165. Conditions for installation and operation of two or more auxiliary fans.
(1)Before any auxiliary fan is installed, and also, at least once every week thereafter, the quantity of air flowing in the airway at the point of its installation shall be measured by the ventilation officer:Provided that the fan shall not be installed or continued to be operated unless the measurement shows that sufficient quantity off air is available so that -(i)not more than 50% of total air passing in the roadway is taken by the auxiliary fan; and(ii)ventilation of the inbye faces when the fan is running is adequate.(2)Particulars of the quantities measured as referred to in sub-regulation (1), shall be duly recorded in a bound paged book kept for the purpose.(3)There shall also be kept at the mine an accurate plan showing the general system of ventilation in the district and quantity of air in each air current therein.(4)The auxiliary fans shall be installed, as forcing fan, on the intake side of the place to be ventilated by it:Provided that no auxiliary fan shall be installed at a point within or less than 4.5 m from the nearer side of the entrance to the place to be ventilated by it.(5)Air entering any of the auxiliary fans in the district shall not contain-(i)more than 0.3%; CH4; and(ii)excessive quantity of dust.(6)The percentage of CH4 in the return air in any heading ventilated by an auxiliary fan shall not exceed 0.5.(7)The auxiliary fans in the district shall be electrically interlocked by a sequence control which ensures that unless the first fan is running the second fan cannot be started and so on.(8)No person shall start an auxiliary fan or any occasion unless the overman or a competent person authorised in this behalf considers that it is safe for the fan to be so started.(9)An auxiliary fan on the return side shall not be started or re-started after stoppage of the auxiliary fan on its intake side due to power failure or otherwise, unless an overman or a competent person specially authorised by the manager for the purpose, has also satisfied himself that the condition referred to in sub-regulation (5) is fulfilled.(10)No workman shall enter or be allowed to enter in any heading ventilated by an auxiliary fan unless the overman or competent person has inspected the place and found it safe and the requirements referred to in sub-regulation (5) are also satisfied.(11)In case of any interruption in the ventilation arrangements for working places, all persons shall be withdrawn from the area affected, with the exception of those required to rectify the situation.(12)No person other than an official of the mine, ventilation officer or a person authorised by the manager to do so, shall regulate the quantity of air passing through or delivered by any auxiliary fan:Provided that if it is necessary to regulate an auxiliary fan, it shall be done in such a way as to prevent unauthorised or inadvertent alteration.(13)Fans delivering air to flexible ducting shall not be regulated by constricting the ducting.(14)Fans with rigid ducting shall not be regulated by placing loose obstruction such as bricks or stone in the ducting.(15)The supply of electricity to the working place shall only be effected when the auxiliary fan is running satisfactorily:Provided that on restarting the fan after a prolonged shutdown, sufficient time shall be allowed to elapse to clear any accumulation of gas or foul air before re-establishing the supply of electricity to the working place.
