At AYSAN, we understand the importance of ensuring the safety and well-being of workers in tunneling and underground construction projects. That's why we're excited to announce our new offering: tunneling refuge chamber rentals. 

Flexible Rental Options:

We understand that every project has unique requirements and timelines. That's why we offer flexible rental options to suit your needs. Whether you need a refuge chamber for a short-term project or an extended period, we have rental packages tailored to your specifications. Our team will work with you to determine the best solution for your project, ensuring that you have the equipment you need, when you need it.

Cost-Effective Solutions:

Renting a tunneling refuge chamber from AYSAN is not only a smart safety choice but also a cost-effective solution for your project. Instead of making a significant upfront investment in purchasing a refuge chamber, renting allows you to access high-quality safety equipment without breaking the bank. Our competitive rental rates make it easy to budget for safety, without compromising on quality or reliability.

Comprehensive Support Services: 

When you rent a tunneling refuge chamber from AYSAN, you're not just getting a piece of equipment - you're getting comprehensive support services to ensure a seamless rental experience. From delivery and installation to training, maintenance, and technical support, our team is here to assist you every step of the way. We're committed to providing the highest level of customer service and support, so you can focus on your project with confidence.

Ready to Rent?

Ready to enhance safety and efficiency on your tunneling project? Contact AYSAN today to learn more about our tunneling refuge chamber rentals. Our team of experts is standing by to assist you with all of your safety equipment needs. Don't take chances with safety.

Service and maintenance for refuge chambers are essential, involves functional checks, servicing, repairing or replacing of necessary devices and equipment.

Regular servicing reduces equipment failure and unplanned downtime, extends equipment's longevity, helps with workplace safety and keep costs under control. It also improves equipment efficiency.

AYSAN's service schedule ensures mine refuge chambers are reviewed regularly and meet required safety standards. In order not to encounter an unexpected situation in case of an emergency, the service which is carried out regularly does the general maintenance of the chamber. We recommend an on-site service check and safety audit once every six months. Also, we can provide free maintenance, installation training and certificates to your staff in our factory.

Considering the the mine safety as well as usage areas and environments, wear and tear may occur on some parts and determining these problems and taking action beforehand can eliminate many problems. Through the service, our technicians performs a full chamber control, check the systems outside and inside the cabin and determines the areas that may need replacement.

The underground personnel should be able to access a safe location if an undesirable atmosphere develops due to a fire, toxic gas release or other dangers. As an alternative to evacuation, shelter rooms provide a safe place away from outside hazards. For this reason, AYSAN Refuge Chambers are equipped with two different standard breathable air sources.

1-Compressed Air

Compressed air is atmospheric air from above pushed through pipelines by a compressor into the bunker. It has a filtration system consisting of a water separation filter that prevents water from entering the chamber, a coalescing filter that removes fine water and oil particles, a pre-filter that removes large particles and an absorber filter that removes diesel particles, very fine oil particles. After filtration, the air is passed through the regulator and automatic silencer (muffler to reduce noise) before reaching the interior chamber. 

To keep the refuge chamber under positive pressure, the internal ball valve must remain slightly open when the refuge chamber is in standby mode. Positive pressure ensures that toxic gases do not enter during entry or exit in a smoke-filled environment. Compressed air will also keep the internal environment dry and clean. 

2-Scrubber System & Oxygen Cylinders

The scrubber system is designed to purify the air in confined spaces where human life must be supported for a certain period of time. The aim is to reduce the risk of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide poisoning by removing CO₂ / CO from the air in the refuge room. The front panel of the Scrubber System also features internal lights, external flashers, siren, manual keys as well as an inverter/charger switch and battery monitoring display. 

Scrubber System is used together with oxygen cylinders. Carbon dioxide is damped using AYSAN CO₂ cartridges which must be replaced when cleaning capacity is reduced. The chemical cartridge should be replaced when the digital gas monitor or manual gas measuring tubes are at or above 1% CO₂ level. 

Through a catalytic process, carbon monoxide is removed from the air. The air is passed through a scrubber chemical that converts carbon monoxide into CO₂ and H₂O. The carbon dioxide produced is then removed with soda-lime. 

AYSAN Refuge Chambers have breathable oxygen cylinders with a minimum capacity of 8500 litres for each person. Oxygen is supplied from the cylinder directly to the safe haven through a medical grade oxygen regulator. The number of cylinders required is based on the capacity of the refuge room and MSHA standards which specify 37 litres per person per hour for minimum safe holding time.

CO₂ and CO gases released by people during respiration can have deadly results in confined spaces. In addition to breathing, the pollution can also enter the confined spaces through a leak that may occur in the carbon monoxide compressed air line or through the main door during entries. High exposure to these gases causes symptoms such as headaches, malaise, nausea, vomiting, mental confusion.

The AYSAN Scrubber System that comes into play at this point, is suitable for all types of shelter stations. Our systems, which can be adjusted according to the number of people in the shelter and changing conditions, remove the toxic air in the room through chemical cartridges and the main mechanism.

