2006 Louisiana Laws - RS 3:4295 — Fire protection; locomotives and such; rules and regulations

§4295.  Fire protection; locomotives and such; rules and regulations

The rules and regulations for protection against fire applying to locomotives, and other like machines are as follows:

(1)  Spark arresters for coal burning equipment--locomotives shall be at all times equipped with spark arresters in the front ends, conforming to the following requirements:

(a)  Screen shall be of either square or oblong mesh wire netting, or its equivalent, and shall conform to the following requirements.

Square mesh wire netting with opening not exceeding the opening in wire netting 2 1/2 meshes per lineal inch in both directions, made of wire not less than .135 inches in diameter or oblong mesh wire netting with opening not exceeding the opening in wire netting with width of opening not exceeding 3/16 and length of opening not exceeding 3/4 inches made of wire not less than .135 inches in diameter.  However, a metal plate may be used with openings not to exceed 3/16 of an inch in width or 3/4 of an inch in length.

(b)  There shall be no opening at any place inside of extension front larger than the maximum openings specified for wire netting.  All joints shall be substantially made and reinforced to prevent strands of wire in netting becoming loose and forming larger than normal opening.  Particular attention shall be given to the fit of spark arresters and plates around the steam pipes, exhaust pipes, blow pipes, and air pump exhaust pipe when same is located in extension front.  The manhole door shall have a substantial, rigid frame and shall be properly fitted and fastened against the main plate of the spark arrester.  Particular attention shall be given to the fit of the plates against the flue sheet.  No openings shall exist between the top of diaphragm and the front flue sheet, this joint to be protected with an angle iron of reinforcement.

(2)(a)  On wide firebox locomotives, where openings exist between the foundation ring and top of ash pan, suitable guards shall be placed and properly fastened.  All grate connections shall have suitable guards and when necessary shall be extended to the end of the grate connection and levers, and boxed in so no cinders can escape along the grate connections when grates are being moved.  The slides on all hopper ash pans shall be properly adjusted so that the slide will project over opening in ash pan at least 3/4 inch on each side.  Where there are openings in ash pan for draft or dampers the same shall be protected by a rigid wire screen of either square or oblong mesh wire netting, or its equivalent, and shall conform to the following requirements.  Square mesh wire netting with opening not exceeding the opening in wire netting 2 1/2 meshes per lineal inch in both directions made of wire not less than .135 inches in diameter or oblong mesh wire netting with opening not exceeding the opening in wire netting with width of opening not exceeding 3/16 inches and length of opening not exceeding 3/4 inches made of wire not less than .135 inches in diameter.

(b)  On narrow firebox ash pans the back and front dampers shall be provided with flanges on both sides and bottom of dampers, which will project over ash pan at least 1 1/4 inches.  In addition they shall be equipped with auxiliary dampers of wire netting which meets the requirements heretofore specified or its equivalent.  These auxiliary wire dampers shall at all times be substantially fastened in position except when locomotive is having ash pan cleaned.

(c)  On all designs of ash pans particular attention shall be given so that all joints will be properly protected and reinforced so that when warping takes place there will not be any unreasonable openings.

(3)(a)  A careful and thorough inspection of every part of the spark-arresting appliances in front end of locomotives shall be made every time the front end doors are opened for whatever purpose, and under no circumstances less often than every seven days.  The ash pans, hoppers, slides, dampers, and any other fire-protective appliances on the locomotives shall also be inspected at the same time.

(b)  Records shall be kept at terminal, divisional, or other points where the inspections are made of (1) the numbers of the engines inspected; (2) the date and the hour of day of inspection; (3) the conditions of the spark-arresting and fire-protective appliances and arrangements; and (4) a record of repairs made in any of the above mentioned appliances and arrangements.

The records thus kept shall be signed by the person doing the work and shall be open for inspection at all times by authorized agents of the commission, who upon request shall be given every reasonable facility for independent inspections.

(c)  Employees of railroads shall not: (1) cause or permit damage to be done to the netting in the front ends of locomotives; (2) open the back dampers of locomotives while running ahead, or the front dampers of locomotives while running tender first; or (3) otherwise cause or permit damage or injury to any spark-arresting or fire-protective appliances on locomotives.

(4)  Spark arresters for wood-burning equipment--(a) locomotives shall at all times be equipped with spark-arresting stacks of what is commonly known as the "cabbage head" type, the stack in each case to consist of an inner cone which completely blocks the direct egress of sparks and deflects them into an outer jacket in which they are beaten fine before they can escape from the stack.

(5)  Ash pans--ash pans on all kinds of equipment shall be either solid pans, with all openings screened, or, if dump pans are required by federal regulations, the movable parts shall fit snugly at all times in such a way as to prevent the escape of sparks except when dumping.  The screens shall have openings not exceeding the openings in wire netting 2 1/2 meshes per lineal inch in both directions, made with wire not smaller than No. 10 B.W.G.