Explosions of coal dust are a major safety concern within the coal mining industry. The explosion and
subsequent fires caused by coal dust can result in significant property damage, loss of life in underground
coal mines and damage to coal processing facilities. The United States Bureau of Mines conducted
research on coal dust explosions until 1996 when it was dissolved. In the following years, the American
Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) developed a test standard, ASTM E1226, to provide a standard
test method characterizing the “explosibility” of particulate solids of combustible materials suspended
in air. The research presented herein investigates the explosive characteristic of Pulverized Pittsburgh
Coal dust using the ASTM E1226-12 test standard. The explosibility characteristics include: maximum
explosion pressure, (Pmax); maximum rate of pressure rise, (dP/dt)max; and explosibility index, (Kst). Nine
Pulverized Pittsburgh Coal dust concentrations, ranging from 30 to 1,500 g/m3, were tested in a 20-Liter
Siwek Sphere. The newly recorded dust explosibility characteristics are then compared to explosibility
characteristics published by the Bureau of Mines in their 20 liter vessel and procedure predating ASTM
E1126-12. The information presented in this paper will allow for structures and devices to be built to
protect people from the effects of coal dust explosions.