General Updates

A new O₂ depletion alarm has been installed in the PEARL instrument preparation cabin. The O₂ monitors allow PEARL experiments to handle cryogens and also to make use of a small inert atmosphere for sample handling close to the instrument.

Firetrace Automatic Fire Suppression System

ISIS is committed to safety and is always looking for ways to practically improve our safety features. One such way is that a Firetrace Automatic Fire Suppression System has now been installed in all fume hoods and in the Waste Chemical and Solvent Storage area. This will ensure that in the event of a fire in either a fume hood or the Waste Chemical and Solvent Storage area, there is a quick response to put out the fire before it has a chance to spread or cause significant damage. The Fire suppressant system is powder based or CO₂ based depending on the installation position, and is self-activating without the need for external power, ensuring that it is always ready for operation.

Legacy Chemicals

Work is continuing to remove legacy chemicals from the Prep Labs. While waste chemicals are regularly removed, legacy chemicals had built up in various, longer term storage areas where they were not originally identified as waste, such as the gloveboxes and freezers. In the last Newsletter, we detailed the work that Sarah had been conducting to remove these legacy chemicals from the gloveboxes. In the same way, Sarah has been working on removing legacy chemicals from instrument sample cupboards, freezers and the other gloveboxes. As before, the owners of these chemicals needed to be contacted with the help of instrument scientists to determine whether they wanted the chemicals returned or disposed of through the proper waste channels.

Sarah is currently clearing the R55 North 1 Prep Lab fridge, and will move on to the fridges and freezers in R80 East Prep Lab in the New Year. Please ensure that all of your samples in these areas are labelled. If your sample is labelled, Sarah will contact you to discuss whether the sample should be returned to you or disposed of.

Sarah has already cleared most of the legacy chemicals from:

• R80 West Prep Lab glovebox
• R55 North Prep Lab glovebox
• R55 North 1 Freezers
  
• MAPS sample cupboard

This has been an ongoing process with communication with the instrument scientists and user base, but it is now nearing its completion.

Shipping to and from ISIS

With the changes to shipping brought in by Brexit, it is advised that even experienced users and staff familiarise themselves with the current status of shipping at ISIS. More thorough guidance is coming, and will be published on the ISIS website soon, however we thought it would be beneficial to have a guide in the meanwhile.

Shipping in to ISIS

When shipping items to ISIS temporarily, whether the item is a sample, equipment or anything else, it is important to ensure that you have the correct documentation so that it is possible to return the items to you without them being taxed as a permanent import/export. It is vital that all items shipped to ISIS are shipped through the proper channels for this reason. For more details about temporary import/export, please speak with your own institution's shipping department. You can also contact the logistics group's Despatch email address. If using a temporary export, then it is vital that you keep a note of the Air Waybill Number/code and the date so that when shipping it back, it can be traced to the original temporary export.

Please allow plenty of time to ship items to ISIS, especially if shipping internationally, as there are often delays currently. If shipping dangerous goods to ISIS you will need to contact your own institution's Dangerous Goods Advisor for guidance.

It is still possible to use the sample-shipping method developed during Covid, where the sample is shipped directly to Sarah. If you will be using this method, you will need to ensure that your local contact contacts Sarah Langham.

Actions for Samples after a Neutron or Muon Experiment

Flow diagram of actions to take after an ISIS neutron experiment. These steps should also be followed following ISIS muon experiments.

Please ensure that your samples are all sealed/packaged and labelled after your experiments. Before any further action can be taken with a sample after a neutron experiment, it needs to be monitored for radioactivity by Health Physics. Please contact Health Physics, or ask your local contact to discuss it with them. If it was shipped under a temporary export, then it must be shipped back by the same process. This applies for shipping any and all items from ISIS. If there are hazards associated with the sample, or the sample is radioactive, then you will need to contact ISIS Sample Safety to discuss the ways in which it can be shipped.

If you do not wish to or cannot have the sample shipped to you, it can either be stored at ISIS temporarily, ready for the next experiment using that sample or stored as an active sample in the case of samples that are radioactive, or else you can ask ISIS to dispose of the sample for you. In both cases, you should contact ISIS Sample Safety to discuss the options.

If your sample is not radioactive, has no hazards, and has not been shipped to ISIS under a temporary export, then you may take it with you.

Shipping out from ISIS

Returns

After an experiment, samples and equipment that were shipped to ISIS can be returned. If these were shipped in using a temporary export this simplifies the process significantly for the user. However, please do ensure that you allow plenty of time for the return of any goods as there are often significant delays at the border. It is suggested that you allow at least 1-2 weeks for delivery, but it could be significantly longer. Dangerous good shipping will take a much longer time, even within the UK, so please plan accordingly. If you need an item returned that was temporarily exported to ISIS, you can either contact your local contact or contact Sarah Langham for help with this process (in the latter case, an offering of chocolate will go a long way).

Dangerous Goods

Some dangerous goods are more difficult to ship internationally or domestically, and may involve higher shipping costs. For international shipping, some countries have additional restrictions which make the shipping of goods difficult. If you have any questions or require more information, please contact the ISIS Sample Safety team for advice on dangerous goods handling.

Loans from ISIS

If you are sending equipment or samples from ISIS out for loan outside of the UK please contact the logistics group's Despatch email address for details.

For any further details about the Chemistry and Prep Labs or anything included on this page, please contact the Prep Lab Manager, Sarah Langham and check out the Sample Preparation and Chemistry Labs website.