British Coal Mines Choose Pump for Underground Dust Monitoring

Casella CEL (UK) has joined forces with Environmental Scientifics Group (ESG), provider of testing, inspection and compliance services, to supply over 70 Intrinsically Safe (IS) TUFF pump for monitoring coal miners’ exposure to dust to seven mines across England and Wales.

It is 60 years since Casella developed the very first sampling pump for use in coal mines, and continuing this pedigree its’ IS TUFF pump has all the necessary certifications to meet The Coal Mines (Control of Inhalable Dust) Regulations 2007.

So, at the time the only product of its kind in the world certified to M1 rating when the British coal mining industry wanted to trial Casella’s IS TUFF pump, which meets the stringent requirements of mining applications, ESG was confident in the outcome.

Stuart Hunneyball, Divisional Technical Director at ESG explains: “We have worked with Casella for many years now, so when the coal mining industry had a specific requirement for a particular type of sampling pump, it made perfect sense to approach the experts in occupational health and environmental monitoring equipment.”

In addition to its certification for use in potentially hazardous atmospheres due to flammable gases or dusts, the main benefits of the IS TUFF pump are its reliability and battery management.

Built to withstand harsh environmental conditions, the pump’s intelligent battery monitoring and fast/trickle charge control facility maintain optimum battery condition and service life, while fast charging and a remaining run time ‘fuel gauge’ are also among the unit’s benefits.

TUFF pumps, which are now in use in seven mines across England and Wales, also feature an easy-to-use display with high intensity LED alarm for fault indication, plus an exceptional flow rate courtesy of an efficient double acting diaphragm mechanism with precise digital control.

Stuart continues: “Casella provides excellent service and its general communication and response to enquiries is great. As a result, we have currently purchased around 70 of its TUFF pumps for our clients.”