Dust and overpressure value

[grail]

I am working on a project at work and have some dust associated with it. I am spec'ing out new equipment but the msds sheet is shitty. It just says it has potential to explode. I know I need to know UEL, LEL, MEC values but what else should I know and what do I need to ask from the vendor so that I can make this process safe? Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.

[BCH]

I'm working at a huge cosmetics manufaturing plant today. I'll ask some of my friends here in engineering.

Some details would be helpful...


If you have a dust environment, all your electrical components need to be Class2/Div1 explosion proof or intrinsically safe..

You're Mixing powders or dry chemicals or what?

[grail]

Polymer powder, 95% at -200 mesh particle size. Slightly acidic. The powder aerates and de-aerates easily. No mixing, just moving and handling.

[BCH]

Probably a risk of a Grain Silo type explosion like any other powder (non-dairy creamer for instance). You're not releasing this stuff to the atmosphere are you? You probably want an exhaust fan with a scrubber and explosion proof fixtures in the room where the stuff will be transferred from one container to another. I don't think LEL and UEL applies to Powders as it does to gasses unless you're counting concentration in grains per volume... Once it's sealed in a container of some sort, It's probably pretty safe to move around by hand truck. There's probably not much more the vendor can tell you that's not typical to any other non flamable/ non oxidizing powder.

[Jambi]

Probably a risk of a Grain Silo type explosion like any other powder (non-dairy creamer for instance). This is both fascinating and humorous at the same time. Can you imagine explaining to your grandchildren that the reason you are wheelchair-bound and missing an arm is because of a non-dairy creamer explosion?

[grail]

Scarier yet, non-dairy creamer is dehydrated cake frosting. Compare the ingrediants, oh.. plus a little sand to help it flow.