Fire Protection Standard For Electrical Equipment and Installations

THERMAL COAL
IMPLEMENTATION DATE 9/2/2013

HEAD OFFICE FIRE PROTECTION STANDARD FOR ELECTRICAL
EQUIPMENT AND INSTALLATIONS DOC NO AATC000170
HEAD OFFICE FIRE PROTECTION

STANDARD FOR ELECTRICAL
EQUIPMENT AND INSTALLATIONS
AUTHORISATIONS NAME POSITION SIGNATURE DATE
AUTHOR Thomson, Andrew AATC Divisional

(VOHE) VOHE Manager
AATC Head of
REVIEWED BY Engineering,
Maapola, Phanki
Underground
Operations
AATC Head of
REVIEWED BY Engineering,
Ford, Julian
Technical Services
and Projects
REVIEWED BY AATC Head Opencast

Matthews, Darren
Engineering
AATC Head of
APPROVED BY Engineering Services,
Coetzee, Johnny
RSA Opencast
Operations
Refer to the AATC Document Management System for the latest version of the document. Copyright resides with the
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company.
CONTENTS
Page
1 AIM 3
2 SCOPE 3
3 DEFINITIONS 3
4 ABBREVIATIONS 5
5 STANDARD SPECIFICATION 6
5.1 Critical Substations and MCCs on Surface 6

5.2 Substations and MCCs on Surface 8
5.3 Mini Substations on Surface 11
5.4 Fixed Underground Substations 11
5.5 Mobile Underground Electrical Installations 13
5.6 Fire / Separating Walls 13
5.7 Perfect Party Walls 14
5.8 Transformer Installations on Surface 15
5.9 Main MV Switch and Transformer Yards on Surface 17
5.10 Battery Charging Bays On Surface 17
5.11 Battery Charging Bays Located Underground 18
5.12 Hydraulic Lubrication and Power Packs 18
5.13 Fire Stopping and Intumescent Coating of Cables 19
5.14 Electrical Cables 20
5.15 Flameproof Zones Underground 21
5.16 Sectional Underground Electrical Equipment 21
5.17 Installation and Maintenance of Fire Separation Walls. 21
6 REFERENCES 26
7 REVISION HISTORY 27
8 APPENDICES 27
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company.
1 AIM
The aim of this standard is to ensure that:
a) Electrical Equipment and Electrical Installations comply with minimum requirement for the
early detection and suppression.
b) Installation and maintenance of electrical equipment comply with the minimum
requirements for the prevention and suppression of fire.
2 SCOPE
This standard is applicable to all the Anglo Thermal Coal Operations where the following
electrical equipment and installations are present:
a) Critical Substations and MCCs on Surface
b) Substations and MCCs on Surface
c) Mini Substations on Surface
d) Fixed Underground Substations
e) Mobile Underground Electrical Installations
f) Fire / Separating Walls
g) Perfect Party Walls
h) Transformer Installations on Surface
i) Main MV Switch and Transformer Yards on Surface
j) Battery Charging Bays Located Underground
k) Hydraulic Lubrication and Power Packs
l) Fire Stopping and Intumescent Coating of Cables
m) Electrical Cables
n) Flameproof Zones Underground
o) Sectional Underground Electrical Equipment
p) Mobile Underground Electrical Installations
q) Installation and Maintenance of Fire Separation Walls
3 DEFINITIONS
Term Definition
Throughout these standards, measures are frequently prescribed as
‘depending on the assessed criticality of the installation’. The criticality
of an installation is to be determined by a risk assessment which takes
into account the foreseeable combined impact:
Criticality
 on the safety and health of people,
 in terms of property damage / loss (asset value),
 in terms of business interruption, i.e. loss of revenue due to
process interruption, if the installation were to be damaged or lost.
Means internal walls which provide an effective barrier to fire spread.
Perfect Party Walls
Perfect party walls have a fire resistance of 2 hours.
Means equipment for which a certificate has been issued, declaring it to
Flameproof Equipment
be “flameproof”.
Secondary Underground Means any underground electrical installation other than an enclosed
Electrical Installation fixed underground substation, and mobile sectional equipment.
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company.
Term Definition
A surface substation or MCC shall be deemed “critical” if safety of
persons depends upon the power distributed through that substation or
Critical Surface Substation
MCC, or if power outage at such substation or MCC has the potential to
or MCC
interrupt operations in an extensive part of the workings and would
result in significant loss of production.
“Other” substations shall be deemed to mean all surface substations
“Other” Substations and MCCs not classified as “critical”, as contemplated in section of this
standard on Critical Substations and MCCs on Surface.
Means an electrical substation located in the underground workings and
Fixed Underground typically enclosed by walls to form a substation room or rooms similar to
Substation a surface substation. “Fixed underground substations” will typically be
permanent installations intended to last the life of the mine.
This term refers to a material which under all normal conditions cannot
burn. Examples are brick, concrete, mineral wool, rock wool and perlite.
In most cases, project managers will need to use such materials for
walls, support structures and similar.
Incombustible Note, though, that even ‘incombustible’ materials will lose their
structural integrity when subjected to extreme heat, although they will
never actually burn, and will therefore never contribute to the fire load in
a building. For example, steel starts to buckle at a relatively low 500O.
Even concrete will decompose under really extreme conditions (e.g. the
World Trade Centre disaster), when the concrete reverted to powder.
“Fire retardant” is one of several terms that for all practical purposes
within the context of this document mean roughly the same thing. Other
terms in the group are “fire resistant”, “flame retardant” and “flame
resistant”. The following discussion is relevant to all of these terms.
These terms refer to materials which are so composed or treated as to

