Mining Co Uses Valin's Freeze Protection for Safety Showers

A large mining operation in Nevada had 33 emergency shower stations that were in need of freeze protection. These showers were available for wash down of personnel in case of chemical contamination. During the winter the ambient temperature can get as low as -40° F with a good wind chill causing the showers to freeze and become inoperable. The customer has heat traced much of the plumbing, but they came to Valin to see if we could provide them with a better solution.

 

Valin’s heating specialists worked with our structural framing specialists to come up with an enclosure that would protect personnel from the weather conditions, and would ensure that the showers were in working condition at all times. The enclosure is made out of Bosch aluminum extrusion and includes a Chromalox radiant heater (which is controlled by a Chromalox thermostat), a vinyl curtain to keep the heat in, and an optional Omron and Patlite automated lighting system. The radiant heater will keep the enclosure at a temperature of at least 40° F, even if the temperature outside is -40° F, preventing any part of the shower station from freezing.

 

The optional lighting system uses an Omron optical sensor to detect if someone has entered the enclosure and prompts the illumination of the enclosure from an overhead Patlite LED Light strip. The customer was given the option of purchasing this solution as a kit, or as a complete assembly.

 

It is imperative that the personnel at this mining facility have access to these emergency showers and that the showers are fully functional at all times (per OSHA regulations). Valin has provided this mine with a total solution that not only ensures that the showers will work at all times, but that the personnel will be comfortable while using these wash down stations.