Fire Safety System - Periodic Table of Videos

[SillyEddyPhotography]

I thought Newton's apple tree was a myth - Apparently he saw a comet making an orbit, and wondered what force was tugging it around the sun..?

[tomaskvapil]

@SillyEddyPhotography but it is such a great story :). Honestly I would really really love to have the leaf :)

[AlphaKiloFive]

Newton's tree ? I thought it was a story written by John Conduitt 50 years after Newton formulated his theory.

[davidsquall351]

Cool I've never heard of this system. Always learn something cool from you guys.

[SuperTechieJ]

2:24  that's actually a pretty nice jacket.

Leather = awesome.

[scottjacko87]

We use the same sort of gas at work 'FM 200' is the name. Do you know if 'FM 200' is the same sort of gas?

[largespliff]

@Jayjee, I also suffer mad hair syndrome, so get some manners, the man is Kool

[mariohendriks1]

I really like that the Professor can explain quite difficult things simple. Not all Professors are gifted with this gift.

[Jayjee123]

cut that hair dude, seriously

[killer2611]

very interesting

[ThePichu172]

Nice tour of the archives :)

[cpovey1]

"They didn't give the right symbol for Argon-they used AR, and not Ar." But didn't they use the wrong symbol for Nitrogen as well-they used N2, instead of N(subscript 2). They bothered to use a subscript 2 for the CO(subscript) 2. Just saying.

[Latte2Me]

Excellent video. I think the reason that a liquid is undesirable, despite the higher density, is not because solid CO2 would be expelled. Rather it is because the heats of vaporization of liquids are substantial, and the rate of gas evolution from the cylinders would become insufficient as the cylinders cooled.

[MassimoC86]

They should provide some oxygen cylinders and masks so in case of a fire you have more chances to escape instead of die by asphyxiation.

[cpovey1]

@MassimoC86 There are several problems with this otherwise good idea. First and foremost is probably training in use of system. Others include what is the likely hood of someone being in there, the amount of times it takes to fill the room after tripping the system (i.e. escape time), the fact that the gasses are not poisonous, just not Oxygen containing, etc. Just not worth the cost.

[urishima]

@MassimoC86 You'll find that almost no rooms with such a fire safety system will have any kind of mask. Take any server room for example.

[Buddyb309]

@MassimoC86 that defeats the purpose of the system. 

[baggedandblown]

@MassimoC86 Well, a normal fire asphyxiates you as well, should we install oxygen tanks in every room in the event of a fire? I think i read that 80% of deaths during building fires are from asphyxiation and smoke inhalation, so this really isn't any different.

[MassimoC86]

@baggedandblown Sure, but maybe this system is acttivated not only in the same room in which the fire is, so people in other rooms risk to be asphyxiated by the system and not the smoke.

However my idea could be useless anyway because you have enough time to leave the room.

[theshninja]

@baggedandblown Oxygen tanks in every room would make a fire even more dangerous...

[rageagainstthebath]

now, now. 300 atmospheres, or 300 bars? Both were mentioned. ;)

[rageagainstthebath]

@jakob1410 Close, but not the same. 1 atm = 0.98692 bar ;)

[cpovey1]

Can I assume this system is used as being more environmentally friendly than the Halon systems?

[MrSmudger687]

@cpovey1 - You can

[pccalhoun]

0:26

"As well of course the documents...........but that's not what I want to show you."

[Unclownful]

Why that hair?

[ASoggySandal]

Haha irony of this coming out after York's small Chemistry fire

[Gooberslot]

I guess the items are more valuable than whoever happens to be caught in this room when the gas is released.

[DeFaulty101]

Talk about your favourite Nobel Prize recipients in your next video! :)

[zazismrx]

So what you're telling me is, If theres a fire in there big enough to trigger that fire system, I'm going to die either way.

[sirhonkalot]

A peace of Newtons apple tree, eh? Who ever sold this to you is a freaking genius. After he sold you that peace of wood he was off selling refrigerators to Eskimos and sand to Egypt.

[Chanlon95]

i went to liverpool university physics department for my year 10 work experiance and actualy got to see this aswell as uranium, liquid nitrogen and a few other cool chemicals. as a bit of advise if you havent already done work experiance phone up a university and ask if you can do work experiance its realy worth it.

[kiwivogel]

This system is similar tho the ones found on ships. Activating them is strictly regulated. They seal off the room before triggering the system. Danger comes not only from asphyxiation but also from the pressure wave generated by the expanding gasses.

