FIRE AND EXPLOSION SAFETY AT RECLAMATION OF SPENT COAL DEPOSITS

Mining, exploration, and other activities lead to the destruction of lands, and it is important to restore them and use in the national economy. Coal mining is accompanied by the formation of a significant number of empty rocks, from which dumps (waste banks) are formed. These dumps are dangerous because if they contain a large amount of coal, at good thermal insulation there can arise sources of self-heating and then of self-ignition. The article considers the following ways to prevent the formation of sources of ignition in the dump layer: using water in pipelines inside the dump; utilization of combustible gases in solid waste dumps through pipelines with access to the torch or gas processing. The most effective way of fire extinguishing in the dumps of mines can be a combined method, which provides cooling agent (water) supply to the heated area followed by insulation of heated carbon-containing rocks, for example, clay.