CEMA NO: 576‐2013

Approved: March 18, 2013

Non‐Technical Modification: June 26 2014

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CEMA No. 576

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Classification of Applications
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Bulk Material Conveyor

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Belt Cleaning
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Provided by the Members

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of the
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Bulk Belt Conveyor Accessories Section

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of the
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Conveyor Equipment Manufacturers Association

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as a service to the industry

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Copyright, 2014 Conveyor Equipment Manufacturers Association

All Rights Reserved
 CEMA No 576 - Classification of Applications for Bulk Material Conveyor Belt Cleaning

DISCLAIMER

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The information provided in this document is advisory only. These recommendations are provided by

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CEMA in the interest of promoting safety in the work place. These recommendations are general in

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nature and are not intended as a substitute for a thorough safety program. Users should seek the

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advice, supervision or consultation of qualified engineers or other safety professionals. Any use of this

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document, the information contained herein, or any other CEMA publication may only be made with the

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agreement and understanding that the user and the user’s company assume full responsibility for the

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design, safety, specifications, suitability and adequacy of the system component, or mechanical or

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electrical device designed or manufactured using this information. The user and the user’s company

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understand and agree that CEMA, its member companies, its officers, agents and employees shall not be

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liable in any manner under any theory of liability for the user or user’s reliance on these

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recommendations. The users and the user’s company agree to release, hold harmless and indemnify

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CEMA, its member companies, successors, assigns, officers, agents and employees from any and all
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claims of liability, costs, fees (including attorney’s fees), or damages arising in any way out of the use of
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this information. CEMA and its member companies, successors, assigns, officers, agents and employees
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make no representations or warranties whatsoever, either express or implied, about the information
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contained in this document, including, but not limited to, representations or warranties that the
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information and recommendations contained herein conform to any federal, state or local laws,
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regulations, guidelines or ordinances. This standard has been established to provide uniformity in
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classifying applications among the various manufacturers of conveyor belt cleaning devices.
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This standard implies no representation that a particular belt cleaner is suitable to be used in
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combination with a particular conveyor belt.

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This standard implies no representation that a particular belt cleaner is suitable to be used in
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combination with a particular conveyor belt splice.

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Each manufacturer is responsible for the design of their product including the suitability for use in
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applications where food handling, corrosion resistance, fire retardant or anti‐static features may be
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required by statute or application.

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The use of conveyor belt cleaners may increase the horsepower requirements of the conveyor drive.
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Contact a CEMA member for information.

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Conveyor belt cleaners may be required to meet additional industry or government standards or other
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requirements such as for use in underground mines, hazardous locations, or for food handling that are
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not spelled out in this standard. Contact a CEMA member for information.
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CEMA reserves the right to revise this standard at any time without notice.
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 CEMA No 576 - Classification of Applications for Bulk Material Conveyor Belt Cleaning

CHANGE RECORD

May 15, 2014 ‐ Added CEMA 550 Material Classification Code Chart as an Appendix for
reference. Added Material Description from CEMA 550 for the two materials used as examples.

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June 26, 2014 – Changed Material – Coal, Mined. As opposed to Coal, Bituminous, Mined, 50

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Mesh & Under to better match the Metric Example.

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FOREWORD

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Conveyor belt cleaners are used to remove fugitive material, otherwise known as carryback,

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from the return side of the conveyor belt after the bulk material has been discharged. Ideally,

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this will be accomplished from within the chute works so that the removed carryback will pass

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onto the next system element. However, other locations may also be suitable. It is understood

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that the methods and designs for cleaning belts are numerous.
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This guide has been established to provide a uniform method for determining the application
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class of any individual belt conveyor. This application class will assist in the selection of an
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appropriate conveyor belt cleaner or conveyor belt cleaner system for the application. By
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ranking the application, guidance concerning the needed ruggedness and durability of the
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applicable conveyor belt cleaner will be available. Manufacturers voluntarily specify into which
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class their particular designs fall.

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Belt cleaner designs vary significantly and it is each manufacturer's responsibility to provide
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equipment that is suitable for the application as rated and the intended use.
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The degree of cleanliness resulting from a properly specified installed and maintained belt
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cleaner or multiple belt cleaner system is not covered by this guide. It is the end user's
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responsibility to define the desired level of cleaning that is required for their application. It is
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the responsibility of the belt cleaner supplier to provide a system and maintenance
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requirements that can meet the end user's expectation of cleaning results.
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This guide assumes the application class ranking will consider the conveyor belt to be in “new”
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or “as new” condition.

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This guide makes no statement regarding the cleaning performance or life of any particular
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conveyor belt cleaner. Contact a CEMA member for information.

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Copyright, 2014 Conveyor Equipment Manufacturers Association

All Rights Reserved
 CEMA No 576 - Classification of Applications for Bulk Material Conveyor Belt Cleaning

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INTRODUCTION

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The proper selection of a belt cleaner must consider the environment in which the belt cleaner

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must operate. Several factors will play significant roles in deciding the appropriate selection.

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This standard provides a method to condense a complex operating environment into a single

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classification number to be used when selecting belt cleaners.

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RANKING AND CLASS SYSTEM

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The application class is determined using the following factors.