[Stormrunner0002]

@kiwivogel Another system you may be interested in checking out is what they call a 'Hi-Fog' fire surpression system. I still do not think that it would be good enough for this application, but is a darn good system compared to full water sprinklers.

[insanic1]

its his jewfro

[WhichDoctor1]

They should have little bottles of oxygen on the walls for anyone who's in there when they go off!

[Nyphur]

@WhichDoctor1 In a fire, those would explode :p

[30LayersOfKevlar]

@WhichDoctor1 When the building is on fire you are supposed to evacuate, not stay inside.

[WhichDoctor1]

@30LayersOfKevlar How are you supposed to evacuate when your suffocating?

[saveroftheday]

I have hair just like the professor's. It's a little more curly though, and it's blonde. I've never been more proud to have curly poofy hair.

[AttemptingToBeBusy]

He reminds me of Professor Farnsworth...

"That's my lab table, and this is my work stool, and over there is my intergalactic spaceship... And here's where I keep assorted lengths of wire!"

[CubexDE]

Professor Poliakoff has a unique ability to make literally anything interesting.

[Anamnesia]

"All this stuff here & we're filming the Cylinders"

Well yes, but there are so many interesting things in the world - not everything has to be at the molecular level...

[778918]

do they use this gas system instead of a water sprinkler system so that the artifacts won't be ruined by water damage if there is a fire?

[simonsmobile]

@778918 Yes, also to kill the intruders.

[madvlad1]

@778918 Correct. The irony of water sprinklers are that they can often cause more damage than the fire potentially could - particularly in places like vaults and data centres. Gaseous fire suppression systems, or other clean agent extinguishers have the benefit of not harming what's in the room, though this comes with the drawback of cost.

[vusiliyK]

Love the ending

[aletoledo1]

I've worked around these a lot, but never knew anything about them until now. Thank-you.

[isrealjason]

holy poo.. prof. P say "trip out" at 1:30

[Bollymusic4U]

Professor I love your hair, I will grow my hair like you sir one day.

[ScrinMan]

1. Take Castro on a tour of the Royal Society

2. Turn on fire safety system

3. ????

4. PROFIT

[ohdippity]

@ScrinMan How is Castro a problem to you? What has Castro done specifically to you that you wish death upon him? Are you Cuban? Are you a Cold War era, brain-washed Reaganite? All questions to answers I could care less about. Honey pass the whiskey...

[QwoPhasaArius]

@ohdippity No no, you must remember: Castro Is A Bad Person. Bad People Must Die.

Repeat after me: Bad Pe-

[ohdippity]

@QwoPhasaArius Castro is as bad a person as some presidents, prime ministers or dictators.

Repeat after me:I'm not a parrot. I do not simply repeat what I've been told. I do not have a right to decide who must die.

[QwoPhasaArius]

@ohdippity My response was drenched in intended sarcasm. I couldn't agree more with everything you've just said.

[ohdippity]

@QwoPhasaArius My apologies. Sarcasm is hard to detect sometimes in forums. I wish you a long, happy and healthy life.

[ScrinMan]

@ohdippity It's called a joke. Lol.

[zanders247]

@ScrinMan The gas in question is Inergen, which is actually designed to leave the room air breathable. A CO2-only system though, is another matter.

[fixxxer113]

@ScrinMan

1. Read up on some world history and stop being a victim of classic american anti-communist propaganda.

2. Study all the other regimes in the world and you will see that capitalism has commited waaay more crimes than all dictatorships put together.

3. Don't post stupid political comments on a science channel. These videos are way more important than political arguments.

4. ?????

5. The world will be a slightly better place :P

[ScrinMan]

@fixxxer113 To the order of Sheldon Cooper:

It was a JOKE. Go trololol somewhere else.

[fixxxer113]

@ScrinMan Apologies kind sir :)... Although from other responses that comment got, I think you realize that a lot of people thought you were serious and with good reason. Poor old communism has suffered alot because of fear mongering and really bad representation by some regimes (China, N. Korea, Russia etc.)... But that is not a conversation to be had in this channel. Good day to you!

[ScrinMan]

@fixxxer113 Good day to you too sir! ^^

[AlphaKiloFive]

@ScrinMan

The only thing you will achieve is to extinguish his cigar.

[labobo]

What, not showing any test of it ? :(

[catfishmudflap]

It is nice to know you are keeping the treasure safe Professor. A little white out will fix that "R" for the Argon symbol. :-)

[GhostOfJulesVerne]

That would be a great way to assassinate someone. Show them an artifact, lock them in, and set off the alarm!

