Section 690-273 - Fire protection(a) Firefighting equipment.--Each mine shall be provided with suitable firefighting equipment adapted for the size and conditions of the mine.(b) Standards for firefighting equipment.--At a minimum, firefighting equipment shall meet the following:(1) Waterlines shall be capable of delivering 50 gallons of water per minute at a nozzle pressure of 50 pounds per square inch.(2) A portable water car shall be of at least 1,000 gallons capacity and shall have at least 300 feet of fire hose with nozzles. A portable water car shall be capable of providing a flow through the hose of 50 gallons of water per minute at a nozzle pressure of 50 pounds per square inch.(3) A portable chemical car shall carry enough chemicals to provide a fire extinguishing capacity equivalent to that of a portable water car.(4) A portable foam-generating machine or device shall have facilities and equipment for supplying the machine with 30 gallons of water per minute at 30 pounds per square inch for a period of 35 minutes.(5) A portable fire extinguisher shall be either:(i) A multipurpose dry chemical type containing a nominal weight of five pounds of dry powder and enough expellant to apply the powder.(ii) A foam-producing type containing at least 2.5 gallons of foam-producing liquids and enough expellant to supply the foam.(6) Only fire extinguishers approved by the Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., or Factory Mutual Research Corp., carrying appropriate labels as to the type and purpose shall be used. All portable fire extinguishers shall have a 2A 10 BC or higher rating.(7) The fire hose shall be lined with a flame-resistant material. The cover shall be polyester or other material with flame-spread qualities and mildew resistance equal or superior to polyester. The bursting pressure shall be at least four times the water pressure at the valve to the hose inlet with the valve closed, and the maximum water pressure in the hose nozzle shall not exceed 100 pounds per square inch.(c) Working sections.--(1) Each working section of a mine producing 300 tons or more per shift shall be provided with two portable fire extinguishers and 240 pounds of rock dust in bags or other suitable containers. Water lines shall extend to each section loading point and be equipped with enough fire hose to reach each working face unless the section loading point is provided with one of the following: (i) two portable water cars;(ii) two portable chemical cars; or(iii) one portable water car or one portable chemical car, and either:(A) a portable foam-generating machine; or(B) a portable high-pressure rock-dusting machine fitted with at least 250 feet of hose and supplied with at least 60 bags of rock dust.(2) Each working section of a mine producing less than 300 tons of coal per shift shall be provided with: (i) Two portable fire extinguishers.(ii) Two hundred and forty pounds of rock dust in bags or other suitable containers.(iii) At least 500 gallons of water and at least three pails of ten-quart capacity. In lieu of the 500-gallon water supply, a water line with sufficient hose to reach the working places, a portable water car with a 500-gallon capacity or a portable all-purpose dry powder chemical car of at least 125-pound capacity may be provided.(d) Belt conveyors.--In all mines, water lines shall be installed parallel to the entire length of belt conveyors and shall be equipped with fire hose outlets with valves at 300-foot intervals along each belt conveyor and at tailpieces. At least 500 feet of fire hose with fittings suitable for connection with each belt conveyor water line system shall be stored at strategic locations along the belt conveyor. Water lines may be installed in entries adjacent to the conveyor entry belt as long as the outlets project into the belt conveyor entry.(e) Haulage tracks.--(1) In a mine producing 300 tons of coal or more per shift, water lines shall be installed parallel to all haulage tracks using mechanized equipment in the track or adjacent entry and shall extend to the loading point of each working section. Water lines shall be equipped with outlet valves at intervals of not more than 500 feet, and 500 feet of fire hose with fittings suitable for connection with such water lines shall be provided at strategic locations. Two portable water cars, readily available, may be used in lieu of water lines prescribed under this paragraph.(2) In a mine producing less than 300 tons of coal per shift, there shall be provided at 500-foot intervals in all main and secondary haulage roads: (i) a tank of water of at least 55-gallon capacity with at least three pails of not less than ten-quart capacity; or(ii) not less than 240 pounds of bagged rock dust.(f) Transportation.--Each track or off-track locomotive, self-propelled mantrip car or personnel carrier shall be equipped with one portable fire extinguisher.(g) Electrical installations.--(1) Two portable fire extinguishers or one extinguisher having at least twice the minimum capacity specified for a portable fire extinguisher specified in subsection (b)(5) shall be provided at each permanent electrical installation.(2) One portable fire extinguisher and 240 pounds of rock dust shall be provided at each temporary electrical installation.(h) Oil storage stations.