136. Classification of coal seams according to their degree of gassiness.
(1)All coal seams shall be classified into different degrees of gassiness by the Regional Inspector or an Inspector assisted by such assistants and after such investigation as he may consider necessary.(2)If in a gassy seam the percentage of inflammable gas in the general body of air or the rate of emission of such gas increases so as to bring that seam into a higher degree of gassiness, the owner, agent or manager shall within 24 hours from his knowledge of such increase, inform the Regional Inspector and also observe all the precautions required to be taken under these regulations in respect of a gassy seam of that degree and the Regional Inspector, shall within 30 days of the receipt of such information, verify and investigate the degree of gassiness and classify the seam into the appropriate degree of gassiness.Provided that if it is not practicable to observe all the precautions required to be taken under this regulation within 24 hours, the Regional Inspector, on a request in writing by the owner, agent or manager, may defer the observance of the required precautions, subject to such conditions as he may specify, for a period not exceeding sixty days.(3)If in a gassy seam the percentage of inflammable gas in the general body of air or the rate of emission of inflammable gas decreases so as to bring that seam to a lower degree of gassiness, the owner, agent or manager may inform the Regional Inspector of the same and the Regional Inspector shall within 30 days from the receipt of such information verify and investigate the degree of gassiness and classify the same into appropriate degree of gassiness.(4)Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-regulation (2) or sub-regulation (3), the Regional Inspector may at any time make investigation and reclassify a gassy seam into the appropriate degree of gassiness.(5)The owner, agent or manager shall at least once in every 30 days examine the rate of emission of inflammable gas in cubic metres per tonne of coal raised and the percentage of inflammable gas in the general body of air as laid down in regulation 173 and the result of every such examination shall be recorded in a bound paged book kept for the purpose.(6)Every instrument, apparatus and the system used for detection and measuring of the inflammable gas shall be of a type and standard approved in writing by the Chief Inspector.(7)Every instrument, apparatus and the system used for detection and measuring of the inflammable gas and analysis of gas samples, shall be calibrated at specified interval by an approved or accredited agency or laboratory notified by the Chief Inspector by a special or general order in writing from time to time.