[WhiteTiger333]

Had these in a film repository where I used to work. They were triggered one night by an electrical storm that zapped the alarm system when lightning struck. Very impressive! When we were able to get into the archive room, we found that every bit of dust trapped between cabinets and the walls had been relocated in a whirlwind manner to the center of the room. If not for the massive recharging cost, I would have been for setting them off annually or so. :D

[CutlassJustice]

You all should do an AMA (ask me anything) on reddit. I see your videos in the chemistry subreddit every time you post new ones.

[oisiaa]

A couple of those 4,400psi cyclinders on a little go-kart would be quite impressive if you let them go off like a rocket!

[culwin]

I like the video where the Professor make the fire alarm go off

"Is the alarm turned off?... yes... *WOOP WOOP WOOP*... no."

[Versudan]

You'd save the documents and objects... But you'd kill any poor sap stuck inside. Small price to pay I suppose?

[sm0kingJay]

"the TREASURES! " such an appropriate term used correctly that I don't often hear! *high-fives the Prof*

[dasgemuse]

"because if the whole place was full of gas cylinders.. WHERE WOULD YOU PUT THE TREASURE?!!"

[vuotopiuscuro]

what about the chemistry of waste ...

???

[Bryan6446]

We have the same system at work to protect our servers. I was in the room one day when it accidentally went off and man is it loud. It sounds like a rocket.

[RBIVscreamtherequiem]

The "r" in Ar is capitalized because capital letters have a different lexicographic value in computer programming languages, so keeping track of the gases and manufacturing within industry is easier and more streamlined.

[blueduderanch]

so if theres a small fire in the corner of the archive room they go off and if someones inside they die because they cant breathe.......nice.

[Midorikawa]

@masluxx Halon works the same way as in the video. However, Halon has neurological effects, and is banned from use in new installations. As a systems administrator, I worked in an older datacenter in a building built by WordPerfect (but obviously I didn't work for WP, as this was 2010) that was still equipped with Halon 1301. If the fire system were to go off, the doors lock in 60 seconds, and the room floods with Halon. If I were caught inside, I'd likely have lasting nerve problems.

[masluxx]

yes but how does halon work? 

[MrSuednym]

This video has spawned a question within me... What would happen if I were to pour liquid oxygen onto a fire? I was thinking ~~5mL of liquid O2 onto a fire the size of a match... It is probably a really stupid idea and thought process.

[DFZero235]

@MrSuednym You'd probably get a very small and sudden ball of flame.

[ib9rt]

@MrSuednym If you can think of it, someone has done it. See, for example: UjPxDOEdsX8

[MrSuednym]

@ib9rt He did it the opposite way of which I was thinking. He lit a fire using Liquid O2 by placing a lit flame into it. Not dousing the lit flame with it.

[Damianingus]

Asphyxiation system, to battle silently the royal society of enemies

[amazinggadgets]

I hope the system has a 10 second delay so anyone inside can get out. lol

[tpioneer]

0:50 lol

[ExeBhoy]

Love the rock n roll jacket!

[hitachi088]

how many PSI is that?

[hitachi088]

@hitachi088 wtf!? i calculated and it gave me 4500psi.

[indigestive]

300 Atmosphere is 303.975 Bar. Pretty close but not exactly the same.

[LilReaper1010]

300 atm wow thats some significant pressure

[michaelnjensen]

This was labelled Inergen, we used that in our datacenters, the difference compared to halon, CO2 and similar systems, is that you can actually be in the room when it goes off with no problems, so you have plenty of time to calmly exit the area, plus the emergency services can enter the area without needing to wear masks etc.

[zashbot]

My universities data center uses a similar system.

[teknotoast]

Heheheheheh.... Highlight of the vid: Prof. Poliakoff saying "we all tripped out"

[naragala01]

( . )( . )

[shogoonn]

6 cylinders, 24 cubic meters each gives 144 cubic meters. Is that enough for the archive? It would fill completely a room 3 meters high and 48 sq. meters in area.

[dragonlancexD]

@shogoonn Well, it's not like that at all.

The gas is under pressure, so the volume at atmospheric pressure will be greatly larger than 144 m^3.

[shogoonn]

@dragonlancexD The 24 m^3 volume is at STP (so after expansion). Cylinder volume is 80 litres, also stated on the label.

[zashbot]

My universities data center uses a similar system.

[Sparkygravity]

So what trapped people supposed do when all the oxygen goes away?

