The latest guidance for life-saving gas detection equipment in coal mines across Australia and New Zealand has been released.
AS/NZS 2290.3:2018, Electrical equipment for coal mines – Introduction, inspection and maintenance, Part 3: Gas detecting and monitoring equipment focuses on the safety of coal miners, by providing guidance on the use of gas detection equipment in mines.
Standards Australia CEO Dr Bronwyn Evans, said, a new requirement for routinely measuring the response time of installed gas detection systems is among the changes in the revised standard.
“This requirement is what makes this standard a world-leading safety document,” Evans added.
Dr Ian Webster, Chair of the Technical Committee of Standards Australia responsible for the standard, said methane is a naturally present hazard in coal mines and is a clear focus for safety systems in a mine.
“The committee specifically made accurate, reliable and timely measurement of methane gas a clear objective in progressing this standard,” Webster said.
“The introduction of the telemetry test is another innovation in this standard— this ensures that gas concentrations are not only measured, but that subsequent mitigating actions are reliably executed.”
Dr Evans said the guidance provided by AS/NZS 2290.3:2018 is aimed at the devices which save lives in coal mines.
“Safety improvements of this nature are the reason Standards Australia takes great pride in working with industry, government, trade unions, and the general public to deliver this type of project,” Evans concluded.