inhibit combustion. But flame retardant material may still combust if
there is an outside heat source acting upon it. Manufacturers of flame
retardant materials often claim that it ‘will not support combustion’, but if
heat from another source, like other burning materials, is applied to it, it
will still combust upon reaching its particular ignition temperature,
whereupon it will burn in conjunction with the external heat source,
adding to the energy levels available for release during the fire. This will
hasten structural collapse and propagation of the fire to unaffected
Fire Retardant areas, because the fire will ‘burn that much hotter’.
Sometimes, once the external heat source has been removed, the fire
retardant material will cease to burn, but it can happen that if sufficiently
high temperatures have been reached before the external heat source
has been removed, the ‘fire retardant’ material will still continue to burn,
despite its supposed ‘flame retardancy’.
From the above, it is obvious that ‘flame retardant’ materials have very
limited use, and actually offer little advantage. An example is styrene
which normally ignites at around 200OC. Flame retardant styrene is
claimed only to ignite at around 300OC. However, when one considers
that structure fires easily reach 1000O C quite quickly, then it is obvious
that this difference is just academic.
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Term Definition
In reality, the term ‘fire retardant’ is misleading, and project managers
would do well to aim for ‘incombustible” construction materials in almost
all cases in Plants and similar. ‘Flame retardant’ materials may have
some use in low risk, low value facilities where life safety is not an
issue.
4 ABBREVIATIONS
Term Abbreviation
LDV Light Delivery Vehicle
TLB Tractor Loader Back actor
AATC Anglo American Thermal Coal
SHERMP Safety, Health, Environment Risk Management Plan
FRMP Fire Risk Management Plan
SME Surface Mobile Equipment
AFFF Aqueous Film-Forming Foam
SABS South African Bureau of Standards
DCP Dry Chemical Powder
ASIB Automatic Sprinkler Inspection Bureau (South Africa)
NFPA National Fire Protection Association
kPa Kilopascal
MCC Motor Control Centre
MV Medium Voltage
LT Low Tension
PLC Programmable Logic Controller
SCADA Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition
CO2 Carbon Dioxide
SCBA Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus
PVC Polyvinyl Chloride
cfm Cubic Feet per Minute
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5 STANDARD SPECIFICATION
5.1 Critical Substations and MCCs on Surface
5.1.1 Application
The contents of this Standard shall be binding with respect to new installations built after 1
January 2007. Any necessary deviation from the Standard must be approved before
implementation thereof by the Fire Standards Committee and written dispensation granted.
Regarding existing substations and MCC rooms, all practicable modifications must be made to
bring them as far as possible in line with the requirements of this Standard.
5.1.2 Requirements
a) The substation and / or MCC structure shall be constructed of incombustible materials.
Incombustible means “incapable of burning”, like steel, brick or mortar. So-called “flame
retardant”, “fire retardant”, “flame resistant” or “fire resistant” materials do not meet the
incombustibility requirements for a high-risk installation such as a substation or MCC.
These merely have a higher ignition temperature, and retard fire spread, but will burn
eventually and still add to the structural fire load (calorific value) of the building as a
whole. They are therefore not acceptable.
b) The recommended substation structure will have a concrete floor, double brick thickness
brick walls, and a flat reinforced concrete roof. If a pitched roof is required, then the roof
panels must be incombustible (such as corrugated iron or IBR sheeting), and the roofing
beams should be of steel. A fire resistant ceiling should be provided in such a case. Doors
are to be steel set in steel frames, or SABS 2-hour fire rated.
c) Where the various sections of a substation building, for example, the MV room, the LT
room, the PLC room, the cable basement / room, etc., are structurally separated from
each other, separating walls must have a minimum fire resistance of 2-hours. A 225 mm
brick wall is deemed to offer such resistance. All separating walls shall be “perfect party
walls”, i.e. they are to reach from true floor elevation all the way up to roof height, passing
through any false floor or ceiling which may exist. See section of this standard regarding
“perfect party walls”. Any interleading doors set in such separating walls shall be SABS-
rated as having a 2 hour resistance to fire, and shall be self-closing.
d) Any cable penetration aperture in an outer wall or an interleading wall of a substation
room, irrespective of the voltage in question, shall be fire stopped with an inert material.
See section of this standard on Fire Stopping and Intumescent Coating of Cables
regarding fire stopping.
e) Any electrical or instrumentation cables passing through a fire stopped cable penetration
aperture as contemplated in the previous requirement shall be intumescent coated for
minimum distance of 1 metre on either side of such fire stopping, using suitable
intumescent coating or cables must pass through a ‘sand box’ located at the wall. Such
intumescent coating shall be applied to the entire circumference of each cable to such
thickness as is stipulated by the manufacturer of the particular intumescent product
chosen, as being adequate to provide an SABS rated fire resistance of at least 2 hours.
See section of this standard on Fire Stopping and Intumescent Coating of Cables
regarding intumescent coating.
f) Exclusive use of white stripe cables underground in all new installations and projects. On
surface, all cables to be of red stripe type.
g) No windows should be provided in the interleading walls of a substation, since this
provides an obvious path for fire spread between sections of the substation.
h) Windows are permissible in the outer walls of all substations, provided that these do not
overlook oil-filled transformers or oil-filled power factor correction equipment which may
be installed alongside the substation.
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i) In substation rooms where a fixed gaseous total flooding automatic fire suppression
system is installed, windows must be closed at all times or must preferably be non-
opening to ensure containment of the suppressant gas after discharge.
j) Where a substation room is ventilated by an electrically operated fan or air conditioner,
such fan or air conditioner must be interlinked with the fire detection system, and
configured to trip out and cease operating if a fire is detected. This requirement applies
whether a gaseous fire suppression system is installed or not. This requirement is not
relevant to fans or split unit air conditioners which only serve to recirculate air.
k) At least 1 x 9 kg hand-held DCP fire extinguisher must be provided for each substation
room. These must be mounted outside or inside the main entrance door to each
substation room at a height of 1.2 metres above floor elevation. This position should be
clearly demarcated using the appropriate symbolic and directional signage.
l) Notwithstanding the immediately preceding requirement, DCP fire extinguishers should
not be deployed at PLC rooms and control rooms, in deference to the sensitive electronic
equipment installed there which would be damaged by the chemical powder. Instead, 5 kg
hand-held CO2 extinguishers are to be deployed in such positions. Quantity and mounting
requirements are the same as for DCP extinguishers.
m) No additional equipment or materials, particularly if flammable or combustible, are to be
stored in any substation or MCC room. In particular, such rooms may not be used as
offices or stores.
n) A passive point fire detection system must be provided in all critical substations and
MCCs. Each room should be treated as a separate zone on the electronic control panel to
which the detector heads report. In each room, an approximate 50/50 split of passive
smoke and heat detection heads should be installed. See Fire Protection Standard for
Fire Sprinkler, Deluge, Water and Gaseous Suppression Systems for details of passive
fire detection systems.
o) Coupled to the abovementioned electronic fire control panel must be at least one manual
call point (break-glass panel), to enable an alarm to be raised manually if, for whatever
reason, the automatic detection system has failed to detect fire, or if the fire is observed
before the detection system has had time to trigger.
p) At all new installations, oil-filled switchgear is to be avoided. Only SF6 or vacuum-type
switchgear is to be used. At existing facilities whose remaining life is assessed as being 5
years or more, consideration should be given to converting to SF6 or vacuum-type
switchgear.
q) In all critical substations where oil-filled switchgear is installed, a fixed total flooding
gaseous fire suppression system MUST be installed in the MV rooms and in all cable
rooms and basements associated with MV rooms.
r) A fixed total flooding gaseous fire suppression system MAY be installed in LT rooms and
PLCs. The presence of oil filled equipment is a strong indicator for this additional
protection. See Fire Protection Standard for Fire Sprinkler, Deluge, Water and Gaseous
Suppression Systems for details on fixed total-flooding gaseous fire suppression systems.
Note in particular, the requirements for manual and automatic actuation.
s) Where there is no ignition source and / or fire loading in the room other than the electrical
panels, an in-cabinet fixed gaseous fire suppression system may be an acceptable
alternative to room flooding. See Fire Protection Standard for Fire Sprinkler, Deluge,
Water and Gaseous Suppression Systems for details on fixed in-cabinet gaseous fire
suppression systems. Note in particular, the requirements for manual and automatic
actuation.
t) Whether a fixed gaseous fire suppression system is installed or not, any ventilation fans
and air-conditioners provided in substation rooms are to be interconnected with the fire
detection system so that these will be tripped out and will cease to operate in response to
any fire detected by the automatic detection system.
u) This is important in substations which are not protected by gaseous fire suppression
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systems, to ensure that fresh air and oxygen are not drawn into the fire zone which will
hasten fire spread and development.
v) In rooms where a fixed room-flooding gaseous fire suppression system is installed, air-
conditioners and fans must also be tripped out. Otherwise, force-fans will dilute the
suppressant gas concentration in the room, and exhaust fans will draw the suppressant
gas out of the room and exhaust it to atmosphere, again resulting in dilution. If the
concentration of the suppressant gas in the room is diluted, it will not offer effective
suppression as required by design.
w) Cable trenches passing beneath a substation must be fire stopped wherever cables pass
from one substation room to another. Such fire stopping can be achieved with ‘sand
boxes’ at the separating wall. At all fire stoppings, the cables must be intumescent coated
for a distances of 1 metre on either side of such fire stopping. In this regard, see
requirement’s ‘d’ and ‘e’ above.
See section of this standard regarding transformer installations associated with
substations.
x) If a fire occurring at a substation or transformer installation is not contained within its
developmental stages, it will evolve into a fully involved structural fire and will require
intervention by fire teams using secondary fire fighting measures such as large bore
hydrants, hoses and foam applicators once the power source feeding the installation has
been isolated. Each transformer installation and / or substation complex must be located
within the 90 metre radius of at least 2 x 65 mm hydrant points. Ideally, these hydrant
points will be located on opposite sides of the substation or transformer bank, so that a
fire can be fought from two sides, and access will remain possible irrespective of wind
direction. For requirements pertaining to fire hydrants and equipment on surface, refer to
Fire Protection Standard for Fire Fighting Equipment.
y) Either at each hydrant point, provide a fire equipment box containing at least 3 x 65 mm
flat lay fire hoses and a single 65 mm nozzle, or at a central easily accessible position on
surface, provide a cache of fire fighting equipment including at least 9 x 65 mm flat lay fire
hoses and 3 x 65 mm nozzles.
z) A standard symbolic sign prohibiting smoking and naked flames should be posted up at
all entrances into the substation.
5.2 Substations and MCCs on Surface