[aluisious]

@Sparkygravity Don't be trapped.

[kurtilein3]

In munich, ive seen a fire protection system for a huge data center housing some supercomputers, some important data archives, and internet for all the munich universities. They used pure argon, and they told me that if the fire protection system goes off then 700000 euros worth of argon are lost.

I think pure argon is the deluxe version, and mixing in nitrogen and CO2 makes it a lot cheaper. Argon is damn expensive.

[bamboo4tameshigiri]

Not support combustion, or life. One good thing about halon is that it puts you to sleep quickly.

[djteac]

@bamboo4tameshigiri thats not halon in there....

[bamboo4tameshigiri]

@djteac I know. That's the problem. Halon is more humane.

[aluisious]

@bamboo4tameshigiri How is halon more humane?

[bamboo4tameshigiri]

@aluisious It should anesthetize you.

[MultiAxian]

@bamboo4tameshigiri First, that room is the Royal Society's archives, the general public would normally not be allowed there, and the Royal Society would be closely monitoring whoever is in there. So, at most, I'd estimate that room would have 30 people maximum at any one time. Second, I imagine the fire safety system wouldn't trigger immediately. anyone in the archives would have some warning to start making their way to the exits before the gases are released into the room.

[bamboo4tameshigiri]

@MultiAxian My point is fire suppression systems in general. If you are going to be trapped by fire, anesthetic is better than suffocation. I'm not striking out at the Royal Society.

[MultiAxian]

@bamboo4tameshigiri but if you're spraying anesthetic in the room then people won't be able to escape at all. it's like you're designing a fire suppression system around the idea that people will get trapped and you'd rather let them die peacefully than get them to safety.

[InspectorBadass]

So that's where he keeps his hair spray.

[Zed1967]

I could never tire of watching periodic videos, I was fascinated with science, chemistry, physics, biology etc as a child and here I am over 30 years later still fascinated by science subjects. Embrace your inner geek. lol :)

[Isenmouthe]

Inergen is a 52/40/8 mixture of N/Ar/CO2. When I was in the navy, the ship I was on used a 50/50 mixture of Ar and N called Argonite, same stuff except there's no CO2.

[MrRafaeljuscidadao]

Abandonaram as legendas em Português?

[lexichronicle2]

I believe 300 bar cylinders are being phased in to replace the standard pressure most of us are used to on all commercial products. I think I read that in a BOC or Airgas bulletin.

[Draxis32]

Interesting though, I thought they used HaloCarbon agents to stop the fire, where I work we have an Anti-Fire System that uses HaloCarbons(that have low ozone depletion and low atmospherical time).

But I guess the usage of INERGEN systems is quite better, even that could probably demand more gas to contain a fire, this system allows you to get in the affected area without having to wear masks like in a fire controlled with Halogen gas situations.

[oomblikkies]

Is it safe to keep those high pressure cylinders inside the building?

[lovund86]

INERGEN, It is used extensively in ships, among other places.

it contains little CO2, so you should have a better chance to escape without fainting due to high CO2 levels.

You can search for Inergen on wikipedia to read more about the gas.

[angelica319]

Hey check out all this cool stuff that I know you'd be very interested in. Now lets go look at these fire extinguishers instead.

D:

[wazscience]

you should do a video that revolves around the professors hair.... that thing is like the definition of sex appeal....for science.

[vuotopiuscuro]

please try 2 make a video of the dirty side of chemistry ... which is no mistery ...

don't B only so clean.ish

[MrCapitalist100]

I

LOVE

YOUR

HAIR

[klasop]

I would save the cylinders instead of the items! They are much more interesting! :P

[chopperboi89]

As a firefighter, I found this very interesting! Keep up the great work!

[AhketRa]

I've watched every video that you've ever made to date, Brady. Love every (tP) of them, Tell the professor, Congratulations on his wonderful Ron Nyholm prize, Well deserved. Thank you everyone for all the videos and hard work this must have been making all these. Also Thank YOU Brady. You've made my days that much more enjoyable.

[BarneySaysHi]

Yeah, I found a small mistake though. The professor first talks about Atmosphere and then about Bar, but they are not the same. Granted, the difference is but 1%, but still, they're not the same. I used an online conversion for it: 1 atmosphere [standard] = 1.013 250 1 bar. I'll stop now. :)

[mafiouso]

so 300bar aroudn 4300psi... fuck..

