Combustible Dust Control in the Woodworking Industry
When you work with wood, sawdust is inevitable. But dust build up doesn’t have to be. SonicAire specializes in dust control for woodworking facilities around the globe.
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 are the 4 additional elements on the featured pentagon graphic to create a catastrophic event.
- There is a Federal Standard. If you have combustible dust, it is essential to be aware of the federal requirements for maintaining a safe and compliant facility. You’ll need to review the comprehensive standard on dust and fires in the wood industry issued by the National Fire Protection Association.
- NFPA 660, Standard for Combustible Dusts and Particulate Solids. This standard addresses combustible dust in the workplace and outlines several methods for safely mitigating the associated risks. You’ll also find the requirement for a Dust Hazard Analysis (DHA) in all facilities with combustible dust.
- NFPA 660, Chapter 24: Wood Processing and Woodworking. 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 deemed to exist in a building compartment when the layer of accumulated fugitive deflagrable wood dust averaged over all upward-facing surfaces in the building compartment exceeds 3.2mm (1/8”) in thickness.”
- SonicAire Dust Control Fans Eliminate all Concerns of Wood Dust. 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.
How Do SonicAire Fans Prevent Dust Buildup?
High-Velocity Airflow
SonicAire’s specialized fans use high-velocity airflow to clean overhead areas. This ultra-powerful airflow effectively prevents the accumulation of flammable lint on overhead structures and provides better lint control for commercial laundry facilities.
Thermal-Current Control
Typical airflow involves warm air currents naturally rising and lifting dust to overhead structures, where it accumulates quickly. SonicAire’s industrial dust control fans prevent these naturally occurring upward thermal currents from holding dust in the air in the first place. Our fans create an air barrier below the overhead structures, so the dust doesn’t rise above them and settle on top.
Using these two unique and efficient approaches, and with the help of our specialists, you can be assured that lint accumulation in your facility will be kept at a safe, minimal level.
Contact us today to speak to one of our trained specialists about how SonicAire can mitigate the danger of this lint in your facility. We would love to show you exactly how to make your workspace as safe as possible from dangerous buildup as well as save you time and money from having to do manual clean-up.
What Does Wood Dust Have to Do With Your Insurance?
Wood Industry Overview
This leading market employs nearly 950,000 people across the United States. The U.S. Forest products industry generates$288 billion annually. This number makes up roughly 4% of the U.S.’s total manufacturing GDP. The forest products industry ranks in the top 10 manufacturing employers in 45 states.
What products contribute to these numbers? Major market segments of the wood industry include:
- Sawmills and Lumber Production
- Engineered Wood Manufacturing
- Prefabricated Home Manufacturing
- RV Manufacturing
- Furniture Manufacturing
- Millwork Manufacturing
- Wood Pulp
- Wood Bioenergy / Wood Pellets
- Wood Pallet Manufacturing
You’ve Completed Your DHA. Now What?
With years of experience in testing and consulting on combustible dust hazards and nearly a century of operations focusing on safety, DEKRA is an excellent all-around resource for your specialized demands.
Click below to watch this conversation and discover the best next steps once you’ve completed your DHA.
Additional Resources
Learn more about how we helped companies like yours find solutions to their dust problems.
Get Your Complimentary Dust Management Plan with ROI Analysis
SonicAire is committed to helping our clients tackle combustible dust in their facilities. We will review your facility specifications and develop a custom analysis of how SonicAire fans can use our BarrierAire™ technology to reduce combustible dust accumulation, improve worker safety and productivity and keep your facility compliant with OSHA and NFPA regulations.
Our analysis will also show you the expected Return on Investment, including equipment investment, estimated annual savings and cumulative cashflow benefit.
Get started by contacting us today for your custom facility review, ROI analysis and fan technology proposal.
