🧾 DETAILED NOTES
1️⃣ Introduction
Fires in mines—especially in coal, machinery, fuel storage, electrical installations, and conveyor belts—pose major safety hazards. DGMS mandates that every mine must assess the fire risk and provide adequate fire-fighting equipment based on risk category, exposure, and statutory regulations. This requirement ensures quick response, protection of life & property, and compliance with fire safety standards.
2️⃣ Legal Framework
| Regulation / Rule | Provision |
|---|---|
| CMR 2017 – Reg. 127, 165, 175 | Fire protection, flameproof equipment, electrical safety |
| MMR 1961 – Reg. 139, 142, 144 | Fire prevention, extinguishers, storage safety |
| Mines Act 1952 – Sec. 23 | Duty of owner/agent/manager to ensure safety |
| DGMS Circulars – Fire Safety | Standards for extinguishers, hydrants, fire tenders |
| IS Codes | IS 2190, IS 15683 – Fire extinguishers |
3️⃣ Classification of Fire Hazards in Mines (as per IS 2190)
| Class | Type of Fire | Example | Suitable Extinguisher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class A | Combustible solids | Wood, coal, paper, conveyors | Water / Foam / DCP |
| Class B | Flammable liquids | Diesel, lubricants, oils | Foam / CO₂ / DCP |
| Class C | Gaseous fires | LPG, CNG, Methane | Dry Chemical Powder (DCP) |
| Class D | Metal fires | Magnesium, Sodium | Dry Powder – Metal Type (Ternary Eutectic Chloride) |
| Class E (Old) / Electrical | Electrical fires | Motors, switchgear, cables | CO₂ / DCP / Clean Agent |
4️⃣ Fire Fighting Equipment in Mines
- Portable Extinguishers: CO₂, Foam, DCP types.
- Fixed Installations: Hydrant system, Hose reels, Sprinkler system near conveyor drive heads, Automatic Fire Suppression System (AFSS) for HEMM.
- HEMM Fire Safety: DGMS Circulars mandate on-board AFSS for large HEMM, plus cabin extinguishers.
- Fire Water Reserve Tanks: Must be adequate, often cited as 4 hours continuous supply.
- Communication & Alarm: Fire sirens, emergency communication, and control room linkage.
5️⃣ Fire Equipment Requirement Assessment
Assessment is based on a Fire Risk Assessment for each location:
- Electrical Installations (Substations): Must have CO₂ and DCP extinguishers (non-conductive).
- Fuel Storage (Class B): Requires Foam type extinguishers and bulk foam systems.
- HEMM (Class B/E): Requires on-board AFSS and DCP/CO₂ extinguishers.
- Conveyors (Class A): Requires hydrant lines, sprinklers at drive heads, and water/DCP extinguishers.
- Workshops (Mixed Risk): Requires DCP, CO₂, and Foam type extinguishers.
- General Areas (Class A): Water or DCP type. Minimum one extinguisher per 50 sq. meters is a common guideline.
6️⃣ Maintenance & Inspection
- Monthly: Visual inspection by a competent person.
- Annual: Full maintenance, refilling, and pressure testing as per IS 2190.
- Records: Must be maintained in a Fire Register (Form-V mentioned in some circulars).
- Training: Fire drills must be conducted at least once every 3 months.
⚡ QUICK ONE-LINERS
- CMR 2017 Reg. 165/172/174/175 covers fire protection.
- Every electrical room requires non-conductive extinguishers (CO₂ / DCP).
- Foam is best for Class B (oil & diesel) fires.
- DCP extinguishers are versatile (A, B, C, E classes).
- Large HEMMs must have an Automatic Fire Suppression System (AFSS).
- Coal conveyor drive heads require sprinkler/hydrant systems.
- Fire drills are mandatory at least once every 3 months.
- Fire water tank must have adequate capacity (e.g., 4 hours).
- IS 2190 is the code for selection, installation, and maintenance.
- Fire extinguishers must be inspected visually every month.
🧠 DESCRIPTIVE Q&A
Q. Describe how the requirement of fire-fighting equipment in a mine is assessed as per DGMS guidelines.
Answer:
The assessment is based on a comprehensive Fire Risk Assessment for each area of the mine. As per DGMS guidelines and IS 2190, the assessment involves:
- Identifying Fire Hazards: Classifying risks (e.g., Class A - coal/wood, Class B - diesel/oil, Electrical).
- Quantifying Risk: Determining the size and location of hazards (e.g., fuel storage capacity, conveyor length, HEMM fleet size, electrical room voltage).
- Selecting Equipment: Choosing the correct type (Water, Foam, DCP, CO₂) and size of extinguisher for the specific hazard class.
