Quantifying the fire hazards and risks associated with the use of fire retardant conveyor belt in underground mines
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Date
2019
Authors
Van Eeden, J H B
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Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine whether the hazards
associated with changes from the standard values of the variables applied
during conveyor belt fire testing, namely heat input, air velocity and belt
cover wear, as well as combinations of these variables, will result in
higher risks as a result of easier ignition and greater flame propagation
rates of flame retardant belting.
The approved South African Standard for fire retardant belting was used
as the basis for the study. The dependent variables stated in the adopted
Standard BS EN 12881-1 Method C, namely ‘Temperature Rise above
Ambient’, ‘Length Consumed by Mass’ and ‘Length Undamaged’, were
used to measure the influence of changes in conditions by varying
independent variables, namely air velocity, gas consumed (energy
supplied) and cover thickness. Sixteen fire tests were carried out with a
section of textile-reinforced flame-retardant belt as typically used in South
African mines, using the mid-scale fire tunnel at the South African Bureau
of Standards.
The study found that changes in independent variables from the standard
values could result in greater flame propagation rates of flame retardant
belt when compared to the standard test done in accordance with the
specification. A factorial experiment was used to conduct the study and an
analysis of variance conducted to determine which factors and
combinations of factors contributed to the higher risk.
The study ends with proposals of how to prevent and manage the
additional risks identified of flame propagation of flame retardant conveyor
belt. The purpose and objectives of the study were thereby achieved
Description
A Research Report submitted to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built
Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfillment of the
requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Engineering.
Johannesburg 2019
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Citation
Van Eeden, Johannes Hendrik Britz (2018) Quantifying the fire hazards and risks associated with the use of fire retardant conveyor belt in underground mines, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, <http://hdl.handle.net/10539/29085>