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    Section 331(d)

    At locations where cables cross haulage-ways or travel-ways or where equipment must pass over or under the cable, they shall be either installed in a trench in the roof, protected by some mechanical means, or buried at least twelve inches below combustible material and adequately protected from crushing by the weight of equipment passing over it.

    It is the policy of the Bureau of Mine Safety that properly installed Schedule 80 PVC pipe is an adequate mechanical means of protecting a cable as it crosses a haulage-way. It is common to split the pipe lengthwise and use it to cover the cable. We were asked to determine whether Yelomine 250 psi, 4-inch PVC pipe could be considered equivalent to rigid Bristolpipe Schedule 80, 4-inch PVC pipe.

    Testing was performed at CONSOL Inc. Maintenance Engineering Department. A test jig was fabricated and samples of the pipes were cut and placed in the jig. A sketch of the test arrangement and the test data are shown on the attached figures.

    Based on the tests, we find that the Yelomine 250 psi, 4-inch PVC pipe cannot be considered equivalent to rigid Bristolpipe Schedule 80, 4-inch PVC pipe for the purpose of protecting cables as required by Section 331(d).

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