Approved Diesel Engines

This is the list of CANMET-MMSL approved diesel engines for use in underground mines and confined locations such as tunnels.

The approval of the engines is in accordance with the appropriate CSA standards:

  • CAN/CSA-M424.2-M90 for non-gassy underground mines, or
  • CAN/CSA-M424.1-88 for coal and other gassy mines.

Engine exhaust emissions are determined in the same manner for both standards, including the effect of any after-treatment devices on emissions. Engines intended for use in gassy coal mines are subject to additional requirements relating to explosion protection issues. The standards, as approved by the Standards Council of Canada, may be obtained from:

The Canadian Standards Association (CSA)
178 Rexdale Boulevard
Toronto, Ontario
M9W 1R3

Tel: 1-416-747-4000
Fax: 1-416-747-4149
Web site: www.csa.ca

For further information related to diesel emissions ssessments or engine approvals, please contact us.

Fuel Sulphur Content:

The attached tables indicate a variation in prescribed entilation for fuel sulphur content. Some fuel standards specify the aximum permissible sulphur concentration to be 0.5% by mass. However, many mines are using low sulphur fuel (%<0.05 by mass), to avoid the related health impacts of SO2 and ulphuric acid acting alone and synergistically with diesel particulate matter (DPM). Consequently, using the comprehensive Exhaust Quality Index (EQI) to determine the ventilation prescription as required in the CSA Standards results in lower ventilation requirements than for the maximum permissible value of 0.5%. The lower ventilation rates may be used only with approval of the appropriate provincial / territorial mining jurisdiction.

Fuel Injection Rate Setting for Altitude Variations:

Air density varies with altitude. Thus, while the fuel rate remains constant, increasing the altitude correspondingly decreases the air weight flow and makes the fuel/air mixture more fuel-rich. This potentially increases the toxicity of the emissions, invalidating the assessed ventilation rate at sea level. To maintain the validity of the prescribed ventilation rate, the fuel rate must be reduced, or the ventilation rate increased. It is usually easier to reduce the maximum fuel rate. The relative air density factor is the same as the fuel rate reduction factor. Table 1 below illustrates the possible variations. The maximum allowable fuel rate or the prescribed ventilation rate should be adjusted in accordance with the table for varying altitude.

Variation of Ventilation
Factor with Altitude
Altitude Fuel Rate Factor
feet metres
-6,000 -1,830 1.20
-4,000 -1,220 1.13
-2,000 -610 1.06
sea level sea level 1.00
+2,000 +610 0.94
+4,000 +1,220 0.89