Hindustan Zinc Limited (HZL) has recently purchased an open-pit refuge chamber, MineARC MineSAFE Essential Design Refuge Chamber for Rajpura Dariba Mine Rajasthan, northern India.
Featuring a narrower shell than the Standard Design, the Essential Refuge Chamber accommodates tight, rigid rock mining confines, making it easy to manoeuvre and position around the mine site without compromising safety or performance.
The Essential chamber is constructed from 6mm steel plates and offers all of the essential features required to sustain life during an emergency. The extended rear wall housing provides greater protection for necessary air filtration, electrical and backup battery power supply systems, a feature unique to the Essential range.
Essential Features of an Open-Pit Refuge Chamber
Inside a MineSAFE Essential Refuge Chamber, several vital life support systems combine to create a safe, ongoing environment for occupants during entrapment. HZL’s MineSAFE Essential Refuge Chamber includes primary and secondary oxygen supplies in MineARC’s Compressed Air Management System (CAMS) and oxygen cylinders, an air conditioning system, a positive pressure system and electrical systems.
Should mains fail or be cut, a UPS battery backup powers the system for a minimum of 36 hours. In conjunction, the advanced ELV (extra-low-voltage) Control System is the operational hub of the refuge chamber, managing power, lighting, and CO/CO2 scrubbing with the flick of a switch.
The open-pit refuge chamber includes MineARC’s proprietary digital fixed gas monitoring system, Aura-FX. With the ability to individually monitor anywhere up to 11 gases via a series of user-friendly, digital screens, Aura-FX is a vast improvement on other current digital gas monitors (DGMs) on the market. Audible voice alarms will prompt occupants to replace scrubbing chemicals or adjust oxygen supply levels into the refuge chamber as required.
Commissioning of HZL’s 20-person refuge chamber commences in January.