Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 38, September 20, 2024
(a) One or more fire extinguishers of a type
suitable for use underground shall be provided at all locations where
electrical equipment is in service in the mine.
Carbon tetrachloride fire extinguishers shall not be
permitted in a mine because of danger to men who may breathe the
vapor.
(b) Where a fire
hazard exists near an underground magazine or an explosives distributing
station, fire extinguishers or water hydrants and hose shall be provided for
use in fighting fire outside the magazine. They shall not be used on burning
explosives nor in fighting a fire in a magazine.
(c) Fire extinguishers of a type suitable for
use on oil fires shall be at every storage place for oil or grease in the
mine.
(d) Every mine with a fire
hazard as outlined below shall be protected against fire in accordance with the
provisions of subsection (e) of this section:
(1) Mines in which the main working shaft is
timbered and such timber is not protected against fire by being made fire
resistant or by being constantly wet.
(2) Mines in which stations are in a
combustible condition.
(3) Mines
with workings considered by the Division to constitute a local fire hazard of
more than normal proportions.
(e) Mines required by subsection (d) of this
section to be protected against fire shall be provided with water and equipment
for fighting fires as follows:
(1) A supply of
water so distributed that a stream of water can be made readily available at
any mine station at which a fire hazard exists and throughout all combustible
portions of the shaft. "Readily available" means that all necessary piping,
valves, and hose connections must be in place and a supply of hose sufficient
for the need kept conveniently near such hose connections. Attention is called
to the advisability of having connections for hose so placed that a stream of
water can be directed upon any station from above and below the station in the
event of a fire at the station.
(2)
Hose shall be kept at the mine entrances, on each working level, and at such
other places as may be required by the Division.
(3) The threads and couplings for hose for
fighting fire shall be of standard sizes so that hose coupling of a given size
may be readily connected to a pipe coupling of like size.
(4) Fire pails and a 50-gallon drum or tank
of water shall be located in every section of the mine where timber is framed
and where other fire fighting equipment is not available.
(5) Where the water supply is inadequate or
cannot be practicably applied, special fire fighting equipment and protection
may be required by the Division.
(6) All equipment intended solely for fire
fighting purposes shall be tested or carefully inspected at monthly intervals
and defective equipment repaired or replaced immediately. All hand chemical
fire extinguishers of the soda-acid type shall be discharged, inspected, and
refilled every 12 months, and the date of last refilling marked on a tag
attached to the extinguisher. Special care must be taken to keep the nozzles of
chemical fire extinguishers free from corrosion. See Subchapter 3, Title 19,
CAC for additional servicing requirements.
(7) Special provision shall be made to
protect fire extinguishers whose effectiveness is destroyed by cold.
(8) The location of each fire extinguisher
shall be marked conspicuously so that it may be easily found in an
emergency.
