New Zealand Arthropod
Collection - Special Design Considerations
Collection vault
-
south facing
- minimal temperature gains / losses to the outside
- multi-layered walls
and roof with high performance fibreglass insulation
- concrete walls,
floor and ceiling provide internal thermal mass and fire protection.
Low impact technology
- chilled-water cooling system with spare back-up unit
- gas fired heating to drive off moisture with backup dessicant
dehumidification air when cooling load is low
- heat recovered from freezers for re-use elsewhere
- R 404A refridgerant used (this is the most enviro-friendly available).
Fire protection
- 4-hour fire rating for concrete walls, floors and ceilings
- 2-hour fire rating for doors (automatically closed when fire
alarm triggered)
- argonite gas flooding system inside vaults (water or powder
based systems would be too damaging to specimens).
Earthquake protection
- heavy, raised concrete vaults will move during earthquakes
- seismic gaps in floors larger than usual to permit flexing.
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