There are many things that can affect the hazard that your combustible dust presents. It’s possible for dust that is very safe under most circumstances to cause a dangerous explosion if something goes wrong. Here we’ll talk about some of the kinds of information that you may need to know about your dust to make sure you are protected.

1. KST, PMAX, MIE
a guide by IMPERIAL SYSTEMS, INC.
What does it all
mean for your
combustible dust?

2. It is important to know the dangers the
dust in your facility may present.

3. There are a variety of factors that affect
how combustible your dust may be.

4. Additionally, even “safe” dusts can
explode under certain circumstances.

5. Having your dust professionally tested will
give you a better idea of the steps to take
and the equipment needed to keep your
employees and facility safe.
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6. MIE(Minimum Ignition Energy)

7. How much energy your dust requires to
ignite

8. MEC(Minimum Explosive Concentration)

9. How much dust must be present to cause
an explosion

10. PMIN(Minimum Explosion Pressure)

11. The smallest amount of pressure that
ignition of the dust can produce

12. PMAX(Maximum Explosion Pressure)

13. The maximum amount of pressure that
explosive ignition can produce

14. KST(Deflagration Index)

15. General measurement of explosiveness
that is standard to dust collection system
designs

16. A low KST
DOES NOT MEAN
no explosion

17. KST
0
0 - 200
200 - 300
OVER 300
NOT COMBUSTIBLE
WEAK EXPLOSION
STRONG EXPLOSION
VERY STRONG EXPLOSION
COMBUSTIBILITY

18. Even weak explosions have the potential
to cause catastrophic damage.

19. Any KST over 0 will require a dust
collection system outfitted with the
appropriate fire and explosion prevention
features.

20. These are the pieces you’ll need to pay attention to
when you recieve the results of your dust test.
KST - how strong an explosion is likely to be
MIE - how much or how little energy is required to
ignite your dust
MEC - how much dust in the air will risk an explosion
Size of dust helps determine whether it is combustible.
Putting the Pieces Together

21. Read more on our blog!
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