Understanding NFPA 660: What It Means for Dust Collection and Pneumatic Conveying Systems
NFPA 660 is here—and if your facility handles combustible dust, this unified standard is something you can’t afford to ignore.
Released to streamline and consolidate several individual dust-related NFPA standards (including NFPA 61, 484, 654, and 655), NFPA 660 brings a new level of clarity—and responsibility—to the design, operation, and maintenance of dust collection and pneumatic conveying systems.
At Zephyr Equipment, we’re already helping facilities adapt, upgrade, and stay compliant.
What Is NFPA 660?
NFPA 660: Standard for Combustible Dusts is the new foundational document that replaces and consolidates:
- NFPA 61 (Agricultural Dusts)
- NFPA 484 (Metals)
- NFPA 652 (Fundamentals)
- NFPA 654 (General Combustible Dusts)
- NFPA 655 (Sulfur Dust)
- NFPA 664 (Wood Dust)
The goal? Unify and simplify the fire and explosion safety standards for combustible dust hazards across industries.
Key Changes That Affect You
Whether you're operating a food plant, a plastics facility, or a metal processing line, here’s how NFPA 660 impacts your dust and conveying systems:
🔹 1. Dust Hazard Analysis (DHA) Now Mandatory
Every facility must perform and document a Dust Hazard Analysis (DHA) to identify potential risks and mitigation strategies. This includes existing systems, not just new ones.
🔹 2. System Design Scrutiny
Pneumatic conveying and dust collection systems must now meet clear design and performance criteria, including:
- Proper sizing and air velocity
- Deflagration venting or suppression
- Isolation devices (like explosion valves or chemical barriers)
🔹 3. Explosion Protection Is Non-Negotiable
If your process handles a combustible dust, you are now required to implement explosion protection where a risk exists. This might include:
- Flameless venting
- Explosion panels
- Chemical suppression
- Spark detection and abort systems
🔹 4. Housekeeping and Maintenance Protocols
NFPA 660 places strong emphasis on dust accumulation limits and routine maintenance of all collection and conveying equipment.
How Zephyr Can Help
At Zephyr Equipment, we understand NFPA 660 inside and out—and we’re ready to help you navigate compliance without sacrificing performance or productivity.
Here’s how we support you:
✅ Turnkey Dust Collection Systems – Fully compliant with NFPA 660, including proper venting, grounding, and containment.
✅ Explosion Protection Integration – We work with leading safety device partners to specify and install explosion vents, isolation valves, and suppression systems.
✅ Pneumatic Conveying with Safety in Mind – Our conveying systems are designed to minimize dust generation and include proper filtration and containment.
✅ DHA Support & Upgrades – We help identify and correct gaps in existing systems, including retrofits to bring older equipment up to code.
✅ Operator-Centric Design – We design with real-world users in mind—easy to clean, safe to maintain, and built to last.
The Bottom Line
NFPA 660 isn’t just another code—it’s a new baseline. And for manufacturers handling combustible dust, compliance is now an essential part of doing business.
Zephyr Equipment is your partner in making sure your dust collection and pneumatic conveying systems are not just compliant—but clean, safe, and built for the long haul.
📞 Need help evaluating your system for NFPA 660?
Contact Zephyr today to schedule a consultation.