30 CFR § 75.301
Definitions.
In addition to the applicable definitions in §75.2, the following definitions apply in this subpart.
Air course. An entry or a set of entries separated from other
entries by stoppings, overcasts, other ventilation control devices, or by
solid blocks of coal or rock so that any mixing of air currents between each
is limited to leakage.
AMS operator. The person(s), designated by the mine operator, who
is located on the surface of the mine and monitors the malfunction,
alert, and alarm signals of the AMS and notifies appropriate personnel
of these signals.
Appropriate personnel. The person or persons designated by the
operator to perform specific tasks in response to AMS signals.
Appropriate personnel include the responsible person(s) required by
§ 75.1501 when an emergency evacuation is necessary.
Atmospheric Monitoring System (AMS). A network consisting of
hardware and software meeting the requirements of § § 75.351 and
75.1103-2 and capable of: measuring atmospheric parameters;
transmitting the measurements to a designated surface location;
providing alert and alarm signals; processing and cataloging
atmospheric data; and, providing reports. Early-warning fire detection
systems using newer technology that provides equal or greater
protection, as determined by the Secretary, will be considered
atmospheric monitoring systems for the purposes of this subpart.
Belt air course. The entry in which a belt is located and any
adjacent entry(ies) not separated from the belt entry by permanent
ventilation controls, including any entries in series with the belt
entry, terminating at a return regulator, a section loading point, or
the surface.
Carbon monoxide ambient level. The average concentration in parts
per million (ppm) of carbon monoxide detected in an air course
containing carbon monoxide sensors. This average concentration is
representative of the composition of the mine atmosphere over a period
of mining activity during non-fire conditions. Separate ambient levels
may be established for different areas of the mine.
Incombustible. Incapable of being burned.
Intake air. Air that has not yet ventilated the last working
place on any split of any working section, or any worked-out area, whether
pillared or nonpillared.
Intrinsically safe. Incapable of releasing enough electrical or
thermal energy under normal or abnormal conditions to cause ignition of a
flammable mixture of methane or natural gas and air of the most easily
ignitable composition.
Noncombustible Structure or Area. Describes a structure or area
that will continue to provide protection against flame spread for at least 1
hour when subjected to a fire test incorporating an ASTM E119-88
time/temperature heat input, or equivalent. The publication ASTM E119-88,
"Standard Test Methods for Fire Tests of Building Construction and Materials"
is incorporated by reference and may be inspected at any MSHA Coal Mine Safety
and Health district office, or at MSHA's Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances
,
1100 Wilson Boulevard Room 2352, Arlington, Virginia 22209-3939, and at the Office of the Federal
Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., Suite 700, Washington, DC. In
addition, copies of the document can be purchased from the American Society
for Testing Materials (ASTM), 1916 Race Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
19103. This incorporation by reference was approved by the Director of the
Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
Noncombustible Material. Describes a material which when used to
construct a ventilation control results in a control that will continue to
serve its intended function for 1 hour when subjected to a fire test
incorporating an ASTM E119-88 time/temperature heat input, or equivalent.
The publication ASTM E119-88, "Standard Test Methods for Fire Tests of
Building Construction and Materials" is incorporated by reference and may be
inspected at any MSHA Coal Mine Safety and Health district office
, or at MSHA's Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances
, Regulations, and Variances, 1100 Wilson Boulevard , Arlington,
VA, and at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., Suite 700, Washington, DC. In addition, copies of the document can be purchased from the American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM), 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959; http://www.astm.org. This incorporation by reference was approved by the Director of the Federal Register in accordance with 5
U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
Point feeding. The process of providing additional intake air to
the belt air course from another intake air course through a regulator.
Return air. Air that has ventilated the last working place on any
split of any working section or any worked-out area whether pillared or
nonpillared. If air mixes with air that has ventilated the last working
place on any split of any working section or any worked-out area, whether
pillared or nonpillared, it is considered return air. For the purposes of
§75.507-1, air that has been used to ventilate
any working place in a coal producing section or pillared area, or air that
has been used to ventilate any working face if such air is directed away
from the immediate return is return air. Notwithstanding the definition of
intake air, for the purpose of ventilation of structures, areas or
installations that are required by this subpart D to be ventilated to return
air courses, and for ventilation of seals, other air courses may be
designated as return air courses by the operator only when the air in these
air courses will not be used to ventilate working places or other locations,
structures, installations or areas required to be ventilated with intake
air.
Worked-out area. An area where mining has been completed, whether
pillared or nonpillared, excluding developing entries, return air courses,
and intake air courses.
[61 FR 9829, Mar. 11, 1996; 61 FR 29288, June 10, 1996; 67 FR 38386, June 4, 2002; 69 FR 17526, April 2, 2004]