RANA - Mine Refuge Systems

Since 1995, RANA has manufactured the award-winning Refuge One Breathable Air Centre and the mobile refuge chamber known as the Tommyknocker.

The Refuge One Air Centre provides breathable air to both permanent refuge chambers and mobile units, such as our Tommyknocker. We have provided both Refuge One Air Centres and/or the Tommyknocker chambers to hard rock mines in various locations throughout the world.

RANA's award-winning Refuge One Air Centres and Tommyknocker mobile refuge chambers were designed to affordably protect lives.

Mine rescue and refuge chambers

Our complete mine refuge systems, including our mobile refuge chamber and breathable air unit, provide a safe underground haven for trapped miners until rescuers arrive.

The Tommyknocker mobile refuge chamber can be custom built to comfortably accommodate up to 20 people in the refuge chamber. It has many optional features available, including air conditioning.

The Refuge One Air Centre provides reliable, breathable air during an underground emergency by adding oxygen and removing carbon dioxide from the air within a refuge chamber. It is compact, sturdy, easy to operate and is designed to function independently of the mine's power or compressed air.

RANA offers the Refuge One Air Centre either as a standalone unit for your existing refuge chamber, or installed in our Tommyknocker mobile refuge chamber units.

Self-contained mobile refuge chamber

The Tommyknocker mine refuge chamber is a completely self-contained mobile refuge chamber for use where refuge chambers do not already exist, or where portability is a requirement. RANA's standard Tommyknocker model is a mobile mine refuge chamber designed to support 8 - 20 occupants, measuring 14ft to 20ft long, 88in wide and 87in high.

The chamber's size and portability makes it easy to move to different mine locations as the mine develops to insure its position is always in the correct location.

Supplied with a Refuge One Air Centre, the Tommyknocker serves as a complete mine refuge system.

Breathable air systems for mine refuge chambers

Our Refuge One Air Centres provide breathable air without external power or compressed air for all types of refuge chambers. RANA's Refuge One Air Centres ensure your miners have breathable air while waiting for a rescue operation to reach them.

The Refuge One Air Centre replenishes oxygen using high-pressure oxygen cylinders at a metered rate based on the number of occupants. The unit also purges carbon dioxide (CO2) within the refuge chamber by passing the air through carbon dioxide scrubbers.

The Refuge One Air Centre is available in two sizes: a single bed unit, typically used for up to 20 persons, or a double bed unit, typically used for 20 to 30 persons.

Award-winning mining refuge systems

The Refuge One Air Centre is recognised both nationally and internationally. In September 1995 the Refuge One Air Centre received the top honour in the international field of applied research, the US's Research and Development Award (R&D 100).

In October 1996, the Refuge Once Air Centre received Canada's OHS Innovative Product Award of Excellence in Occupational Health and Safety.