Federal regulations require the approval or certification of certain mining products for use in underground coal and gassy underground metal mines. Technical experts from MSHA’s Approval and Certification Center (A&CC) evaluate and test equipment, instruments, and materials for compliance. Products evaluated and tested range from small electronic devices to large mining systems. Following successful product evaluation and testing, a license is issued authorizing a manufacturer to produce and distribute products for use in mines. The MSHA approval issued by the A&CC is internationally recognized.
Applications for Approval
MSHA’s Applications for Approval page contains a range of Standard Application Procedures (SAPs) and supporting documentation. SAPs describe how applicants can apply for MSHA approval of mining equipment and systems, and typically include the minimum documentation and specifications necessary to initiate the investigation process. The page also contains a number of documents specifying MSHA’s performance and design criteria for various mining technologies.
Already submitted an application for approval? Check your application status here.
Compliance Information Guides
Each guide outlines the regulation that requires product approval/acceptance, the procedure to apply for product approval/acceptance, and any applicable policies and test procedures used by the A&CC to conduct tests as required by 30 CFR.
Electrical Safety Division
Compliance guides for the approval of a range of electrical products and systems
Mechanical and Engineering Safety Division
Compliance guides for diesel equipment approvals
Applied Engineering Division
Compliance guides for refuge alternative approvals
Approved Products
View listings of approved products for use in various mining applications below.
List of Approved Products
Access a listing of approved products sorted by the applicable Part of Title 30 CFR.
Monthly Lists of Approved or Certified Products
Browse product approvals sorted by month from 2000 through the present.
Approved Seals
View a listing of approved seals for sealing abandoned areas in underground coal mines in accordance with 30 CFR Part 75.
Approved Diesel Engines
View or export a listing of approved diesel engines.
Standard Test Procedures
MSHA uses a number of Standard Test Procedures or STPs to conduct tests on mining products that manufacturers have submitted for approval. You can find information about many of these STPs here.