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US Pharmacopeia
4
Locate the dust collector outside the
GMP space whenever feasible, espe-
cially in combustible dust applications
What about the location of the dust col-
lector itself? In the majority of cases,
for reasons of functionality, cost and
convenience, it will be located in an in-
door maintenance or mechanical area
adjacent to the Good Manufacturing
Practice (GMP) space, or sometimes
outdoors. Either way, you will need to
determine required duct lengths and
the best way to run ducting to the adja-
cent room or outdoor location. This will
ensure proper and consistent airflow
to the tablet press, a critical factor for
proper operation.
If it is necessary to locate the dust
collector within the GMP space, com-
pliance with FDA requirements will
impose tight controls on the collec-
tor as it does on all equipment within
that processing area. If a combustible
dust is involved, chemical suppres-
sion and isolation will usually be the
default technologies, and these are
typically the most costly methods for
explosion protection.
Establish whether your dust is
combustible
Another major area of concern in dust
collection involves the deflagration
and explosion potential of the material
being collected. The degree of risk de-
pends on the physical characteristics
of the dust relating to Kst (the rate of
pressure rise), Pmax (the pressure de-
veloped inside the collector) and min-
imum ignition energy. To determine
whether the dust is combustible, it
must undergo explosibility testing in
accordance with ASTM test methods
as stipulated by the National Fire Pro-
tection Association (NFPA).
Continuous liner discharge system contains
dust released from the cartridges to the
hopper during automatic pulse cleaning of
a dust collector.
