NFPA 660: The New Standard on Combustible Dusts M. T. Williamson, P.E., ADF Engineering Inc., Miamisburg, OH, USA. A long anticipated new standard, NFPA 660: Standard for Combustible Dusts and Particulate Solids, was published on December 6, 2024, and is now in effect for the Oilseeds Industry, as well as all industries that handle combustible dusts. This standard incorporates and replaces NFPA 61: Standard for the Prevention of Fires and Dust Explosions in Agricultural and Food Processing Facilities, which the Oilseeds Industry has followed since 1923. It also incorporates NFPA 652, which had been created as a supplement covering all industries in 2015 and introduced the requirement for Dust Hazard Analyses for all facilities that generate or handle combustible dusts. The purpose of creating a new consolidated standard was to provide a single, comprehensive guideline across all industries by merging the previous industry-specific standards into a clearer, more structured approach to managing combustible dust hazards. The overall intent of NFPA 660 is to: Enhance safety by providing clear protocols for identifying, assessing, and managing dust hazards. Simplify compliance by resolving inconsistencies across previous standards and offering a unified reference for dust safety. Prevent explosions and fires through best practices for hazard control, including Dust Hazard Analysis (DHA) requirements and strategies for explosion protection and ignition control. Provide a consolidated best practice standard for enforcement by Insurance Providers and local Fire Marshals upon adoption of the standard and set general expectations for compliance. The presentation will review the history of the development of this new standard and how it will impact the Oilseeds Industry in particular.
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