The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) requests information on Explosion Pressure Design Criteria for New Seals in U.S. Mines, Docket Number NIOSH-100.

The information contained in this document is still in draft form and as such should not be considered as a final statement of NIOSH policy.

Seals are dam-like structures constructed in underground coal mines throughout the U.S. to isolate abandoned mining panels or groups of panels from the active workings.  Historically, mining regulations required seals to withstand a 140 kPa (20 psi) explosion pressure; however, the 2006 MINER Act requires MSHA to increase this design standard by the end of 2007.  This report provides a sound scientific and engineering justification to recommend a three-tiered explosion pressure design criteria for new seals in coal mines in response to the MINER Act.  Much of the information contained in this report also applies to existing seals.

DRAFT - Explosion Pressure Design Criteria for New Seals in U.S. Coal Mines	MineSealDraft.pdf (2,140KB; 127 pgs)
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Comments will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. EDT on March 12, 2007

To submit comments regarding these draft publications, please use one of these options:

• Send comments by email.  
  
  
• Fax comments to the NIOSH Docket Office: 513-533-8285
  
  
• Send by Mail to:
  NIOSH Mailstop: C-34
  Robert A. Taft Lab.
  4676 Columbia Parkway
  Cincinnati, Ohio 45226