5.2.1 Application
Regarding existing substations and MCC rooms, all practicable modifications must be made to
bring them as far as possible in line with the requirements of this Standard.
5.2.2 Requirements
a) The substation and / or MCC structure shall be constructed of incombustible materials.
Incombustible means “incapable of burning”, like steel, brick or mortar. So-called “flame
retardant”, “fire retardant”, “flame resistant” or “fire resistant” materials do not meet the
incombustibility requirements for a high-risk installation such as a substation or MCC.
These merely have a higher ignition temperature, and retard fire spread, but will burn
eventually and still add to the structural fire load (calorific value) of the building as a
whole. They are therefore not acceptable.
b) The recommended substation structure will have a concrete floor, double brick thickness
brick walls, and a flat reinforced concrete roof. If a pitched roof is required, then the roof
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panels must be incombustible (such as corrugated iron or IBR sheeting), and the roofing
beams should be of steel. A fire resistant ceiling should be provided in such a case. Doors
are to be steel set in steel frames, or SABS 2-hour fire rated.
c) Converted shipping containers and similar are acceptable structures in which “other”
substations and MCCs may be located, provided that the roof and walls of such
containers adhere to the requirement of incombustibility. Therefore, they should have no
insulation material in the walls. This specifically excludes any types of styrene or
urethane. Flooring, which is often made of timber will be acceptable.
d) Where the various sections of a substation building, for example, the MV room, the LT
room, the PLC room, the cable basement / room, etc., are structurally separated from
each other, separating walls must have a minimum fire resistance of 2-hours. A 225 mm
brick wall is deemed to offer such resistance. All separating walls shall be “perfect party
walls”, i.e. they are to reach from true floor elevation all the way up to roof height, passing
through any false floor or ceiling which may exist. See section of this standard regarding
“perfect party walls”. Any interleading doors set in such separating walls shall be SABS-
rated as having a 2 hour resistance to fire, and shall be self-closing.
e) Any penetration aperture in an outer wall or an interleading wall of a substation room,
irrespective of the voltage in question, shall be fire stopped with an inert material. See
section in this standard on Fire Stopping and Intumescent Coating of Cables regarding
fire stopping.
f) Any electrical or instrumentation cables passing through a fire stopped cable penetration
aperture as contemplated in the previous requirement shall be intumescent coated for
minimum distance of 1 metre on either side of such fire stopping, using suitable
intumescent coating or cables must pass through a ‘sand box’ located at the wall. Such
intumescent coating shall be applied to the entire circumference of each cable to such
thickness as is stipulated by the manufacturer of the particular intumescent product
chosen, as being adequate to provide an SABS rated fire resistance of at least 2 hours.
See section in this standard on Fire Stopping and Intumescent Coating of Cables
regarding intumescent coating.
g) Exclusive use of white stripe cables underground in all new installations and projects. On
h) No windows should be provided in the interleading walls of a substation, since this
provides an obvious path for fire spread between sections of the substation.
i) Windows are permissible in the outer walls of all substations, provided that these do not
overlook oil-filled transformers or oil-filled power factor correction equipment which may
be installed alongside the substation.
j) In substation rooms where a fixed gaseous total flooding automatic fire suppression
system is installed, windows must be closed at all times or must preferably be non-
opening to ensure containment of the suppressant gas after discharge.
k) Where a substation room is ventilated by an electrically operated fan or air-conditioner,
such fan or air-conditioner must be interlinked with the fire detection system, and
configured to trip out and cease operating if a fire is detected. This requirement applies
whether a gaseous fire suppression system is installed or not. This requirement is not
relevant to fans or split unit air-conditioners which only serve to re-circulate air.
l) At least 1 x 9 kg hand-held DCP fire extinguisher must be provided for each substation
room. These must be mounted outside or inside the main entrance door to each
substation room at a height of 1.2 metres above floor elevation. This position should be
clearly demarcated using the appropriate symbolic and directional signage.
m) Notwithstanding the immediately preceding requirement, DCP fire extinguishers should
not be deployed at PLC rooms and control rooms, in deference to the sensitive electronic
equipment installed there which would be damaged by the chemical powder. Instead, 5 kg
hand-held CO2 extinguishers are to be deployed in such positions. Quantity and mounting
requirements are the same as for DCP extinguishers.
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n) No additional equipment or materials, particularly if flammable or combustible, are to be

stored in any substation or MCC room. In particular, such rooms may not be used as
offices or stores.
o) A passive point fire detection system may be provided in these “other” substations and
MCCs. Where a substation and / or MCC is remotely located, in an area where
occupancy is rare, a passive point fire detection system becomes an absolute
requirement.
p) Each room should be treated as a separate zone on the electronic control panel to which
the detector heads report.
q) Coupled to the abovementioned electronic fire control panel, if installed, must be at least
one manual call point (break-glass panel), to enable an alarm to be raised manually if, for
whatever reason, the automatic detection system has failed to detect fire, or if the fire is
observed before the detection system has had time to trigger.
r) At all new installations, oil-filled switchgear is to be avoided. Only SF6 or vacuum-type
switchgear is to be used. At existing facilities whose remaining life is assessed as being 5
years or more, consideration should be given to converting to SF6 or vacuum-type
switchgear.
s) In all “other” substations where oil-filled switchgear is installed, a fixed total flooding
gaseous fire suppression system shall be installed in the MV rooms, and in all cable
rooms and basements associated with MV rooms.
t) A fixed total flooding gaseous fire suppression system shall be installed in LT rooms and
PLCs. The presence of oil filled equipment is a strong indicator for this additional
protection. See Fire Protection Standard for Fire Sprinkler, Deluge, Water and Gaseous
Suppression Systems for details on fixed total-flooding gaseous fire suppression systems.
Note in particular, the requirements for manual and automatic actuation.
u) Where there is no ignition source and / or fire loading in the room other than the electrical
panels, an in-cabinet fixed gaseous fire suppression system may be an acceptable
alternative to room flooding. See Fire Protection Standard for Fire Sprinkler, Deluge,
Water and Gaseous Suppression Systems for details on fixed in-cabinet gaseous fire
suppression systems. Note in particular, the requirements for manual and automatic
actuation.
v) Whether a fixed gaseous fire suppression system is installed or not, any ventilation fans
and air-conditioners provided in substation rooms must be linked with the fire detection
system, so that these fans and air conditioners will be tripped out and will cease to
operate in response to any fire detected by the automatic detection system.
 This is important in substations which are not protected by gaseous fire suppression
systems, to ensure that fresh air and oxygen are not drawn into the fire zone which
will hasten fire spread and development.
 In rooms where a fixed room-flooding gaseous fire suppression system is installed,
air-conditioners and fans must also be tripped out. Otherwise, force-fans will dilute the
suppressant gas concentration in the room, and exhaust fans will draw the
suppressant gas out of the room and exhaust it to atmosphere, again resulting in
dilution. If the concentration of the suppressant gas in the room is diluted, it will not
offer effective suppression as required by design.
w) Cable trenches passing beneath a substation must be fire stopped wherever cables pass
from one substation room to another. Such fire stopping can be achieved with ‘sand
boxes’ at the separating wall. At all fire stoppings, the cables must be intumescent coated
for a distances of 1 metre on either side of such fire stopping. In this regard, see
requirements ‘e’ and ‘f’ above.
See section in this standard regarding transformer installations associated with
substations.
x) If a fire occurring at a substation or transformer installation is not contained within its
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y) Either at each hydrant point, provide a fire equipment box containing at least 3 x 65 mm
flat lay fire hoses and a single 65 mm nozzle, or at a central easily accessible position on
surface, provide a cache of fire fighting equipment including at least 9 x 65 mm flat lay fire
hoses and 3 x 65 mm nozzles.
z) A standard symbolic sign prohibiting smoking and naked flames should be posted up at
5.3 Mini Substations on Surface

