The Hazards of Wood Dust

What You Need to Know About Wood Dust

• Wood Dust is Combustible. You probably already know that, sure. But here’s why: Because wood dust is so fine, each particle of dust has a huge surface area compared to its mass. Burning can only occur on the surface, where it reacts to oxygen, as dust is far more flammable than other materials. All combustible dust needs to create a catastrophic event are the 4 additional elements on the featured pentagon graphic.
• There are Federal Standards. If you have combustible dust, you should be aware of the federal requirements to keep your facility safe and compliant. You’ll need to review the two standards on dust and fires in the wood industry issued by the National Fire Protection Association.
  • NFPA 652, Standard on the Fundamentals of Combustible Dust. This standard details combustible dust in the workplace and describes several ways to safely eliminate the risks associated. You’ll also find the requirement of a Dust Hazard Analysis (DHA) in all facilities with combustible dust.
  • NFPA 664, Standard for the Prevention of Fires and Explosions in Wood Processing and Woodworking Facilities. In this standard, you’ll find the exact amount of dust you are permitted before it becomes a fire hazard. (To quote the standard, “A deflagration hazard shall be determined to exist where the layer of accumulated fugitive wood dust on upward-facing surfaces exceeds 3.2mm (1/8”) over 5 percent of the area or 93m2 (1000 ft2), whichever is smaller.”)
• SonicAire Dust Control Fans Eliminate all Concern of Wood Dust. Dust control fans are mentioned specifically in NFPA 652, and SonicAire fans come with a guarantee of compliance and safety. Once you’ve installed our fans, these wood dust worries become a thing of the past.

What You Need to Do About Wood Dust

• Conduct a Dust Hazard Analysis (DHA). A DHA is mandatory for all facilities with combustible dust, as we mentioned above. But what happens if you don’t have one? You may be fined by OSHA, or you may have your facility shut down until you fix the issue. Without knowing the specific areas of concern that a DHA details, you put your employees and your entire facility at risk. Simply put, it’s not worth the risk. (If you’re unsure what happens after a DHA, check out our conversation with DEKRA specialist Kevin Jeffries.)
• Resolve All Issues Found on the DHA. The DHA will explain every concern your facility has for combustible dust and propose solutions for each. You can opt for the solutions they suggest, or you may find alternatives that fit your facility better. (Check with the inspectors, though. It may not be a negotiable item for compliance.)
• Control Your Facility’s Wood Dust. This may be obvious, especially after all you’ve read here, but you’ll need to find a solution that works for your company. Clean it manually with dedicated employees, repropose your employees frequently to remove the dust, hire a cleaning crew, or prevent it from accumulating. Just remember, though: as with any mess, it’s far easier to prevent it from happening than to clean it up. SonicAire dust control fans will prevent accumulation, keeping your facility safe and compliant.
• Catch What Your Filtration System Misses. When your filtration system isn’t catching all the fugitive dust in your facility, you’ll need to take steps to prevent the build up in additional ways. Remember, a filtration system simply isn’t meant to catch it all. Check our video You Ask. We Answer. – How to Capture the Dust Your Filtration System Misses for more on that.

How Do SonicAire Fans Keep OSB Facilities Compliant and Safe?

At Meadow Lake OSB, the dust produced by normal operations was simply too much to deal with. There was no possible way that staff could keep buildup below acceptable standards without shutting down operations and impacting productivity. At a production loss of $4,000 an hour each time they stopped to clean, it was obviously impacting profitability.

Click the video below for a case study of how SonicAire fans helped Meadow Lake OSB.