Open Bag Filters

Modular Bag Filters

Through Flow Filters

Rotary Valve / Silo Filters

Chain Filters

Cyclo-Filters

Spray Booths

Air Input Systems

Chippers

Solid Fuel Heating

Storage Silo’s

Materials

It is essential to assume that all wood waste is potentially explosive, unless an acceptable dust explosion test demonstrates that this is not the case. Wood waste usually has a dust explosion risk where the mean particle size is less that 200 microns and where as little as 10% of the mixture contains dust less than 80 microns in size. Only weak explosions are likely where the mean particle size exceeds 200 microns.

Acknowledgement: Safe collection of wood waste: Prevention of fire and explosion
HSE Woodworking Information Sheet No.32.
For a copy send an email to email@dustpollution.co.uk

Wood Composite (MDF, MFC)
Waste containing a considerable amount of fine dust can be expected when processing medium density fibre board (MDF), chipboard, and melamine faced chipboard (MFC) by sanding, cutting, routing and sawing. This should be considered as explosible.

Wood Chippings
So long as fine dust is not allowed to separate and accumulate within confined spaces, the machining of softwoods which produce chips, shavings and coarse dust with only a small amount of fine dust, does not normally create an explosion risk.

Hardwoods usually give off much more dust than softwoods, probably because they contain much less resin and are therefore dryer. As a consequence, hardwood waste, must be assumed to be explosible.

Wood Sanding Dust
Due to the abrasive cutting action of sanding, dust of very fine particle size is produced. This must be assumed to be explosible. As a consequence, explosion relief vents are always incorporated into such systems.