SS667:2020: Handling,

Storage & Processing of

Combustible Dust

Shaik Salim
Director, Process Engineering and Safety (ISCE2)
20 Nov 2024
ARES Public
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Overview

SS667 Background & Introduction 3

Hazard identification and DHA 10
Explosion Testing 16
Hazard Management – Prevention & Mitigation 20
Equipment Controls 25
Storage Requirements 31

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SS667 – Background & Introduction

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Scope of SS 667
Applicable to industries (e.g. food processing, woodworking factories,
pharmaceutical, petrochemical, specialty chemicals, additive manufacturing, and
logistics industry ), research institutions and institutes of higher learning (IHL)
that manufacture, process, blend, convey, repackage, generate or handle
combustible dusts or combustible particulate solids.

Not applicable to warehousing of sealed containers of such materials when not

associated with an operation that handles or generates combustible dust.

Guidance in the areas of dust hazard identification, characterisation and analysis,

hazard management via mitigation and prevention, process equipment safety
specifications, storage requirements, facility and system design including
performance-based design options as well as safety management system
implementation
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 Overview - International Combustible Dust Codes
International practices vary significantly

ATEX, EN,
IEC
NFPA
GB

EN,
IEC
SS

AS/NZS

• Influenced by the jurisdiction's legal framework i.e. European, Great Britain, USA, China
• It is a “mixed bag” of regulations, directives, standards, guidelines, industry association
codes.
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NFPA Combustible Dust Standard Framework

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Singapore Combustible Dust Standard Framework

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SS667 – Overall Methodology

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Contents of SS 667
4. Hazard identification and dust hazard 7. Storage requirements
analysis • Combustible metals
• Material hazard identification • Bulk storage
• Dust hazard analysis (DHA) • FIBC/RIBC/IBC
• Fine particulate waste metal
5. Hazard management: prevention and
mitigation 8. Facility and system design
• Ignition source control
9. Performance-based design options
• Explosion prevention/protection
• Fugitive dust emission control 10.Safety Management System (SMS)
• Housekeeping
• Fire protection

6. Process Equipment
• E.g. Material transfer, ducts, conveyors, air
moving device, air material separators, mixers,
dryers

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Hazard identification and dust hazard
analysis

10
 Material Hazard Identification

• Material hazard identification is to

determine whether a solid material is
combustible or explosible
➢ Representative historical facility data or published data
➢ Laboratory tests on representative samples

• Absence of previous incidents must

not be used to discount the potential

• If a material is determined to be
combustible or explosible, a Dust
Hazard Analysis (DHA) is required
Reference: SS 667 : 2020, Figure 1

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 Combustibility tests

Reference: SS 667 : 2020, Table 1

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Dust hazard analysis (DHA)
• DHA is a systematic review to identify and evaluate
fire and explosion hazards, and identify control
measures for risk reduction
• The DHA
➢ Identifies hazardous scenarios
➢ Provides a link between hazards and specific control
measures
• Dust properties such as MIE, MIT are required for
conducting the DHA
➢ Annex A, Table A.1 contains the details
• The DHA must be led by a competent person
• The DHA methodology must be appropriate to the
facility considering its complexities
• The DHA results must be documented, maintained
throughout the lifecycle
Reference: SS 667 : 2020, Figure 2

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Dust properties and test methods

Reference: SS 667 : 2020, Annex A, Table A.1

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Explosion Testing

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Explosive Properties Evaluation
STOP!

Explosive

1. Explosive Properties Potentially 2. Explosive Analysis

Evaluation explosive • DSC screening
• Functional group assessment
• UN Sensitivity
• Small-scale screening tests
testing
• O2 Balance etc.
Not explosive
Not explosive

3. Dust Explosion 5. Thermal Stability

4. Fire Analysis
Analysis Analysis

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DUST EXPLOSION ANALYSIS: Strategy for Dust Explosion Testing
Dust Explosion Screening No
• Can the dust form a cloud?

Not • Consider Fire Risk

Yes flammable as • Consider Thermal
a dust cloud Stability

Dust Explosion Screening

• Go/NoGo classification

Yes

Flammability Limits Ignition Sensitivity Explosion Severity

• LOC • MIE • Pmax
• MEC • MIT (cloud & layer) • Kst

Basis of Safety Basis of Safety

Basis of Safety
• Avoidance of flammable • Containment
• Avoidance ignition sources
atmosphere • Explosion venting
• Inerting • Explosion suppression

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 Dust Explosion Screening (“Go/No-Go”) Ignition Sensitivity (MIE, MIT)

Modified 20L Sphere Test Minimum Minimum (cloud) Minimum (Layer)

Hartmann Test Ignition Energy Ignition Temperature Ignition Temperature
(MIE) (MIT) (LIT)
Potential ignition sources can include electrostatic discharges, mechanical
(grinding / frictional) sparks or hot surfaces.

