§ 70-1115. Underground power supply
Purdon's Pennsylvania Statutes and Consolidated StatutesTitle 52 P.S. Mines and Mining
52 P.S. § 70-1115
§ 70-1115. Underground power supply
(a) Ground Detectors. All underground systems of distribution that are completely insulated from earth shall be equipped with properly installed ground detectors of suitable design, maintained in working condition. The condition of such system as indicated by the ground detector shall be noted each day by the person in charge of the underground electrical system, or by another competent person, who shall immediately report to the mine foreman the occurrence of a ground.
(b) Protection of Circuits Leading Underground. (1) In every completely insulated feeder circuit, in excess of twenty-five kilowatts capacity, leading underground and operating at a potential not exceeding the limits of medium voltage, there shall be provided above ground a circuit breaker arranged to open simultaneously each ungrounded conductor. In addition, a positive disconnect means shall be installed1 by the circuit breaker. Overload protection shall be provided to open the circuit breaker in case of overload on any conductor. Fuses may be substituted for circuit breakers in circuits transmitting twenty-five kilowatts or less. Each power circuit in excess of fifty kilowatts leading underground shall be provided with a suitable ammeter.
(2) Every alternating current feeder circuit leading underground and operating at a potential exceeding the limits of medium voltage shall be provided above ground with a suitable circuit breaker, such breaker to be equipped with automatic overload trip, arranged to open simultaneously each ungrounded power carrying conductor. Each such circuit shall also be provided with a suitable ammeter.
(c) Cables in Shafts, Slopes and Boreholes. (1) All cables passing underground through inclines, boreholes and shafts shall be installed in a manner that will prevent undue strains in sheath, insulation, or conductors and damage by chafing of cables against each other or against the borehole casing or shaft. All power conductors in shafts, boreholes and inclines shall be covered with suitable insulating materials and installed to provide a minimum tensile factor of safety of five. Conductors shall be securely fastened and properly supported out of contact with combustible materials. When the weight, length and construction of a cable are such that suspension from its upper end only would subject the cable to possible damage, it shall be supported at intervals necessary to prevent undue strains in the sheath, insulation and conductors, and to provide a minimum tensile factor of safety of five. Adequate protection shall be provided so that no damage can result from water, electrolysis, moving cages, skips, ice, coal or other falling or moving materials.
(d) High Voltage Underground Transmission Systems. High voltage conductors or cables leading underground and extending underground, shall be of flame resistant type, with either a rubber, plastic or armor sheath, meeting the requirements of the department for flame resistance. When such cable is fed by high voltage systems other than that described in article XI, section 1131, of this act,2 it shall be either metallic armored, installed in rigid steel conduit or buried one foot below combustible material. When circuit and protective requirements are met, the cable construction and method of installation may be that described in article XI, section 1131. Cables shall be adequate for the intended current and voltage. Splices made in cable shall provide continuity of all components and shall be made equivalent to the cable manufacturer's recommendation. The making of such splices shall be supervised by a competent person designated by the mine electrician.
(h) Branch Circuit Protection. When the potential of a branch circuit exceeds the limit of medium voltage, it shall be protected by a circuit breaker. Such circuit breaker shall be equipped with an automatic overload trip arranged to open simultaneously each ungrounded power carrying conductor. Provision for positive disconnection of the branch circuit shall be included.
(i) Underground Transformer and Substation Rooms. (1) Underground electric stations for permanent installations of pumps, hoists, compressors, rectifiers, rotary convertors and transformers, excepting room hoists and3 gathering pumps, which will remain in the same location for a period of one year or more, shall be constructed of incombustible materials and be well ventilated on positive intake air.
(3) Permanent underground stations shall be provided with fire doors which close automatically in the event of fire. These stations shall be provided with a well of concrete or metal, or the equivalent, about the oil containing equipment that contains over twenty gallons, that will confine the oil in the event of leakage or explosion. All transformers ordered for underground installations in mines, subsequent to this ruling shall be of the dry air-cooled type or those containing nonflammable and nonexplosive liquid; other electrical devices or switches or combination of devices or switches ordered for underground installations shall not contain more than twenty gallons of inflammable oil.
(5) Switchboards. Main and distribution switch and fuse boards shall be made of incombustible, moisture resistant, insulating material, and be fixed in as dry a situation as practicable, or shall be of suitable metal construction, exposed portions of which shall be effectively grounded. All switches, circuit breakers, rheostats, fuses and instruments used in connection with underground motor-generators, rotary-convertors, high voltage motors, transformers, and low and medium voltage motors of more than fifty horsepower or fifty KVA capacity, shall be installed upon a suitable switchboard or in a metal clad switchgear structure. Similar equipment for low and medium voltage motors of fifty horsepower and less, may be separately installed if mounted upon insulating bases of suitable material or effectively metal clad.
(6) Clearances. (i) In underground stations where switchboards are installed, there shall be a passageway in front of the switchboard not less than three feet in width and, if there are any high voltage connections at the back of the switchboard, any passageway behind the switchboard shall not be less than three feet clear. The floor at the back of the switchboard shall be properly floored and insulated with nonconducting material, accessible from each end, and in the case of high voltage switchboards, shall be kept locked, but the lock shall allow the door being opened from the inside without the use of a key. (ii) Where the supply is at a voltage exceeding the limits of medium voltage, there shall be no live metal work on the front of the main switchboard within seven feet of the floor or platform, and the space provided under subsection (6) (i) of this section shall not be less than four feet in the clear. Insulating floors or mats shall be provided for medium voltage boards where live metal work is on the front.
(7) Transformers. The primary of each underground power transformer shall be protected by a suitable circuit breaker equipped with automatic overload trip arranged to open simultaneously each undergrounded power conductor. The primary of a transformer of less than twenty-five KVA capacity may be protected by proper fuses. When a transformer is the only load on a branch circuit, the branch circuit protection can be considered the transformer protection.
(j) Fireproof Rectifiers and Transformers. A portable rectifier with dry type transformer, except those using pumped tubes or glass bulb mercury arc tubes, or dry type transformer designed for underground use with adequate automatic electrical protection and substantially of fireproof construction, full metal clad, which will not be in the same location in excess of one year, may be installed in any intake air current, not beyond the last open crosscut. The location where such fireproof rectifier or transformer is installed need not be made fireproof with masonry or steel, but shall be equipped with doors, grillwork or otherwise to prevent entry or access by unauthorized persons.
Credits
1965, Nov. 10, P.L. 721, No. 346, art. XI, § 1115.
52 P.S. § 70-1115, PA ST 52 P.S. § 70-1115
Current through Act 11 of the 2024 Regular Session. Some statute sections may be more current, see credits for details.
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