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FYI a summary of responses. Thanks much to all, very useful.
1. Alternatives are available, but expensive. These include:
- firewalls around each room lacking sprinklers, and firedoor entryway -
rather expensive. The walls and door have to be able to resist fire for 1
hour.
- gas systems - also expensive, and in Australia these are apparently only
allowed in non-occupied rooms (I am told, not going to fight it, save
fight for other stuff...).
So
2. Accept the inevitability of sprinklers, and insist on the following:
- sprinkler head(s) as far from instrument as possible, esp. from main
power supplies
- sprinkler heads enclosed in wire cages to prevent accidental knocking
when moving large items in the room
3. Realise that floods from pipes/sinks/rain events are much more likely
than sprinkler activation, so:
- install drip pans above the sprinklers, either below the ceiling or
within it, to deflect potential floods from above away from the instrument
- raise important components at least several cm above floor level
- have a system that only fills the sprinkler pipes when the sprinkler(s)
are activated to avoid slow leaks (drips)
4. Also realise that sprinkler pipes may be sources of conductive
interference, so:
- ask that pipes are empty unless sprinkler(s) activated
- insert a rubber or other non-metallic connection between the main
sprinkler supply system and the sprinklers in instrument rooms
and also, check your insurance policy!
Like others, the only floods I've experienced were from other sources - in
a previous institution on one torrential weekend several staff came in to
check for leaks and ended up doing a bucket brigade from the EM unit in
the basement. All fine, except for the piles of paperwork around desks...
And Roger Ristau's email reminded me that about 15 years ago the in lens
cooling system in our JEOL 6400 developed a leak and flooded the lens,
detected by water dripping down into the chamber - messy! The old girl is
still chugging along, though not for much longer - the old electronic
boards are cracking and won't survive the move, so turning off for good in
October. :(
cheers,
Rosemary
Dr Rosemary White
CSIRO Plant Industry (for 1 more day)
GPO Box 1600
Canberra, ACT 2601
Australia
T 61 2 6246 5475
F 61 2 6246 5334
E
[hidden email]
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