- Determining Quantity: Ensuring sufficient quantity, such as 2-3 extinguishers per 100m of conveyor, 2x CO₂ + 2x DCP for substations, and mandatory AFSS for large HEMM (as per DGMS Circular 04/2008).
- Ensuring Compliance: Meeting statutory requirements like 4-hour water storage for hydrants and regular maintenance/drills.
🧮 25 MCQs (Dynamic Answers, 5 Options Each)
Q1. Fire protection in mines is covered under:
Solution: Fire protection is a comprehensive topic covered across all major mining legislation: CMR 2017, MMR 1961, and the overarching Mines Act 1952.
Q2. Foam extinguisher is used for:
Solution: Foam extinguishers are effective on Class B fires, which involve flammable liquids like oils, diesel, and lubricants.
Q3. CO₂ extinguisher best for:
Solution: CO₂ (Carbon Dioxide) extinguishers are best for fires involving live electrical equipment as they are non-conductive and leave no residue.
Q4. AFSS is mandatory for:
Solution: Automatic Fire Suppression Systems (AFSS) are mandatory for high-value, high-risk Heavy Earth Moving Machinery (HEMM).
Q5. Fire water tank capacity (DGMS guideline):
Solution: DGMS guidelines specify that fire water reserve tanks should have enough capacity for at least 4 hours of continuous supply at the required rate.
Q6. Conveyor fire protection uses:
Solution: Conveyor belts (especially drive heads and transfer points) require fixed fire protection, such as a hydrant line or automatic sprinkler system.
Q7. Fire audit frequency:
Solution: A comprehensive fire safety audit is recommended to be conducted at least annually to assess all fire protection measures.
Q8. Minimum extinguisher type for substation:
Solution: Electrical substations contain live electrical equipment (Class E) and potentially oil (Class B), requiring non-conductive extinguishers like CO₂ and DCP.
Q9. Heat source for HEMM fire:
Solution: The engine bay, containing the hot engine, exhaust, turbocharger, and hydraulic lines, is the primary source of HEMM fires.
Q10. Fire drill frequency:
Solution: Mock fire drills must be conducted at least once in every 3 months (quarterly) to ensure preparedness.
Q11. IS code for fire extinguishers:
Solution: IS 2190 is the "Code of Practice for Selection, Installation and Maintenance of Portable First-Aid Fire Extinguishers".
Q12. DCP full form:
Solution: DCP stands for Dry Chemical Powder, a common extinguishing agent effective on multiple fire classes.
Q13. Foam best suited for:
Solution: Foam works by blanketing the fuel, making it highly effective on flammable liquid (hydrocarbon) fires (Class B).
Q14. Fire extinguisher visual inspection:
Solution: A visual inspection by a competent person is required at least once a month to check for pressure, damage, and accessibility.
Q15. Hydrant requirement depends on:
Solution: The requirement for fixed systems like hydrants is determined by a fire risk assessment of the area.
Q16. Diesel storage needs:
Solution: Diesel is a Class B flammable liquid, which is most effectively extinguished by foam.
Q17. Fire tender (fire truck) used in:
Solution: Large opencast projects (OCP) cover vast areas and require mobile fire-fighting units like fire tenders.
Q18. Fire hazard class for electrical fire:
Solution: Fires involving live electrical equipment are classified as Electrical Fires (formerly Class E in some standards).
Q19. Class A fire involves:
Solution: Class A fires are fires in ordinary solid combustibles like wood, paper, cloth, coal, and plastics.
Q20. DCP used for:
Solution: Dry Chemical Powder (DCP) extinguishers are versatile and effective on Class A (solids), B (liquids), C (gases), and Electrical fires.
Q21. Risk assessment includes:
Solution: A fire risk assessment must cover all potential fire hazards, including fuel, electrical systems, and machinery.
Q22. Fire bucket should contain:
Solution: Fire buckets are traditionally filled with dry sand, which can be used to smother small Class A or B fires.
Q23. Expired fire extinguisher must be:
Solution: An expired extinguisher is not reliable and must be immediately taken out of service for certified refilling and testing, or replaced.
Q24. Color of foam extinguisher band (as per IS):
Solution: As per Indian Standards, foam extinguishers are identified by a cream-colored band over the red cylinder body.
Q25. Primary purpose of fire equipment:
Solution: The fundamental purpose of all fire-fighting equipment is to ensure safety by protecting personnel and mine assets.
🔗 INTERNAL LINKS
| Related Topic | Read More On... |
|---|---|
| HEMM Safety | Accidents Due to Dumpers and Tippers |
| Electrical Safety | Intimation of Electrical Accidents |
| CMR 2017 | CMR 2017 Part 2 - Working & Supervision Rules |
| Machinery Safety | Safety Features in Crawler/Tyre Mounted Machinery |
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