Air and Dust Laboratory
The CSIR Air and Dust Laboratory specialises in the analysis of environmental air quality through, for example, the occupational hygiene filters of mine employees. The laboratory was the first of its kind to obtain South African National Accreditation System Accreditation of the NIOSH 5040 for diesel particulate matter (DPM) analysis and methods for the determination of hazardous substances (101) for the direct-on-filter analysis using X-ray diffraction (XRD), which is an international method.
Its services include:
Mine fire and explosion safety awareness training seminars
Fire and explosion suppression/mitigation product testing and evaluation
Conveyor belt fire retardant property testing
Explosibility testing of coal dust and industrial dusts such as those in the pharmaceutical, food and chemicals sector
Evaluation of mine ventilation products and systems
