Fire resistance test method for conveyor belts

Technical Report · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1981

OSTI ID:6740931

Sapko, M J; Mura, K E; Furno, A L; Kuchta, J M

A moderately scaled apparatus was developed by the Bureau of Mines to determine the fire resistance characteristics of mine conveyor belts and similar type materials. The design of the apparatus was based upon data obtained in full-scale fire tests and features a radiant panel to preheat the belt and a methane-oxygen ribbon burner to ignite the sample under ventilating conditions in a rectangular duct. The test method overcomes the limitations of existing laboratory-scale methods and provides a measure of both ignitability and flammability in quantitative terms. Flame propagation depended upon such variables as air velocity, ignitor heat flux, and belt width and height in the test chamber. Data are presented for nine belt materials and fire resistance ratings are proposed in terms of the flame spread rate, heat release rate, and the critical ignitor heat flux. The ratings discriminate between the fire hazard posed by different fire-resistant belts and tend to be in reasonable agreement with those obtained in full-scale fire tests. 19 references, 8 figures, 9 tables.

• Research Organization: Department of the Interior, Washington, DC (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6740931
• Report Number(s): BM-RI-8521; ON: TI84901448
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
012000* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Mining
AEROSOLS
BELT CONVEYORS
COAL MINING
COLLOIDS
CONVEYORS
DISPERSIONS
EQUIPMENT
FIRE HAZARDS
FIRE RESISTANCE
FLAME PROPAGATION
HAULAGE EQUIPMENT
HAZARDS
IGNITION
MANUFACTURERS
MATERIALS
MATERIALS HANDLING EQUIPMENT
MEASURING METHODS
MINING
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
RESIDUES
SMOKES
SOLS
TEST FACILITIES
TOXICITY
UNDERGROUND MINING
US BUREAU OF MINES
US DOI
US ORGANIZATIONS