In industrial plants many types of combustible dusts are generated, processed, handled and stored. When ignited, they can burn rapidly and with a considerable explosion force, when mixed with air in proper proportions. This is the reason why adequate precautions have to be adopted, to ensure all equipment is appropriately protected so that the ignition likelihood of the explosive atmosphere is diminished. Explosion preventing and protection precautions aim to stop explosion occurrence, by eliminating or avoiding the conditions leading to explosions. The paper presents methods of determining dust explosion characteristics and combustion as well as their importance for a proper development and selection of prevention and protection measures. Once known, the protection/prevention measures can be correlated with the safety characteristics. For explosion protection and prevention a series of minimum mandatory requirements have to be fulfilled, for a safe handling and processing of solid materials having fine particle dimensions, among which some are mentioned: knowing the characteristics influencing safety, control and monitoring dust releases in technological processes, installations design for migrating and accumulation of dusts, respectively implementing a rigorous cleaning program at workplaces.

Static electricity represents one of the potential ignition sources for the explosive atmospheres. The test methods for materials, in general, and especially the test methods for textile fabrics for assessment of the protective performances in static electricity, have known a permanent evolution alongside newly developed electrostatically dissipative materials. Within the National Institute of Research and Development for Safety in Mines and Explosion Protection (INCD-INSEMEX) new testing stands had been developed and new testing methods had been implemented for assessment of the charge dissipative capacity, in accordance with the European standards requirements. By modernizing the laboratory testing/research-development capacity, the physical tools for testing of materials are assured, having in view conformity assessment with the European Directives requirements, in the framework of the Notified Body for Conformity Assessment (OEC-INSEMEX). The paperwork presents aspects regarding competency testing provided in the RENAR policy for accredited or accrediting-in-progress laboratories, as requirement for proving and monitoring laboratory competency for testing/calibration in the field for which accreditation was applied for/granted.