5.3.1 Requirements
a) Electrical cables must be intumescent coated for at least 1 metre at the entry / exit points.
Alternatively, cables may be buried in a sand-filled trench. Such sand filling to extend for
at least 1 metre and preferably 2 metres.
b) At least 2 x 9 kg hand-held DCP fire extinguishers are to be provided at a clearly
demarcated position between 5 and 15 metres from mini substation to make the unit
accessible even after the outbreak of fire.
c) No combustible or flammable materials are to be stored within 5 metres of any mini
substation container. Therefore, for a distance of at least 5 metres around all mini
substation containers, the area is to be kept clear of all undergrowth.
d) A standard symbolic sign prohibiting smoking and naked flames should be posted up at
all entrances into the substation
5.4 Fixed Underground Substations

5.4.1 Requirements
a) No oil-filled switchgear or transformers are acceptable in the underground workings. All
such equipment must be of the dry type, i.e. vacuum-type or SF6 filled.
b) The environmental conditions in every fixed underground substation must be monitored
as described in Environmental Monitoring Systems Procedures. The VOHE Department
will determine the type and location of the detection heads required. Such system must be
monitored continuously from a surface control room.
c) Exclusive use of white stripe cables underground in all new installations and projects. On
d) No additional material or equipment, and especially no flammable or combustible
materials, may be retained within a fixed underground substation or a transformer bay.
e) Wherever electrical cables enter or leave a transformer bay or substation room,
associated with a fixed underground substation, such cable penetration aperture must be
fire stopped, and the cables must be intumescent coated for at least 1 metre on either
side of the fire stopping unless they are covered in a sand filled trench (of at least 1 m but
preferably 2 m). Such intumescent coating must be applied to the entire circumference of
each cable, to the required thickness as stipulated by the manufacturer of the product
selected, as being adequate to ensure a fire resistance rating of at least 2 hours. See
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section of this standard referring to Fire Stopping and Intumescent Coating of Cables in
this regard.
f) At least 1 x 9 kg hand-held DCP fire extinguisher must be provided for each substation
room. These may be mounted either inside or the main entrance door leading to each
room, at a height of 1.2 metres above floor elevation. The extinguishers should be clearly
demarcated using the appropriate symbolic and directional signage. Note however, that
where all equipment is located within a single room at a fixed underground substation,
then a minimum of 2 x 9 kg hand-held DCP fire extinguishers shall be deployed.
g) Notwithstanding the requirement above for DCP fire extinguishers to be deployed at fixed
underground substations, where a separate and independent PLC room exists, a 5 kg
hand-held CO2 fire extinguisher shall be substituted for each 9 kg hand-held DCP fire
extinguisher required to be deployed at such PLC room, in deference to the sensitive
electronic equipment installed here which would be damaged by the chemical powder.
Mounting requirements for CO2 extinguishers are the same as for DCP fire extinguishers.
h) Fixed underground substations must always be ventilated to a return airway.
Arrangements must be provided which can be activated from a place of safety outside the
substation, to open any vents or similar, necessary to ensure that the smoke and fumes of
combustion are effectively routed directly into the return air system.
i) Infrared thermographic, or other hot spot scanning, must be conducted on all MV
equipment installed in the underground workings, at intervals specified in the relevant
electrical standard, according to a methodology described in that standard.
j) All MV rooms must be kept locked to prevent unauthorised access. Where practicable LT
rooms, MCCs and PLC rooms should also be kept locked. Keys must be kept by a
competent person, e.g. an electrician.
k) Whether a fixed gaseous fire suppression system is installed in the fixed underground
substation or not, any ventilation fans and air-conditioners provided in substation rooms
are to be interconnected with the fire detection system so that these will be tripped out
and will cease to operate in response to any fire detected by the automatic detection
system.
 This is important in substations which are not protected by gaseous fire suppression
systems, to ensure that fresh air and oxygen are not drawn into the fire zone which
will hasten fire spread and development.
 In rooms where a fixed room-flooding gaseous fire suppression system is installed,
air-conditioners and fans must also be tripped out. Otherwise, force-fans will dilute the
suppressant gas concentration in the room, and exhaust fans will draw the
suppressant gas out of the room and exhaust it to atmosphere, again resulting in
dilution. If the concentration of the suppressant gas in the room is diluted, it will not
offer effective suppression as required by design.
l) Any cable trenches interconnecting a substation room with another, or a substation room
with a transformer bay, must be fire stopped wherever cables pass from one substation to
another. At all fire stoppings, the cables must be intumescent coated for a distance of one
meter on either side of such fire stopping unless it is contained in a sand filled trench of at
least 1 m but preferably 2 m. In this regard, refer to section of this standard referring to
Fire Stopping and Intumescent Coating of Cables.
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5.5 Mobile Underground Electrical Installations

5.5.1 Identification
By “secondary underground electrical installation” is meant any underground electrical
installation other than an enclosed fixed underground substation, and mobile sectional
equipment.
5.5.2 Requirements
a) Mobile electrical installations underground must be located in roadways where the risk of
vehicular impact is minimised.
b) At least 2 x 9 kg hand-held DCP fire extinguishers must be provided at every mobile
electrical installation underground. Where there is access from two sides to such
installation, a fire extinguisher should be placed on each side. Fire extinguishers should
be mounted at a height of 1.2 metres above floor elevation and must be suitably
demarcated with the relevant symbolic signage.
c) MV and LT panels must be kept locked at all times, or must be otherwise secured. The
keys should be held by a suitably qualified person, for example, an electrician.
d) All electrical equipment must be of the dry type (i.e. vacuum-type or SF6 filled).
e) Other than coal in situ, no combustibles or flammables are to be permitted within 5 metres
of a mobile underground electrical installation.
5.6 Fire / Separating Walls

5.6.1 Rationale
Transformers and similar large oil filled equipment must each be located individually in discrete
transformer bays, to prevent fire / explosion on any particular unit from spreading to
neighbouring units, equipment, or structures.
NB: Transformer separating walls need not be retrofitted in transformer installations built before
2000.
5.6.2 Requirements
a) In order to constitute such bays, separating walls must be constructed between the units,
and between the units and any equipment or structure located alongside (e.g. a
substation).
b) Walls must comply with the following standards:
c) Walls should be of 225 mm wide brick, or 300 mm reinforced concrete, buttressed on the
free ends, to ensure their robustness.
d) There must be no breach whatsoever in the walls of a transformer bay. If such wall must
be breached, then the resultant aperture must be fire stopped and the cables passing
through the fire stopping must be intumescent coated. Refer to section of this standard
referring to Fire Stopping and Intumescent Coating of Cables regarding the requirements
for fire stopping and intumescent coating of cables.
e) The walls must be at least 90 cm higher than the highest point on either of the items
which the wall is intended to separate. In the case of transformers, this will usually be the
oil conservator located on top of the tallest transformer in the pair. Note however, that in
the case of walls intended to separate transformers from an adjacent structure like a
substation, the two highest points under consideration will be the highest point on the
transformer and the highest point on the adjacent structure which will in all likelihood be
the apex of the pitched roof. Diagram 1 illustrates this rationale.
f) When viewed in plan, separating walls must extend at least 50 cm beyond the sides of the
transformers which the walls will separate.
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Diagram 1: Fire / Separating Walls
At least 90 cm
At least 90cm
At least 90cm
5.7 Perfect Party Walls

