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#1 Posted : 20 February 2001 11:47:00(UTC)
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Posted By ken stevens Can anyone tell me if wood chips & wood dust can be mixed in a Local Ventilation system. Obviously wood dust is very explosive compared to wood chips. if the system is made with explosive enclosures etc then is it ok to use the system for wood chips also. The maintenance people tell me that it is illegal to mix them but i can find no law or guidance to this effect.
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#2 Posted : 21 February 2001 15:04:00(UTC)
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Posted By Diane Warne Ken, I can't find any regulation or guidance on this either. If you don't get any firm advice from this forum, I suggest that you ask the maintenance people for evidence to back up their opinion that it's "illegal", i.e. ask them which regulations they are referring to. Maybe they are using the principle of "I don't like the sound of it, so I reckon it's illegal!" Regards Diane
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#3 Posted : 21 February 2001 15:49:00(UTC)
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Posted By Jay Joshi As wood dust has the potential for explosion, explosion relief would be required for an integrated system. I cannot go into the details of LEV design. There is some basic information in "An introduction to local exhaust ventilation" HS(G)37 from HSE books. Any design text in pneumatic conveying systems will cover it. Wood chips will be heavier than wood dust and the total power, velocity & duct dimensions are factors to be considered. Also, there you will have to dispose the waste--and there could be different rates for dust and chippings. Generally, a competent consultant should give you the various options with relevant costs.
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#4 Posted : 21 February 2001 15:59:00(UTC)
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Posted By Jay Joshi Sorry, I forgot to include 2 free HSE Woodworking Industry Sheet references, "LEV : general principles of system design" WIS 23 & "Safe collection of woodwaste : prevention of fire and explosion" WIS 32--both available from HSE books or the HSE website.
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#5 Posted : 21 February 2001 16:04:00(UTC)
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Posted By Denis Hands Ken, In my experience (workshop engaged in carpentry & joinery + furniture manufacture, using hard and soft woods) the two systems are seperated. The relatively low volume of wood dust from sanding operations was captured in black bin sacks for safe disposal. The dust extraction system, as you say, had intrinsically safe electrical components and an explosion release vent. By comparison, the much higher volume of wood chippings and shavings from saws, planers, tenoners etc. was collected via a separate extraction system into a totally enclosed skip that could be removed by a lorry. I suppose, depending upon the relative volumes of dust and chippings, the whole lot could pose an explosion risk if mixed. You could contact the HSE Woodworking National Interest Group (WOODNIG) on 024 7669 6518, who may be able to give you a definitive answer. I hope this helps.
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