Design and Testing of a Rated Flexible Membrane Stopping

The introduction of flexible explosion rated stoppings has become an item of interest to many supply, contract and mining companies in the last few years. These ventilation devices are characterized by the fixing of various fabrics with direct bolt attachments to the mine roadway perimeter. They are often rated through design calculations rather than practical assessment of the system for load carrying capacity. These design calculations are often based on the tensile capacity of the fabrics and assume full distribution of load over the entire cloth surface which is impossible to achieve in practice. The potential limitations that may exist with flexible stopping systems through Minova Australia’s experience in the development of its Flexi-Stop ventilation stopping is described.