26 400/54 Premium Shielded NMR Magnet System Product Overview
2 Installation and Operation Safety
which do not possess dedicated quench ducts, can be faced
with more than one magnet quenching simultaneously,
venting large quantities of nitrogen or helium gas into the
magnet room. Because these gases are inert, with nitrogen
comprising 80% of the air we breathe, as few as three
breaths of 100% inert gas can cause asphyxiation. Magnet
rooms of very large volumes can represent a lower risk than
magnet rooms of small volumes. However, always advise fire
fighters of the asphyxiation hazard, and suggest they wear
breathing apparatus when fighting a fire in a magnet room.
Explosions. In a disaster scenario, magnets very close to or
enveloped in flames get very hot, causing them to quench
and rapidly release inert gases, possibly faster than their
pipes and fittings normally permit. In the worse case, a
magnet can become over pressurized and explode. If magnets
become physically hot in a fire, Treat them in a similar way
to hot compressed gas cylinders: hosed down and kept cool.
Fire Doors and Exits. Make sure fire doors and exits from
magnet rooms open outwards. In a disaster scenario, if large
quantities of gas are vented into the magnet room, the
pressure in the room can rise, making inward- opening doors
difficult to open. This situation can make access difficult for
fire fighters, or potentially fatal for anyone still inside the
magnet room.
Although large fires are unlikely, always evacuate all staff before
a fire becomes fully established, following standard fire
procedures or evacuation plans.
To Next Page
Loading...
