U.S. Department of
Labor
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Mine Safety and Health Administration
1100 Wilson Boulevard
Arlington, Virginia 22209-3939
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ISSUE DATE: JUNE 17, 2003
PROGRAM INFORMATION BULLETIN NO. P03-12
FROM: MARK E. SKILES 
Director of Technical Support
RAY McKINNEY 
Administrator for
Coal Mine Safety and Health
ROBERT M. FRIEND 
Administrator for
Metal and Nonmetal Mine Safety and Health
SUBJECT: Assembly of Ansul's Checkfire MP Automatic Fire Suppression System
Actuation Components
Who needs this information?
Operators of underground coal or metal and nonmetal mines, manufacturers of mining machinery, Mine Safety and Health Administration's (MSHA) enforcement personnel, miners' representatives, state mining agencies, and other interested parties need this information.
Why is MSHA issuing this bulletin?
The purpose of this bulletin is to specify the assembly procedure for the "Gas Motor" component of the Ansul Checkfire MP automatic fire suppression systems. This assembly procedure for the "Gas Motor" is needed to ensure the system will function as designed.
What is the assembly procedure for the Checkfire MP system's gas motor?
The Ansul Incorporated Checkfire MP Automatic Fire Detection and Actuation Systems continuously monitor the fire hazard areas of mining equipment and automatically actuate a dry chemical fire suppression system in the event of a fire. To ensure the Checkfire MP system will automatically actuate the dry chemical fire suppression system, the Gas Motor component of the system must be threaded fully (6 threads) and tightened into the actuator body and then secured with the set screw (see diagram below). The initial assembly and subsequent replacement of Gas Motors must follow this assembly procedure. The proper tightening of the gas motor must also be assured during the inspection and testing of the system as well as all other inspection and test
requirements provided in the Ansul Installation Recharge Inspection and Maintenance Manual. Currently, the Ansul Installation Recharge Inspection and Maintenance Manual does not provide the procedure for tightening the Gas Motor component into the actuator body.
What is the background for this bulletin?
During a recent investigation of diesel powered equipment in an underground coal mine, it was observed that the Ansul Checkfire MP Automatic Fire Detection and Actuation System installed on the equipment was in a post alarm and actuation state. After further investigation, it was determined that the insulation on the system's linear detection wire was melted together in the equipment's fire protected areas, as expected, but no dry chemical agent was dispensed by the system.
Close examination of the Checkfire MP system revealed that the electronic detection and actuation circuits functioned as designed. The melted linear detection wire forced the system into an alarm sequence and the appropriate electronic actuation signal was delivered to the actuation components, but the assembly of the actuation components prevented the system from dispensing the dry chemical, fire suppression agent.
The Gas Motor component of the actuation hardware was found threaded only 1 and 2/3 of its 6 threads into the actuation body. Therefore, it was not in the proper position, when fired, to push the piercing pin through the foil seal of the high pressure actuation gas cylinder to actuate the system. The physical dimension of the actuation components requires the Gas Motor to be tightened fully (6 threads) into the actuation body to assure system actuation.
Who are the contact persons for this bulletin?
Technical Support, Approval and Certification Center
Wayne M. Colley (304) 547-2067
E-mail: colley-wayne@msha.gov
Coal Mine Safety and Health, Safety Division
Terry L. Bentley, (202) 693-9521
E-mail: bentley-terry@msha.gov
Metal and Nonmetal Mine Safety and Health, Safety Division
Thomas Loyd, (202) 693-9645
E-mail: loyd-thomas@msha.gov
What is the authority for this bulletin?
30 CFR Part 75.343, 75.380, 751903, 75.1907, 75.1908, 75.1909, 75.1911, 75.1912,
57.4531, 57.4761, 57.6202
Who will receive this bulletin?
MSHA Program Policy Manual Holders
Underground Mine Operators
Miners' Representatives
State Mining Agencies
Equipment Manufacturers
MSHA Special Interest Groups
Repair and Rebuild Facilities
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