Refuge Alternative Research
2007
NIOSH Docket Number 125
NIOSH prepared a report to summarize the findings of its research into refuge alternatives in underground coal mines, as mandated in Section 13 of The Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act of 2006 (“MINER Act”). This docket contains the supporting information and key reference materials concerning the utility, practicality, survivability and cost of various refuge alternatives.
General/Background Information
Development of Guidelines for Rescue Chambers, Volume 1, Foster-Miller, Contract No. JO387210, Oct. 1983pdf icon [PDF – 2,501 KB]
Development of Guidelines for Rescue Chambers, Volume 2, Appendices, Foster-Miller, Contract No. JO387210, Oct. 1983pdf icon [PDF – 3,845 KB]
Coal Mine Rescue and Survival System, Volume I, Survival Subsystem, Westinghouse Electric Corp., Contract No. H0101262, Sept. 1971pdf icon [PDF – 1,756 KB]
Coal Mine Rescue and Survival System, Volume III, Rescue Subsystem, Westinghouse Electric Corp., Contract No. H0101262, Sept. 1971pdf icon [PDF – 1,162 KB]
Coal Mine Rescue and Survival System, Volume V, Executive Summary, Westinghouse Electric Corp., Contract No. H0101262, Sept. 1971pdf icon [PDF – 4,186 KB]
Description, Specification, and Work Statement for Refuge Alternatives Request for Proposal (RFP), 2007-N-09190pdf icon [PDF – 106 KB]
Bluhm Burton Engineering Final Report “Review of Best Practices Regarding the Use of Refuge Chambers in South Africa,” Sept. 2007
Confidential—for NIOSH use only
Rowan & Associates PTY LTD report “Design Basis Report Considerations: Deployable refuge chambers for use in underground coal mines,” May 26, 2007
Confidential—for NIOSH use only
Appendices A & B from Foster-Miller Phase II Draft Final Report “Refuge Alternatives in Underground Coal Mines,” Dec. 2007pdf icon [PDF – 1,389 KB]
Research Report on Refuge Alternatives For Underground Coal Mines, Office of Mine Safety and Health, December 2007pdf icon [PDF – 724 KB]
Location Guidance
Report on Miner Refuge Chamber Displacement Analysis, Raytheon UTD, Contract No. 254-2008-M-23921, Dec. 11, 2007pdf icon [PDF – 139 KB]
Summary of explosions and refuge chambers, compiled by NIOSH staffpdf icon [PDF – 215 KB]
Response to specific questions on refuge chambers and explosion pressurespdf icon [PDF – 18 KB]
Training Issues
Economic Issues
Summary of portable refuge chamber costs, compiled by NIOSH staffpdf icon [PDF – 337 KB]
Summary of bulkhead design refuge chamber costs, compiled by NIOSH staffpdf icon [PDF – 252 KB]
Moving Issues
Summary of moving issues associated with refuge alternativespdf icon [PDF – 251 KB]
Atmosphere Management
Report on Miner Refuge Chamber Thermal Analysis, Raytheon UTD, Contract No. 254-2008-M-23921, Dec. 6, 2007pdf icon [PDF – 60 KB]
Spacecraft maximum allowable concentrations for airborne contaminants, NASA, June 1999pdf icon [PDF – 60 KB]
Field Evaluations
Peer-reviewed protocol for survivability evaluations, June 2007pdf icon [PDF – 80 KB]
Letter report concerning survivablity evaluations of refuge chambers conducted by NIOSH, Dec. 19, 2007pdf icon [PDF – 39 KB]
Summary data table for survivablity evaluations of refuge chambers conducted by NIOSH, Dec. 19, 2007pdf icon [PDF – 17 KB]