Modern Mining April 2017

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April 2017MODERN MINING45
PRODUCT News
AfroxPac 35i delivers life-saving
oxygen for African miners
Afrox’s Self-Rescue Division has recently upgraded its
manufacturing facilities with a new state-of-the-art
factory in Germiston.
AfroxPac 35i self-contained self-rescuers, which
are produced in the factory, are collectively
carried by underground miners in Africa for
more than 1,5 million hours each day, deliv-
ering life-saving oxygen when hazardous
atmospheric conditions develop.
At the heart of the modernised plant is
a high-tech, climate-controlled dry room,
essential for handling moisture-sensitive
chemicals, which has advanced instru-
ment control and improved ergonomics,
allowing for improved material flow
and regulation and better production
and quality of the self-rescuer.
Peter Rowlands, Business Manager
Afrox Self-Rescue Division, says that
the Self-Rescue Division is ISO9001, ISO14001 and ISO18001 compli-
ant and has an ethos of ‘A life depends on it’ which dominates every
aspect of manufacture fromproduction right through to post-produc-
tion support.
“The AfroxPac 35i is ideal for tough African mining conditions in
that it complies with the demanding SANS1737:2008 standard for self-
rescuers having the added dimension of accelerated durability testing
which does not feature in other international standards. This makes
the compliance testing process one of the toughest in the world for
self-contained self-rescuer (SCSR) standards,” he says/.
He adds that following the durability testing sequence, the breath-
ing duration results for the AfroxPac 35i show no difference between
new and post-durability testing which is a remarkable achievement.
Rowlands notes that a focused research and development team is
dedicated to constantly improving the long-term performance of the
units and that Afrox prides itself in operating one of the few privately
owned breathing simulators in the world.
The AfroxPac 35i was first launched in 2012 and replaced the
original AfroxPac 35, with significant advances including improved
long-term breathing performance and heat-resistance, increased pro-
tection of high-wearing points on the external protective casing, and
the inclusion of an internal seal adding an extra barrier to moisture
ingress.
The AfroxPac 35i is a closed-circuit, chemical oxygen generating,
body-worn emergency breathing device primarily used for escaping
toxic atmosphere in mines and has a rated breathing duration of 30
minutes at a test ventilation rate of 35 litres per minute.
It operates by chemically converting moisture and carbon dioxide
in the breath of the escapee to oxygen, while simultaneously sealing
the mouth and nose to prevent inhalation of toxic gases.
The flexible, silicone-based breathing components are hardy
and heat-resistant while the 1,2 kg mass of the breathing apparatus
is lightweight and the mechanical stabilising of the chemical bed
ensures low breathing resistance and long-term performance.
Peter Rowlands, Afrox Self-Rescue Division, e-mail:
The AfroxPac 35i is said to be
ideal for tough African mining
conditions.