The reactivity of a combustible dust cloud is traditionally characterized by the so-called K-St value, defined as the maximum rate of pressure rise measured in constant volume explosion vessels, multiplied with the cube root of the vessel volume. The present paper explores the use of an alternative parameter, called the maximum effective burning velocity (u(eff,max)), which also is derived from pressure-time histories obtained in constant volume explosion experiments. The proposed parameter describes the reactivity of fuel-air mixtures as a function of the dispersion-induced turbulence intensity. Procedures for estimating u(eff,max) from tests in both spherical and cylindrical explosion vessels are outlined, and examples of calculated values for various fuel-air mixtures in closed vessels of different sizes and shapes are presented. Tested fuels include a mixture of 7.5% methane in air, and suspensions of 500 g/m(3) cornstarch in air and 500 g/m(3) coal dust in air. Three different test vessels have been used: a 20-1 spherical vessel and two cylindrical vessels, 7 and 221. The results show that the estimated maximum effective burning velocities are less apparatus dependent than the corresponding K-St values. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.