Mining Publication: Evaluation of a Signaling and Warning System for Underground Mines
Original creation date: May 1997
Underground mines rely on alarm systems, such as stench gas, audible or visual alarms, pager phones, telephones, and messengers to warn miners of a fire or other emergency. These systems are often slow, unreliable, and limited in mine coverage. This report describes the evaluation of a wireless signaling and warning system for underground mines. This system is applicable to both coal and noncoal mines. The work was conducted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health in cooperation with TeleMagnetic Signalling Systems (TSS) under Cooperative 3 Research and Development Agreement No. BOM-CRDA-6200-0119. A TSS wireless ultra-low-frequency electromagnetic signaling system was installed at the Experimental Mine at Lake Lynn Laboratory near Fairchance, Fayette County, PA. A commercial smoke sensor was interfaced to a remote portable transmitter, and the alarm of the sensor was used to trigger the central evacuation and paging transmitter system during experimental mine fires. The underground/surface receivers flashed cap lamps and activated remote devices, such as strobe lights, within 30 to 40 s after the encoded signal was received. Evaluation results showed full-mine coverage of the electromagnetic field and that the encoded signal was received at the farthest point underground and on the surface perimeter.
Authors: RS Conti, RG Yewen
Report of Investigations - May 1997
NIOSHTIC2 Number: 00238253
Pittsburgh, PA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, NIOSH, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 97-127, Report of Investigations 9641, 1997 May; :1-24
See Also
- A Comparison of Mine Fire Sensors
- Evaluation of Smoke and Gas Sensor Responses for Fires of Common Mine Combustibles
- Fire Detection for Conveyor Belt Entries
- In Mine Evaluation of Discriminating Mine Fire Sensors
- In-Mine Evaluation of Smart Mine Fire Sensor
- In-Mine Evaluation of Underground Fire and Smoke Detectors
- Laboratory Evaluation of Smoke Detectors for Use in Underground Mines
- Mine Fire Source Discrimination Using Fire Sensors and Neural Network Analysis
- Overview of Mine Fire Detection
- Rapid Detection and Suppression of Mining Equipment Cab Fires
- Content source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Mining Program