The Scrubber System touch screen provides safe and easy use with the help of the icons on this screen and the voice guidance system. The audio can direct you step by step to use the Scrubber System and its chemical cartridges. It can detect the changing levels of gas and could alert you in case of any emergency.

The System uses pre-packaged AYSAN chemical cartridges with a long shelf life, easily handled and usable. The packages are placed on the Scrubber System. After the activation, the fans direct the air to pass through and clean the chemical packages that hold hazardous gases and toxins. The resulting purified air is directed from the system to the refuge chamber environment.

Safe gas levels for breathing air are available on the inner wall of the refuge chamber and on the manual depending on the number of persons inside.

AYSAN Mine Refuge Chambers can include a separate double-door airlock and flushing system as a feature.

The airlock system is designed to remove any contaminants that may be brought in during the entry, in addition to the positive pressure provided in both standard and airlock safe havens.

The compressed air is discharged into the airlock via a ball valve fitted with an auto-muffler (airlock flush valve) which is opened on first entering the airlock. The airlock includes one-way check valve that vents from the airlock to the atmosphere, continually over-pressurizing the airlock.

Three high-pressure compressed breathing air cylinders provide backup flushing if the mine air fails or becomes contaminated. The cylinders are connected to a high-pressure manifold and activated by pressing and holding the pneumatic button. The first person to enter the airlock must open the cylinders and prepare the regulator for occupants who enter the airlock.

To ensure the rescue chamber's overall functionality in an emergency, toxic gases must be slowed or prevented from entering. Whenever the door is opened for entry, the chamber's internal environment can potentially be compromised. It is possible to reduce the risk of intrusion by installing an airlock in the chamber.

Permanent Refuge Chambers are preferred in mines where regular personnel movements are in certain areas and with low excavation costs. It is economically beneficial for most businesses.

This station can also be used for the food and rest needs of the personnel. The rooms designed by AYSAN can be easily noticed from the facade, provide full protection with their impermeable door system. 

In parallel with the characteristics of the mine and also by making arrangements according to the wishes of the customers, the best and the safest area is created for the miners in case of emergency.

With the Scrubber System, which consists of active chemicals that can absorb CO2, CO and toxic gases inside can be controlled. With the air conditioning system, the temperature in the environment is adjusted and an active safe area is created in the fixed shelter room.

The installation information provided by AYSAN in its own production factory free of charge and the guides explaining how these systems work inside the permanent chamber, the personnel are aware of the instructions.

Modular Mine Refuge Chambers are designed specifically for the usage of tight section underground mine areas or mine shafts. Modular Refuge Chambers are engineered specifically to pass easily through the dimensions that are commonly used.

The position of the Refuge Chambers in the mine can be changed, also the capacity can be increased or decreased by changing the number of modules according to client's desired solutions.

The modules are going to have moved to the location where the refuge chamber will be placed and assembled by our experienced team to operationalize. The vacuum test, that we perform, confirms the air-tightness of the chamber before the delivering product.

Emergency mine air shutdown system, voice guidance system and flood production system may be add as an optional features just as mobile refuge chambers.

Turkey’s Ministry of Labor and Social Security was published down to the last detail about the procedures and principles regarding refuge chambers on 08.04.2017 in Article 30 of Law on Occupational Health and Safety No. 6331. These procedures and principles came into force on 01/07/2018.

In this notification, which consists of 8 articles, detailed information is given about the obligation of establish a chamber, its technical features, as well as its control and maintenance and the information and training of the employees.

Some details of regarding refuge chambers are as follows:

• The distance of the refuge chambers to the working areas, in which areas they should be installed and the maximum working limits,
• The obligation to always be ready for use in cases such as fire, explosion, collapse, release of toxic and suffocating gases,
• Chemical toilets, seating areas, fire extinguishers, together with the minimum and maximum gas values that should be in the refuge chambers
• The necessity to record the control and maintenance results which show that the shelter room is safe.

You can see the detailed statement here https://www.resmigazete.gov.tr/eskiler/2017/04/20170408-7.htm

As AYSAN, we continue to produce, install and maintain mine refuge chambers that are fully committed to these rules and regulations.

In accidents that may occur in mines; stones, rocks etc. may block the main entrance of the mine refuge chamber. The removal of these structures can take time for rescue, so people inside the refuge chamber should look for an alternative exit.

An AYSAN Emergency Escape Hatch is an exit used when the primary means of escape or exit from a refuge chamber or are blocked, unusable or unavailable. The Emergency Exit Hatch, which is designed according to these facts, also has a structure that prevents dangerous gases and particles that can accumulate in the shelter room with sealing engineering.

AYSAN Refuge Systems have two emergency escape hatches on both sides of Aysan Mine Refuge Chambers. The purpose of this is to eliminate the only possibility in a possible situation and to reduce the possibility of the personnel inside being trapped. If something should block your main door or primary exit while you are inside a mine refuge chamber, a secondary means of egress could be critical for survival.