Mining & ExplosivesReaching and breaching a barricade safely
Behind a barricade there may be miners alive, protected by the air they kept. Opening it the wrong way lets the bad air in. The team tests the air in front, ventilates first if it is deadly, builds a temporary stopping if it does not know what is behind, opens as little as possible and checks the roof and the gas as it goes in.
Free to startScenarios
- A deadly atmosphere in front of the barricade.
- Unknown conditions behind the barricade.
- A refuge alternative with an airlock.
The steps
- Test the gas at the barricade and compare it with the IDLH limits.
- With an IDLH atmosphere in front, ventilate in front of the barricade before breaching it.
- With unknown conditions behind, first erect a reasonably airtight temporary stopping, as close as possible but large enough for the team to enter.
- Keep the opening in the barricade as small as possible.
- The captain checks the roof on passing through; test the roof and the gas inside.
- Treat a door or stopping with unknown conditions behind it and possible missing miners as a barricade.
- At a refuge alternative, the captain opens the outer door and tests the gas in the airlock before anyone else enters; the captain and one member go in and close the outer door.
- If the airlock air is bad, purge it for 5 seconds and test again; then the captain opens the inner door and tests before anyone else enters.
- Mark the date and the captain's initials at the barricade and report it to the fresh air base.
Safety rules that stop the station
- Never breach a barricade with an IDLH atmosphere in front of it.
- IDLH: oxygen below 17.0%, carbon monoxide over 1,200 ppm, hydrogen sulfide or sulfur dioxide over 100 ppm, nitrogen dioxide over 20 ppm, carbon dioxide over 4.0%, or any smoke.
- For other gases, ask for stain tubes or the right testers.
To pass
- Breaching a barricade with an IDLH atmosphere outside may kill the survivors: 50 points.
- A missing temporary stopping costs 10; one not reasonably airtight 2.
- Each missed out-loud roof check when passing through the barricade costs 5.
Official source
2026 Metal and Nonmetal Mine Rescue Contest Rules
MSHA's mine rescue contest rules set how to reach and open a barricade or a refuge alternative, the IDLH limits and the discounts.
Making Synapses is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by MSHA, NASA or any mine rescue association. Agency names are named only to describe the content.