The cleanroom will be closed beginning 7:30 AM Tuesday, April 7, 2008, and is expected to reopen late Wednesday or early Thursday.   Also, the office, labs, and public areas will be affected on Wednesday, April 8.  Significant temperature (55°) and humidity excursions should be expected during the day.  In addition, on Thursday April 9 no laboratory work involving exhausted hoods, biosafety cabinets or enclosures, vacuum systems, and/or gas systems can be performed during that time period.  Electrical measurements may be performed if they are not affected by significant temperature excursions in the room.

Please see the more detailed description of the activities following:

The Birck Nanotechnology Center building will be undergoing a semi-annual preventive maintenance and service on April 7-9.  Air handling systems, exhaust systems and toxic gas delivery and monitoring systems will be down beginning at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 7.  The BNC staff will be performing appropriate preventive maintenance on the process equipment at this time as well.  Campus steam will be interrupted for 6-8 hours resulting with very cool temperatures (55°) in office, laboratory, public areas on April 8.  Please dress accordingly for the colder temperatures.

Therefore, all CLEANROOM research work will be suspended until the maintenance activities are completed and all systems are returned to normal. 

In addition, the laboratory area of Birck will also be affected by this systems maintenance.  As such, all LABORATORY activities that involve exhausted hoods, vacuum systems, and/or gas systems will be down beginning Thursday April 9 from 7:30 AM till 4:00PM.  However, work that involves taking standard electrical measurements may be carried out in the LABS provided that fluctuating air temperature and humidity do not affect the readings. 

It is anticipated that the building and process tool maintenance will be completed by April 9, and selected research equipment may become available on an individual basis beginning Thursday or Friday.

Please check with appropriate staff members for details on specific equipment.

The Coral screens will give you status information on any equipment that is scheduled through Coral. 

Please contact John Weaver or any staff member if you have questions.

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding during this important preventive maintenance shutdown.

John Weaver

Facility Manager

Birck Nanotechnology Center