--Two portable fire extinguishers and 240 pounds of rock dust shall be provided at each permanent underground oil storage station. One portable fire extinguisher shall be provided at each working section where 25 gallons or more of oil is stored in addition to extinguishers required under subsection (c).(i) Welding, cutting and soldering.--One portable fire extinguisher or 240 pounds of rock dust shall be provided at locations where welding, cutting or soldering with arc or flame is being done.(j) Power lines.--At each wooden door through which power lines pass, there shall be one portable fire extinguisher or 240 pounds of rock dust within 25 feet of the door on the intake air side.(k) Emergency materials.--(1) At a mine producing 300 tons of coal or more per shift, there shall be readily available the following materials at locations not exceeding two miles from each working section:(i) One thousand board feet of brattice boards.(ii) Two rolls of brattice cloth.(iv) Twenty-five pounds of 8d nails.(v) Twenty-five pounds of 10d nails.(vi) Twenty-five pounds of 16d nails.(vii) Three claw hammers.(viii) Twenty-five bags of wood fiber plaster or ten bags of cement or equivalent material for stoppings.(ix) Five tons of rock dust.(2) At a mine producing less than 300 tons of coal per shift, the materials set forth in this subsection shall be available at the mine, provided, however, that the emergency materials for one or more mines may be stored at a central warehouse or building supply company and the supply must be the equivalent of that required for all mines involved and within an hour's delivery time from each mine. This exception shall not apply where the active working sections are more than two miles from the surface.(l) Condition and examination of firefighting equipment.--All firefighting equipment shall be maintained in a usable and operative condition. Chemical extinguishers shall be examined every six months, and the date of the examination shall be written on a permanent tag attached to the extinguisher.(m) Branch lines.--As a part of the deluge-type water spray system, two or more branch lines of nozzles shall be installed. The maximum distance between nozzles shall not exceed eight feet.(n) Installation of foam generator systems.--(1) Foam generator systems shall be located so as to discharge foam to the belt drive, belt take-up, electrical controls, gear-reducing unit and conveyor belt.(2) Foam generator systems shall be equipped with a fire sensor which actuates the system, and each system shall be capable of producing and delivering the following amounts of foam within five minutes: (i) At fire-resistant belt installations, an amount which will fully envelop the belt drive, belt take-up, electrical controls, gear-reducing unit and conveyor belt over a distance of 50 feet.(ii) At non-fire-resistant belt installations, an amount which will fully envelop the belt drive, belt take-up electrical controls, gear-reducing unit and conveyor belt over a distance of 150 feet.(3) The foam generator shall be equipped with a warning device designed to stop the belt drive when a fire occurs, and all such warning devices shall be capable of giving both an audible and visual signal when actuated by fire.(4) Water, power and chemicals required shall be adequate to maintain water or foam flow for no less than 25 minutes.(5) Water systems shall include strainers with a flush-out connection and a manual shut-off valve.(o) Water sprinkler systems.--Water sprinkler systems may be installed to protect main and secondary belt-conveyor drives, however, where such systems are employed, they shall be installed and maintained in accordance with subsections (p), (q), (r), (s) and (t).(p) Installation of water sprinkler systems.--(1) The fire-control components of each water sprinkler system shall be installed, as far as practicable, in accordance with the recommendations set forth in the National Fire Protection Association, Code No. 13, entitled "Installation of Sprinkler Systems," in effect at the time of installation, and such systems' components shall be of a type approved by the Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., or Factory Mutual Research Corporation.(2) Each sprinkler system shall provide protection for the motor drive belt take-up, electrical controls, gear-reducing unit and 50 feet of fire-resistant belt or 150 feet of non-fire-resistant belt adjacent to the belt drive.(3) The components of each water sprinkler system shall be located so as to minimize the possibility of damage by roof fall or by the moving belt and its load.(q) Arrangement of sprinklers.--(1) At least one sprinkler shall be installed above each belt drive, belt take-up, electrical control and gear-reducing unit, and individual sprinklers shall be installed at intervals of no more than eight feet along all conveyor branch lines.(2) Two or more branch lines, at least one of which shall be above the top belt and one between the top and bottom belt, shall be installed in each sprinkler system to provide a uniform discharge of water to the belt surface.(3) The water discharge rate from the sprinkler system shall not be less than .25 gallon per minute per square foot of the top surface of the top belt, and the discharge shall be directed at both the upper and bottom surfaces of the top belt and to the upper surface of the bottom belt. The supply of water shall be adequate to provide a constant flow of water for ten minutes with all sprinklers functioning.