Communications and Communications and Tracking ApprovalsTracking ApprovalsPast – Present - FuturePast – Present - Future

Communications and Communications and Tracking ApprovalsTracking ApprovalsPast – Present - FuturePast – Present - Future

MSHA Communications and Tracking Workshop

March 17, 2010

Communication and Tracking Communication and Tracking SystemsSystems

•Approved under 30 CFR Part 23•Regulations date from the 1930’s

Franklin Roosevelt was President

1930’s State of the Art TechnologyTelephone Walkie-Talkie

Challenge to apply these Challenge to apply these regulations to 21regulations to 21stst Century Century CommunicationsCommunications

Past ApplicationsPast Applications

Since 2006 A&CC has approved:

•55 new approvals

•80 revisions to approval

Systems Currently Systems Currently ApprovedApproved

Systems Currently Systems Currently ApprovedApproved

• Page and trolley phones

• Leaky feeder systems

• Peripherals (e.g., portable hand-held radios)

• One way text messaging system (PED)

• Node-based communications and tracking systems

• RFID tracking

MSHA Approvals Since January 2006

MSHA Approvals Since January 2006• 35 Approvals in 2006 and 2007 including:

– Kenwood portable radio – Tunnel Radio Leaky feeder system

• 33 in 2008 including:– Becker enhanced leaky feeder– Venture Design node-based tracking and

text messaging system– Matrix Design Group RFID tracking system– NLTech IEEE 802.11 node over fiber– IWT and L3 node-based communication

and tracking– Motorola Portable Radio

MSHA Approvals Since January 2006•34 in 2009 and 2010 including:

–Minecom (Pyott Boone) Leaky Feeder System–Active Control Node System and Handset–Matrix Text Messaging Device–L-3 Tracking System and Tag–Becker Tracking Tag–AMR Tracking System and Text Messenger–Kutta Medium Frequency System–Koehler-Bright Star Tracking Tag–Rajant Portable Wireless Mesh System–Mine Site Wireless Access Node–Tunnel Radio RFID Tracking System–Modifications to Previous Approvals

•RF near Blasting Circuits

•Battery box Enclosures

•Battery Off Gassing in Explosion-proof or Dust-tight enclosures

•Protection of 120 VAC cable

•Encapsulation to exclude gas

•Active Power Supplies

Issues Addressed with ApprovalsIssues Addressed with Approvals

Present ApplicationsPresent Applications•48 Applications

•34 Applications for new approvals

•14 Applications for revisions to approval numbers

•All but one assigned to investigators

MSHA Communications Applications Currently Under

Evaluation

MSHA Communications Applications Currently Under

Evaluation • 48 applications currently under

investigation (14 RAMPS)– 14 RFID Tracking (readers/tags)– 9 Node based (new and RAMP)– 5 Leaky Feeder (new and RAMP)– 9 Peripherals (PDA, text messenger, VoIP

Phones, radios)– 5 Legacy (page phone, face communications,

etc.)– 1 Medium Frequency– 3 Cap Lamp with tag/radio/collision avoidance– 1 Through the Earth– 2 Repeaters

Expediting the ProcessExpediting the Process•Educate applicants in our approval process and our technical requirements

•Respond to discrepancies in a timely manner

•Prioritize the communications and tracking applications

•Encourage increased use of Part 6

Future ApplicationsFuture ApplicationsThe future is difficult to predict, in the next yearwe expect:

•A limited number of new systems focusing on new technology such as Through the Earth.

•Address issues after the installation of the systems

–RF interference with radio remote controls–RF interference with CO detectors

Future ApplicationsFuture Applications• Revisions to existing systems

i. To correct system deficiencies – Enclosure changes to improve durability– Circuit changes to improve reliability

ii. To improve the system– Increased Standby Power

iii.To expand the system capabilities– Integrate Mine Wide Monitoring with

Communications

Questions?Questions?Contact Info for Electrical Safety Division:

Kenneth PorterPhone: (304) 547-2030Email: porter.kenneth@dol.gov

Kevin DolinarPhone: (304) 547-2014Email: dolinar.kevin@dol.gov