
CoalSAFE Refuge Chambers
Safe Refuge Solutions for the Coal Mining Industry

At MineARC, we understand the importance of safe refuge solutions in the coal mining industry. In consultation with the world’s leading mining companies and regional mining authorities, MineARC Systems manufactures a range of intrinsically safe (IS) refuge chambers and health and safety products engineered for underground coal mines.
Following the introduction of the 'Miner Act' into the United States in 2006; making refuge chambers mandatory in coal mines, MineARC invested heavily in the research and development of our patented intrinsically safe CoalSAFE Refuge Chamber. By 2010, the CoalSAFE had become the first refuge chamber in the world to receive MA Centre Certification in China - the compulsory certification for the Chinese coal mining industry.
MineARC's CoalSAFE Refuge Chambers can be built to comply with the Mine Safety & Health Administration (MSHA) federal regulations 30 CFR Refuge Alternatives for Underground Coal Mines' or to other recognised standards as required.
Industry Impact
How We've Been Recognised
IHST, Inc. Independent Human Testing

Chinese MA Centre Certified

MineARC’s capacity to meet client specifications through customisation has aided in the development of a remote operating centre for Anglo American’s Grosvenor Metallurgical Coal Mine in Queensland, Australia.
Powerless Technology for Intrinsically Safe Operation

MineARC's patented MARCis life-support system has the capacity to provide both powerless CO-CO2 scrubbing and air conditioning to a refuge chamber or control room. Due to its powerless design, the MARCis system is intrinsically safe, meaning it is incapable of causing an explosion in a coal mining environment.
MARCis is powered by compressed liquid carbon dioxide, which provides both cooling and powers the scrubber's fan. Utilising a sequential operating procedure, MARCis can be activated in less than 60 seconds when required.
Underground Control and Utility Rooms

MineARC offers a range of control and utility-style rooms for day-to-day use in underground coal mining. These steel structures can be used as a collaborative environment for managing and monitoring daily operation and production activities, or alternatively as a crib-room area for scheduled break periods.
MineARC Control Rooms are general insulated and air-conditioned, with viewing windows and power access points. They can also be provided with ergonomic seating, compressed air and gas monitoring.
Waste Management Systems for Underground Coal Mining

Based on the success of the award-winning EnviroLAV Waste Management System in other industries, MineARC has developed an intrinsically safe toilet that can be utilised in underground coal mining.
Designed to be simple to operate and maintain, the EnviroLAV Toilet is a robust, semi-permanent structure that can be used both above and below ground wherever there is access to compressed air. It's most unique benefit lies in the requirement to empty just once every 12 months based on standard usage and temperature conditions; providing a significant cost saving to sites in the general maintenance of their toilet facilities.
Coal Mining Industry News
Will a Refuge Chamber Let Gases Inside? How Does a Refuge Chamber Remain Airtight?
A refuge chamber has two critical systems that work together to prevent gases getting inside and support an airtight environment…
Externally Supported Mode: Understanding Refuge Chambers
During daily activities or emergencies, refuge chambers can operate in an externally mode. This state occurs when a refuge station is active and remains connected to primary utilities.
James’s Story
Safety shares in underground mine refuge chambers, help know what it is like during emergencies… It was about a decade ago now, an incident occurred when several oversized rock debris from a drive extension blast