The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) began addressing combustible dust with industry-specific standards dating as far back as 1920. NFPA® 652, Standard on the Fundamentals of Combustible Dust, is the first comprehensive standard to provide general requirements for the management of combustible dust fire and explosion hazards. It became effective on September 7, 2015.
In its Combustible Dust National Emphasis Program (NEP), OSHA defines combustible dust as a “solid combustible material composed of distinct pieces or particles, that presents a fire or deflagration hazard when suspended in air or some other oxidizing medium over a range of concentrations, regardless of particle size or shape.” Deflagration is the chemical process where a substance rapidly and intensely burns.