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

MSHA PROGRAM POLICY MANUAL VOLUME V
Five-hundred feet of fire hose, at strategic locations, shall
be provided for each belt conveyor which is independently
driven. However, where the length of the belt conveyor is less
than 500 feet, only a length of fire hose sufficient to reach
the length of such belt conveyor need be provided.
Direction of the air current along the belt, amount of fire hose,
height of coal seam, and availability of transportation for men
and materials must be considered to determine strategic locations
for storing fire hose along belt conveyors. Ideally, the fire
hose should be stored on intake air near the belt conveyor drive,
but conditions may dictate that another location is suitable, or
that a separation of the hose into two or more sections is
necessary. Any tools or accessories required to join hose pieces
or connect fire hose to the waterline shall be stored with the
fire hose and shall be easily accessible. Waterlines are not
required to parallel extensible and Lo-Lo conveyor belts serving
mining machines if the length of such belt is less than 600 feet
and sufficient fire hose is available to extend to the working
face. Fire suppression devices and signal and alarm systems are
not required to be installed along such conveyor belts. However,
the belts considered as face equipment must have fire protection
at the belt drive as specified in paragraph (e) of this Section
for permanent electrical installations and, if hydraulically
operated, must have fire suppression devices as provided in
Section 75.1107.
Paragraphs (c)(1) and (c)(2) require that in mines producing 300
tons of coal or more per shift, all track entries in which
mechanized equipment is used shall be protected by suitable
firefighting equipment. Where waterlines are used, a minimum of
500 feet of fire hose shall be located at a readily accessible
location which is plainly marked. Crosscuts, runarounds,
sidetracks, etc. may be provided protection with one waterline if
the outlet valves are located in a manner which allows 500 feet of
fire hose, connected to one of the valves, to reach any such track
location. Where two portable water cars are used in lieu of
waterlines prescribed in this section, each water car shall
operate individually and not be dependent on another water car for
pump, hose, nozzle, or water. Where two or more adjacent mines
are connected by track, one of the water cars required for each
mine may be considered to be a common unit. All water cars shall
be located on intake air as near the entrances to the mine as
conditions permit and shall be properly filled, equipped, and
ready for use at all times.
October 2003 (Release V-34) 95