Building Floods

The following measures can be taken to prevent floods:

1. Be certain that all hoses are fastened properly. Use hose clamps (available in our stockrooms) at all connections between the hose and the apparatus or water outlet. Wire can be used for this purpose, but it is not as secure and can eventually the hose. Be aware that overtightening wire can cause it to break at the point where it is twisted, rendering it totally ineffective.

2. Plastic "quick-connect" fittings have sometimes caused floods. While they are a convenience, make certain that they are fastened properly to the hoses, and ensure that the friction connection is made firmly. If they pull apart easily (do not test this with the water running!!), they should be replaced or eliminated.

3. Water monitors are available from laboratory supply houses. They are expensive, but very effective. These monitors measure the flow after it leaves the instrument being cooled. If the flow stops (e.g., if a hose ahead of the flow detector comes loose), the monitor activates a solenoid that turns the water off and also turns off the instrument or heat source. This prevents overheating, an additional hazard in these cases.

4. Do not allow corks, glass, or other solid material to go down the sink drain. (Most of the blockages in our drains are caused by these materials.) Use screens to trap solids before they are washed down. Clogged drains can cause back-ups from floor drains as well as in sinks. In many cases, the only way to stop this type of flood is to turn off all the water feeding into drains above the blockage.

5. When flushing anything down the drain, use an abundant amount of water. Satisfy yourself that whatever was flushed down the drain will be so diluted that it cannot corrode the drains or harm the environment.

What to do when a flood has occurred:

1. Whenever possible, locate and stop the flow of water. (Learn where the shut-off valves for your laboratory are located, so that you can find them quickly in an emergency.) Be very cautious about turning off water at a valve that controls the flow of water to an area for which you are not responsible. Turning off water to instruments or experiments that require cooling can easily be more harmful than the flooding you are trying to stop. You should be thoroughly familiar with the area that a valve controls before you shut it off.

2. During normal working hours call the Business Office at 5-3335 to get help. At other times, call the Physical Plant Radio Room at 5-4311 to report the problem. If it is serious, be sure to make this clear to the person answering the call. A casual, nonchalant request elicits a casual response.