The management of Active Control Technology Inc. believes its ActiveMine RFID-enabled system will soon receive certification from the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). ActiveMine is a wireless communications and locating system for mines.
ACT officials say in the next few weeks it will enter the final stage of the MSHA approval process for two core ActiveMine components: the system’s wireless mesh node modules and RFID tags. The nodes are placed in operating areas of mines and form the wireless backbone of the ActiveMine network system; the RFID tags enable accurate, real-time tracking of people and assets.
MSHA certification is not required to sell and deploy ActiveMine in most base metal and precious metal surface and underground mines, but some purchase orders for coal mines are subject to conditions including regulatory approval of the system by MSHA as “intrinsically safe.” This approval certifies that the devices will not create a spark or thermal ignition of methane or coal dust in coal mines.
ACT submitted applications to MSHA last year for all components of its ActiveMine system. The company expects to receive three individual approvals for ActiveMine’s RFID tag, node assembly and telephone. ![[end]](/resources/bullet/archive-4.gif)