5.7.1 Rationale
“Perfect party walls” are internal walls which provide an effective barrier to fire spread. They
would typically be constructed as a division between fire zones, for example between different
rooms in a substation. Areas not so sub-divided cannot be regarded as separate fire zones. By
definition, perfect party walls have a fire resistance of 2 hours.
5.7.2 Requirements
Perfect party walls must comply with the following requirements:
a) Perfect party walls must be constructed of 225 mm wide brick (double brick thickness).
This is deemed to have a fire resistance of 2 hours.
b) The walls should extend from a solid (e.g. concrete) floor, and must reach the full height
of the roof, if the roof is solid, e.g. reinforced concrete. However, if the roof is not resistant
to fire (e.g. corrugated iron or tiles) then the perfect party wall must extend above the
roofline by at least 30 cm, to form a gable.
c) No roof support trusses, whether of steel, timber or other material, may pass through the
perfect party wall. Such trusses, and the roof itself if it is of corrugated iron, tiles, or
similar, must abut the wall on either side.
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d) No cable penetration apertures must be allowed to breach a perfect party wall. Where it is
unavoidable for cables to penetrate a perfect party wall, whether above floor elevation, or
via an under floor cable trench, such cable penetration aperture or cable trench must be
effectively fire stopped, and where the cables pass through the fire stopping, they must be
intumescent coated for at least 1 metre on either side of the fire stopping. See section of
this standard referring to Fire Stopping and Intumescent Coating of Cables for details of
fire stopping and intumescent coating of cables.
e) Any door set in a perfect party wall must have a fire resistance rating of at least 2 hours,
certified by an approved test authority like the SABS or CSIR. Fire doors must be fitted
with an automatic closing mechanism and must be kept closed at all times, so that fire
cannot spread through the doorway, thereby rendering the perfect party wall ineffective in
limiting the extent of fire spread.
f) All doorframes and fittings associated with fire doors must be incombustible and of a type
which will not impair or compromise the fire-rating of the said door.
5.8 Transformer Installations on Surface

5.8.1 Application
This standard applies to all transformers located on surface other than those contained in MV
switching yards. See section of this standard for Main MV Switch and Transformer Yards on
Surface regarding transformers located in MV switching yards.
NB. Transformer separating walls need not be retrofitted in transformer installations built before
2000.
5.8.2 Requirements
a) Transformers should be located in transformer bays, separate from substations and other
structures. If transformers are located in transformer bays which form part of a substation
or other building, then measures must be taken to completely separate the transformers
structurally from the rest of the building and / or change them to oil free (dry type)
transformers. In the case of the former option, all interleading walls between individual
transformers and between transformers and the rest of the structure, must reach from
floor to roof height. This does not pertain the front (outer) wall of the transformer bays,
which should be welded mesh gates, or similar, to allow ventilation to reach the
transformers. If the transformers are located in a multi-storey building, then each
transformer bay must have a reinforced concrete roof to prevent fire spread from the
transformers into the rest of the structure. Also see section in this standard on Fire /
Separating Walls regarding separating walls.
NB.: The transformer bays must be adequate not to impair transformer cooling, that is,
they must not de-rate any transformer located therein.
b) In the case of transformers located in transformer bays which are spatially well separated
from the associated substation, transformers must be separated from each other by
means of a 225 mm thick brick wall, buttressed on the free end, built between each
adjoining pair of transformers. Such wall must extend to a height at least 90 cm higher
than the highest point on the highest transformer so separated (usually the oil
conservator).
c) Interleading separating walls as contemplated in the previous requirements, and the back
walls of transformer enclosures should ideally not be breached by any cable penetration
apertures. However, where such walls are breached, penetration must be fire stopped
and the cables intumescent coated for at least 1 metre on either side of the penetration.
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See section of this standard referring to Fire Stopping and Intumescent Coating of Cables
for details of fire stopping and intumescent coating of cables. So that fire stopping and
intumescent coating does not deteriorate due to moisture, penetration apertures, if any,
must be raised at least 30 cm above ground elevation.
d) Where three or less transformers are grouped together, 1 x 9 kg hand-held DCP fire
extinguisher must be provided per transformer in a central position. Where four or more
transformers are grouped together, 4 x 9 kg hand-held DCP fire extinguishers must be
provided in a central position.
The required number of fire extinguishers should be divided between two positions each
located between 5 and 15 metres from the transformer bank, to make them easily
accessible even after the outbreak of fire. Where one or both such positions are located
around a corner out of direct line of site of the transformers, it is acceptable to reduce the
minimum distance to less than 5 metres, if access to the extinguishers would be safe and
possible even after the outbreak of fire.
In these positions, fire extinguishers must be mounted at a height of 1.2 metres above
ground elevation and the positions must be suitably demarcated with the appropriate
symbolic signage.
e) Some means such as lockable gates must be provided across the front of transformer
bays to ensure that access is not readily possible by unauthorised persons.
f) No additional articles of material or equipment may be stored in a transformer bay,
particularly combustible or flammable materials.
g) Each transformer bay must be individually bunded. See Fire Protection Standard for
Buildings and Structures regarding the requirements for bunding.
h) If transformers are installed within a building, then a passive point fire detection system
must be provided in the area in which the transformers are installed.
i) If transformers are installed in a building, then each transformer must be protected by a
fixed foam suppression system. See Fire Protection Standard for Fire Sprinkler, Deluge,
Water and Gaseous Suppression Systems regarding the requirements for fixed foam fire
suppression systems.
j) If a fire occurring at a substation or transformer installation is not contained within its
k) At each hydrant point, provide a fire equipment box containing at least 3 x 65 mm flat lay
fire hoses and a single 65 mm nozzle,
Or, at a central easily accessible position on surface, provide a central cache of fire
fighting equipment including at least 9 x 65 mm flat lay fire hoses and 3 x 65 mm nozzles.
l) Standard symbolic signs prohibiting smoking and naked flames should be posted up at all
transformer installations.
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5.9 Main MV Switch and Transformer Yards on Surface

5.9.1 Application
Regarding existing main MV switch and transformer yards on surface, all practicable
modifications must be made to bring them as far as possible in line with the requirements of this
Standard.
5.9.2 Requirements
a) The yard must be securely fenced with locked gates to prevent unauthorised access.
b) No unnecessary additional combustible or flammable material or equipment shall be
stored in the yards. The yard is to be kept clear of all undergrowth. The yard must be
spatially separated from surrounding risk, including any associated substation buildings.
Therefore, no building should be built within 10 metres of the fence of the yard.
c) Robust brick separating walls must be constructed between all oil-filled transformers and
MV switches located next to each other, unless these are separated spatially by a
distance of at least 30 metres. Such walls must be buttressed on their free ends to ensure
their strength, and should not be breached in any position. They may be constructed of
300 mm reinforced concrete or 225 mm wide brick. Each separating wall must extend to a
height at least 90 cm higher than the highest point on the highest transformer separated
by the wall, usually the oil conservator. NB. Transformer separating walls need not be
retrofitted in transformer installations built before 2000. Also see section of this standard
regarding fire / separating walls.
d) Each transformer is to be individually bunded. See Fire Protection Standard for Buildings
and Structures regarding the requirements for bunding.
e) A standard symbolic sign prohibiting smoking and naked flames should be posted up at
5.10 Battery Charging Bays On Surface

This section does not apply to Lamprooms.
5.10.1 Requirements
a) To prevent build-up of fumes and gases during battery charging, particularly hydrogen
gas, the facility should be open sided, with walls typically constructed of expanded metal,
diamond mesh or welded mesh, or else the facility must be through-ventilated by means
of louvers or other openings on one side with a fan or fans set in the opposite wall.
b) All shelves on which batteries are charged are to be of wood or must be rubber-lined.
c) Except as is provided in the previous requirement, pertaining to shelves, battery charging
rooms are to be of conventional construction.
d) At least one hand-held fire extinguisher must be provided at the facility. This should be
mounted outside the main entrance door or gate. Either a DCP fire extinguisher or a CO2
fire extinguisher is suitable. The fire extinguisher should be mounted at a height of 1.2
metres above floor or ground elevation and should be suitably demarcated by means of
appropriate symbolic and directional signage. See Fire Protection Standard For Fire
Fighting Equipment for more detail.
e) Access to battery charging facilities must be restricted to authorised persons only.
f) Signage must be erected prohibiting smoking and naked lights.
g) All parts of battery charging bays must be declared “no smoking zones”. Signage must be
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erected prohibiting smoking and naked lights. Work in battery charging bays must only be
permitted under a hot work permit system, which includes a fire watch being kept until
completion of hot work, as contemplated Perform Hot Work Procedure.
5.11 Battery Charging Bays Located Underground

