Ask the Dust Guy: Are Combustible Dust Hazards a Concern with Additive Manufacturing? (Part 1)
[video src="https://hgi-fire.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Ask-the-Dust-Guy.mp4" /] As Additive Manufacturing (“AM” or 3D printing) continues to grow across industries, more facilities are introducing new materials, powders, and…
Fire Loss in the U.S. 2020 – A synopsis of the NFPA’s annual fire report
Each fall, the National Fire…
Getting a Handle on Your Combustible Dust Exposure – Part 2
Last week, we reviewed the definition of combustible dust, the “Dust Explosion Pentagon”, and identified several historic dust explosions that have resulted in the tragic loss of many lives. This week, we’ll review applicable…
Getting a Handle on Your Combustible Dust Exposure – Part 1
Any facility that handles combustible particulate solids,…
One of the most common observations about the fire…
Photo credit: Kathryn and Shelby…NFPA 652: Standard on Fundamentals of Combustible Dust is Coming!
This summer, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) will issue NFPA 652: Standard on Fundamentals of Combustible Dust. Though NFPA had previously developed several standards addressing combustible dust, those standards…
Combustible Dust Demonstration Apparatus
What do our fire protection engineers do in their spare time? Dale Hansen, one of the Principals of our firm, recently developed a combustible dust demonstration apparatus. The demonstration unit is designed to disperse a…
Spreading Fire Safety Awareness in the Community
The holidays are over, which means the chances of starting a house fire via a deep-fried turkey or a knocked-over Christmas tree are considerably lower than they were in November and December. The year 2013 saw the lowest…
Eglin Incident: Weather, Water, and What We Learned
Following the incident at Eglin Air Force Base’s Hangar 130, an investigation produced recommendations regarding High Expansion Foam (HEF) suppression systems in three major areas: “changes to HEF suppression system…
Hangar 130: Crucial Lessons in Safety and Prevention
The high expansion foam (HEF) system incident in Hangar 130 at Eglin Air Force Base that occurred early in 2014 left a tragic impression on everyone involved. There were questions to answer: What caused the system to trigger?…
On January 8, 2014, a High Expansion Foam…Hot Work Sparks a Grain Dust Explosion at Flagstaff Pet Food Manufacturer
According to investigators, a recent dust explosion in the Flagstaff Nestle Purina plant was caused by welders conducting hot work repairs on the facility’s grain elevators. The incident occurred on the afternoon of September…
Fire Prevention Week – Working Smoke Alarms Save Lives: Test Yours Every Month!
Sunday kicks off the start of Fire Prevention Week, our nation’s longest running public health and safety observance on record. It has been observed each October since 1920, when it was proclaimed by President Woodrow Wilson.…
Solar Photovoltaic Panels: California’s Move Toward Safe Installation
We recently exchanged insights with an industry friend on the subject of solar panels. In increasing numbers, companies are further monetizing their real estate assets by leasing warehouse roofs for the installation of solar…