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2/10/2015 Refuge Alternative Partnership Agenda & Minutes
Keywords: Refuge chambers
Agenda
The agenda for the February 10, 2015, Refuge Alternative partnership meeting.
*Click on presentation titles to view slides in PDF format. Presentation file hosting courtesy of the Joseph A. Holmes Safety Association website.*
Time
Topic/Title
Presenter/Facilitator7:15 - 7:45 a.m.
Arrival and sign in7:45 – 8:10 a.m.
Welcome and Introduction
Dr. R.J. Matetic, NIOSH OMSHR8:10 – 8:30 a.m.
Overview of prior NIOSH OMSHR research on purging, heat & humidity, and BIP RAs
Dave Yantek, NIOSH OMSHR8:30 – 9 a.m.
Update on NIOSH OMSHR heat & humidity research
Dave Yantek, NIOSH OMSHR9 – 9:45 a.m.
Open discussion of heat and humidity issues/concerns
Pete Kovalchik & Joe Lamonica, NIOSH OMSHR9:45 – 10 a.m.
Break10 – 10:30 a.m.
Protected compressed air lines for refuge alternatives
Jhon Silva, University of Kentucky10:30 – 11 a.m.
Surface air supply system for refuge alternatives
Jerry Piercy, ChemBio Shelter, Inc.11 – 11:30 a.m.
Cryogenic air supply system for refuge alternatives
Ed Blalock, BCS Life Support; or Don Doerr, Liquid Air Breathing Technology, Inc.11:30 a.m. – noon
Industry example of BIP RAs
David Hales, BHP Billiton; or Mark Watson, Alliance Coalnoon - 12:30 p.m.
Lunch on site12:30 - 1:30 p.m.
Open discussion of RA issues/concerns
Pete Kovalchik & Joe Lamonica, NIOSH OMSHR1:30 - 2 p.m.
Open discussion of other RA issues/concerns
Pete Kovalchik & Joe Lamonica, NIOSH OMSHR2 - 2:15 p.m.
Break2:15 - 2:55 p.m.
Prioritization of issues/concerns: (1) heat and humidity, (2) BIP RAs, (3) Other
Pete Kovalchik & Joe Lamonica, NIOSH OMSHR2:55 – 3 p.m.
Wrap-Up
RJ Matetic, NIOSH OMSHR
Minutes
Discussion Points/Takeaways
Topics of discussion
Modeling and testing should include the following considerations:
Active cooling
Effects of SCSRs
Effect of higher ambient temperature in the mine
The definition of the post-accident environment needs to be investigated
There is a desire for more timely publication of NIOSH research findings and results.
There is a desire for models and modeling results to be shared with the industry to allow mine operators to reconcile NIOSH results, manufacturer claims, and MSHA findings.
There is a desire for a standard testing protocol for RA evaluations to allow for evaluations to be compared between mines or chamber manufacturers.
There is a desire for a standardized methodology for determining the ambient temperature in a mine.
The assumptions about metabolic heat input should be re-examined.
The threshold for and methods of determining apparent temperature should be re-examined
NIOSH and MSHA need to work together and communicate openly to ensure that the 2018 compliance deadline is met.
A holistic solution needs to be considered: i.e. use boreholes, compressed air lines, built in place, and mobile chambers.
For protected compressed air lines, discussion included:
PVC should not be used due to brittle nature.
Overhead and maintenance cost should be considered.
Timeline of research and development needs to be consider the compliance dates.
The design of a mine-wide system should be developed rather than just a single refuge chamber. Must every RA be used at one time?
Post disaster survivability and utility of compressed air lines should be examined.
For Safe Air system, discussion included:
Methods of ensuring air quality
Consideration of blower system trade off of depth and hole size
Feasibility/cost comparison of compressed air vs. blower systems
Concerns of physical and legal access on the surface
For cryogenic air supply, discussion included:
Need to consider maintenance, reliability and permissibility of the cryocooler
How long after power is lost could the system function?
The timeline for MSHA approval needs to be considered with regard to the 2018 compliance date.
The availability of liquid air at the mine site needs to be addressed
For built in place chambers, discussion included:
Do built in place chambers require airlocks and purging systems?Takeaways from Heat & Humidity Discussion
Should include in modeling and testing: *
Active cooling
Effects of SCSRs
Effect of higher ambient temperature
Impact of apparent temperature standard
Definition of post-accident environment
Timely dissemination of research results
Publication of NIOSH publications
Process through which models and modeling data can be shared with all, so mine operators can interact with suppliers
Develop standard testing protocol for RA evaluations to allow evaluations to be compared *
Develop standardized method for measuring/determining mine ambient temperature (where in mine is it measured? With ventilation/power?)*
Consider the reasonableness of:
Heat load per barrel person
Threshold and method of calculating 95 AT *
Work to ensure that NIOSH/MSHA are working together with the 2018 MINER Act date in mind.Takeaways from Compressed Air Line Discussion
Don’t use PVC
Don’t forget O&M of the systems
Think about scheduling and pacing of ongoing efforts with 2018 date in mind
Need to think about the design of a mine-wide system and not just for a single RA. Must system be designed for every RA to be used simultaneously?