[coldlogic1]

lol loved this video, the prof can be very funny, but yet you always learn something. Also makes me feel smart i know exactly what hes talking about when he says it would come out as dry ice. but the thought never crossed my mind until he mentioned it.

[QuantumDisciple7]

@coldlogic1 Can you help me understand why it would come out as dry ice?

[talshiarr]

@QuantumDisciple7 If you want the math, you can look up the various gas laws on Wikipedia or somewhere, but briefly put when a gas under pressure is released, it cools dramatically. You can experience this with those cans of compressed air for spraying dust off computers and other gear. The can cools dramatically as you use it. Release enough pressure and the CO2 in those tanks would drop below the temperature where it would solidify and you'd get dry ice "snow" being blown out

[QuantumDisciple7]

@talshiarr I agree because I have seen this as a result, but I don't understand why it wouldn't just turn into a gas under the lower pressure.

[fredochs]

@QuantumDisciple7 It would *eventually* turn from dry ice into a gas. But - I suspect - it wouldn't turn back into a gas fast enough to protect the items from fire. It's basically a kinetics problem.

[QuantumDisciple7]

@talshiarr Nvm i got it now, thanks though!

[AlucardNoir]

high pressure cylinders, how to present them, I know, lets slap em, what could go wrong!

[amizan23]

totally awesome 

[vampirica89]

Is there any way that an ordinary person can visit those treasures at Royal Society of London? Namely, I'd love to see Newton's apple tree.

[sharkman0616]

Dear Professor, It would be a great honor to meet you sir. I hope you will come to Sydney Australia one day. I would love to have a coffee with you.

[GamersBar]

I would not want to run my hand through his hair if he did not notice that sweet fire system , the system were you work is gtf out

[kingofallthieves]

Dear Professor, i love your videos and i learn something new with each one.

I think that your viewers including myself would like too see more of your home life. I am sure that your home is full on awards and fascinating chemical charts. It would make for a great video to see your home and to learn more about you, cause i find you interesting and you make me want to learn. Thumbs Up so he can see!

[vonnic]

If this system trigger, is probably unsafe to stay there. People use the same fuel as fire to live :)

[zythepsarian]

makes me think of the 'halon' gas system used in the movie terminator 2

[ness1107]

"Look at this stuff, isn't it neat?" "Well yes, but here's something even more interesting... chemistry!"

[brandy1011]

Inergen actually is a quite sophisticated mix of gases. The purpose of the CO2 is to force your body to take deeper breaths, so that the fraction of oxygen in the air can be lowered without it being an immediate threat to human life.

[JanicekTrnecka]

@brandy1011 And thats the main difference from halon systems.

[tubester4567]

They use argon as a shield gas for welding.

[chronos1002]

You folks should do a video on historical ways that you would combat fires via chemical means.

In an old cottage I once saw a large cantalope sized glass ampule filled with a clear chemical that I later was told was carbon tetrachloride. Supposedly an Oxygen sequester molecule ?

Anyway it was supposed to be used if there was ever a fire that got out of control in the woodstove. Of course it is now decoration, they have more modern fire extinguishers to use now if things get out of control.

[SMXRT]

gotta steal that sample of Newtons apple tree!

[fuzzylalala]

Gotta love professor's jacket ;)

[periodicvideos]

@rycka1983 I think your wisecrack has kind of misfired a bit there... but that happens!

[periodicvideos]

@rycka1983 I'm totally relaxed... Your probably now realise what I meant. :)

[Asim999ful]

@rycka1983 thanks for that knowledge :)

[BurningArtsStudios]

@rycka1983 Capital R*

[Johndoeismyname]

@rycka1983 epic double facepalm

[infinitude123]

@rycka1983 i believe you mean capital "R" ?

[Mrjesse451]

@rycka1983 He said it misfired because they put a capital R, not a capital A. Therefore your wisecrack was completely off.

[rycka1983]

@Mrjesse451 OK, got it. Thanks for replies, people!

[Beedle0511]

I really want to see more videos about the cool stuff in there....

[periodicvideos]

@Beedle0511 we've done some already and more are coming!

[meteosurreal]

@periodicvideos ...Okay, good, that, and your descriptions (as I have put - multiple (year(s)) - is wonderful, so this is fairly average - for you.

[aeroscope]

Why not just pure argon?

[Jamster9000]

SAFETY FIRST. POLIAKOFF SECOND.

[obone01]

Wow so if these went off and there were people in the rooms they'd all be suffocated? You'd want to be damn sure the building was cleared of staff etc!

[iasedu]

@obone01 The items are more important than the people!