TGD J 2014 – 5.5.2.2 – Safety-features for a pellet or woodchip store

5.5.2.2 Safety-features for a pellet or woodchip store Wood pellet Stores: Pellet-stores should meet special safetyrequirements to prevent problems such as damage to the store, dust-explosions and moisture-absorption. According to best practice, the ideal pellet-store would display the following features: – solid walls that can withstand the pressure of the pellets, and which are fireresistant for 90 minutes; – completely dry, protected from water or dampness and dustproof; – the filling nozzles through which the wood pellets reach the storage room should be of metal and should not have any right angles, in order to prevent pellet breakages due to the rapid change in direction; – with changes of direction of more than 45 degrees, only curves with a radius of more than 200 mm should be used; – the combined length of the hosepipe and internal piping should not exceed 30 m during filling of the silo; – the filling and exhaust connector should be earthed with a copper earth wire with a cross section area of at least 4 mm2; – an abrasion and tear-proof impact protection mat suspended opposite the inlet to the store such that the pellets hit the mat absorbing momentum of the pellets and reducing the damage to the pellets from hitting the wall of the store during unloading; – the mat used should be HDPE-film with a thickness of at least 2 mm or abrasionproof rubber with a thickness of 1-3 mm; – fireproof, properly-sealing door to the store with removable wooden boards which allow access when the store is partly full; – no electrical installations other than those required to operate the system; – Sloping floor: 35° – 45°; – wood pellet storage rooms should always have proper ventilation. The use of special ventilation caps on the inblow and exhaust pipes is recommended. These caps allow the exchange of air between inside and outside the storage installation. Access: Access to hoppers and stores should be restricted for safety reasons. Access doors and lids should be capable of being secured. A safety warning notice relating to the dangers of wood pellet storage should be provided adjacent to the access point.

C:BCARTGDtgd jTGD%20J%202014TGD%20J%202014%20-%20SECTION%205.5.2.2.pdf