Burr Ridge, IL - Fauske & Associates, LLC (FAI), introduces its new comprehensive, state-of-the-art combustible dust hazards testing lab and education center. The new facility is now operational and FAI will host a public Grand Opening of the facility in spring 2014 complete with tours and demonstrations. It offers a wide range of services related to characterizing, preventing and mitigating combustible dust explosions and fire hazards. In addition to laboratory testing, educational training and on-site consulting services have also been incorporated.

“This new lab gives us the ability to provide fast, high quality output for our partners and clients,” states Ashok Ghose Dastidar, PhD, MBA, Vice President, Dust & Flammability Testing and Consulting Services. “We are ISO 17025 certified by LAB, which is similar to ISO 9000, but for testing labs. We have a variety of test equipment, including 20-L chambers, Minimum Ignition Energy (MIE) chambers, 1 Cubic Meter (1m³) Chamber, Minimum Autoignition Temperature of a Dust Cloud (MIT) and Hot Surface Ignition Temperature of Dust Layers (LIT) apparatuses. We also have a designated area for European (CEN) testing. FAI’s new overall lab size and individual room structure allows us to handle multiple samples with unique characteristics.”

FAI’s lab capabilities provide testing per ASTM and European (CEN) standards, which include common tests like the Explosion Severity Test - (KSt , Pmax and (dP/dt)max), Minimum Ignition Energy (MIE), the Minimum Explosible Concentration (MEC) and Limiting Oxygen Concentration (LOC). These standards are the basis of NFPA codes for combustible dust as well as the OSHA Combustible Dust National Emphasis Program (NEP).

“The brand new 1 Cubic Meter (1m³) Chamber is ideal for establishing KSt and Pmax values for dust cloud explosions – while common in Europe, it is only the second unit of its kind in all of North America,” states Dr. Dastidar. “The new laboratory provides the ideal educational/training resource center as FAI professionals can demonstrate for customers the proper way to sample, test and mitigate combustible dust and other hazards.”

For more information regarding the new lab, please contact: AnnMarie Fauske, 630-887-5213, [email protected], http://www.fauske.com

Source: Fauske & Associates, LLC