Combustible Dust Testing

Laboratory testing to quantify dust explosion and reactivity hazards

Safety Data Sheets

Develop critical safety data for inclusion in SDS documents

Gas and Vapor

Laboratory testing to quantify explosion hazards for vapor and gas mixtures

UN-DOT
Classification of hazardous materials subject to shipping and storage regulations
Hydrogen
Testing and consulting on the explosion risks associated with devices and processes which use or produce hydrogen
Safety Data Sheets

Develop critical safety data for inclusion in SDS documents

Thermal Stability

Safe storage or processing requires an understanding of the possible hazards associated with sensitivity to variations in temperature

Adiabatic Calorimetry
Data demonstrate the consequences of process upsets, such as failed equipment or improper procedures, and guide mitigation strategies including Emergency Relief System (ERS) design
Reaction Calorimetry
Data yield heat and gas removal requirements to control the desired process chemistry
Battery Safety

Testing to support safe design of batteries and electrical power backup facilities particularly to satisfy UL9540a ed.4

Safety Data Sheets

Develop critical safety data for inclusion in SDS documents

Cable Testing
Evaluate electrical cables to demonstrate reliability and identify defects or degradation
Equipment Qualification (EQ)
Testing and analysis to ensure that critical equipment will operate under adverse environmental conditions
Water Hammer
Analysis and testing to identify and prevent unwanted hydraulic pressure transients in process piping
Acoustic Vibration
Identify and eliminate potential sources of unwanted vibration in piping and structural systems
Gas & Air Intrusion
Analysis and testing to identify and prevent intrusion of gas or air in piping systems
ISO/IEC 17025:2017

Fauske & Associates fulfills the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025:2017 in the field of Testing

ISO 9001:2015
Fauske & Associates fulfills the requirements of ISO 9001:2015
Dust Hazards Analysis
Evaluate your process to identify combustible dust hazards and perform dust explosion testing
On-Site Risk Management
On-site safety studies can help identify explosibility and chemical reaction hazards so that appropriate testing, simulations, or calculations are identified to support safe scale up
DIERS Methodology
Design emergency pressure relief systems to mitigate the consequences of unwanted chemical reactivity and account for two-phase flow using the right tools and methods
Deflagrations (Dust/Vapor/Gas)

Properly size pressure relief vents to protect your processes from dust, vapor, and gas explosions

Effluent Handling

Pressure relief sizing is just the first step and it is critical to safely handle the effluent discharge from an overpressure event

FATE™ & Facility Modeling

FATE (Facility Flow, Aerosol, Thermal, and Explosion) is a flexible, fast-running code developed and maintained by Fauske and Associates under an ASME NQA-1 compliant QA program.

Mechanical, Piping, and Electrical
Engineering and testing to support safe plant operations and develop solutions to problems in heat transfer, fluid, flow, and electric power systems
Hydrogen Safety
Testing and consulting on the explosion risks associated with devices and processes which use or produce hydrogen
Thermal Hydraulics
Testing and analysis to ensure that critical equipment will operate under adverse environmental conditions
Nuclear Safety
Our Nuclear Services Group is recognized for comprehensive evaluations to help commercial nuclear power plants operate efficiently and stay compliant
Radioactive Waste
Safety analysis to underpin decomissioning process at facilities which have produced or used radioactive nuclear materials
Adiabatic Safety Calorimeters (ARSST and VSP2)

Low thermal inertial adiabatic calorimeters specially designed to provide directly scalable data that are critical to safe process design

Other Lab Equipment and Parts for the DSC/ARC/ARSST/VSP2 Calorimeters

Products and equipment for the process safety or process development laboratory

FERST

Software for emergency relief system design to ensure safe processing of reactive chemicals, including consideration of two-phase flow and runaway chemical reactions

FATE

Facility modeling software mechanistically tracks transport of heat, gasses, vapors, and aerosols for safety analysis of multi-room facilities

Blog

Our highly experienced team keeps you up-to-date on the latest process safety developments.

Process Safety Newsletter

Stay informed with our quarterly Process Safety Newsletters sharing topical articles and practical advice.

Resources

With over 40 years of industry expertise, we have a wealth of process safety knowledge to share.

Recent Posts

How To Test For Combustible Dust and Explosive Solids: Video

Posted by Fauske & Associates on 07.30.13

 

Any new material being produced, or any existing material with a process change, should have screening tests performed to ensure that they can be safely handled during processing and also classified for transport. The Go/NO-GO explosibility screening test per ASTM E1226 is one such method used to study combustibility of dust clouds, but what about other instances where we have powder layers? One method used to establish the ignition sensitivity of a powder layer is the BAM Fallhammer screening test.


1.  What is the BAM Fallhammer Test? 

The BAM Fallhammer test is used to determine the sensitivity of a given solid (including pastes and gels) or liquids to impact forces by allowing standard hammer weights to fall on a confined quantity of sample and measuring the fall height required to decompose, or detonate, the charge.   

In plain English, the BAM Fallhammer measures the sensitivity of a material to mechanical forces. This test basically shows what happens if a box of the material falls during shipping or if it is struck while in storage (by a forklift). The test also provides invaluable information for safer material handling and processing in industrial plants. This information is essential for plant managers and safety personnel. 

2. Who Determines how to handle a sample Safely?

The BAM Fallhammer test apparatus complies with the UN Transport of Dangerous Goods Manual of Tests and Criteria and also to the Classification, Packaging and Labeling of Dangerous Substances in the EU Part 2- testing methods (latest editions). The test method used in both standards yields quantitative results in the form of a limiting impact energy. These results are used to determine whether a substance can be transported in the same form as it was tested and also provides the data for determining correct packaging symbol, danger indications and risk phrases associated with new and existing products.

This video demonstrates one BAM Fallhammer test conducted at Fauske & Associates, LLC resulting in a "good" ignition. When applying these results to process safety in industrial plants the impact energy – typically given in Joules (1 Joule ~ ¼ calorie) – can then be compared to theoretical values that may be present in various process scenarios. For example, impacts from slide gates, bucket conveying equipment, or mixing paddles can all be potential impact scenarios that one can estimate contact energy levels.

For more information and help, visit www.fauske.com or call 1-887-FAUSKE1 (328-7531). 

Topics: Combustible Dust, Testing

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