Portable Safe Haven - ChemSAFE Standard Design

Portable safe havens for petrochemical facilities offer a secure shelter for multiple personnel in the event of a toxic chemical release.

MineARC’s ChemSAFE Standard Design Safe Haven (otherwise known as a refuge chamber or toxic gas shelter) has been continuously re-engineered and refined to offer the latest in safe refuge technology, providing chemical facility occupants with optimal safety features such as blast resistance, gas detection & scrubbing and remote monitoring.

petrochemical-portable-safe-haven-chemsafe-standard-design-16-person
The ChemSAFE Standard Design Safe Haven has been designed for extreme risk zones on any petrochemical facility. It features 0 ACH for toxic gas leaks, providing the highest level of chemical protection available. In addition, it is available with up to 12psi blast rating.

Click on the video opposite to see the ChemSAFE SD in the context of a petrochemical facility!

Portable Safe Haven – Front View

The ‘face’ of the chamber is designed primarily for easy identification and quick access during an emergency.

The strobe lighting, warning siren and reflective signage alert passers-by to the safe haven’s location, whilst the rotating door handles provide simple, straight forward access to the safety of the interior.

An additional feature of this toxic gas shelter is a fully pressurised vestibule, providing added protection against the ingress of smoke and other harmful toxins. Vestibules are available as either an internal or external feature of the safe haven. 

Extra low voltage green and red LED lighting and 112 dBA motion activated siren to allow for easy identification of the safe haven in an emergency.

Blast resistant porthole viewing window.

Sand blasted to 2.5 grit. High durability primer and industrial grade paint resistant to weather and corrosion.

Push button and timed.

The skid base provides ease of mavoeuvrability, featuring 250 x 100mm forklift slots, front and rear mounted tow points and front mounted 25mm steel plate push blocks.

Outward opening door, featuring double locking rotating handles. The vacuum tested seal maintains a positive internal pressure.

Portable Safe Haven - Interior View

Inside a ChemSAFE Standard Design, a number of vital life-support systems combine to create a safe, ongoing environment for occupants. Systems include; air (oxygen) supplies, air conditioning and dehumidifying, positive pressure systems, electrical and communications, gas detection and carbon dioxide removal.

The safe haven features a MineARC Series IV Controller; the most advanced safe-refuge technology, anywhere in the world.

The ChemSAFE Standard Design uses MineARC’s unique voice activated Series IV electrical scrubbing system in conjunction with MARCISORB chemicals to ‘scrub’ the build up of harmful CO2 (carbon dioxide) from the air inside the safe haven.

8watt fluorescent interior lighting is featured within the chamber.

Air conditioning is vital to combat the potentially fatal effects of heat stress, caused by the occupant’s metabolic activity, as well as any ambient heat. Shown in image is custom air conditioning solution.

MineARC’s MARCISORB CO and CO2 cartridges provide superior scrubbing capacity, are easy to load, safe to handle, and can store for long periods.

Inward opening with neoprene memory seal. Accessible internally and externally.

The digital controller interface is the operational hub of the refuge chamber. From here, all power, lighting & scrubbing systems can be managed with the push of a button.

MineARC seating is ergonomically designed to provide suitable comfort during entrapment. Made from durable, hard wearing fabric, the seating provides 500mm of space per person.

Portable Safe Haven - Rear View

The rear of the ChemSAFE Standard Design houses important electrical and backup power supply systems. A secure floor-to-roof cabinet provides greater protection for these systems, unlike more basic safe haven designs. The base of the cabinet contains the safe haven’s UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) battery backup system. The UPS is a failsafe system that can power the internal life support system of the toxic gas shelter for a minimum of 12hrs, should mains power become cut-off.

Communications box for internal communications port via wall mounted ‘J’ box. External antenna is fitted to front of chamber.

Air conditioning is vital to combat the potentially fatal effects of heat stress, caused by the occupant’s metabolic activity, as well as any ambient heat.Air conditioning shown in image is custom solution.

12 hour emergency backup power supply, with further options available for up to 96 hours (POA).

Comparison Table

Name Capacity * Advanced Digital Control System ** iVAN *** Aura-FX Gas monitoring Vestibule (Airlock) Shelter-in-Place 12hrs Battery Backup Blast Rating ****
8-40 5-12 psi
6-30 1 psi
CUST 1-10 psi
CUST X
  • * Capacity Every safe haven is built with a certain rated occupancy in mind. The life support systems are designed to safely house this number of people for the designated duration.
  • ** Advanced Digital Control System All safe havens with a Series IV Scrubbing System feature MineARC's unique Advanced Digital Control System.
  • *** iVAN iVAN is an on-board navigation assistant that guides occupants through operational procedures.
  • **** Blast Rating MineARC offers blast rating upgrades to all safe havens.

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Blast Rating Upgrade

Blast Rating Upgrade​ Blast rating upgrades for refuge chambers are an optional feature for all MineARC Refuge Chambers and Safe Havens. MineARC utilises highly specialised materials and engineering techniques to build chambers that can withstand the concussive forces of extreme blasts and explosions within heavy industry. Through careful analysis of a site’s application and hazard

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