Commonly, problems arise because of the temperature of the material, its dustiness or abrasivity, or because it is friable and must be handled gently. Companies skilled in making many kinds of equipment are frequently surprised when they try to apply their expertise to perlite for the first time.

Good application involves good operation, reliability, and long life. In some cases, existing equipment and systems can be applied with good results. In some situations, changes can be made to the equipment to make it more applicable. In other cases specialized equipment must be constructed.