Multiple tier stopping and method of constructing stopping

A mine stopping installed in a mine passageway having a floor, a roof and opposing side walls, the stopping installed to at least partially close the mine passageway and comprising:

• a plurality of elongate panels extending generally vertically in side-by-side relation from adjacent the floor to adjacent the roof of the passageway;
• each panel including an elongate lower panel member having a lower end adjacent the floor of the passageway, an elongate upper panel member having an upper end adjacent the roof of the passageway, and an intermediate panel member having a lower end in engagement with the lower panel member and an upper end in engagement with the upper panel member;
• and
• an elongate member for connecting the intermediate panel member of each panel with the lower and upper panel members such that the panel is yieldable longitudinally in the event of convergence of the roof and the floor.

A method of installing a mine stopping between opposing side walls of a mine passageway, said method comprising the steps of:

• securing opposite ends of an elongate brace to respective side walls so that the beam extends between the side walls of the mine passageway;
• positioning a lower tier of elongate panels so that a lower end of each lower tier panel is adjacent the floor and an upper end of each lower tier panel is adjacent the brace;
• positioning an upper tier of elongate panels above the lower tier so that a lower end of each upper tier panel is adjacent the brace and an upper end of each upper tier panel is adjacent the roof of the passageway;
• and
• connecting respective upper ends of the lower tier panels to the brace and respective lower ends of the upper tier panels to the brace for reinforcing the stopping against deflection and for inhibiting lateral movement of the upper tier panels relative to the lower tier panels.