Fire (yes, FIRE!) at wbgen

[Mary Tang]

Dear wbgeneral users:

Yes, for those of you who missed the excitement, there was a fire this 
past weekend at wbgeneral (see Coral maintenance history for the 
details.)  This is a serious matter.  On study by an insurance company 
found the semiconductor industry to be vulnerable to fires -- because of 
the heated chemicals at wet benches.

So, we'd like to remind you of the following when using the hot plate at 
wbgeneral (the operating procedures have been updated accordingly):

1.  Enable the hot plate on Coral (wbgen-hpr)
2.  DO NOT turn the heater.
3.  FIRST, place your glass or quartz beaker on the hot plate, making 
sure it is filled with your chemical.
*4.  Do not use beakers made of materials other than glass or quartz 
which may melt. *
*5.  Do not heat an empty beaker. *
*6.  Do not walk away from the station when heating. *
*7.  *Place a thermometer in the solution (make sure it is compatible 
with your chemical).
8.  Start heating with the heater setting at "2"; this will heat up 
approximately to 60 C, depending on the volume and beaker. If required 
for your process, ramp the temperature setting up *SLOWLY*. If 
unattended, the hot plate will shut off automatically after two hours.

For the long term, hardware changes are under discussion (remote digital 
control, remote thermometer, etc.)  Your opinions would be appreciated. 

For the immediate future, MAKE SURE TO OPERATE SAFELY!  If you have any 
questions about your process, contact Uli.    ANY questions...  Remember 
Southampton University 
(http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/10/31/south_research_fire/)

Your SNF Staff

-- 
Mary X. Tang, Ph.D.
Stanford Nanofabrication Facility
CIS Room 136, Mail Code 4070
Stanford, CA  94305
(650)723-9980
mtang at stanford.edu
http://snf.stanford.edu