WET AND DRY DOWNDRAFT TABLES
MODULAR DESIGN = VERSATILITY

Wet or dry, the modular design of our downdraft tables provides your customers with incredible versatility. Multiple tables can be bolted together to obtain the required table size. Your customers can easily separate the tables and make individual work stations if their application changes. Hinged side panels or fixed deflector walls, open or semi enclosed top and work space, fiberglass grating, magnetic or fixed fluorescent lighting are some of the customization features our downdraft tables offer.
Our polypropylene C3 36x24 all-in-one wet downdraft table is perfect for the medical device manufacturers.

COMBUSTIBLE METAL DUST FIRES ARE GETTING MORE ATTENTION

Every year hundreds of combustible dust fires are reported.  Hundreds more, go unreported or misreported. If there is not significant damage, injuries or fatalities, the fire may not be reported to the NFIRS (National Fire Incident Reporting System).  NFIRS statistics are dependent upon fire departments using the reporting system. Ultimately, countless fires go unreported or misreported.  It’s not uncommon for a combustible metal dust fire to be reported as another type of fire.   Because of the current reporting system, collecting accurate information regarding combustible metal dust fires and explosions is difficult.  Combustible metal dust fires are a Class D fire and require Class D extinguishing agents. Class A B C fire extinguishers are to be labeled not intended for use on Class D fires, or not intended for use on combustible metal fires.  If you follow us on Linked In and Face Book, we posted a video of an aluminum dust fire at a company in southern California using the wrong fire extinguishers.    

Many generators of combustible metal dust aren’t aware of
how dangerous metal dust is.    

I T'S JUST DUST.  RIGHT?

An OSHA report and investigation of a fire in 2012 that started in a centrifugal wheel abrasive blast machine resulted in two employees being severely burned and eventually one fatality.  Most wheel blast machines use metallic abrasive, such as cast steel shot or grit.  According to the OSHA Report, a spark within the blast chamber of the centrifugal wheel blast machine was pulled through the ducting and into a dust collector that was located inside the building.  While employees were frantically trying to extinguish the fire, someone opened the dust collector, introducing oxygen to the collector.  To make matters even more dangerous, the incorrect extinguishing agent for this Class D fire was used.  A 14’ fire ball came out of the collector seriously burning two employees.  Both employees were hospitalized for their burns and injuries. One employee spent two months in the hospital with burns over 70% of his body before eventually passing away. 

 OSHA has introduced the Combustible Dust Emphasis Program which provides useful information regarding combustible dust in general.  However, for combustible metal dust, NFPA 484 the Standard for Combustible Metals is an invaluable tool. 

A FEW FACTS ABOUT COMBUSTIBLE METAL DUST 

•  Metal dust fires can be created by nothing more than a friction spark.
• 1/32 –inch of dust can form a 10’ high dust cloud explosion if disturbed.
• Any dust under the right conditions is flammable and potentially explosive.
• Dry sand is effective in isolating metal dust fires
• Combustible metal dust fires are Class D fires
• Wetted metal dust that isn't completely submerged under water is highly flammable
• The Chemical Safety Board website has several videos of combustible dust explosions 

  Dusts that are wettable and or sinkable may be suitable for wet dust collection  

A T INDUSTRIAL WET DUST COLLECTORS ARE AN INEXPENSIVE INSURANCE POLICY.