On Thu, 06 Aug 2009 07:32:06 -0500, Jules wrote:

On Thu, 06 Aug 2009 09:04:36 +0000, Huge wrote:
Just out of interest, why are flour mills so strongly constructed?
Presumably all that strength costs money and isn't done without good reason.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grain_dust_explosion

Yes, I know someone with a grain store out here in the US - the
construction's interesting; very strong frame and walls, but the roof is
obviously designed as a weak point so that any explosion will be diverted
upwards. (I've seen similar intentional weak points inside places that
handle explosives - but I suspect a lot of folk don't realise that grain
dust in a confined space can be quite potent)

and coal dust - don't need firelighters.

I was forced in to asking a manufacturer a daft question about fine dust:
we were looking at using a substance that was about 5nm, so finer than
flour etc. The elfinsafty bods demanded and answer on risk of explosion.
In vain I tried to explain that fumed silica had done the burning bit and
its bigger form was in buckets around the factory specially for putting out
fires.
--
Peter.
The head of a pin will hold more angels if
it's been flattened with an angel-grinder.