COMBUSTIBLE DUST SAFETY

Yes. NFPA 660 requires facilities handling combustible dust to conduct a DHA, and it can be enforced by Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs) such as OSHA, fire marshals, permitting authorities, and insurers. If you have combustible dust in your facility, you need a DHA.

DHAs reduce the likelihood and consequence of fires/explosions, protect people, and can lower insurance costs. The cost to conduct a DHA and implement recommendations is typically an order of magnitude less than the impact of a single event.

Operations handling wood, metals (e.g., aluminum, magnesium), food & agricultural products, pharmaceutical/chemical powders, plastics, and additive manufacturing powders have elevated risk. Hallam-ICS has repeat-client experience across these environments.

Local/state fire authorities, OSHA, insurers, and corporate EHS programs frequently enforce combustible dust requirements. Aligning with NFPA 660 positions you for smoother approvals and inspections.

In 2025, NFPA 660 replaced NFPA 652 (Fundamentals) and the industry/commodity specific standards NFPA 61, 484, 654, 655, and 664. Hallam-ICS aligns your DHA, written programs, and designs to meet or exceed NFPA 660 requirements and your AHJ’s expectations.

A DHA is a structured review of where combustible dust can form clouds or layers, the credible ignition sources, likely consequences (fire, flash fire, explosion), and the safeguards (existing or required) to prevent or mitigate those outcomes—ending with a prioritized action plan based on risk. Hallam-ICS combustible dust safety engineers perform NFPA-aligned DHAs and translate findings into practical, staged mitigation plans.

Expect an easy to read, user-friendly report with clear recommendations prioritized by risk. A good report will usually provide options for compliance, as there is rarely one right answer. And a professional report will also give guidance on implementation, for example explaining how to go about installing explosion protection, not just simply saying “provide explosion protection”. Hallam-ICS DHA reports cover all these areas and are sealed by a licensed Professional Engineer.

Typical recommendations include engineered controls (dust collection upgrades), explosion protection (venting, suppression), deflagration isolation, ignition control (spark detection, bonding/grounding), and administrative controls (housekeeping, maintenance, and training). Hallam-ICS designs/specifies/provides these measures and integrates protection devices with controls for verification.

Absolutely. Hallam-ICS supports our clients throughout the entire Combustible Dust Safety Cycle: DHA, engineered mitigation design (PE-stamped), equipment supply, controls integration, training, and turnkey project management - streamlining schedules and accountability. Our DHA services are delivered under an ISO 9001:2015 quality system.

NFPA 660 requires reviews/updates at least every five years, and sooner if you change materials, equipment, processes, or layouts. Hallam-ICS maintains a “living DHA” so documentation stays current and action items are tracked for audits and insurance reviews.

Not always. NFPA 660 allows use of representative historical or published data. Hallam-ICS typically creates a Sampling & Testing Plan after the site visit and preliminary analysis so you only run tests that change design or risk decisions, reducing cost and schedule.

A DHA is the hazard evaluation and mitigation roadmap. Dust testing is conducting a laboratory analysis of material properties (e.g., MEC, MIE, Kst, Pmax) that inform the DHA. Properties like MEC & MIE help us determine where hazards exist, while explosion severity parameters (Kst, Pmax) define how fast and strong an explosion could be.