5.11.1 Requirements
a) The location and orientation of battery charging bays are comprehensively dealt with in
SANS 1654.
b) Provide at least 2 x 9 kg hand-held DCP fire extinguishers for each battery charger
installed. Of these, at least one must be located at each entranceway leading to the
battery charging bay. Refer to Fire Protection Standard for Fire Fighting Equipment for the
mounting requirements pertaining to fire extinguishers.
c) A clearly worded procedure must be posted up, detailing the steps to be taken during
battery charging.
d) All relevant Material Safety Data Sheets must be posted up in a conspicuous position.
e) In terms of underground environmental condition monitoring, detector heads, reporting to
a constantly monitored control room on surface, must be provided in positions indicated
by the VOHE Department, to monitor for air velocity and smoke.
f) No flammable or combustible materials not directly associated with the battery charging
process may be stored within a battery charging bay
g) Provide 1 x stone dust bucket (at least 10kg) at or near each of the charging bays at the
battery bay.
5.12 Hydraulic Lubrication and Power Packs

5.12.1 Requirements
a) All hydraulic power and lubrication packs are to be adequately bunded. NB. No
containment in the form of bunding or drip trays shall be required on heavy machinery e.g.
stackers.
b) Where hydraulic power and lubrication packs, and similar equipment, are located in a
critical area (refer criticality definition), and where the flammable liquid content of a single
unit, or of a number of units grouped together, exceeds 300 litres, an automatically
activated high velocity water deluge fire suppression system or a fixed foam automatic fire
suppression system must be provided at such unit or group of units.
c) Absorbent mineral, such as mineral granules, must be used for the absorption of any
spillage which may occur in the bunded area. No flammable or combustible material such
as sawdust or wood shavings may be used for this purpose.
d) Such packs should ideally always be positioned within a fire-rated compartment to
separate them from the rest of the process. If not so contained, the minimum requirement
is that they should be positioned at least 5 metres horizontally from any other equipment
or stored material, so as not to affect these if a fire should break out on the packs.
e) Whenever possible, non-flammable or fire retardant fluids should be used in hydraulic
power and lubrication packs. This is particularly relevant where effective structural
separation in a fire-rated compartment, as contemplated in requirement ‘d’ above, is not
present.
f) Obvious ignition sources in the immediate vicinity of hydraulic power and lubrication
packs must be avoided. Electrical cables, motors, switchgear and lights unless
intrinsically safe, should not be located within a bund, unless they are raised, for example
on a plinth, above the level of the bund wall.
g) Provide an excess flow cut-out mechanism on all hydraulic power packs.
h) Provide a thermal cut-out on all hydraulic power packs.
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i) Provide at least 1 x 9kg DCP fire extinguisher close to all hydraulic units. In the case of
hydraulic rooms, this fire extinguisher(s) should be positioned outside the door.
j) Where hydraulic power and lubrication packs are located in a room(s) located on the
ground floor of a building, all windows should be bricked up.
5.13 Fire Stopping and Intumescent Coating of Cables

5.13.1 Fire Stopping Requirements
Where a wall is intended to be a barrier to fire spread, such as in the case of perfect party walls
or fire / separating walls, it is necessary to fire stop any breach in such separating wall. Failure
to do so removes any benefit that the sub-division into separate fire zones, might have offered.
Fire stopping may be achieved by plastering up the hole using conventional mortar or mortar
made using perlite as a building sand substitute. Alternatively, an inert material such as “rock
wool” or “mineral wool” may be used to block the hole. This stopping material must then be
covered over using an intumescent coating. Adhere to the specifications laid down by the
manufacturer of the intumescent product to achieve a 2 hour fire rating for the aperture, or the 2
hour fire rating of the wall will be impaired.
5.13.2 Intumescent Coating Requirements

Suitable intumescent products are Chemrite, Micon, and Pyrocote.
a) Where cables pass through a fire stopped aperture in a wall which separates fire zones,
any electrical or instrumentation cable passing through such fire stopping must be
intumescent coated on either side of the fire stopping for a linear distance of at least 1
metre unless it is contained in a sand filled trench (of at least 1 m but preferably 2 m).
Such intumescent coating must be applied to the entire circumference of each cable to be
effective, and must be applied to a suitable thickness, as specified by the manufacturer of
the particular intumescent product used, as being adequate to ensure a fire resistance
rating of at least 2 hours. Long cables in cable racks situated in plants are to be coated
with suitable intumescent product at 6 meter intervals. Any new cables added later, must
be similarly intumescent coated.
b) Where electrical and instrumentation cables are routed vertically in a plant structure or
building, these may not always be routed through fire stopped cable penetration apertures
in the interleading floors, in which case, the requirements stated in 5.2.1 above would
apply.
Instead, such cables may either be routed in open service shafts, on vertical cable racks,
or through open floors (for example, Mentis-type grating). In such case, where fire
stopping is not appropriate, 2 metre high firebreaks must be provided on all cables in
each group of cables, on every 2nd level. As stated in 1 above, intumescent coating must
be provided over the entire circumference of each cable, and must be applied to the
minimum thickness as stipulated by the manufacturer of the particular intumescent
product used, as being adequate to ensure a fire resistance rating of at least 2 hours.
Instead, such cables may either be routed in open service shafts, on vertical cable racks,
or through open floors (for example, Mentis-type grating). In such case, where fire
stopping is not appropriate, 2 metre high firebreaks must be provided on all cables in
each group of cables, on every 2nd level. As stated in 1 above, intumescent coating must
be provided over the entire circumference of each cable, and must be applied to the
minimum thickness as stipulated by the manufacturer of the particular intumescent
product used, as being adequate to ensure a fire resistance rating of at least 2 hours.
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Long cables in rack in the plant to be painted at intervals of 6meters.

c) In certain cases, for example, at containerised substations or at very small substations
which have only one room, it is not essential to fire stop the apertures where the cables
exit the structure and neither is it a requirement that the cables must be intumescent
coated at this position. Instead, it is acceptable to provide a 2 metre firebreak on each
single cable or group of cables, as long as such firebreak is provided within 5 metres of
the structure. The rationale is that these firebreaks on the cables will prevent fire
originating elsewhere from spreading into the structure and conversely will prevent fire
originating in the structure from spreading along cable paths and propagating the fire into
other parts of the operation.
d) Such firebreak may be constituted in one of two ways:
 A 2 metre firebreak may be painted onto the cables as contemplated in 2 above.
Alternatively,
 The cables may simply be buried for a distance of at least 2 metres.
5.14 Electrical Cables

5.14.1 Requirements
a) Exclusive use of white stripe cables underground in all new installations and projects. On
 It must be noted that all three types described above are fire retardant only to a
degree, and their use may therefore reduce fire risk. However, fire risk will not be
eliminated altogether. For this reason, other requirements like fire stopping and
intumescent coating remain necessary even with the use of red, blue or white stripe
cables. Refer to section of this standard regarding Fire Stopping and Intumescent
Coating of Cables
 White stripe cable has core insulation, bedding and outer sheath all of halogen free
PVC. The outer sheath of white stripe cables disintegrates in direct sunlight. Cables
must therefore be kept out of direct sunlight.
b) There is a strong indication for white stripe cable to be used whenever there is a gassing
risk to persons if it should burn. This will apply in particular in enclosed areas which are
difficult to vacate quickly.
c) Any blasting cables must be suspended completely clear of any other electrical cables.
d) All electrical cables are to be suspended not less than 300mm clear of any combustible
material. This requirement may be waived where excessively low seams make the
practice impractical. “Combustible material” in this context shall not include unmined coal
in situ (e.g. in pillars and rib-sides).
e) It is recommended that cables in underground conveyor inclines, surface conveyor
tunnels (e.g. under stockpiles), elevated conveyor structures, and similar, must be
suspended on the opposite side of the excavation to the conveyor, or at least 1 metre
from the conveyor structure. This recommendation may be waived where excessively low
seams make the practice impractical.
f) Wherever cables enter a substation, MCC, control room, transformer bay, generator
room, hydraulics room, compressor room, or similar, the aperture where the cables
breach the wall(s) of such room must be fire stopped, and the cables passing through the
breach must be intumescent coated for a distance of at least 1 metre on either side of
such fire stopping. Painting of cables shall not be applicable where the cables are made
to pass through a ‘sand box’ at the wall. See section of this standard regarding Fire
Stopping and Intumescent Coating of Cables for details on intumescent coating of cables
and fire stopping of cable penetration apertures.
g) It is recommended that all cable racks be secured vertically ‘on their side’, since
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horizontal cable trays allow coal dust to accumulate on top of the cables which form a
platform, adding to the fire risk.
5.15 Flameproof Zones Underground

