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. 1983 [PDF – 2,501 KB]

Development of Guidelines for Rescue Chambers, Volume 2, Appendices, Foster-Miller, Contract No. JO387210, Oct. 1983 [PDF – 3,845 KB]

Coal Mine Rescue and Survival System, Volume I, Survival Subsystem, Westinghouse Electric Corp., Contract No. H0101262, Sept. 1971 [PDF – 1,756 KB]

Coal Mine Rescue and Survival System, Volume II, Communications/Location Subsystem, Westinghouse Electric Corp., Contract No. H0101262, Sept. 1971 [PDF – 3,682 KB]

Coal Mine Rescue and Survival System, Volume III, Rescue Subsystem, Westinghouse Electric Corp., Contract No. H0101262, Sept. 1971 [PDF – 1,162 KB]

Coal Mine Rescue and Survival System, Volume IV, Program Evolution and Management, Westinghouse Electric Corp., Contract No. H0101262, Sept. 1971 [PDF – 963 KB]

Coal Mine Rescue and Survival System, Volume V, Executive Summary, Westinghouse Electric Corp., Contract No. H0101262, Sept. 1971 [PDF – 4,186 KB]

Description, Specification, and Work Statement for Refuge Alternatives Request for Proposal (RFP), 2007-N-09190 [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. 2007 [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. 2006 [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. 2006 [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. 2007 [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. 2007 [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. 1970 [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, 1981 [PDF – 4,592 KB]

Research Report on Refuge Alternatives For Underground Coal Mines, Office of Mine Safety and Health, December 2007 [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. 2007 [PDF – 90 KB]

Report on Miner Refuge Chamber Displacement Analysis, Raytheon UTD, Contract No. 254-2008-M-23921, Dec. 11, 2007 [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. 2007 [PDF – 104 KB]

Summary of explosions and refuge chambers, compiled by NIOSH staff [PDF – 215 KB]

Response to specific questions on refuge chambers and explosion pressures [PDF – 18 KB]

Training Issues

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

Economic Issues

Summary of portable refuge chamber costs, compiled by NIOSH staff [PDF – 337 KB]

Summary of bulkhead design refuge chamber costs, compiled by NIOSH staff [PDF – 252 KB]

Moving Issues

Summary of moving issues associated with refuge alternatives [PDF – 251 KB]

Atmosphere Management

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

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

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

Spacecraft maximum allowable concentrations for airborne contaminants, NASA, June 1999 [PDF – 60 KB]

Field Evaluations

Peer-reviewed protocol for survivability evaluations, June 2007 [PDF – 80 KB]

Letter report concerning survivablity evaluations of refuge chambers conducted by NIOSH, Dec. 19, 2007 [PDF – 39 KB]

Summary data table for survivablity evaluations of refuge chambers conducted by NIOSH, Dec. 19, 2007 [PDF – 17 KB]