A conveyor belt carrying coal or running in an enclosed gallery can spread a fire along its length. Fire resistant belts are compounded so that, once the flame is removed, the belt stops burning, and they are antistatic so they do not build a spark-producing charge.
What the tests require
- Flame resistance to ISO 340: test pieces exposed to a burner must self-extinguish within set limits after the flame is removed.
- Antistatic: the electrical resistance of the covers stays below the set limit, so static cannot build up.
- Requirements for surface installations are set out in IS 1891 Part 5.
Where fire resistant belts are used
- Coal handling plants and power stations
- Enclosed conveyor galleries and tunnels
- Underground and fire risk areas
- Any plant where the fire code or the insurer requires FR belting
Specifying an FR belt
Name the standard and the test in the order: for example EP 630/4 5+2 FR to IS 1891 Part 5, flame tested to ISO 340, antistatic. Fire resistant grades need a top cover of 3 mm or more. Ask for the test certificate with every supply.
How a fire resistant belt differs
The cover and skim compounds contain flame retardants, so the rubber does not keep burning once the flame is taken away. The covers are also made conductive enough to drain static charge. Neither changes how the belt carries load: the carcass, rating and plies are chosen in exactly the same way as for any other belt.
Fire resistance is a property of the whole belt, including the splice. Joint materials must be fire resistant too, or the splice becomes the weak point.
Questions
What is an FR conveyor belt?
An FR (fire resistant) conveyor belt is self-extinguishing in the ISO 340 flame test and antistatic, used where a belt fire could spread, such as coal handling and power plants.
Is a fire resistant belt also antistatic?
FR belts are built to be both: flame resistant to ISO 340 and antistatic, so the cover does not hold a static charge.
Need the belt chosen for you?
Send your conveyor, our engineers select the belt
Length, lift, width, speed, capacity and the material. We reply with the rating, covers and grade, a datasheet and a quotation, usually the same working day.