Temporary Refuge Shelter / Shelter In Place

As with any underground environment, personnel require a place they can go to during an emergency scenario where respiratory or physical protection is provided e.g. in the event of a release of toxic gas/smoke, the exit route(s) is blocked.

Tunneling, as an underground environment, certainly meets this criteria and the Dräger solutions include both portable Refuge Chambers and those which are fitted ‘on-board’ Tunnel Boring Machines [TBM’s].

In either example, the Dräger Refuge Chambers are equipped with breathing gas systems to protect people against smoke or gas until rescue teams can advance to bring them out safely. The construction of the Refuge Chamber is also adapted to provide physical protection.  By way of serving this market Dräger has the opportunity to utilize the Dräger-Simsa Refuge Chamber portfolio with a standard range to choose from.

• Strengthened by a long history in the mining industry

When miners go underground, they should feel confident that everything possible has been done for their safety. We have been working on this goal with the mining industry for more than 100 years. The legendary closed-circuit breathing apparatus Dräger PSS® BG 4, which is the chosen form of protection for mine rescue teams around the globe, is one example of the unwavering reliability of Dräger products. This safety philosophy has proven its value in the toughest operating conditions worldwide. Using the same safety concept the Dräger-Simsa mine refuge chambers are built on technology that you can rely on.

• Designed for extreme underground mining conditions

Dräger-Simsa mine refuge chambers are designed to provide a safe atmosphere in the harshest metal and non-metal underground mining conditions. The heavy duty double steel wall layers are full seamwelded to improve strength, rock fall resistance and hull pressure integrity. A hardened base with a sleigh type design in addition to forklift slots and lifting lugs allow for the safe and easy transportation of chambers inside the mine.

• Fail-safe breathing air supply

The availability of a breathable atmosphere is critical during an underground emergency. Dräger-Simsa MRC 5000 has redundant air supply systems to ensure that the provision of safe and clean breathing air cannot be compromised during operation.

• Carbon monoxide – monitoring & control

The concentration of carbon monoxide (CO) within the Dräger-Simsa MRC 5000 is constantly monitored. Should a build-up of CO be detected during operation, the CO catalysis must be activated by the user, to keep the concentration at a safe level.

• Breathing air regeneration system and power backup systems

In an emergency situation, external power or air supply may not be readily available. The Dräger-Simsa MRC 5000 are self-sufficient and do not depend on external air or power supplies to keep occupants safe. The air inside the chamber is regenerated by the CO2 scrubbing materials in the breathing air regeneration system.

• Gas detection technology for monitoring and alarm activation

Inside the Dräger-Simsa MRC 5000, the internal atmosphere is continuously monitored at all times for CO2, CO and O2 deficiency using Dräger’s industrial range of gas detection equipment. Dräger gas sensors provide quick response time and are built for longevity. If predefined alert thresholds are exceeded, the gas monitors emit both visual and acoustic warning signals to warn the occupants rapidly of potential gas hazards. This provides the opportunity to quickly adjust the systems and thus maintain a safe atmosphere.