The Coal and Other Mines (Ventilation) Order 1956

PART V Prevention of leakages of air

Air-locks

20.—(1) In each shaft and outlet which is connected by a drift to a fan on the surface of the mine, which was so connected after the thirty-first day of July, nineteen hundred and forty-seven, and which is ordinarily used for winding or haulage there shall be provided and maintained an efficient air-lock.

(2) An inspector may serve on the manager of a mine a notice requiring the provision and maintenance of such an air-lock at any shaft or outlet specified in the notice being a shaft or outlet which is connected and used as aforesaid but which was not so connected after the said date. The provisions of Part XV of the Act with respect to references upon notices served by inspectors shall apply to a notice served under this paragraph and any of the following shall be a relevant ground of objection to such a notice, namely—

(a) that there is insufficient space for an efficient air-lock;

(b) that by reason of the shortness of the period during which the mine is expected to be worked the requirement is unreasonable;

(c) having regard to the provision made to ensure the proper ventilation of all parts of the mine, the requirement is unnecessary.

(3) If the Minister is satisfied that the requirements of this regulation are inappropriate to the circumstances of any mine, he may by notice served on the manager exempt that mine from those requirements.

(4) The provisions of this regulation shall not apply to a mine at which not more than thirty persons are employed below ground.

21.—(1) Any road not required for the working of a mine and connecting airways which as regards any working face are intake and return airways shall forthwith be so stopped off as to minimise leakage of air through it.

(2) In a mine of coal any such stopping between a main intake airway and a main return airway shall be—

(a) constructed of a tight packing at least fifteen feet thick of stone, dirt, sand or rubbish; or

(b) constructed of a tight packing at least nine feet thick of stone, dirt, sand or rubbish having the end of the packing nearest the intake airway faced with a wall not less than nine inches thick of masonry, brickwork or concrete the face of which is covered with a coating of mortar so as to prevent leakage of air.

In either case each space between the face of the stopping and the airway shall be kept clear.

(3) Nothing in paragraph (2) shall apply to any mine in South Staffordshire in which the unworked coal is liable to spontaneous combustion.

Ventilation doors and sheets

22.—(1) In every road which is required for the working of a mine and which is a connection between—

(a) a main intake airway and a main return airway; or

(b) airways which as regards any working face are intake and return airways and in either of which the quantity of air passing any point is required to be measured under regulation nine;

there shall be provided and properly maintained at least two suitable doors to minimise the leakage of air, or, if in any case it is impracticable to provide such doors, other suitable means of minimising such leakage.

(2) In any other road the ventilation in which is to be restricted by means of any door or sheet for the purpose of preventing short-circuiting of an air current, there shall be provided and properly maintained at least two doors or, if that is impracticable, at least one door and one sheet or two sheets.

(3) Doors and sheets provided in pursuance of this regulation shall be so spaced that whenever one door or sheet is opened at least one other door or sheet provided for restricting the passing of air can be kept shut, or, if in any case it is impracticable so to space such doors and sheets, other measures to minimise the leakage of air through them shall be taken.

(4) Doors provided in pursuance of this regulation shall be self-closing. No person shall prop or fix such a door open except where and for so long as it is necessary to allow a vehicle to pass through it. Any such door when not in use shall be taken off its hinges and placed in a position in which it will not obstruct the air current.

(5) Any person who opens any such door shall secure that it is closed as soon as possible.