Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link Skip directly to A-Z link Skip directly to A-Z link


Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC twenty four seven. Saving Lives, Protecting People
Search
            ×
                        Mining
                        Mining
                            NIOSH
                            All CDC
                    Submit
                For a full list of topics:A-Z Index
                Advanced Search
            Advanced Search


The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)





Mining Publication: Effect of Air Velocity on Conveyor Belt Fire Suppression Systems
Keywords: Conveyors Dry chemical fire suppression systems Fire suppression Firefighting Flammability
This page is archived for historical purposes and is no longer being maintained or updated.
Original creation date: February 2009
Authors: JH Rowland, HC Verakis, MA Hockenberry, AC Smith
Conference Paper - February 2009
Download PDF Document (0.45 MB)
NIOSHTIC2 Number: 20035058
2009 SME Annual Meeting and Exhibit, February 22-25, Denver, Colorado, preprint 09-135. Littleton, CO: Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc., 2009; :1-6
Four different types of fire suppression systems were evaluated in large-scale fire experiments to study the effect of air velocity on the effectiveness to extinguish conveyor belt fires. The four different types of suppression systems were water sprinkler, deluge type water spray, and two different dry chemical fire suppression systems. The large-scale fire tests were conducted with 72-in-wide fire resistant rubber belt that met the Mine Safety and Health Administration flame resistant requirement specified in Title 30, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 18, section 18.65 (also known as the 2G Flame Test). Each fire suppression system was tested at air velocities of 500-550 feet per minute (fpm) and 1350-1500 fpm. Two tests were conducted at both air velocities for each fire suppression system. Both of the water-based fire suppression systems were able to suppress the fire to the point that a miner could extinguish it with a fire extinguisher. However, the amount of water needed to suppress the fire to the point where a miner could walk up to extinguish any smoldering belting was greater than the current MSHA regulations require. MSHA regulations only require 10 minutes of water supply to the suppression system. In the test set up neither of these systems would have suppressed the fire had the water been turned off to the system after 10 minutes. The dry chemical suppression systems produced mixed results. Dry chemical suppression system A did not suppress the conveyor belt fire at either air velocity. Dry chemical system B suppressed the fire at 500 fpm air velocity, but produced mixed results at the higher air velocity. Details are presented on the large-scale fire test set-up, arrangement of the fire suppression systems, and conclusions regarding the effect of air velocity on fire suppression system design and performance.
Image of publication Effect of Air Velocity on Conveyor Belt Fire Suppression SystemsConference Paper - February 2009
Download PDF Document (0.45 MB)
NIOSHTIC2 Number: 20035058
2009 SME Annual Meeting and Exhibit, February 22-25, Denver, Colorado, preprint 09-135. Littleton, CO: Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc., 2009; :1-6
See Also
Application of Gas-Enhanced Foam at the Excel No. 3 Mine Fire
Evaluation of a Novel Fire Blocking Gel to Prevent and Suppress Mine Fires
Fire Fighting
Flammability of Wider Conveyor Belts Using Large-scale Fire Tests
Improvements in Conveyor Belt Fire Suppression Systems for U.S. Coal Mines
The Limiting Oxygen Concentration and Flammability Limits of Gases and Gas Mixtures
Numerical Modeling of Water Spray Suppression of Conveyor Belt Fires in a Large-Scale Tunnel
Performance-Based Fire Safety Designs for Self-Escape in Underground Mines
Smoke, Carbon Monoxide, and Hydrogen Chloride Production from the Pyrolysis of Conveyor Belting and Brattice Cloth
Technical Solutions for Enhancements to Mine Safety Using Barricade II Fire Blocking Gel
Testing and Evaluation of an Inflatable Temporary Ventilation Control Device
Page last reviewed: September 21, 2012
Page last updated: September 21, 2012
Content source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Mining Program
Facebook
        Twitter
        LinkedIn
        Syndicate Mining
        Site BrowserSafety and Health TopicsData & StatisticsMethodologyMine DisastersMSHA Data FilesMine & Mineworker ChartsTools & PublicationsTools You Can UsePublicationsNews & ArticlesResearch ProgramNORA Mining CouncilStrategic PlanMining Program, 2019-2023Miner Health Program, 2020-2030ProjectsContractsFunding OpportunitiesMining LinksAbout UsContact NIOSH MiningEmploymentFacilitiesHistoryVisitor Information NIOSH Homepage
 NIOSH A-Z
Workplace Safety & Health Topics
Publications and Products
Programs


About CDC
					Contact Us
					800-232-4636
 Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn Youtube Pinterest Snapchat
 CONTACT CDC
				Contact Us
							Call 800-232-4636
							Email Us
			ABOUT CDC
				About CDC
							Jobs
							Funding
			POLICIES
				Accessibility
							External Links
							Privacy
							Policies
							No Fear Act
							FOIA
							OIG
							Nondiscrimination
							Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
			CONNECT WITH US
				Facebook
								Twitter
								Instagram
								LinkedIn
							Youtube
								Pinterest
								Snapchat
								Email
			LANGUAGES
				Español
							繁體中文
							Tiếng Việt
							한국어
							Tagalog
							Русский
							العربية
							Kreyòl Ayisyen
							Français
							Polski
							Português
							Italiano
							Deutsch
							日本語
							فارسی
							English


U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
			Accessibility
			External Links
			Privacy
			Policies
			No Fear Act
			FOIA
			Nondiscrimination
			OIG
			Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
			USA.gov


Exit Notification / Disclaimer Policy Close
 Links with this icon  indicate that you are leaving the CDC website. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website.
				Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website.
				You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link.
				CDC is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private website. Website Disclaimers
 Cancel Continue