Intrinsically Safe Chambers for Coal Mining
- CoalSAFE Refuge Chambers
Intrinsically safe chambers by MineARC have been designed to suit different coal mining environments and regulation requirements; including the Mine Safety & Health Administration (MSHA) federal regulations.
Refined over a number of years, the MineARC CoalSAFE Refuge Chamber provides miners with optimum safety features, functionality and performance for underground emergency refuge.
Chamber for High Seam Mines
- CoalSAFE IHS Design
The CoalSAFE International High Seam (IHS) Refuge Chamber has been designed in consultation with the world’s leading coal mining companies and regional mining authorities to best suit underground coal mining environments around the globe.
- High seam design
- 48 hour duration
- 12-20 people
MSHA Chamber for Low Seams
- CoalSAFE MSHA LS Design
The CoalSAFE MSHA Low Seam Refuge Chamber is designed for underground coal mines with a minimum seam height of 46” (1.2m). It is approved in the United States by the West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health, Safety & Training and built to MSHA Federal Regulations.
- Low seam design
- 96 hour duration
- 12-24 people
MSHA Chamber for Mid Seams
- CoalSAFE MSHA MS Design
The CoalSAFE MSHA Mid Seam Refuge Chamber is designed for underground coal mines with a minimum seam height of 56” (1.4m). It is approved in the United States by the West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health, Safety & Training and built to MSHA Federal Regulations.
- Mid seam design
- 96 hour duration
- 8-20 people
MSHA Chamber for High Seams
- CoalSAFE MSHA HS Design
The CoalSAFE MSHA High Seam Refuge Chamber is designed for underground coal mines with a minimum seam height of 74” (2.2m). It is approved in the United States by the West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health, Safety & Training and built to MSHA Federal Regulations.
- High seam design
- 96 hour duration
- 12-24 people
Change-Over Station
- CoalSAFE COS
The CoalSAFE Change-Over-Station (COS) is designed to aid underground personnel as they exit the coal mine during an emergency. The change-over station provides a secure ‘staging-post’ stocked with replacement breathing apparatus.
- High seam design
- Change-over area only
- 8-30 people
Remote Operating Control Room
- CoalSAFE RocROOM
The RocROOM is an underground safe area used as a collaborative environment for managing and monitoring the day to day operation of equipment and production activities. It is the hub for the collection of data and information necessary to sustain operations.
- Control room for underground environments
- Insulated, air conditioned environment
- Electrical cabinet for client’s control system
Designing Refuge Chambers for Coal Mines
The U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has been researching coal refuge alternatives since 2007, determining it is necessary for refuge chambers and shelter-in-place to acquire pressure testing approval or certification based on laboratory and field testing.
The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) final rule is consistent with the NIOSH research report on refuge alternatives, concerning the design of coal refuge alternatives. To be certified, refuge chambers must be produced to resist 15 psi overpressure for 0.2 seconds to withstand typical blast wave dissemination in an underground mine.
Critical design features that apply to both portable and stationary coal refuge chambers and shelter-in-place options are based on:
- Strength parameter: explosion experiments at Lake Lynn Laboratory in addition to modern practices and literature.
- Minimum duration rate and anchor systems values are based on research, practices outside the US and guidance from the study of non-mining industries.
Comparison Table
|
Capacity *
|
Intrinsically Safe System **
|
MSHA Compliant *** |
48hr Duration | 96hr Duration | 5psi Blast Resistance | 15psi Blast Resistance | Low Seam Construction | High Seam Construction | |
 |
12-20 | ||||||||
 |
12-24 | ||||||||
 |
8-20 | ||||||||
 |
12-24 | ||||||||
 |
8-30 |
- * 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..
- ** Intrinsically Safe System CoalSAFE Refuge Chambers do not require any electrical power to operate..
- *** MSHA Compliant Certain CoalSAFE models are approved in the United States by the West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health, Safety and Training and are built to the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) federal regulations ’30 CFR Refuge Alternatives for Underground Coal Mines’.