Fire resistant conveyor belt for coke coal in steel mill
What are Fire Resistant Anti Static (FRAS) conveyors belts?
Fire Resistant Anti Static (FRAS) conveyor belts are engineered so that the top and bottom covers of the conveyor belt meet local fire retardancy standards. This means these belts are difficult to ignite and should never be the cause of a fire. Additionally, if ignited by an external fire source, they should minimize the propagation of the fire. These conveyor belts are also Anti Static, meaning they provide electrical resistance to avoid the build-up of static electricity.
Is your material conveyed abrasive?
Consider the need for a thicker rubber skim. Belt covers wear as do fire resistant covers.
Do you have the required mechanical protection in place to avoid slippage, friction & misalignment?
Consider selecting a higher grade of FRAS belt to add more protection and ensure it is regularly checked and tested.
Is the conveyor difficult to access – below ground or enclosed – and as such require additional protection?
Consider a higher grade of FRAS conveyor should be considered as access for manual fire intervention can be difficult.
FRAS Conveyor belt
FRAS conveyors belts allow more time for an existing protection system (fire detection ) to respond. Flame spread can be reduced therefore increasing the effectiveness of the protection system. While FRAS belting can reduce fire exposure, it should not be relied on as the sole means of fire protection.
Select
Select the right conveyor belts
Consider can Fire resistant conveyor belt be used over traditional belts to add more protection to your operation?
- There are many Fire resistant standards available with the widely accepted European Norms (EN) referred to in this paper. These standards along with your local standard can be used to determine the correct DIN K belt grade required for your application.
- When considering the use of Fire resistant conveyor belting and grade, pay attention to the location of the belt (above ground / underground), material conveyed and conveyor structure. Control interlocks should be in place and fire protection installed to reduce the inherent risk to an acceptable level.
- When selecting the right FR conveyor belts for your operations consider the following:
measures
Loss prevention and mitigation measures to avoid the risk of a potential conveyor belt fire
Eliminate and control potential ignition sources
- Restrict hot work and smoking. When this activity is absolutely necessary, use a formal hot work permit system.
- Mechanical failure of drives, pulleys, scrapers, belt alignment and tracking can lead to localised heating and ignition. Using the correct process control interlocks, having strong preventative maintenance plans and regular visual inspections are important.
