Industrial · Commercial · Mining
Precision cooling for control rooms, process plants with ATEX compliance, high-altitude camp systems, and analytical laboratories — across the Atacama and Altiplano.
Installation types
Mine control rooms (pit, plant, crusher, SCADA) run 24/7 with critical computing equipment. Systems require N+1 redundancy (one active, one standby), UPS-backed power, and precision cooling (±1°C). Target conditions: 20–24°C, 40–55% RH, positive pressure to prevent dust ingress. We size units with altitude correction for the operating elevation.
Processing areas (flotation, grinding, concentration) require industrial ventilation with anti-dust filtration (HEPA or bag filters), localized extraction at dust-generation points, and HVAC for process control areas. In zones with combustible dust risk (reagent warehouses, flotation with solvents), equipment must carry ATEX/IECEx certification per IEC 60079.
Camps in the Atacama and Altiplano face extreme conditions: intense UV, daytime temperatures reaching +35–40°C and nights at −5 to −15°C, elevations of 2,500–4,500 masl (reducing compressor capacity 3–4% per 300 m above 1,000 masl). Systems are oversized 10–15% for altitude loss and protected against sand and dust ingress. Manufacturer altitude-correction programs applied at selection stage.
Sample preparation and analysis labs (ICP, XRF, AAS) require temperature stability to ensure analytical accuracy. HVAC systems use precision control (±0.5°C), and units must be vibration-free to protect analytical balances. We specify split systems with remote condensers to eliminate vibration near weighing equipment.
Offices, canteens, medical stations, and meeting rooms at mine sites need comfort cooling. Above 3,500 masl (Altiplano), VRF systems must be selected with altitude correction or specified as high-altitude models (Daikin Altitude Series, Mitsubishi Electric High Altitude). We verify compressor capacity de-rating before selection.
Maintaining equipment at remote sites (300–800 km from Santiago) requires special logistics: critical spare parts stocked on site, technicians available for air transfer to regional airports (Antofagasta, Calama, Copiapó), and SLA response times calibrated to actual mine access requirements. We coordinate induction, ODL permits, and site insurance with the mine's HSE department.
FAQ
At higher elevations, air density drops, reducing the heat the air can transfer per unit volume. Capacity loss is approximately 3–4% per 300 m above 1,000 masl. At 3,500 masl this can mean 20–30% capacity reduction. VRF manufacturers such as Daikin and Mitsubishi Electric provide altitude de-rating programs; in extreme cases (Altiplano >4,000 masl), they offer purpose-built high-altitude models with larger displacement compressors. We apply these corrections at the selection stage and submit correction worksheets with every proposal.
DS 132 (Ministry of Mining, Mining Safety Regulations) sets environmental conditions in underground and surface mining workplaces: maximum 28°C WBGT for physical work, minimum ventilation rates, and air quality requirements. DS 594 (MINSAL) sets chemical agent exposure limits (dust, gases) and extreme-environment working conditions. SCADA/DCS control rooms must also comply with the control system manufacturer's environmental spec (typically 18–25°C, 30–60% RH, non-condensing). We provide a regulatory compliance matrix with each project deliverable.
Yes. For zones with explosive atmosphere risk (reagent warehouses, flotation circuits with solvents, blasting magazines), we select and specify equipment with ATEX or IECEx certification matched to the zone classification (Zone 1/2 for gases, Zone 21/22 for dust). All electrical installation in Ex zones follows IEC 60079 and must be performed by certified installers. We submit Ex equipment data sheets and zone classification drawings as part of project documentation.
We coordinate equipment and materials transport via road to regional staging hubs (Antofagasta, Calama, Copiapó, La Serena) and then the final leg to site. Technical crews travel by commercial flight to regional airports and transfer to site. Logistics and per-diem costs are itemized in the project budget. For recurring maintenance, we coordinate with the mine's logistics department for access authorizations (site induction, ODL, site insurance). We have executed projects at sites operated by BHP, Anglo American, and Codelco.
Yes. We prepare conceptual and basic engineering (heat load calculations, technical specifications, ±20% cost estimate) for tender stages, and detail engineering (drawings, bill of materials, procurement specs) for execution stages. Documentation follows the standards required by major mining companies: IFC format, document numbering per Codelco/Anglo American conventions, A/B/0 revision cycles. We can participate in pre-qualification processes and provide company credentials in English.
Yes — nationwide. Our project and maintenance teams travel to the Atacama, Antofagasta, Coquimbo, Tarapacá, and Arica regions. Remote-site projects include travel, accommodation, and logistics in the project budget. For long-term maintenance contracts, we evaluate on-site technician stationing or rotation schemes depending on site volume and client preference. Response time SLAs are agreed per site and documented in the maintenance contract.
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