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© 2016 American Air Filter Company, Inc. Any use of the text or images
this document contains, without permission of American Air Filter
Company, Inc., is prohibited. FabriPulse and AAF are registered
trademarks of American Air Filter Company, Inc. d/b/a AAF
International.
By its very nature AAF equipment is intended to be used to capture airborne
particulate matter, otherwise known as dust. There are various methods for dealing
with a dust explosion in a dust collector. These can include, but are not limited to,
the use of properly designed explosion vents, explosion suppression
systems, or
flameless vents. The user shall understand which method is being used and who is
responsible for the design and supply of the equipment required.
When an explosive dust has been properly identified to AAF, the dust collector
may be structurally designed to withstand the internal pressure generated during
the explosive event and fitted with an explosion vent, or with multiple vents,
designed to safely discharge the pressure and the resulting fireball. The user shall
review the purchase order and the documents referenced within it to determine if
explosion protection equipment has been supplied by AAF International. Where this
is the case, review the appropriate sections of this manual that deal with the
installation, operation and maintenance of the equipment ordered.
When explosion protection systems are supplied by multiple vendors, it is the
responsibility of the user to coordinate between suppliers to ensure that the
equipment supplied by each vendor will work together to achieve the required
protection. For instance, if an explosion suppression system is being supplied by
parties other than AAF, it is incumbent on the user to ensure that the dust collection
equipment has been ordered to resist the internal pressure defined by the
suppression equipment supplier.
Dust collectors fitted with explosion vents must not be located indoors, unless
properly designed in accordance to NFPA regulations. The equipment shall be
oriented so that the vent will discharge to an unoccupied zone. Such a zone will be
prohibited to personnel and shall not include critical equipment or services such as
fuel storage tanks, flammable materials, fire hydrants, power distribution or
electrical control equipment, or similar. If the vent (or vents) are located on the
side(s) of the equipment the vent discharge area shall be isolated with barriers
erected to prevent the parking of vehicles, pedestrian use, or use of the area for
temporary storage. Warning signs shall be posted. Include diagrams showing the
distribution of a typical dust explosion discharge.
2.4
Electrical hazards
Before doing any work on the AAF equipment make sure that all potential
electrical hazards have been identified and that all electric current connected to the
equipment, and to any connected or associated equipment, has been properly
disconnected and securely locked-out to prevent accidental reconnection prior to
