Program Policy Manual - VOLUME V - Mine Safety and Health ...

MSHA PROGRAM POLICY MANUAL VOLUME V
Subpart L Fire Protection
75.1100-1 Type and Quality of Firefighting Equipment
Waterlines, with hoses attached, shall be of sufficient size
to deliver 50 gallons of water per minute at a nozzle pressure
of 50 psig. With this water flow and nozzle pressure, an
effective solid stream can be projected about 60 feet in a 6foot
high entry. Water flow through the nozzle can be
measured by a pitot tube instrument if the diameter of the
nozzle orifice is known. For adjustable nozzles, the rate of
flow decreases as the water flow pattern changes from a solid
stream to a spray or fog. The minimum rate of 50 gpm shall be
available at the most distant point in the mine. The type and
method of installation of waterlines are options of the
operator, provided they meet the requirements of Subpart L.
Portable water cars shall be examined during each regular
inspection to ensure that the pump, valves and fittings have
not corroded excessively.
A portable chemical car shall contain 125 pounds of allpurpose
dry powder for each 500 gallons of water capacity
required of a water car. The car shall contain provisions for
expelling dry chemical through a hose and attached nozzle.
The hose shall be a minimum of 100 feet long and a maximum of
150 feet long. The dry chemical is expelled rapidly;
therefore, firefighting operations using a portable chemical
car should be conducted by personnel trained in its use.
The portable foam-generating machine or device shall be
equipped with all hardware necessary to install the machine or
device in a mine passageway. Generally, plastic brattice (or
equivalent) material is needed to seal the entry at the
installation location. The foaming agent tends to be
corrosive to metal parts and, unless the machine or device is
carefully cleaned after use, the valves, pump and fittings may
become inoperative.
Only foam-producing and multi-purpose dry chemical portable
fire extinguishers are acceptable. The older type sodium
bicarbonate extinguisher can be converted for use with allpurpose
dry chemicals; however, such conversion can be
hazardous and voids the approval of Underwriters'
Laboratories, Inc., and Factory Mutual Research Corp.
Therefore, such converted extinguishers are not acceptable as
complying with paragraph (e) of this Section.
Portable fire extinguishers purchased after March 30, 1971, shall
February 2003 (Release V-33) 91