DGMS (Tech)/Circular No.6                         Dhanbad, Dated the 6th September,2001.

 

To

                        The Owner, Agent and Manager

                        of all Coal Mines.

                       

Sub:                Use of fire Resistant Grade Conveyor Belting for surface

application.

 

            A number of fires have been reported in conveyor belting being used in coal handling plants and open cast mines.

            Enquiry into such fires had revealed total devastation of the conveyor equipment and associated property of the mine.  Such fire in belting in tunnel conveyors may cause serious risk of life to the persons present in the tunnels.

            To avoid and to deal with such fire, the following recommendations are being done :-

(i)                       Only fire resistant belting conforming to the standard recommended below shall be used while carrying crushed coal.

(ii)                     Water hydrant line with tapping at every 40 meters with sufficient hose lengths shall be laid all along the belt conveyors working in the mine.

(iii)                   All defective idlers bearings and defective lengths of belting shall be identified and replaced forthwith. Any other objects or parts of structure likely to cause friction or heating shall be removed.

Recommended Standard of fire Resistant Belting :

(1)                     Fire Resistant properties of the cover –  to conform ISO 340

(2)                     Drum Friction Test –  to conform IS 1891(Part - V) of 1993

(3)                     Max. Surface Electrical Resistant –  to conform IS 1891(Part V) of 1993

(4)                     Cover Abrasion Loss (When tested as per DIN-53516) -175 mm3(Max.)

The above values are applicable for al types of Textile Conveyor Belting and Steel Cord Conveyor Belting to be used on surface in coal mines. Other mechanical properties like Adhesion PLY/PLY, Adhesion Cover/PLY, Cover thickness and cover tensile strength etc. may be fixed by the user industry in consultation of the belting manufacturer.  No DGMS approval of the above belting is necessary.

However, any belting used in underground coal mine shall be of the type approved in writing by Director-General of Mines Safety as required under Regulation 181(3) of Coal Mines Regulations, 1957.

You are requested to comply to the above recommendations in the interest of safety.

 

 

( A. K. Rudra )

Director-General of Mines Safety