(4) Each individual sprinkler shall be activated at a temperature of not less than 150 degrees Fahrenheit and not more than 300 degrees Fahrenheit.(5) Water systems shall include strainers with a flush-out connection and a manual shutoff valve.(r) Backup water system.--One fire hose outlet together with a length of hose capable of extending to the belt drive shall be provided within 300 feet of each belt drive.(s) Fire warning devices at belt drives.--Each water sprinkler system shall be equipped with a device designed to stop the belt drive in the event of a rise in temperature, and each warning device shall be capable of giving both an audible and visual warning when a fire occurs.(t) Examination and test.--Each water sprinkler system shall be examined weekly, and a functional test of the complete system shall be conducted at least once each year.(u) Equivalent dry-pipe system.--Where water sprinkler systems are installed to protect main and secondary belt conveyor drives and freezing temperatures prevail, an equivalent dry-pipe system may be installed.(v) Dry-powder chemical systems.--Self-contained dry-powder chemical systems may be installed to protect main and secondary belt conveyor drives; however, where self-contained dry-powder chemical systems are employed, they shall be installed and maintained in accordance with the provisions of subsections (w), (x), (y), (z), (aa), (bb), (cc) and (dd).(w) Installation of dry-powder chemical systems.--(1) Self-contained dry-powder chemical systems shall be installed to protect each beltdrive, belt take-up, electrical controls, gear-reducing units and 50 feet of fire-resistant belt or 150 feet of non-fire-resistant belt adjacent to the belt drive.(2) The fire control components of each dry-powder chemical system shall be a type approved by the Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., or Factory Mutual Engineering Corporation.(3) The components of each dry-powder chemical system shall be located so as to minimize the possibility of damage by roof fall or by the moving belt and its load.(x) Construction of dry-powder chemical systems.--(1) Each self-contained dry-powder system shall be equipped with hose or pipe lines which are no longer than necessary.(2) Metal piping and hose between control valves and nozzles shall have a minimum bursting pressure of 500 pounds per square inch.(3) Hose shall be protected by wire braid or its equivalent.(4) Nozzles and reservoirs shall be sufficient in number to provide maximum protection to each belt, belt take-up, electrical controls and gear-reducing unit.(5) Each belt shall be protected on the top surface of both the top and bottom belts and the bottom surface of the top belt.(y) Sensing and fire-suppression devices.--(1) Each self-contained dry-powder chemical system shall be equipped with sensing devices which shall be designed to activate the fire control system, sound an alarm and stop the conveyor drive motor in the event of a rise in temperature, and provisions shall be made to minimize contamination of the lens of any optical sensing device installed in the system.(2) Where sensors are operated from the same power source as the belt drive, each sensor shall be equipped with a standby power source which shall be capable of remaining operative for at least four hours after a power cutoff.(3) Sensor systems shall include a warning indicator or test circuit which shows it is operative.(4) Each fire suppression system shall be equipped with a manually operated control valve which shall be independent of the sensor.(z) Dry powder requirements.--Each dry-powder chemical system shall contain the following minimum amounts of multipurpose dry powder: (1) One hundred and twenty-five pounds of dry powder for fire resistant belts.(2) Two hundred and twenty-five pounds of dry powder for non-fire-resistant belts.(aa) Nozzles, flow rate and direction.--The nozzles of each dry-powder chemical system shall be capable of discharging all powder within one minute after actuation of the system, and such nozzles shall be directed so as to minimize the effect of ventilation upon fire control.(bb) Safeguards for dry-powder chemical systems.--Adequate guards shall be provided along all belt conveyors in the vicinity of each dry-powder chemical system to protect individuals whose vision is restricted by a discharge of powder from the system. Handrails shall be installed in these areas to provide assistance to those passing along the conveyor after a powder discharge.(cc) Backup water system.--One fire hose outlet, together with a length of hose capable of extending to the belt drive, shall be provided within 300 feet of each belt drive.(dd) Inspection of dry-powder chemical systems.--(1) Each dry-powder chemical system shall be examined weekly, and a functional test of the complete system shall be conducted at least once each year.(2) Where the dry-powder chemical system has been actuated, all components of the system shall be cleaned immediately by flushing all powder from pipes and hoses, and all hose damaged by fire shall be replaced.2008, July 7, P.L. 654, No. 55, §273, effective in 180 days [ 1/5/2009].