Fire protection for mine surface coal handling systems

CIM Bulletin, Vol. 81, No. 920, 1988

T.G. CARTER ,British Columbia Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources

During the early part of the 1980s, four new surface coal mines commenced operation in the Province of British Columbia. Each represented a major investment in both persons and materials. In order to protect this investment in one significant area—the fixed portion of the surface coal handling system—a substantial amount of work was undertaken to ensure that the system was well protected from an outbreak of fire. A great deal of effort in this field had already been made by those coal mines which had been in operation for a number of years and experience gained at these operations was utilized in determining the level and extent of fire protection for the new mines. This paper summarizes the major problems, and suggests some of the methods of solution, in providing an adequate degree of fire protection for surface coal handling systems. It will also discuss the potential for gas and dust explosions together with ways to minimize this potential.

Keywords: Safety, Coal handling systems, Fire protection, Fire detection.