What is BS EN 17289‑1 about?
BS EN 17289‑1 discusses the characterization of bulk materials. BS EN 17289‑1 is the first part of the multi-series on the characterization of bulk materials, and discusses crystalline silica content. BS EN 17289‑1 specifies the requirements and choice of the test method for the determination of the size weighted fine fraction (SWFF) and the size-weighted fine fraction of crystalline silica (SWFFCS) in bulk materials.
BS EN 17289‑1 gives guidance on the preparation of the sample and the determination of crystalline silica by X-ray Powder Diffractometry (XRD) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR). Concentrations of respirable dust, or respirable crystalline silica (RCS), in the workplace air, resulting from processing and handling of bulk materials, will depend on a wide variety of factors and these concentrations cannot be estimated using SWFF or SWFFCS values.
BS EN 17289‑1 is applicable for crystalline silica-containing bulk materials that have been fully investigated and validated for the evaluation of the size-weighted fine fraction and crystalline silica.
Who is BS EN 17289‑1 for?
BS EN 17289‑1 on the characterization of bulk materials is useful for:
- The construction industry
- The mining industry
- The oil and gas industry
- Air quality testing laboratories
- Health and safety inspectors
- Human resources executives
- Industrial hygienists
Why should you use BS EN 17289‑1?
A method was developed in the industrial minerals industry to determine the “size weighted relevant fine fraction” within the bulk material. BS EN 17289‑1 set out the methods which can be used to measure and calculate the fine fraction of the bulk material and the fine fraction of the crystalline silica, in several types of bulk materials.
BS EN 17289‑1 provides additional information to users for their risk assessment and to compare bulk materials. It has been used in the industry and by institutes previously under the acronym SWeRF. EN 17289 (all parts) is based on that industrial method and specifies the analytical methods to determine the difference between materials with coarse quartz and fine quartz, for example, sands versus flour.
