Mace Head Visiting Scientist Guidelines
Mace Head is the host of a number of long-term continuous monitoring experiments. Any new intensive or long-term experiments must not impact on the existing activities. In order to maintain this policy, users should adhere to the following guidelines.
(a) Notification of Measurements to be undertaken:
Submit no more than a 2 page document providing detail under the following
headings: Arrivial Date/Departure Date, Contact Person/Institute, Measurement,
Technique, Space Requirements, Location, Power Requirements, Data Requirements,
Materials/Reagents (hazardous or non hazardous) used, Air Conditioners/refridgements
used,
(b) Radioactive Sources:
Transport of and use of radioactive sources must adhere RPII and EU guidelines (further details..)
(c) Restricted Materials:
The following protocols regarding restricted and undesirable chemicals and materials apply at Mace Head. All research groups must comply with these protocols.
(1) Primary chemicals
The use of volatile organic compounds is generally undesirable although it is sometimes unavoidable. Where possible, they should be used off-site or confined to the cottage laboratory. Where appropriate, scrubbers should be used.
The use of alcohol’s and acetone for cleaning purposes is currently permitted on-site. Where these are used as part of a sampling apparatus, a charcoal scrubber should be used.
Chlorinated or fluorinated solvents such as chloroform, methyl chloroform, carbon tetrachloride are not permitted on-site.
The use of spray cans on-site is not allowed unless the propellant is known and is acceptable. Sprays which are simply labelled "Ozone friendly" or "CFC-free" without identification of the propellant are not acceptable.
The use of blown foam packaging is generally not acceptable unless the blowing agent is known. In most cases, it should be possible to use an alternative such as bubble-wrap. Where the use of blown foams is unavoidable, e.g. as part of a custom built instrument packing case, it is the responsibility of the visiting scientist to find out what the blowing agent is and to submit this information as part of the project protocol.
Refrigerators, freezers or air conditioning units are allowed on site subject to approval. The type of refrigerant and, where blown foam insulation is used, the blowing agent should be submitted in advance. In general, units will be restricted to those which do not use CFC, HFC or HCFC-based refrigerants or blowing agents.
Liquid mercury is not allowed on site. This includes liquid mercury thermometers. In addition, instrumentation which emits gaseous mercury must have a charcoal scrubber on it’s exhaust.
(2) Effluent disposal
Liquid effluent should not be disposed of on-site. Mace Head essentially has a domestic sewerage system which is not designed to take chemical waste. Unless specific arrangements are made for on-site waste disposal, proper disposal should take place off-site.
Gaseous effluent must be properly scrubbed, if deemed necessary.