Combustible dust is an ever-present hazard in many manufacturing facilities. The need and requirements to conduct a Dust Hazard Analysis (DHA) has increased over the last several years, partially due to the insurance carriers, permitting agencies, and corporate offices requiring facilities and companies to follow governing standards, and to protect employees and property from the potential of explosions and fires.

In the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) consensus standard NFPA 652 – Standard on the Fundamentals of Combustible Dust, combustible dust is defined as a finely divided combustible particulate solid that presents a flash-fire hazard or explosion hazard when suspended in air or the process-specific oxidizing medium over a range of concentrations.