dusts
  • Pharmaceuticals
  • Pesticides
  • Plastics
  • Textiles
  • Rubber
  • Wood

The Hidden Dangers of Combustible Dust

Since combustible dust accumulates discreetly and in hard-to-reach areas, it often poses a silent threat. Manufacturing facilities and other types of commercial spaces don’t always set aside time to thoroughly clean ceilings, walls, ducts, crevices, and other high surfaces. Over time, dust accumulates in these low-visibility areas, increasing the risk of fires and explosions.

Part of what makes combustible dust particularly dangerous is that even something as insignificant as static electricity can set off these particles, creating a fire. Other potential ignition sources for combustible dust include hot surfaces, friction points, sparks, and flames. In dust explosions, the heat released by burning dust can spread so rapidly that the heated air and carbon dioxide create extreme air pressure, powerful enough to blast through walls and destroy entire structures.

Understanding Primary and Secondary Explosions

When combustible dust explosions occur, they are categorized as either primary or secondary explosions. Both types have severe consequences.

Primary Explosions

A primary explosion occurs in a confined space, like an enclosed area within a manufacturing facility or a storage silo. These explosions are caused when an accumulation of combustible dust is ignited. Primary explosions typically dislodge more accumulated dust into the air and cause damage to containment systems like air ducts or vessels. The shock wave that occurs after a primary explosion is often powerful enough to damage walls in the surrounding area.

Secondary Explosions

When a primary explosion occurs, it disrupts settled dust and disperses it throughout a space. Sometimes, the initial explosion also ignites this airborne dust. This cloud of combustible dust acts as fuel for a second, larger explosion, which is referred to as a secondary explosion. Secondary explosions can occur as chain reactions, creating large-scale damage to not only the facility itself but even surrounding buildings.

The Importance of Routine Cleaning

Scheduling thorough cleaning sessions at routine intervals is critically important for maintenance staff, facility managers, engineering teams, and housekeeping departments. During these cleaning sessions, any area where dust could collect unnoticed must be attended to. This includes many diverse environments, such as wood and metal shops, paint booths, lab fume hoods, and even kitchen and laundry facilities. The most important types of facilities to clean regularly are those that perform operations like:

Abrasive blasting Abrasive blasting
Cutting Cutting
Polishing Polishing
Grinding Grinding
Crushing Materials Crushing Materials
Sifting Dry Ingredients Sifting Dry Ingredients
Processing Wet Materials Processing Wet Materials

Your facility should be cleaned according to OSHA guidelines, using specialized, explosion-proof equipment. Depending on the type of materials present, dust can contain anything from pesticide residues, bacteria, and fungal spores to endotoxins and other dangerous debris. Properly removing combustible dust not only significantly reduces your risk of a fire, but also improves your indoor air quality. When inhaled, combustible dust can have serious negative effects on the health of the building’s occupants.

Fortunately, according to statistics from OSHA, facilities that establish safety management programs reduce their illness and injury costs by 20-40%.

Advantages of High Surface Cleaning

While many facilities already have sufficient cleaning processes in place for ground-level surfaces, it’s much harder to adequately see and clean hard-to-reach areas like:

  • Ductwork
  • Exposed Ceiling Rafters
  • The Tops of Machinery
  • Piping and Conduits

High surface cleaning targets these out-of-the-way areas and ensures that they remain free from accumulating dust and debris. This not only protects against fires and explosions but also creates a cleaner and brighter work environment.

IMC's Expertise in Combustible Dust Cleaning

At IMC, we deliver high-surface combustible dust cleaning solutions that not only improve your facility’s safety but enhance its aesthetic appeal. We take pride in our work and always strictly adhere to OSHA safety standards for safe and effective cleaning.

Our team uses a range of specialized combustible dust cleaning equipment to ensure safe handling, including explosion-proof vacuums that feature HEPA filters. We have all the equipment necessary to comfortably access even the most hard-to-reach areas and can set up OSHA-compliant scaffolding, lifts, or ladders depending on your facility’s needs.

Combustible Dust Cleaning

Prioritize Safety with IMC's
Expertise in Combustible Dust

Combustible dust poses a health and safety risk whether or not it ignites. As it collects along high surfaces and neglected indoor areas, it results in a dramatic negative effect on indoor air quality and can have catastrophic consequences if ignited. Eliminating combustible dust through regular, professional cleaning is not only necessary for adhering to OSHA requirements but also for protecting your workers and assets.

At IMC, we have over 50 years of experience creating clean and safe indoor environments. We are certified NADCA Air Systems Cleaning Specialists and are highly experienced in serving food processing, chemical processing, metalworking, plastics fabrication, and other facilities. If you have questions about our combustible dust cleaning services, contact our team. To get your solution started, request a quote today.

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IMC has maintained its growth and success for over fifty years because of the dedication to our clients. With years of knowledge and experience in the commercial cleaning industry, IMC is able to provide a fast, efficient, and cost effective response to any building environment’s need.

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