New NFPA Consolidated Standard for Combustible Dusts

National Fire Protection Association publishes standard 660 for industries working with potentially combustible dusts and particulates

Combustible dust and particulate matter can pose serious risks in many industries. In 2021, three people were killed and seven injured in a combustible dust explosion in an industrial facility in Singapore. In January 2024, a combustible dust explosion at a metal-processing facility in eastern China killed eight and injured eight more. Each year hundreds of similar incidents happen across the world, and industry safety experts strive to implement equipment and procedures to mitigate these hazards. 

For over 100 years, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has maintained and updated standards for working with combustible dusts and particulate solids. Historically, NFPA published industry specific standards, which outlined guidance tailored to particular applications. Recently, NFPA has undergone significant efforts to merge requirements in their industry specific standards to help clarify and consolidate the language used in them.

Now, a new standard, NFPA 660 Standard for Combustible Dusts and Particulate Solids, combines several existing NFPA standards, outlining ways to help mitigate combustible dust fires and explosions in agriculture and feed processing, metal working, woodworking, and other industrial processes. The document is now available through the NFPA. The new standard combines and supersedes the following documents:

• NFPA 61 - Standard for the Prevention of Fires and Dust Explosions in Agricultural and Food Processing Facilities
• NFPA 484 - Standard for Combustible Metals
• NFPA 652 - Standard on the Fundamentals of Combustible Dust
• NFPA 654 - Standard for the Prevention of Fire and Dust Explosions from the Manufacturing, Processing, and Handling of Combustible Particulate Solids
• NFPA 655 - Standard for Prevention of Sulfur Fires and Explosions
• NFPA 664 - Standard for the Prevention of Fires and Explosions in Wood Processing and Woodworking Facilities

NFPA 660 aims to create a framework for any industry working with potentially combustible dust or particulate matter. When fine particles of combustible materials are present, they can ignite, causing fires and sometimes explosions if dispersed in the air. The new NFPA 660 standard includes requirements for hazard mitigation and best practices for working with combustible dusts. The document has implications for any industry that encounters potentially combustible dust.

The standards document provides industry professionals with a full roadmap to improving safety in their facilities, including:

• Risk Assessment and Hazard Identification: A step-by-step walkthrough to help industry professionals test materials, identify possible combustible dust risks and hazards, and perform a dust hazard analysis (DHA). 
• Preventive Measures and Controls: Ways to control combustible dust hazards, including using dust collection systems and specialized equipment (e.g., explosion protection system, isolation devices, and administrative controls).
• Housekeeping and Maintenance Practices: How to clean and maintain dust collection systems and areas where combustible dusts are generated, handled, or stored.
• Training and Education: Training materials to help managers and operators train staff to identify dust hazards, maintain equipment, etc.
• Emergency Response and Preparedness: Sample emergency response plans to help plant operators mitigate the effects of fires or explosions and handle emergencies.

NFPA 660 is a significant development, as it consolidates various existing standards into a single, consolidated document, providing a unified framework for industries dealing with potentially combustible dust and particulate matter. This standard helps prevent fires and explosions by outlining best practices for risk assessment, preventive measures, housekeeping, training, and emergency response. By adhering to NFPA 660, industries can create safer work environments, reduce occupational health and safety risks, and comply with government regulations. This unified approach not only enhances safety but also simplifies compliance and implementation across different sectors.

Exponent engineers have served as special experts on the technical and correlating committees of the previous commodity and industry specific standards for NFPA 660 as well as on committees that authored the new consolidated standard. Currently, Ali Reza and Tim Myers serve as principal members of the NFPA 660 technical committees, and Nick Redding serves as an alternate member.