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1. Belt Width

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2. Belt Speed

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3. Quantity and type of belt splices
4. Abrasiveness of the material An
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5. Stickiness/moisture content of the material
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For the purposes of this classification conveyor belts must be new or in “as new” condition.
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METHOD
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The environment in which the conveyor belt cleaner must operate is divided into two main
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categories, the conveyor belt itself and the material carried. There are three factors
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describing the conveyor belt and two factors describing the material for a sum total of five.
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Each of the five factors is rated individually. The final application score is the sum of all five
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factors.
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The final score is divided into five application class levels and should be specified when
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conveyor belt cleaners are being selected. The selected conveyor belt cleaner should have
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a rating that meets or exceeds the calculated application class score. (Note: CEMA
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standard 550 is a valuable tool for assigning values to the material categories. A copy of its
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Material Classification Chart is included here as an appendix.) An explanation of the factors

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appears below.
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BELT CHARACTERISTICS
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Belt Width
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Score Description
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0 <24” width (<610mm)

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1 24” – 42” width (610mm – 1067mm)

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2 >42” – 60” width (1068mm – 1524mm)

4 >60” – 96” width (1525mm – 2438mm)
8 >96” width (>2438mm)
 CEMA No 576 - Classification of Applications for Bulk Material Conveyor Belt Cleaning

1.

Belt Speed

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Score Description

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1 <300 fpm (<1.5 m/sec)

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2 300 – 600 fpm (1.5 – 3.0 m/sec)
4 601 – 1000 fpm (3.1 – 5.0 m/sec)

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8 >1000 fpm (>5.0 m/sec)

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Splice Type (Consider that the splice condition may change with time. Use a higher score

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when in doubt.)

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Score Description

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0 vulcanized (for the entire life of the belt)
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Mechanical splices with belt speed below 500 fpm (2.5 m/s)
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4 Mechanical splices with belt speed 500 fpm (2.5 m/s) or greater
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MATERIAL CHARECTERISTICS
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Abrasiveness (Choose the worst case expected conditions in situations where the
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conditions will vary)

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Score Description
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1 Mild (CEMA Standard 550 code 5, Abrasive index 1‐17)

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2 Medium (CEMA Standard 550 code 6, Abrasive index 18‐67)

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3 Severe (CEMA Standard 550 code 7, Abrasive index 68‐416)

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Stickiness/Moisture Content (Choose the worst case expected conditions in situations

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where the conditions will vary)

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Score Description
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1 Mild/Dry (<2% moisture by weight)

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2 Medium/Moist (2‐8% moisture by weight)

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4 Heavy/Wet (>8% moisture by weight)

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8 Severe/Wet slurry with fines (CEMA 550 code F, O, V))

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The sum of the individual scores is broken down into the following ratings.
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APPLICATION SEVERITY RANKING

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Score Description
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≤6 Class 1
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7‐10 Class 2
11‐15 Class 3
16‐23 Class 4
≥24 Class 5
 CEMA No 576 - Classification of Applications for Bulk Material Conveyor Belt Cleaning

2.

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EXAMPLES

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A conveyor designer needs to choose belt cleaners for a conveyor carrying limestone from the
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quarry pit. The conveyor width is 36” and the belt speed is 420’ fpm. The belt will be installed
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with a vulcanized splice but will be spliced mechanically during its life.
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Referring to the Belt Width chart a score of 1 for the 36” width is assigned.
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From the Belt Speed chart a score of 2 is assigned.

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From the Splice Type chart a score of 2 is assigned since this belt will typically have mechanical
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splices in it even though it is vulcanized at commissioning.

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Referring to CEMA Standard 550, the CEMA material code is 75A4046MY which contains 6 as the
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abrasiveness rating for limestone. From this, a score of 2 is assigned.

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From the Stickiness/Moisture Content table, a score of 4 is assigned. Even though the majority
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of the time this material will run fairly dry, groundwater or heavy rain can make the pit very
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wet. A conservative ranking would assume wet conditions.

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The total score would be 1+2+2+2+4=11. From the Application Severity Ranking Chart, the
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designer would select conveyor belt cleaners rated for at least Class 3 applications.
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METRIC
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A designer needs to choose belt cleaners for a new conveyor in a terminal expansion. The
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material conveyed will be clean bituminous coal on an 1800mm wide belt at 4.1 m/s. The site
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specified a vulcanized splice for all belts.

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Referring to the Belt Width chart a score of 4 for the 1800mm width is assigned.

From the Belt Speed chart a score of 4 is assigned.

 CEMA No 576 - Classification of Applications for Bulk Material Conveyor Belt Cleaning

3.

From the Splice Type chart a score of 0 is assigned since this belt will be vulcanized throughout

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its life.

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Referring to CEMA Standard 550, the CEMA material code is 50D335LNXY which contains 5 as
the abrasiveness rating for bituminous coal. From this, a score of 1 is assigned.

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From the Stickiness/Moisture Content table, a score of 2 is assigned. Rain and anti‐dust

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measures could result in extra moisture in the coal. A conservative ranking would assume

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moist conditions.

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The total score would be 4+4+0+1+2=11. From the Application Severity Ranking Chart, the

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designer would select conveyor belt cleaners that rated for at least Class 3 applications.
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END OF DOCUMENT
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 CEMA No 576 - Classification of Applications for Bulk Material Conveyor Belt Cleaning

4.

APPENDIX

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CEMA STANDARD 550 MATERIAL CLASSIFICATION CODE CHART

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CEMA No 576 - Classification of Applications for Bulk Material Conveyor Belt Cleaning