[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 30, Volume 1]
[Revised as of July 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 30CFR36.46]

[Page 175-176]
 
                       TITLE 30--MINERAL RESOURCES
 
  CHAPTER I--MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
 
PART 36--APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS FOR PERMISSIBLE MOBILE DIESEL-POWERED TRANSPORTATION EQUIPMENT--Table of Contents
 
                      Subpart C--Test Requirements
 
Sec. 36.46  Explosion tests of intake and exhaust systems.

    (a) Explosion tests to determine the strength of the intake and 
exhaust systems to withstand internal explosions and the adequacy of the 
flame arresters to prevent the propagation of an explosion shall be made 
with the systems connected to the engine or the systems simulated as 
connected to the engine. The system shall be filled with and surrounded 
by an explosive natural gas-air mixture. The mixture within the intake 
and exhaust systems shall be ignited by suitable means and the internal 
pressure developed by the resultant explosion shall be determined. Tests 
shall be conducted with the ignition source in several different 
locations to determine the maximum pressure developed by an internal 
explosion.
    (b) Explosion tests shall be made with the engine at rest and with 
the flammable natural gas-air mixtures in the intake and exhaust 
systems. In other tests with the flammable mixture in motion, the engine 
shall be driven (externally) at speeds prescribed

[[Page 176]]

by MSHA but no liquid fuel shall be supplied to the injection valves.
    (c) The temperature of the flame arresters in the intake or exhaust 
systems shall not exceed 212  deg.F. when an explosion test is 
conducted. Any water-spray cooling for the exhaust system shall not be 
operated and water shall not be present in the exhaust cooling boxes 
except when water is the cooling agent for a cooling box designed to act 
as a flame arrester, in which case MSHA will prescribe the test 
conditions.
    (d) The explosion tests of the intake and exhaust systems shall not 
result in:
    (1) Discharge of visible flame from any joint or opening.
    (2) Ignition of surrounding flammable gas-air mixture.
    (3) Development of dangerous afterburning. 4 
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    4  The term ``afterburning'' as used in this part is applied 
to combustion of a flammable gas-air mixture drawn into the system under 
test by the cooling of the products from an explosion in the system.
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    (4) Excessive pressures.