Codes and Standards

Combustible dust has been recognized as a major industrial hazard. On October 18, 2007 the United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released a directive initiating a National Emphasis Program (NEP) to address the hazards associated with combustible dusts. In the wake of a large explosion at a sugar refining facility OSHA reissued a revised Combustible Dust National Emphasis Program on March 3, 2008.

  Download the revised Combustible Dust NEP CPL 03-00-008.

The revised NEP targets 64 industries handling combustible dusts including:
  • Organic products including sugar, paper, and flour
  • Wood products
  • Metal products
  • Biosolids
  • Coal and Carbon
  • Pharmaceutical products
  • Specialty chemicals
For additional information regarding potential combustible dusts reference the OSHA Combustible Dust Poster.

Currently OSHA does not have a specific standard to address combustible dust hazards. However, the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) has several standards that address these hazards. NFPA 654 - Standard for the Prevention of Fire and Dust Explosions from the Manufacturing, Processing, and Handling of Combustible Particulate Solids is considered the keyway standard for general industry. This standard provides necessary general requirements to both identify combustible dust risks and to manage the risks associated with handling combustible dusts. The responsibility of compliance with applicable standards falls upon the owner / operator of facilities handling combustible dusts. For the latest on development of the OSHA National Emphasis Program visit our press page.

Other important combustible dust Codes and Standards are listed in the table below:
NFPA 61"Standard for the Prevention of Fires and Dust Explosions in Agricultural and Food Products Facilities"
NFPA 68"Standard on Explosion Protection by Deflagration Venting"
NFPA 69"Standard on Explosion Prevention Systems"
NFPA 70"National Electric Code"
NFPA 484"Standard for Combustible Metals, Metal Powders and Metal Dusts"
NFPA 499"Recommended Practice for the Classification of Combustible Dusts and of Hazardous (Classified) Locations for Electrical Installations in Chemical Process Areas"
NFPA 654"Standard for the Prevention of Fire and Dust Explosions from the Manufacturing, Procession, and Handling of Combustible Particulate Solids"
NFPA 664"Standard for the Prevention of Fires and Explosions in Wood Processing and Woodworking Facilities"


For additional information regarding the National Fire Protection Agency please visit www.nfpa.org
For additional information regarding the United States Occupational Safety & Health Administration visit www.osha.gov





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