Noun
a mixture of gases (mostly methane) that form in coal mines and become explosive when mixed with air
Source: WordNetRusting of the gauze quickly made the lamp unsafe, and the number of deaths from firedamp explosions rose yet further. Source: Internet
Successors A modern-day equivalent of the Davy lamp is the Protector Garforth GR6S flame safety lamp which is used for firedamp testing in all UK coal mines. Source: Internet
The screen acts as a flame arrestor ; air (and any firedamp present) can pass through the mesh freely enough to support combustion, but the holes are too fine to allow a flame to propagate through them and ignite any firedamp outside the mesh. Source: Internet
Thus low pressure increases the risk of firedamp accumulating. Source: Internet