MineSAFE Essential Design Refuge Chamber
The MineSAFE Essential Design Refuge Chamber provides the most cost effective alternative to MineARC’s flagship Standard Design. The Essential Design chamber offers all of the critical features required to sustain life during an underground mine emergency whilst maintaining the quality of a MineARC engineered chamber that complies with internationally recognised refuge chamber guidelines.
The Essential Design (ED) is designed specifically to accommodate tight mining confines such as shaft mines, while still providing ample internal space for a range of occupancies.

Overview
The Essential Design is designed specifically to accommodate tight mining confines such as shaft mines, while still providing ample internal space for a range of occupancies - from 8 to 30 people. It's dimensions and rated occupancy can be custom-engineered to site specifications, without compromising on safety or performance.
Specifications
Model | Occupancy | Height (m/inch) | Width (m/inch) | Length (m/inch) | Weight (kg) |
MS-ED1-08-ELV-36 | 8-Person | 2.10 / 82" | 1.90 / 74" | 4.20 / 165" | 3710 |
MS-ED2-12-ELV-36 | 12-Person | 2.10 / 82" | 1.90 / 74" | 4.80 / 188" | 3937 |
MS-ED3-16-ELV-36 | 16-Person | 2.10 / 82" | 1.90 / 74" | 6.02 / 237" | 4844 |
MS-ED4-20-ELV-36 | 20-Person | 2.10 / 82" | 1.90 / 74" | 7.24 / 285" | 3937 |
MS-ED5-26-ELV-36 | 26-Person | 2.10 / 82" | 1.90 / 74" | 8.44 / 332" | 6658 |
MS-ED6-30-ELV-36 | 30-Person | 2.10 / 82" | 1.90 / 74" | 9.75 / 384" | 7350 |
- Aura-FX Fixed Gas Monitor
- 6mm Steel Plate Construction
- Narrow Shell for Tight Confines
- Blast Rating: 5psi
- CO & CO2 Scrubbing
- Breathable Air (O2) Supply
- Air Conditioning
- 36hrs UPS Battery with Option to Upgrade
- Viewing Porthole
- Pre-packaged Chemical Cartridges
- ELV (Extra-Low-Voltage) Controller
- Ergonomically Designed Seating
- GuardIAN Refuge Chamber Monitoring
- Third Breathable Air Source (Oxygen Candle Kit)
- Fully Flushing, Pressurised Airlock
- Duration Upgrade
- Blast Rating Upgrade
- Blast Shield Protection
- Step Down Transformer
- Receptacle Plug
- Satellite UPS System
- First Aid Kit
- Carbon Monoxide Safety-Off-System
- Positive Pressure Maintenance System
- Automated Oxygen Delivery System
  What is Refuge Chamber Commissioning?
  Breathable Air in Refuge Chambers
  Positive Pressure Inside a Refuge Chamber
  Newmont Works with Industry Leader in Mine Refuge Chambers
  New Refuge Chamber Technology: Oz Minerals Leads the Way
  Changing the Safety Landscape Across Africa: Mopani Copper Mine
-
MineSAFE Essential Design 8-Person Refuge ChamberMS-ED1-08-ELV-36
-
MineSAFE Essential Design 12-Person Refuge ChamberMS-ED2-12-ELV-36
-
MineSAFE Essential Design 16-Person Refuge ChamberMS-ED3-16-ELV-36
-
MineSAFE Essential Design 20-Person Refuge ChamberMS-ED4-20-ELV-36
-
MineSAFE Essential Design 26-Person Refuge ChamberMS-ED5-26-ELV-36
-
MineSAFE Essential Design 30-Person Refuge ChamberMS-ED6-30-ELV-36
Chamber Exterior – Front
The strobe lighting, warning siren and reflective signage alert passers-by to the chamber’s location, whilst the rotating door handles provide simple, straight forward access to the safety of the interior.
Chamber Interior
The MineSAFE Essential Design uses active chemicals and MineARC's ELV (extra-low-voltage) Scrubbing System to ‘scrub’ the build up of harmful CO2 (carbon dioxide) and CO (carbon monoxide) from the air inside the refuge chamber.
Chamber Exterior – Rear
Also at the rear of the chamber is the Compressed Air Management System (CAMS), which allows regulated compressed air into the refuge chamber when the pressure inside drops below 200Pa. This process optimises mine air usage and guarantees against over-pressurisation of the refuge chamber. CAMS' gas toxicity monitor automatically diverts compressed air if oxygen levels in the airline fall below a set level (18% oxygen in free air), signifying air contamination. Additionally, the incorporated flood protection valve automatically shuts down compressed air to avoid catastrophic and costly chamber damage in the event of water ingress.
Comparison Table
Capacity
![]() |
Advanced Digital Control System
![]() |
iVAN ![]() |
Aura-FX Gas monitoring | Modular construction | Powerless Portable System ![]() |
Air-conditioning | 36hrs Battery Backup | 5psi Blast Rating ![]() |
|
![]() |
8-30 | ||||||||
![]() |
4-8 | ||||||||
![]() |
8-30 | ||||||||
![]() |
8-26 | ||||||||
![]() |
12-32 | ||||||||
![]() |
30-500 |