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<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=041405800-18052011><FONT
size=2>Ren,</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=041405800-18052011><FONT
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=041405800-18052011><FONT size=2>First, I'm
sure Beckman will tell you that the centrifuge is designed (and tested) to
totally contain a complete rotor failure even at 60K rpm. I've seen
the 'block house' lab where they do this testing, and believe me the guy who
does this loves his work! Some of the prep rotors have significantly higher
total kinetic energy than the analytical, so really if one is going to make a
fuss about this they are the bigger worry.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=041405800-18052011><FONT
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=041405800-18052011><FONT size=2>Further, my
XL-A was actually running when the LA area was hit by a magnitude 6.7 earthquake
(in '94 if my memory is working). No damage whatsoever (just a lost run due to
lack of electricity). I don't recall clearly what the rotor speed was at the
time but it was likely 60K and almost surely 40K or higher. Amgen was 15-20 km
from the epicenter of that one, and there was significant damage to the labs and
buildings in the area.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=041405800-18052011><FONT
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=041405800-18052011><FONT size=2>So, as your
Aussie neighbors say, "no worries".</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=041405800-18052011><FONT
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=041405800-18052011><FONT
size=2>John</FONT></SPAN></DIV><BR>
<DIV dir=ltr lang=en-us class=OutlookMessageHeader align=left>
<HR tabIndex=-1>
<FONT size=2 face=Tahoma><B>From:</B> rasmb-bounces@rasmb.bbri.org
[mailto:rasmb-bounces@rasmb.bbri.org] <B>On Behalf Of </B>Renwick
Dobson<BR><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, May 17, 2011 5:19 PM<BR><B>To:</B>
rasmb@rasmb.bbri.org<BR><B>Cc:</B> HRoberts@beckman.com<BR><B>Subject:</B>
[RASMB] How to run an AUC in an earthquake...<BR></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>Hi All,</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>Some of you may know that there has been a lot of seismic activity around
Christchurch, New Zealand in the past year, and this is predicted to continue
for some time. </DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>I'm in the process of purchasing an AUC for my new lab at the University of
Canterbury, Christchurch, but this has now stalled because of safety concerns,
i.e. I've been asked whether it is safe to run an AUC in a 6.0 magnitude
aftershock. There are AUC instruments in other areas of the world where
earthquakes occur, for instance Japan or California, and I wondered how others
have overcome this problem. Are there any particular safety procedures
that are implemented? What are the real risks? Could the rotor come
through the shielding at 45K if it did move?</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>The issue has evolved largely from running preparative ultracentrifuges,
which often run at higher speeds. However, it seems that people are happy
to run bench top centrifuges at to say 20K without major safety concerns.
Perhaps the best argument is simply to state that we run the AUC at lower
speeds compared to preparative ultracentrifuges? Or perhaps only do runs
overnight? Or have the AUC on the ground floor, where ground movement is lower
compared to upper floors?</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>Any advice to overcome this issue would be welcomed!</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial" class=Apple-style-span><FONT
class=Apple-style-span size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12px"
class=Apple-style-span>Cheers</SPAN></FONT></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial" class=Apple-style-span><FONT class=Apple-style-span
size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12px"
class=Apple-style-span><BR></SPAN></FONT></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"
class=Apple-style-span><FONT class=Apple-style-span size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12px" class=Apple-style-span>Ren</SPAN></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; FONT-SIZE: medium"
class=Apple-style-span>
<DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial" class=Apple-style-span><FONT
class=Apple-style-span size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12px"
class=Apple-style-span>********************************************************************</SPAN></FONT></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial" class=Apple-style-span><FONT class=Apple-style-span
size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12px"
class=Apple-style-span><BR></SPAN></FONT></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"
class=Apple-style-span><FONT class=Apple-style-span size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12px" class=Apple-style-span>Dr Renwick
Dobson</SPAN></FONT></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"
class=Apple-style-span><FONT class=Apple-style-span size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12px" class=Apple-style-span><BR></SPAN></FONT></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial" class=Apple-style-span><FONT class=Apple-style-span
size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12px"
class=Apple-style-span>Lecturer</SPAN></FONT></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial" class=Apple-style-span><FONT class=Apple-style-span
size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12px"
class=Apple-style-span><BR></SPAN></FONT></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"
class=Apple-style-span><FONT class=Apple-style-span size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12px" class=Apple-style-span>School of Biological
Sciences</SPAN></FONT></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"
class=Apple-style-span><FONT class=Apple-style-span size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12px" class=Apple-style-span><BR></SPAN></FONT></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial" class=Apple-style-span><FONT class=Apple-style-span
size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12px" class=Apple-style-span>University of
Canterbury</SPAN></FONT></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"
class=Apple-style-span><FONT class=Apple-style-span size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12px" class=Apple-style-span><BR></SPAN></FONT></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial" class=Apple-style-span><FONT class=Apple-style-span
size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12px"
class=Apple-style-span>Christchurch</SPAN></FONT></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial" class=Apple-style-span><FONT class=Apple-style-span
size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12px"
class=Apple-style-span><BR></SPAN></FONT></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"
class=Apple-style-span><FONT class=Apple-style-span size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12px" class=Apple-style-span>New
Zealand</SPAN></FONT></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"
class=Apple-style-span><FONT class=Apple-style-span size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12px" class=Apple-style-span><BR></SPAN></FONT></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial" class=Apple-style-span><FONT class=Apple-style-span
size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12px" class=Apple-style-span>E:
renwick.dobson@canterbury.ac.nz</SPAN></FONT></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial" class=Apple-style-span><FONT class=Apple-style-span
size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12px"
class=Apple-style-span><BR></SPAN></FONT></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"
class=Apple-style-span><FONT class=Apple-style-span size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12px" class=Apple-style-span>T: ++64 (03)
364-2987</SPAN></FONT></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"
class=Apple-style-span><FONT class=Apple-style-span size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12px" class=Apple-style-span><BR></SPAN></FONT></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial" class=Apple-style-span><FONT class=Apple-style-span
size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12px" class=Apple-style-span>F: ++64 (03)
364-2590</SPAN></FONT></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"
class=Apple-style-span><FONT class=Apple-style-span size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12px" class=Apple-style-span><BR></SPAN></FONT></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial" class=Apple-style-span><FONT class=Apple-style-span
size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12px"
class=Apple-style-span>http://www.biol.canterbury.ac.nz/people/dobson.shtml</SPAN></FONT></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial" class=Apple-style-span><FONT class=Apple-style-span
size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12px"
class=Apple-style-span><BR></SPAN></FONT></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"
class=Apple-style-span><FONT class=Apple-style-span size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12px"
class=Apple-style-span>********************************************************************</SPAN></FONT></SPAN></DIV></DIV></SPAN></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></BODY></HTML>