5.15.1 Requirements
No non-flameproof equipment may be taken into a flameproof zone, or may operate in a
flameproof zone unless an exemption has been obtained. Such equipment must be left beyond
the signs indicating the start of the flameproof zone.
5.16 Sectional Underground Electrical Equipment

5.16.1 Identification
A mobile transformer and switch bank forms part of the standard equipment in the coal cutting /
welding section. This is mobile equipment which moves forward as the section advances. The
position in which such equipment is located is therefore a temporary installation which must
nonetheless comply with the following requirements.
5.16.2 Requirements
a) All equipment to be flameproof.
b) The transformer(s) and all switchgear must be of the dry type (vacuum-type or SF6 filled)
to remove the inherent fire load of oil-filled electrical equipment.
c) Cable suspension will understandably be temporary, but must be adequate to ensure that
the risk of cables being damaged by mining vehicles and resulting in an unwanted ignition
source, is minimised.
d) There must be ready access to at least one cache of 6 x 9 kg hand-held DCP fire
extinguishers in the section. These must be mounted at a height of 1.2 metres above floor
level to protect them from damage and to make them more easily visible. They should be
demarcated using the appropriate symbolic signage.
e) Lock-out provision must be provided on all electrical switches and sockets on the mobile
switch bank.
5.17 Installation and Maintenance of Fire Separation Walls.

5.17.1 General
This standard must be read in addition to section on Fire / Separating Walls Standard of this
standard.
This standard prescribes minimum requirements for fire walls and fire barrier walls for use in
providing safety to life and protection of property from fire. These requirements apply to walls
that are required to separate buildings or subdivide a building to prevent the spread of fire.
5.17.1.1 Types of firewalls

a) Fire walls must be one of the following:
 Cantilevered/freestanding fire walls
 Tied fire walls
 Double fire walls
5.17.1.2 Structural stability and strength

Fire walls must be designed and constructed to remain stable after the collapse of the
structure due to fire on either side of the wall.
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5.17.1.3 Design loads

a) All fire walls and their supports must be designed to withstand a minimum uniform load of
0.24 kPa from either direction applied perpendicular to the face of the wall. All fire walls
must be non-load-bearing. Structural framing within the plane of the wall must be
permitted to be load-bearing.
b) Where the fire wall or fire protective covering of a structural member is subject to impact
damage from moving vehicles or the handling of merchandise or other activity, protection
against impact damage must be provided for an appropriate height but not less than 1.5
mm from the finished floor.
5.17.2 Cantilevered or Freestanding Fire Walls

Cantilevered or freestanding fire walls must be entirely self-supported and non-load bearing.
There must be no connections to the building(s) or contents on either side other than to the
flashing. Such walls must be erected where there is a complete break in the structural
framework. The wall must be secured to the foundation to resist overturning due to design
loads.
5.17.3 Tied Fire Walls

a) Tied fire walls must be centred on a single column line or constructed between a double
column line. Structural framing on either side of the wall must line up horizontally and
vertically and must support the roof. The framework on each side of the fire wall must be
continuous or tied together through the wall.
b) The framework on each side must be designed so that it resists the maximum lateral pull
that can be developed due to framework collapse in a fire on the opposite side. Tied fire
walls must be supported laterally by the building framework with flexible anchors. Where
centred on a single column line, structural framing (i.e., columns and beams or trusses) at
the column line must have a fire resistance rating of not less than the required fire
resistance rating of the fire wall.
c) Where the wall is installed between double column lines, framing along the first column
line immediately on each side of the fire wall must have a fire resistance rating of not less
than the required fire resistance rating of the fire wall.
5.17.4 Double Fire Walls

a) A double fire wall must consist of two back-to-back walls. There must be no connections,
other than to the flashing, between the walls.
b) Each fire wall must be supported laterally by the building frame on its respective side and
must be independent of the fire wall and framing on the opposite side.
5.17.5 Fire Walls at Elevation Differences

Where the roofs on opposite sides of a fire wall are not of the same elevation, the fire wall
assembly must be arranged as described below.
a) The two buildings must be separated by a double fire wall.

b) A cantilevered fire wall must be constructed from the foundation to the top of the parapet
for the lower roof. The upper wall section must be permitted to have an exterior fire
resistance rating of one hour less than the required fire resistance rating of the lower
cantilevered portion but not less than a 2-hour rating. The upper wall must be connected
to the framework of the higher building and must be structurally independent of the
cantilevered wall.
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5.17.6 Clearance
a) Clearance to allow for expansion of unprotected structural framework must be provided.
This space must be provided between cantilevered walls and structural framework on
each side and between double walls.
b) In areas of moderate and high seismic risk, sufficient separation must be provided
between cantilevered walls and adjacent framing on each side and between double walls
to allow independent movements of the elements without contact.
5.17.7 Expansion, Seismic and Control Joints

a) Joints must be provided to prevent cracking due to drying, shrinkage, or normal building
temperature change. The integrity of the fire resistance rating of the wall must be
maintained by the protection of these joints. Protection for expansion and seismic joints
must be installed in accordance with tested design specifications.
b) The fire resistance of expansion, seismic, and control joints in fire walls must be
determined in accordance with ANSI/UL 2079, Tests for Fire Resistance of Building Joint
Systems, or ASTM E 1966, Standard Test Method for Fire Resistive Joint Systems.
5.17.8 Termination Points

a) A fire barrier wall must extend from the foundation or floor below to the underside of the
roof or floor deck above. Any voids or gaps created by the meeting of the wall and floor
below and the underside of the roof or floor deck above must be filled with an approved
material with a fire resistance rating at least equal to that of the fire wall.
b) Exception: The fire barrier wall must be permitted to terminate at the underside of an
individually protected structural member in the same plane. The structural member must
have a fire resistance rating of not less than that required for the fire barrier wall and must
prevent the passage of flame and hot gases.
5.17.9 Fire Resistance

5.17.9.1 Wall Materials
a) The fire resistance rating of the wall assembly must be as required by the applicable code
or standard. Assemblies must be tested and rated in accordance with NFPA 251,
Standard Methods of Tests of Fire Endurance of Building Construction and Materials.
b) Exception: Assemblies calculated to have equivalent fire resistance must be permitted,
provided that the calculations are based on the conditions of acceptance and the fire
exposure specified in NFPA 251.
5.17.9.2 Penetration Seals

a) All through-penetration protection systems must be tested and rated in accordance with
ASTM E 814, Standard Test Method for Fire Tests o f Through-Penetration Fire Stops, or
ANSI/UL 1479, Fire Test of Through Penetration Fire Stops. The positive pressure
difference between the exposed and unexposed surfaces of the test assembly must not
be less than 2.5 Pa water gauge. A through-penetration protection system must have an
F rating not less than the required fire resistance rating of the fire wall or fire barrier wall.
b) Exception: Concrete, mortar, or grout must be permitted with maximum 153 mm nominal
diameter steel or copper pipe or steel conduit. Concrete, mortar, or grout must be the
thickness required to maintain the required fire resistance rating of the wall being
penetrated. The maximum opening size must be 0.094 m2.
5.17.9.3 Double Wall Assemblies

a) Double wall assemblies must be considered to have a combined assembly fire rating as
specified in Table 1.
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company.
Table 1 – Fire Resistance Ratings for Double Wall Assemblies
Fire Resistance Rating of Each Wall Equivalent to Single Wall

