Inclined bulk material belt conveyor
Transfer & loading

Conveyor Belts

Linear detection and deluge along the belt run.

At a glance

Hazard family
Transfer & loading
Protected by
Water spray, Hydrant, Fire alarm
Designed to
NFPA 15, NFPA 72
Water spray on the belt
10.2 L/min/m²

Design basis

Water spray on the belt
10.2 L/min/m²NFPA 15
Zones operating together
The zone on fire and those either sideCommon design practice

Standards that apply

  • NFPA 15Water spray fixed systems for fire protection.
  • NFPA 72Fire alarm and signalling.

The risk

Conveyors carrying coal, biomass or other combustible material start fires through friction at seized idlers and pulleys, and through hot material on the belt. The belt itself is fuel, and a moving belt carries the fire along the gallery and into transfer towers.

Long enclosed galleries are hard to reach, and a conveyor fire can stop the material flow a whole plant depends on.

The scheme

Stop the belt, and suppress ahead of the fire and behind it:

  • Linear heat detection along the belt, in zones.
  • Water spray deluge zones along the conveyor, released on detection — the zone on fire and those either side.
  • Interlocks that stop the belt and upstream feeders on alarm.
  • Hydrants at the galleries and transfer towers.
Protection concept for conveyor belts: detection, water spray, hydrant layers

Systems that apply

Products used

Deluge Valves & Systems · 9

Spray Nozzles · 3

Strainers · 6

Questions we are asked

How do conveyor fires start?

Mostly from friction at seized idlers and pulleys, or hot material carried on the belt.

Why operate more than one spray zone?

A moving belt carries the fire along. Spraying the zones either side of the fire stops it being carried into the next section.

Should the belt stop on alarm?

Yes. Interlocks stop the belt and the feeders upstream so no more fuel is carried into the fire.

Related hazards

Track record

Projects on this hazard

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