Refuge Alternative Research

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 II, Communications/Location Subsystem, Westinghouse Electric Corp., Contract No. H0101262, Sept. 1971pdf icon [PDF – 3,682 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 IV, Program Evolution and Management, Westinghouse Electric Corp., Contract No. H0101262, Sept. 1971pdf icon [PDF – 963 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]

Mine Refuge Chamber Summary, Manufacturers – Volume I, The National Technology Transfer Center, Wheeling Jesuit University, Contract No. 254-2006-M-19105, Nov. 2006pdf icon [PDF – 32,571 KB]

Mine Refuge Chamber Summary, Related Reports – Volume II, The National Technology Transfer Center, Wheeling Jesuit University, Contract No. 254-2006-M-19105, Nov. 2006pdf icon [PDF – 43,266 KB]

Summary of U.S. Mines with Refuge Chambers, The National Technology Transfer Center, Wheeling Jesuit University, Contract No. 254-2007-M-19413, Feb. 2007pdf icon [PDF – 6,221 KB]

Assessment of Mine Refuge/Rescue Chamber Technologies, The National Technology Transfer Center, Wheeling Jesuit University, Contract No. 254-2007-M-20145, Sept. 2007pdf icon [PDF – 32,453 KB]

Mine Rescue and Survival, Final Report, Committee on Mine Rescue and Survival Techniques, National Academy of Engineering, Contract No. S190606, Mar. 1970pdf icon [PDF – 1,403 KB]

Underground Mine Disaster Survival and Rescue: An Evaluation of Research Accomplishments and Needs, Committee on Underground Mine Disaster Survival and Rescue, Commission on Sociotechnical Systems, National Research Council, Contract No. J0100014, 1981pdf icon [PDF – 4,592 KB]

Research Report on Refuge Alternatives For Underground Coal Mines, Office of Mine Safety and Health, December 2007pdf icon [PDF – 724 KB]

Location Guidance

Chapter 3, Refuge Location Analysis from Foster-Miller Phase II Draft Final Report “Refuge Alternatives in Underground Coal Mines,” Dec. 2007pdf icon [PDF – 90 KB]

Report on Miner Refuge Chamber Displacement Analysis, Raytheon UTD, Contract No. 254-2008-M-23921, Dec. 11, 2007pdf icon [PDF – 139 KB]

Chapter 5, Potential Blast Loadings for Refuge Station Bulkhead Design from Foster-Miller Phase II Draft Final Report “Refuge Alternatives in Underground Coal Mines,” Dec. 2007pdf icon [PDF – 104 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

Summary report of information concerning training issues associated with refuge chambers in underground coal mines, compiled by NIOSH staffpdf icon [PDF – 36 KB]

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

Chapter 4, Atmosphere Management from Foster-Miller Phase II Draft Final Report “Refuge Alternatives in Underground Coal Mines,” Dec. 2007pdf icon [PDF – 79 KB]

Report on Miner Refuge Chamber Thermal Analysis, Raytheon UTD, Contract No. 254-2008-M-23921, Dec. 6, 2007pdf icon [PDF – 60 KB]

National Academy of Sciences report “Emergency and Continuous Exposure Guidance Levels for Selected Submarine Contaminants (Free Executive Summary)”pdf icon [PDF – 458 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]