-300x300.jpg&w=48&q=75){kind=small}
Author: Veress Árpád · Explosion-protection expertDAILY Ex - 25 OCTOBER 2026
Today's focus: A major explosion at an oat-processing plant. What does it tell us about the protection of interconnected machinery? A new industrial explosion in the United States, a biomass-storage fire in Hungary, a Dutch investigation into hazardous pipeline dismantling, and developments in Ex engineering and combustible-dust research. Today's message for Heads of Operations: A protected machine is not necessarily a protected process.
⚡ DAILY Ex | 25 OCTOBER 2026
Explosion Protection | Operational Ex | Global Watch
Today's focus: A major explosion at an oat-processing plant. What does it tell us about the protection of interconnected machinery?
A new industrial explosion in the United States, a biomass-storage fire in Hungary, a Dutch investigation into hazardous pipeline dismantling, and developments in Ex engineering and combustible-dust research.
Today's message for Heads of Operations: A protected machine is not necessarily a protected process.
🔴 1. USA - EXPLOSION AND FIRE AT MAJOR OAT-MILLING FACILITY
BREAKING INCIDENT | Iowa - 24 October 2026
An apparent explosion followed by a major fire occurred yesterday at the Quaker Oats plant in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
The Cedar Rapids Fire Department responded at approximately 16:44 local time.
Firefighters encountered significant smoke and flames. The fire was brought under control by approximately 18:15, with crews continuing to address remaining hotspots.
All employees were accounted for. No injuries were reported.
The facility processes more than 900 tonnes of oats daily, making it one of the world's largest milling operations.
The cause remains under investigation. A combustible-dust explosion has not been confirmed. https://www.ktiv.com/2026/10/24/update-no-one-hurt-after-fire-explosion-quaker-oats-downtown-cedar-rapids/
Why it matters operationally
Grain milling combines combustible dust, mechanical equipment, conveying systems, filtration and potential ignition sources.
The important questions concern the initiating equipment, possible explosion propagation, protection-system performance and the condition of connected machinery.
Management action: Review explosion isolation between mills, bucket elevators, pneumatic conveyors and dust collectors.
https://abcnews.com/Business/wireStory/fire-breaks-quaker-oats-plant-cedar-rapids-iowa-137544207
🔴 2. HUNGARY - FIRE AT BIOMASS STORAGE FACILITY
RECENT INCIDENT | Kecskemét - 23 October
A significant quantity of shredded straw caught fire inside a silo at an inactive biogas facility near Kecskemét.
According to information attributed to Hungary's disaster-management authority, the affected silo covered approximately 1,500 m².
Firefighters used multiple water jets and heavy equipment.
A nearby fermentation building reportedly contained no biogas. Gas cylinders and other hazardous materials stored elsewhere on the site required precautionary protection.
No explosion was reported, and the ignition cause has not been established.
Why it matters operationally
Combustible materials remain hazardous during shutdown and prolonged storage.
Inactive installations may also retain hazardous inventories and require emergency-response arrangements.
Operational lesson: Decommissioning or suspending production does not eliminate fire and explosion hazards.
🔴 3. NETHERLANDS - NEW INVESTIGATION INTO FATAL PIPELINE ACCIDENT
NEW INVESTIGATION ANNOUNCEMENT | 20 October 2026
The Dutch Safety Board has announced an investigation into a fatal accident at Gunvor Energy Rotterdam.
The original incident occurred on 13 August during pipeline disconnection and facility dismantling.
One worker died and five were injured.
The investigation will focus on how personnel establish that a pipeline can be safely opened and how this information is communicated between operators and contractors.
No final causal findings have been published.
Why it matters operationally
Pipeline opening introduces risks from residual pressure, trapped liquids, flammable vapours and incomplete isolation.
Management action: Review line-breaking permits, positive isolation, depressurisation, draining, gas testing and contractor handover.
https://onderzoeksraad.nl/onderzoek-naar-ongeval-bij-ontmantelen-van-leidingen/
🔴 4. MEXICO - FIRE AT UNMANNED OFFSHORE PLATFORM
RECENT INCIDENT | Gulf of Mexico - 19 October
Pemex reported a fire at its unmanned Abkatún-H offshore platform, approximately 73 km from Ciudad del Carmen.
The incident triggered emergency procedures and the deployment of firefighting vessels.
No injuries were reported.
Pemex subsequently stated that the incident had been addressed and announced a root-cause investigation.
Why it matters operationally
Unmanned facilities depend heavily on reliable remote monitoring, isolation and emergency shutdown.
Operational lesson: Removing personnel from a hazardous installation reduces exposure but does not eliminate the requirement for effective protection and intervention arrangements.
📘 5. ATEX / IECEx - UNDERSTANDING Ex e PROTECTION
RECENT TECHNICAL GUIDANCE | Slovenia - 19 October
The Slovenian Institute of Quality and Metrology published technical guidance explaining increased-safety protection under IEC 60079-7.