3 hours 4 hours
2 hours 3 hours
1 hours 2 hours
5.17.10 Exterior Protection

5.17.10.1 Parapets
Fire walls must be provided with parapets at least 0.76 m high. The parapet height must be
measured from the top surface of the roof being protected. Roofs sloped greater than 6 mm
per 305 mm downward toward the wall must be provided with a minimum 0.9 m parapet.
5.17.10.2 Roof Surface Protection

a) Built-up roofs must be surfaced with gravel or slag for at least 7.6 m on both sides of the
fire wall. The application rate must be at least 19 kg / m2.
b) All single-ply membrane roof coverings must be protected by non-combustible paver
blocks, or No. 3 [nominal 2.54 cm to 5.08 cm diameter] gravel ballast in accordance with
ASTM D 448, Standard Classification for Sizes of Aggregate for Road and Bridge
Construction. Complete membrane coverage must be provided at a rate not less than
48.8 kg / m2 for at least 7.6 m on both sides of the fire wall.
5.17.10.3 Roof Mounted Structures

Combustible structures or equipment such as monitors, penthouses, or cooling towers not
more than 6.1 m in height above roofs must be located at least 15.2 m from fire walls required
to have a fire resistance rating exceeding 2 hours. Roof-mounted structures over 6.1 m high
must be provided with a greater separation distance acceptable to the authority having
jurisdiction.
5.17.10.4 Roof Penetrations

Heat and smoke vents, skylights, and unprotected roof penetrations for air-handling equipment
or smoke control systems must be located at least 7.6 m from fire walls requiring a fire
resistance rating of more than 2 hours and at least 1.3 m from fire walls requiring a fire
resistance rating of 2 hours or less.
5.17.10.5 End walls

a) The length and arrangement of end walls must be in accordance with Table 2. The fire
resistance rating of the end walls must be from the outside and must be a minimum of 1
hour but must be not more than two hours less than that of the fire wall.
Table 2 – Length of End Wall Protection
Height of Exposed Area Length of End Wall Protection

ft m ft m
Up to 40 12.2 6 1.8
41 to 70 21.3 10 3.1
71 and over 21.6 and over 14 4.3
Page 24 of 27
company.
b) The following alternative to 10.5 must be permitted for light hazard and ordinary hazard
(Group 1 or 2) occupancies as defined in NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of
Sprinkler Systems. The fire wall must extend to a distance of at least 0.76 m beyond the
exterior face of the exterior walls.
Figure 1: Sliding door configuration for egress purpose in a fire wall
Page 25 of 27
company.
6 REFERENCES
Quality Requirements For Suppliers Of Critical And Major Equipment
(GTS041)
NFPA 17 and 17A (National
Standard For Dry Chemical And Wet Extinguishing Systems
Fire Protection Association):
Fire Protection Standard For Fire Sprinkler, Deluge, Water And
Gaseous Suppression Systems
Fire Protection Standard For Use Of Plastic Pipes
Fire Protection Standard For Buildings And Structures
Fire Protection Standard For Fire Fighting Equipment
Process For The Management Of SHE Risk (AA SSDP 2)
Procedure For Task Planning And Individual Risk Assessment (AA
SSDP 5)
Procedure For Site Project, Change Or Issue Risk Assessment (AA
SSDP 4)
Procedure For Baseline Or Full Site Risk Assessment (AA SSDP 3)
Guideline For Conducting A Risk Assessment Using WRAC (AA
SSDG 1)
Guideline For Conducting A Bow Tie Analysis (AA SSDG 2)
AMRS 2 - Fire Prevention and Management Standard (AA GTS 12)
Maintain And Calibrate Environmental Monitoring Systems
Procedure
Install Environmental Monitoring Systems Procedure
DC Powered (Battery Operated) Machines For Use In Hazardous
SANS 1654
Locations In Mines
NFPA 13 Standard For The Installation Of Sprinkler Systems
SABS 0400 TT 40 & 41 National Building Regulations
Fire Testing Of Materials, Components And Elements Used In
SABS 0177: Part 2
Buildings: Fire Resistance Test For Building Elements
BS 476: Part 8 Fire Tests On Building Materials And Structures
ISO 834 Fire-Resistance Tests - Elements Of Building Construction
Fire Behaviour Of Building Materials And Elements; Seals For Cable
DIN 4102 Part 9
Penetrations; Concepts, Requirements And Testing
IEC Publication 332 Part 2 Test On Single Insulated Wire
Electrical Cables With Extruded Solid Dielectric Insulation For Fixed
SANS 1507-1: 2007
Installations
Relevant Lock-Out Code Of Practice
ANSI / UL 2079 Standard For Tests For Fire Resistance Of Building Joint Systems
ASTM E 1966 Standard Test Method For Fire-Resistive Joint Systems
Standard Methods Of Tests Of Fire Endurance Of Building
NFPA 251
Construction And Maintenance
Standard Test Method For Fire Tests Of Through-Penetration Fire
ASTM E 814
Stops
Page 26 of 27
company.
ANSI / UL 1479 Standard For Fire Tests Of Through-Penetration Firestops

Underground Substations Fire Checklist
Hydraulic Lubrication And Power Packs Fire Checklist
Substations Fire Checklist
Battery Charging Bays Located Underground Fire Checklist
7 REVISION HISTORY
Version No. Reason for Change Date
00 New Document 01/08/2013
8 APPENDICES
..
Page 27 of 27
company.

Fire Protection Standard For Electrical Equipment and Installations

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Fire Protection Standard For Electrical Equipment and Installations

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THERMAL COAL

IMPLEMENTATION DATE 9/2/2013

HEAD OFFICE FIRE PROTECTION

AUTHORISATIONS NAME POSITION SIGNATURE DATE

AUTHOR Thomson, Andrew AATC Divisional

REVIEWED BY AATC Head Opencast

5.1 Critical Substations and MCCs on Surface 6

These terms refer to materials which are so composed or treated as to

5.2 Substations and MCCs on Surface

n) No additional equipment or materials, particularly if flammable or combustible, are to be

5.3 Mini Substations on Surface

5.4 Fixed Underground Substations

5.5 Mobile Underground Electrical Installations

5.6 Fire / Separating Walls

Diagram 1: Fire / Separating Walls

5.7 Perfect Party Walls

5.8 Transformer Installations on Surface

5.9 Main MV Switch and Transformer Yards on Surface

5.10 Battery Charging Bays On Surface

5.11 Battery Charging Bays Located Underground

5.12 Hydraulic Lubrication and Power Packs

5.13 Fire Stopping and Intumescent Coating of Cables

5.13.2 Intumescent Coating Requirements

Long cables in rack in the plant to be painted at intervals of 6meters.

5.14 Electrical Cables

5.15 Flameproof Zones Underground

5.16 Sectional Underground Electrical Equipment

5.17 Installation and Maintenance of Fire Separation Walls.

5.17.1.1 Types of firewalls

5.17.1.2 Structural stability and strength

5.17.1.3 Design loads

5.17.2 Cantilevered or Freestanding Fire Walls

5.17.3 Tied Fire Walls

5.17.4 Double Fire Walls

5.17.5 Fire Walls at Elevation Differences

a) The two buildings must be separated by a double fire wall.

5.17.7 Expansion, Seismic and Control Joints

5.17.8 Termination Points

5.17.9 Fire Resistance

5.17.9.2 Penetration Seals

5.17.9.3 Double Wall Assemblies

Table 1 – Fire Resistance Ratings for Double Wall Assemblies

Fire Resistance Rating of Each Wall Equivalent to Single Wall

5.17.10 Exterior Protection

5.17.10.2 Roof Surface Protection

5.17.10.3 Roof Mounted Structures

5.17.10.4 Roof Penetrations

5.17.10.5 End walls

Table 2 – Length of End Wall Protection

Height of Exposed Area Length of End Wall Protection

Figure 1: Sliding door configuration for egress purpose in a fire wall

ANSI / UL 1479 Standard For Fire Tests Of Through-Penetration Firestops

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