ISSUE DATE: 3/30/2011 

PROGRAM INFORMATION BULLETIN NO. P11-17 

FROM: LINDA F. ZEILER 

 Acting Director of Technical Support 

 KEVIN G. STRICKLIN 

 Administrator for 

 Coal Mine Safety and Health 

 NEAL H. MERRIFIELD 

 Administrator for 

 Metal and Nonmetal Mine Safety and Health 

SUBJECT: Reissue of P09-41 - Voluntary Program to Evaluate New or 

 Novel Fire Suppression Agents and Devices Used for Manual 

 Fire Fighting Purposes 

Who should know about this new program? 

Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) enforcement personnel, equipment 

manufacturers, underground mine operators, and miners' representatives should know 

about the program. 

Why is MSHA issuing this Program Information Bulletin (PIB)?

MSHA has established a program called the Voluntary Fire Suppression Agent 

Suitability Program. The program is applicable to fire suppression agents and devices 

used for manual fire fighting purposes, and is designed to consolidate requests to 

evaluate "new or novel" fire suppression agents or devices through MSHA's Approval 

and Certification Center (A&CC). 

"New or novel" fire fighting agents would be those products that have been recently 

introduced into the market place and would not include the well known "traditional" 

agents such as water; dry chemicals such as monoammonium phosphate (ABC 

classified multipurpose dry chemical); or aqueous foams such as protein, flouroprotein, 

AFFF, FFFP, and medium or high expansion 
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types. New agents may be unique wetting or heat extracting agents or agents that are 

considered environmentally friendly such as replacements for Halon 1301, Halon 1211, 

or other fluorocarbon products. "New or novel" devices may contain a combination of 

both liquid and dry fire suppression agents. 

What will this program do?

The Voluntary Fire Suppression Suitability Program will enhance the safety of miners in 

the following ways: 

1. It will serve as a central clearinghouse to provide guidance to manufacturers on 

procedures for the evaluation of "new or novel" fire suppression agents or 

devices used for manual fire fighting purposes within the mining industry. 

2. Initially, it will provide a means for manufacturers to obtain a suitability 

determination of such "new or novel" fire suppression agents for mine use. 

Guidelines have been developed for manufacturers to obtain a suitability determination 

of fire suppression agents and devices. It identifies to mine operators, miners' 

representatives, equipment manufacturers, and MSHA enforcement personnel "new or 

novel" fire suppression agents and devices suitable for mine use. 

Who may participate in this program?

Manufacturers of "new or novel" fire suppression agents and devices intended for use 

in manual fire fighting are encouraged to participate. 

What are the benefits of participating?

For the initial program, manufacturers of "new or novel" fire suppression agents used 

for manual fire fighting purposes will be able to have their product evaluated to 

determine suitability for use in mining operations. Subsequently, manufacturers of fire 

suppression devices used during manual fire fighting efforts will be able to have their 

product evaluated to determine suitability for use in mining operations. Manufacturers 

would have a central location for guidance and evaluation. Products that are found to 

be suitable for mine use may be advertised by a manufacturer as such. 

What are the details of the program?

The initial program will cover "new and novel" manual fire fighting agents and devices 

only. The program is not currently applicable to portable fire extinguishers, which are 

specifically addressed within the current standards. MSHA is currently exploring the 

development of an evaluation program that will address both manual and automatic 

fixed fire suppression systems for use in underground fire protection that would utilize 

new or novel agents. 

An application procedure, ASAP 3025 - Guidelines for the Suitability Evaluation of 

New or Novel Mine Fire Fighting Agents, is available on MSHA's home page at 

www.msha.gov under Technical Assistance, Product Approval. The application 
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procedure may also be obtained by calling one of the contact persons referenced in this 

Program Bulletin. The program is voluntary and a fee is charged for testing the 

products for suitability. The fire suppression agent for the evaluation must be "new or 

novel." The manufacturer would need to submit an application containing certain 

technical, test, and user information, including information intended to substantiate the 

new or novel nature of the agent. 

How will manufacturers or interested parties know if a "new or novel" fire fighting 

agent is suitable for mine use?

A&CC will maintain a list of suitable "new or novel" fire suppression agents used for 

manual fire fighting purposes. The list will be posted and periodically updated on 

MSHA's home page at www.msha.gov under Technical Assistance, Approved 

Products. A copy of the list may also be obtained by calling one of the contact persons. 

What is the authority for this program?

The Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, as amended; 30 C.F.R §§ 75.1107-13; 

77.1108-1(b)(1) and (2); 77.1109(e); 56.4200(b)(1); 56.4600(a)(1)and (2); 57.4230(c); 

57.4260(c); 57.4263; and 57.4600(a)(1) and (2). 

Who should I contact if I want to participate?

Technical Support, Approval and Certification Center 

Derrick Tjernlund, (304) 547-2301 

E-mail: tjernlund.derrick@dol.gov 

Michael Hockenberry, (304) 547-2075 

E-mail: hockenberry.michael@dol.gov 

Coal Mine Safety and Health, Division of Safety 

Charles Carpenter, (202) 693-9532 

E-mail: carpenter.charles@dol.gov

Metal and Nonmetal Mine Safety and Health 

Marvin Lichtenfels, (202) 693-9600 

E-mail: lichtenfels.marvin@dol.gov

Is this PIB available on the internet?

This PIB may be viewed by accessing MSHA's home page (www.msha.gov) and 

choosing "Compliance Info" and then "Program Information Bulletins." 
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Who will receive this PIB?

Program Policy Manual Holders 

Underground Mine Operators 

Surface Mine Operators 

Miners' Representatives 

Mining Product Manufacturers