Hi Dale

Did U get anywhere with this issue.

We have the same item.

Drop me a line at work if U do.

Thanks

James ■

Greetings from the soon to be frozen Eastern Wilderness@1140 feet above mean sea level.

Most conveyor belt is rated as fire resistant-per MSHA regulations.

A sprinkler or deluge gun in a reclaim tunnel is always a good idea, I would venture to guess that your insurer would require FR belt anyway since you are dealing with a combustible material anyway.

THe fumes generated by these belts are a problem but most of the manufactures are using the MSHA standards or at least they were.

I have a question, is the reclaim manually operated by an single person moving from chute to chute?

Is the reclaim tunnel in question ventilated mechanically?How many methods of egress or ingress-entrances or exits does it have? ■

Dale/James,

The Australian Standards are somewhat ambivalent in respect to the specification of belting in tunnels so invariably it falls within OH&S Standards when a problem occurs. The attitude is much more rigorous when coal is involved and my experience in both NSW and Queensland is that the tunnels have been subject to a risk analysis whenever coal is involved. In NSW this invariably ends up meaning FRAS belting in any tunnel over 6 metres long or any tunnel not vented at both ends regardless of the fire protection system. In Queensland the Mines tend to use FRAS belting but not always. In the case of the tunnels at GPA, I believe a correctly done risk assessment is warranted and that based on the assessed fire risk either FRAS belting or some other risk mitigation can then be selected and then endorsed by the insurance company.

In respect to cement the risk of fire is very different, the issue in tunnels where cement clinker is being conveyed is usually dust. I have never come across any instance where fire risk was an issue. If there was a concern the risk analysis using third party experts as above remains an option.

Overseas the issue is quite varied but also open to interpretation. The USA Standards start from a less rigorous position. The Australian Standards evolved from the UK and during the '90's were significantly modified along German Standards lines after a fire at the old Wambo Colliery. In addition the various WorkCover Authorities started placing much more responsibility on the individual mines/sites to assess their own risk and make a component selection based on this and the guidelines within the Standards. Tunnels and enclosed spaces fall in that ambivalent area where many operators play it safe albeit the FRAS option is very expensive. As always unfortunately in such circumstances you are safe until you have an accident. I can only caution in respect to coal on the experience at PWCS where they did have a fire in a transfer point and this dictated their approach from then on.

Given the changes in the regulation regime in Australia over the last 5 years or so, safety and risk are major problems for anyone holding a responsible position within an operation. Unfortunately it is not a defence under OH&S to argue under this regime that the plant was built before the new regulations etc came into being if some one is seriously hurt. My recommendation therefore is that you should ensure you are compliant to best practice now and not wait for a problem.

I trust this helps

Col Benjamin ■

Thanks Col,

We handle coal as well...need it for the burner.

GPA has overhead heat sensitive type fire water sprinklers.

We do not have anything...we have tunnels and enclosed galleries.

I guess that it all comes back to risk...

Prevention at first, if need, then detection and then a response mechanism.

In this regard, idler checks and change out

Perhaps infrared sensors and the heat wire that other have written about - to detect and locate the hot spot.

Then sprinklers to react accordingly.

Cheers

James ■

Hi James,

In my experience if you have a heating with coal, infra red systems and not necessarily reactive enough and once a heating takes hold you need more that a sprinkler system to bring any coal fire under control. You are right that it is all about maintenance but it is also about your maintainers and operators also being aware of the risk.

All the best

Col ■