Home > Explosion Protection > Combustible Dust Testing

Combustible Dust Testing

Lab testing that turns unknown dust risk into quantifiable data for NFPA 652 DHAs, engineering decisions, and defensible documentation.

High Intent, Start Here

Who this is for

EHS and safety leaders completing or updating a Dust Hazard Analysis (DHA)
Plant, operations, and maintenance teams responsible for collectors, ducting, and housekeeping controls
Engineers selecting venting, suppression, isolation, or spark detection based on real dust behavior
Owners responding to insurer requests, audit findings, or change control after process modifications

Fast path

Request a Quote Call 1-800-360-0687 Email info@suppressionsystems.com

Headquartered in Breinigsville, PA, SSI supports facilities across Pennsylvania and the East Coast with testing coordination and the engineered protection that follows the report.

At a Glance

Goal: confirm whether your dust is explosible, then quantify severity and ignition sensitivity so protection decisions are defensible.
Most requested results: Kst and Pmax, often paired with MEC and MIE when ignition source control matters.
What it supports: NFPA-driven Dust Hazard Analyses (DHAs), insurer documentation, engineered mitigation design, and change control.
SSI advantage: we help you translate lab results into real safeguards, venting, suppression, isolation, and ignition source controls.

Why Combustible Dust Testing Is Non-Negotiable

If you do not know your dust’s behavior, you are building your DHA and protection strategy on assumptions. Assumptions fail when the process changes, the dust changes, or an ignition source shows up at the wrong time.

Compliance and decision support

Testing data strengthens a thorough Dust Hazard Analysis (DHA) and supports documented safeguards.
Kst and Pmax help quantify severity, which impacts venting and suppression decisions.
MIE and ignition temperatures help prioritize ignition source control, grounding and bonding, and housekeeping strategy.
LOC supports evaluation of inerting and oxygen reduction strategies when applicable.

Our 3-Step Combustible Dust Testing Process

Contact SSI. Tell us what material you handle, where dust is generated, and what decision you are trying to make. Contact us.
Collect and ship a representative sample. We provide clear guidance so your sample reflects real conditions and supports defensible results.
Receive your report, then plan next steps. Once testing is complete, SSI helps you connect results to DHA documentation and engineered explosion protection options.

Key Tests We Perform

Testing needs vary by process, equipment, and the decision in front of you. These are the most common results requested by EHS teams, engineers, insurers, and AHJs.

Test or Value	What it tells you	What it drives
Explosibility screening	Go or no-go indication for explosible behavior under standardized conditions.	Whether a dust is treated as an explosible hazard, and what tests are required next.
Kst and Pmax	Severity indicators, pressure rise behavior and maximum pressure potential.	Venting and suppression decisions, scenario severity documentation, mitigation strategy selection.
LOC (limiting oxidant concentration)	Minimum oxygen level required for propagation under test conditions.	Feasibility of inerting and oxygen reduction strategies.
MIE (minimum ignition energy)	Ignition sensitivity to sparks, static discharge, and low energy ignition sources.	Bonding and grounding priorities, ignition source controls, static risk focus.
Minimum dust layer ignition temperature	Temperature at which a dust layer can self-ignite on a hot surface.	Hot surface controls, smolder prevention, cleaning intervals and priorities.
Particle size analysis	Characterizes particle distribution, finer dust often increases risk.	Change control, process troubleshooting, and risk comparisons after modifications.
Custom process simulations	Replicates specific process conditions for complex scenarios.	Tailored inputs for unique equipment, materials, or operating conditions.

Combustible dust test apparatus with visible ignition during lab testing

Large test chamber used for combustible dust explosibility and pressure testing

How Facilities Use Test Results

The report is only useful if it changes decisions. SSI helps translate results into practical safeguards that match your equipment, layout, and operating reality.

Common next steps after testing

Complete or update a Dust Hazard Analysis (DHA) with defensible severity and ignition sensitivity inputs.
Select engineered protection for collectors and connected equipment, based on severity and constraints.
Prioritize ignition source controls, static discipline, and housekeeping controls based on MIE and thermal behavior.
Choose mitigation and isolation strategies to prevent propagation through ducting and connected processes.

If your focus is collectors, start with this guide: Dust Collector Explosion Protection, The Ultimate Guide.

If you are evaluating mitigation options, these pages align with typical design paths: Explosion Venting, Explosion Suppression, Explosion Isolation, Spark Detection.

Sampling Tips That Prevent Bad Data

A non-representative sample creates non-representative results. If you want decision-grade data, treat sampling like evidence collection.

Sample where the dust actually accumulates, such as collectors, ducting, or equipment, not only a clean raw material.
Do not mix dust sources unless they truly mix in normal operation.
Document the process point including date, batch, and any relevant moisture or drying conditions.
Avoid contamination with clean tools and containers, no oily residue, no cross contamination.
Flag changes upfront if your process has been modified or if dust characteristics vary over time.

Who Commonly Needs Dust Testing

Any facility generating fine particulate solids can have combustible dust risk. Testing is common across:

Food processing, baking, ingredients, sugar, spices
Woodworking and forest products, including wood dust protection
Grain handling and agriculture
Chemicals, plastics, resins, additives
Pharma, nutraceuticals, fine powders
Metalworking and powdered materials
Recycling and bulk material handling

Service Area

Testing can be initiated from anywhere via sample shipping. SSI’s value is the combination of testing coordination plus practical engineering guidance and implementation support after the report.

SSI supports industrial facilities across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is combustible dust testing?

Combustible dust testing is a laboratory process that determines whether a dust can behave explosively under standardized conditions, then quantifies characteristics used for risk assessment and protection design.

Why is dust testing important for a DHA?

Test data helps a DHA move from assumptions to quantifiable, defensible decisions, especially when selecting safeguards and documenting severity and ignition sensitivity.

Who should get their dust tested?

Facilities that generate, process, convey, or collect fine particulate solids should evaluate whether testing is appropriate, especially when completing a DHA, installing collectors, or making process changes.

How often should dust be re-tested?

Retesting is typically justified when material composition, particle size, moisture content, supplier, or process conditions change, or when old data cannot be shown equivalent to the dust present today.

Resources and Downloads