PDD Fungal Herbarium - Special Design Considerations

Collection vault

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.
Collections wall.  Click to enlarge.


Tamaki Building

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