Flammability Limits (LOC, MEC) Explosion Severity (Pmax, Kst)

• Working under an oxygen depleted atmosphere is
the most conventional way of avoiding the • The 20 Litre Sphere test provides the necessary explosion severity
presence or formation of flammable atmospheres. data including:
• Requires the determination of: ‒ maximum explosion pressure (Pmax)
‒ The lower flammable limit of the powder or ‒ rate of pressure rise (dP/dt) data expressed as a dust explosion
Minimum Explosible Concentration (MEC) constant (Kst).
‒ Limiting Oxygen Concentration (LOC) below • The maximum explosion pressure is used for containment design
which a dust cloud becomes nonflammable. and the dust explosion constant is used for the specification of
• These data are usually generated using the 20L pressure relief venting or suppression system design.
Sphere apparatus
Hazard management: prevention and
mitigation

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Hazard management
• The hazard management clauses supplement
DHA and its decisions
• The clauses outline the considerations in the
provision of control measures
• If a DHA identifies the need for control measures
listed under Clause 5, 6, 7 or 8, one of the
following approaches can be adopted:

Approach 1 (Prescriptive and selective ALARP demonstration):

• Provide the prescribed control measures in accordance with Clause 5, 6, 7 and 8
• In case of not providing the prescribed control measures (possibly a few), As Low
As Reasonably Practicable (ALARP) demonstration is required to demonstrate the
risks are at ALARP without the prescribed control measures
Approach 2 (Performance-based):
• Implement the performance-based design in accordance with Clause 9

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Basis of safety
The set of control measures required for a safe operation is commonly referred
as basis of safety
Category Basis of safety examples
Prevention • Operating below Minimum Explosible Concentration
(MEC)
• Operating below Limiting Oxygen Concentration (LOC)
Avoidance of ignition • Preventing and/or minimising ignition sources
sources

Mitigation • Providing explosion relief panels

• Providing explosion suppression systems

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Control measures
Control Description Category
measures
Housekeeping • Housekeeping through a written procedure Prevention and/or
• Personnel training on housekeeping mitigation
Ignition source • Process ignition sources (e.g., mechanical, electrostatic, electrical) Avoidance of
control • External ignition sources (e.g., hot work) ignition sources
Fugitive dust • Measures for managing fugitive emissions (e.g., local exhaust ventilation) Prevention
control
Explosion • Oxidant concentration reduction Prevention
prevention and • Dilution with a non-combustible dust to render the mixture non-combustible
protection • Explosion venting Mitigation
• Explosion pressure containment
• Explosion suppression
Flash fire • Flash fire protection for personnel (e.g., personal protective equipment) Mitigation
protection
Fire protection • Fire protection for buildings and structures Mitigation
• Fire detection, suppression and extinguishing systems

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 Housekeeping – a critical control measure
Catastrophic consequences were historically caused by secondary explosions

Housekeeping is a critical control measure for preventing and/or mitigating

secondary explosions

• Key points to note

• Develop and implement a housekeeping
regime through a written procedure
• Provide appropriate equipment and
tools for handling combustible dusts
• Train personnel on proper cleaning
methods and proper use of housekeeping
equipment and tools

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Equipment controls

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Process Equipment
Management
of Change

Design and Ignition

Proper Prevention
Installation
Equipment
Explosion
Prevention Dust Hazard
and Analysis and
Protection Specific
Principles Requirements
Process Equipment: Type of Equipment
Systems
Material Piping and
conveying Duct systems
transfer system valves
hybrid mixtures

Pressure
Material feeding
Sight glasses protection Bucket elevators
devices
system

Conveyors,
Enclosed spouts and Air moving Air material
conveyors throws of devices separator
materials
Mixers, blenders
Transportation
Particle size and size
Dryers and receiving
separators reduction
trucks
equipment
 Process Equipment: Type of Equipment
• Application of requirements from clause 5:
• equipment with dust explosion hazard and a
containing volume >0.2 m3 requires utilisation
of one or more of the following methods of
protection:
1. Oxidant concentration reduction
2. Deflagration venting
3. Deflagration pressure containment
4. Deflagration suppression systems Mechanical
Isolation
5. Dilution with a noncombustible dust to render
the mixture noncombustible

Chemical
Isolation
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 Process Equipment
• Equipment specific requirement
covers:

INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE
• Minimising presence of combustible EXPLOSIBLE
RANGE
materials and accumulation of
materials within process.
• E.g. Requirements during design,
operation, start-up and shut-down
stages and access for cleaning.
• Operating out of explosion limits.
• Specific ignition prevention
requirements.
• E.g. charge accumulation, 10-3 10-2 10-1 1 10 102 103 104 105 106
electrostatic resistivity,
overload/overheating requirements, MASS OF POWDER/DUST PER UNIT VOLUME [g/m3]
tramp material and spark
detection/removal.

