HVAC solutions improve mining operations

Ensuring that the interior cabins of mine vehicles remain cool is essential for maintaining drivers’ health and safety, as well as ensuring operational efficiency on mines. Standard air conditioning systems may not withstand the extreme heat sometimes experienced on mining sites.

Among the factors causing early failure of cooling systems are hotter-than-average ambient temperatures, high dust levels, heavy vibrations, shocks from uneven mine haul roads and long operating hours. Booyco Engineering executive director Grant Miller points to the danger of drivers working in an over-heated cab, should an air-conditioning system fail.

“This is not only a danger to the health of the driver, but could affect other workers and infrastructure on the mine if the cab conditions cause the vehicle to be driven unsafely,” says Miller. “Fortunately, many countries, including South Africa, apply regulations to ensure safe working conditions – so an operator could be entitled to cease work if the cab becomes over-heated.”

The result is that a machine could stand idle, waiting for repairs to the air-conditioning unit while costing hundreds of thousands in lost production for the mine. He says there are two aspects to avoiding this risk: installing fit-for-purpose heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment on mining vehicles and applying a regular and high quality maintenance schedule.

“This is where Booyco Engineering has proved itself to our mining customers,” says Miller. “We engineer the HVAC solution to suit the miner or contractor’s application and we ensure that the equipment is well maintained.”

He says the company can also provide regular site visits to conduct inspections and maintenance, and has a roving team available for ad-hoc call outs. Booyco Engineering asserts that its extensive experience in HVAC design and maintenance makes it the ideal partner for mines, helping to ensure reliable and uninterrupted operations.