NFPA 660 – Standard for Combustible Dust
Facilities that generate and collect combustible dust during their manufacturing processes must adhere to strict standards to help prevent potentially deadly dust-related fires and explosions. The latest guidance put out by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) consolidates a number of regulations into one rule: NFPA 660 Standard for Combustible Dust.
Capable of 24/7 operation, cleaning fans can help your facility manage combustible dust control and stay in compliance with NFPA 660—without the need for costly, time-consuming plant shutdowns.
Understanding NFPA 660
Currently, the NFPA has six standards governing combustible dust safety and compliance. However, these are all set to be consolidated into NFPA 660 by the fall of 2024.
Once the new standard takes effect, OSHA will be empowered to cite it during enforcement. Accordingly, it’s important that plant owners and operators, engineers, designers, facility managers, and insurers are aware of the new standards and taking steps to ensure combustible dust control and mitigation.
NFPA 660 will consolidate and replace the following standards:
- 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 – which includes requirements for facilities to regularly complete a Dust Hazard Analysis (DHA)
- 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 the Prevention of Sulfur Fires and Explosions
- NFPA 664 – Standard for the Prevention of Fires and Explosions in Wood Processing and Woodworking Facilities
NFPA 660 will consolidate and replace the following standards:
- 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 – which includes requirements for facilities to regularly complete a Dust Hazard Analysis (DHA)
- 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 the Prevention of Sulfur Fires and Explosions
- NFPA 664 – Standard for the Prevention of Fires and Explosions in Wood Processing and Woodworking Facilities
Fight Dust Buildup
Cleaning fans are specifically designed to help mitigate combustible dust buildup and improve facility life safety conditions.
The fan provides both standard, full-coverage cleaning action, as well as spot cleaning and customized engineering on request. By stopping fugitive dust from settling and collecting, the fan helps promote combustible dust control, making it one of the most effective tools for maintaining NFPA 660 compliance and successful DHA completion.
NPFA 652 Now Incorporates Dust Control Fans as Effective Mitigation Solution
As of 2019, section 9 of NFPA 652 identifies dust control fans as an effective measure to comply with the standard. The standard permits the use of these fan systems to limit dust accumulation in elevated areas and properly mitigate combustible dust risk.