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 Process Equipment
(Cont’d.)
• Equipment modifications.
• E.g. additions of duct works, qualifying access doors
as explosion venting panels
• Prevention of domino effects.
• E.g. Locating equipment outside of occupied
areas, prevention of secondary explosion risk,
dust escapement and disturbances, improper
explosion venting.
• Allows ALARP demonstration or
performance-based approach should certain
clauses cannot be fulfilled. Source:
https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/chemical
s/combustible_dust.html

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Storage requirements
• General Requirements
• Maximum Allowable Quantities (MAQ)
• Storage of Combustible Metal Powders
• Flexible and Rigid Intermediate Bulk Containers
• Storage of Waste Combustible Metals

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Storage Requirements - Maximum Allowable Quantities (MAQ) of Powders
Working Storage - Storage of flammable, pyrophoric and water reactive powders is intended to cater for the normal need
of working stock.
Table 3 – Maximum allowable quantity in a working area

MAQ
Classification
Dedicated metal cabinet Fire safety cabinet
Hazard Without fire With fire Without fire With fire
description suppression suppression suppression suppression
GHS UNRTDG system system systemb systemc

kg kg kg kg
Flammable Class 4.1 56.7 113.4 113.4 226.8
Pyrophorica Class 4.2 Not allowed 1.8 Not allowed 3.6
Cat 1 2.3 4.6 4.6 9.2
Water reactive Cat 2 Class 4.3 22.7 45.4 45.4 90.8
Cat 3 56.7 113.4 113.4 226.8

aPermitted only in buildings equipped throughout with an automatic b Fire safety cabinet with a minimum fire rating of 30 min.
sprinkler system. c Fire safety cabinet with a minimum fire rating of 10 min.

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 Storage Requirements - Maximum Allowable Quantities (MAQ) of Powders
Requirements for Additional Fire Safety Cabinet in a Working Area
• Any storage of powders in quantities exceeding the MAQ stipulated in Table 1 shall comply with the
requirements stipulated in Table 4.
Table 4- Additional fire safety cabinets in a working area
Maximum number Minimum fire rating of fire
of fire safety cabinets safety cabinet (Mins)
Without fire suppression system 2 60
With fire suppression system 2 30
NOTE – Quantity stored in each fire safety cabinet cannot exceed the MAQ stipulated in Table 3 .

Storage requirements for dedicated storage area

• Dedicated storage of flammable, pyrophoric and water reactive powders shall be in a fire compartment
with a minimum of 2-hours fire rating and shall comply with the requirements stipulated in Table 3
Table 3- Dedicated storage area
Maximum number of fire Minimum fire rating of fire
safety cabinets safety cabinet (Mins)
Without fire suppression system 2 30
With fire suppression system 4 10
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 Storage Requirements - Maximum Allowable Quantities (MAQ) of Powders
Illustrations Showing Working and Dedicated Area’s

Figure 1 – Storage without fire suppression system Figure 2 – Storage with fire suppression system

Fire safety cabinet each with maximum capacity not exceeding MAQ stipulated in Table 1 (XX refers to fire
rating in minutes)

Room B is a dedicated fire compartment with a minimum of 2-hours fire rating, only used for powder
storage in fire safety cabinets

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Storage Requirements – Bulk Storage
1. Any storage of powders exceeding quantities defined for the “Working Storage Area” shall be classified as
“Bulk Storage” and stored in a dedicated fire compartment with a minimum of 2-hours fire rating. The
storage of metal powders shall be designed in consultation with the relevant local authority. It is
presupposed that additional fire safety provisions are provided, as required, in accordance with applicable
statutory and regulatory requirements.

2. Bulk storage of powders in any individual fire compartment shall not exceed the MAQ stipulated in Table
6.
Table 6 – Maximum allowable quantity (MAQ) for bulk storage

Classification Maximum Allowable Quantity

GHS UNRTDG (kg/m2)
Flammable Class 4.1 1200
Pyrophoric Class 4.2 38.1
Cat 1 48.5
Water reactive Cat 2 Class 4.3 480
Cat 3 1200
NOTE 1 – The MAQ for bulk storage of powders is intended to specify the maximum load permitted per m2 of the floor
area of the fire compartment.
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Storage of Combustible Metal Powders

• Where the combustible metal powder is reactive with water, metal-powder

storage areas shall be kept dry and an automatic fire suppression system
appropriate for the type of metal powders shall be used.
• Combustible metal powder shall be stored in a manner where it does not
inadvertently come into contact with incompatible materials. For example, this
can be achieved by the use of fire safety cabinets and separate storage rooms.
• Combustible metal powder shall be stored in closed steel drums or other closed
noncombustible materials.
• Metal powder-handling areas or metal powder-processing areas shall not be
used for primary storage of powders.

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THANK YOU
For more information, visit www.a-star.edu.sg

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