Post-disaster survivability/utility of compressed air lines *
Need to think holistically – use boreholes, compressed air lines, BIP, mobile, etc. **
Agencies need to talk to each other – Dr. Wade will discuss with Joe Main and cooperation will continue at working level.Takeaways from Safe Air System Discussion
Consideration of a blower system trade off of depth vs hole size
Feasibility/cost comparison of compressed air vs. blower systems
Concerns of physical/legal access on the surface (case by case, airlift unit to borehole? How do you ensure air access? Legal access from property owner? Drill after the event – with compressed air cylinders?) *
What happens in the event of equipment (blower) failure?Takeaways from Cryogenic Air Supply Discussion
Need to consider maintenance, reliability, and permissibility
How long after “end of power” could the system function?
Consider the path to Part 7 approval
What about the availability of liquid air at the mine site?
Production of liquid air on site?
Application to BIP?Takeaways from BIP RA Discussion
Do the San Juan RAs require an airlock or purging?
Clarification of what doors/stoppings are available? – MSHA website.
Planned NIOSH research on BIP to start next month with construction of BIP RA in Experimental Mine
Incorporating into mine ventilation design – ventilating into entry? (issue to mine rescue teams? does it feed fire?) Should air exhaust to surface?
Is built-in air supply acceptable, or do you need boreholes?Other issues
Communication to the surface
Protection
Secondary systems (MF, TTE) vs. Primary systems
Ongoing extramural NIOSH research on improving TTE (antenna design)
Method for miners to signal (if not talk) from inside a mobile chamber
Should miners enter chamber if comm is unavailable?
Communicating with SCSR
Re-examine Part 7 for BIP rather than mobile chambers?
Secondary events
Risk analysis
Standardized test method/protocol needed
Acceptance by miners
Training, decision making
CO concentration – should entire chamber be purged?
Review volume/floor space requirements?
Re-examine for active cooling vs. passive cooling
Re-examine apparent temperature methods/standards (ISO WBGT suggested)
Opportunity for fresh perspective on issuesPriorities for Heat and Humidity
Should include in modeling and testing: *
Active cooling
Effects of SCSRs
Effect of higher ambient temperature
Impact of apparent temperature standard
Develop standard testing protocol for RA evaluations to allow evaluations to be compared *
Develop standardized method for measuring/determining mine ambient temperature (where in mine is it measured? With ventilation/power?)*
Consider the reasonableness of:
Heat load per barrel person
Threshold and method of calculating 95 AT *Priorities for Compressed Air Line
Post-disaster survivability/utility of compressed air lines *
Need to think holistically – use boreholes, compressed air lines, BIP, mobile, etc. **Priorities for Safe Air System
Concerns of physical/legal access on the surface (case by case, airlift unit to borehole? How do you ensure air access? Legal access from property owner? Drill after the event – with compressed air cylinders?) *Cryogenic Air Supply
All items brought up during discussions (refer to slide 7) are being addressed through BCS Life Support LLC research and NIOSH contractsMSHA Refuge Alternative Request For Information
Both Reg Richards and Steve Gigliotti stated at the partnership meeting that MSHA encourages interested parties to submit comments in response to the Refuge Alternative Request For Information (RFI) that is set to close on April 2, 2014.
Responses to the RFI do not need to be limited to the questions asked if a commenter would like to address other issues related to refuge alternatives.http://www.msha.gov/REGSRFI.asp
NIOSH Refuge Alternatives Training
All training materials that were at the partnership meeting can be found on the OMSHR website:http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/co ntent/refugechambers.html
Further information on refuge alternatives training can be obtained by contacting:Dr. Dana Willmer 412-386-6648 Dwillmer@cdc.gov
Refuge Alternative NIOSH Contact Information
Pete Kovalchik, Chief, Electrical and Mechanical Systems Safety 412-386-6098 Pkovalchik@cdc.gov
Adam Smith, Deputy Chief, Electrical and Mechanical Systems Safety 412-386-6028 ASmith9@cdc.gov
Jacob Carr, Leader, Machine Safety Team 412-386-6877 JCarr1@cdc.gov
Dave Yantek, Lead Mechanical Engineer 412-386-4498 Dyantek@cdc.gov

See Also
Emergency Escape and Refuge Alternatives
Guidelines for Instructional Materials on Refuge Chamber Setup, Use, and Maintenance
How to Operate a Refuge Chamber: A Quick Start Guide
NIOSH Docket Number 125: Refuge Alternative Research
Recommendations for Refuge Chamber Operations Training
Refuge Alternatives in Underground Coal Mines
Technology News 537 - NIOSH Develops New Mine Refuge Chamber Training
Underground Mine Refuge Chamber Expectations Training: Program Development and Evaluation
When Do You Take Refuge? Decisionmaking During Mine Emergency Escape
Work-Principle Model for Predicting Toxic Fumes of Nonideal Explosives
Page last reviewed: December 9, 2021
Page last updated: December 9, 2021
Content source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Mining Program
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