The guidance distinguishes:
Ex eb - EPL Gb, typically Zone 1
Ex ec - EPL Gc, typically Zone 2
Unlike Ex d, increased-safety protection relies on preventing effective ignition sources under the applicable conditions rather than containing an internal explosion.
The guidance highlights terminals, insulation, clearances, temperature limitation and overload protection. https://www.siq.si/en/news/increased-safety-e/
Why it matters operationally
An Ex e enclosure cannot be treated as an ordinary industrial enclosure.
Incorrect terminals, loose connections, excessive heating or unsuitable modifications may compromise the protection concept.
Engineering lesson: Inspection requirements must reflect the actual protection concept.
https://www.siq.si/en/news/increased-safety-e/
🔬 6. RESEARCH - INTEGRATED EXPLOSION PROTECTION IN BIOMASS PROCESSING
RECENT RESEARCH | Latvia - 9 October 2026
Research published in Sci examined industrial production of wood briquettes containing thermally modified sawdust.
The researchers developed a process combining controlled material dosing with multiple explosion-prevention and protection measures.
These included dust extraction, spark detection, automatic extinguishing, explosion venting and physical separation of drying operations.
Industrial-scale trials demonstrated the feasibility of the production arrangement, although they did not establish universal explosion-protection performance.
Why it matters operationally
Explosion protection should address the complete material-handling process.
Engineering lesson: Ignition prevention, explosion mitigation and propagation control must work together.
https://www.mdpi.com/2413-4155/8/10/297
📅 7. COMPETENCE & INDUSTRY - HAZARDEX SUBMISSIONS CLOSE TOMORROW
UPCOMING DEADLINE | 26 October 2026
The call for technical papers for HazardEx Live 2027 closes tomorrow.
The conference will take place on 24–25 February 2027 in Harrogate, UK.
Organisers are seeking practical technical contributions covering ATEX, IECEx, inspection, maintenance, process safety, operational experience and emerging technologies.
Why it matters operationally
Sharing verified operational experience helps translate technical standards and incident findings into practical improvements.
https://www.hazardexonthenet.net/article/216937/Hazardex-Live-2026--Call-for-Speakers-now-open-.aspx
▶️ OPERATIONAL Ex USE CASE
The dust collector is protected. What about the connecting ductwork?
PRACTICAL | Illustrative scenario
A food-processing plant operates a milling system connected to a central dust collector.
The collector has explosion vents.
The electrical equipment is correctly certified.
Maintenance records are current.
Production capacity increases, and an additional milling machine is connected to the existing extraction system.
The modification appears straightforward.
But what has changed?
The new connection may alter airflow, dust loading, ignition-source exposure and the potential pathways for explosion propagation.
The original explosion-isolation arrangement may no longer represent the complete installation.
Before authorizing operation, verify:
The updated process configuration, extraction performance, combustible-dust characteristics, explosion-protection design basis, isolation arrangements and equipment suitability.
Owner: Head of Operations, supported by Process Engineering and the Ex Responsible Person.
Required evidence: Updated drawings, Management of Change assessment, protection-system verification and documented commissioning.
Measure: 100% of changes to interconnected combustible-dust systems assessed before operation.
📘 HISTORICAL LESSON - DEBRUCE GRAIN ELEVATOR, USA
DOCUMENTED INCIDENT | 1998
The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigated the devastating DeBruce grain-elevator explosion in Kansas.
Its findings highlighted extensive dust accumulation, ineffective dust collection and inadequate housekeeping practices.
Some dust-collection systems had reportedly been out of service for more than a year.
Historical lesson: A protection system that is unavailable or ineffective cannot be credited as an operational safety barrier.
https://www.osha.gov/grain-handling/geeit
▶️ TODAY'S Ex QUESTION
“If an explosion occurred inside one machine, could it propagate through the rest of our production system?”
Choose one dust-processing installation.
Trace the connections between its mills, conveyors, elevators, filters and storage vessels.
Identify the explosion-isolation measures and verify their installation, inspection status and suitability for the current configuration.
The objective is not simply to identify certified components. It is to demonstrate that the complete protection arrangement works.
⚡ DAILY Ex | CLOSING THOUGHT
Yesterday's explosion in Iowa reminds us that industrial explosion protection must be considered at system level.
A machine may be correctly specified.
An electrical installation may comply with IEC 60079.
An explosion vent may be correctly installed.
But if the connections between machines are not properly assessed, the overall protection strategy may remain incomplete.
Operational Ex is about understanding the entire process, maintaining its protective barriers and verifying their effectiveness throughout the operating lifecycle.
The question is not only whether each machine is protected.
It is whether the whole installation remains protected under today's operating conditions.