Conveyors
FR, FRAS and SANS 1173 belting explained
Reviewed August 2026
Short answer
FR means fire-resistant; FRAS means fire-resistant anti-static. Underground coal and many other underground operations require belting that meets a specific fire-performance standard — in South Africa often SANS 1173. Compliance is a property of the exact belt and its current test certificate, never a blanket claim about a supplier's whole range.
On an underground conveyor, a belt that can propagate a fire is a life-safety risk. That is why fire-performance standards exist and why mine specifications are strict about them.
What the terms mean
- FR — fire-resistant. The belt resists ignition and does not propagate flame under the test conditions of the applicable standard.
- FRAS — fire-resistant anti-static. As above, plus controlled electrical resistance so the belt does not accumulate a static charge that could cause an ignition.
Standards you may see
- SANS 1173 — South African standard frequently specified for underground belting
- ISO 340 — laboratory flammability test (small-scale)
- ISO 284 — electrical conductivity of conveyor belts
- Client- or group-specific fire-performance specifications
Why the claim must be product-specific
Fire performance comes from a particular carcass and cover compound and is proven by testing that product. A statement that “our belts are FRAS” means nothing without a certificate for the exact belt, at the correct rating, that is still valid. When you request a quote, state the standard and clause from your mine spec and ask for the matching certificate before you order.
