Freezers

Servicing, faults & repairs

Servicing, faults and repairs

All -80 freezers are given a bi-annual Basic Health Check in October and April

Basic Health Check:

  • basic operational check and visual inspection
  • cleaning the filter and air condenser
  • highlights any major faults that need immediate attention

This is paid for by the Department.

Any repairs, parts, call outs or replacement filters are paid for by the end user

The service contract is held by Arena Instrumentation

Faults and Repairs

If your freezer breaks down please contact the Electronics Workshop for initial investigation

Back up freezers are detailed on the Backup tab above.

Any repairs, parts, call outs or replacement filters are paid for by the end user.

Please contact the Infrastructure Team for advice on repairs and faults

Back up

Backup freezers

The Department provides empty freezers for use as a contingency when freezers containing research, consumables and other valuable material fail.

These freezers are located on F0 and E0 corridors.

B/E/021           -80ºC for emergencies only

B/F/030           -80ºC and -20ºC for routine defrosting and emergencies

All freezers are accessible after hours and on a weekend

There is a thermal trolley for material transfer which is kept in B/E/021, accessible 24/7

Please let the Infrastructure Team know if you need to use one of these freezers

The -80ºC and -20ºC freezers on F0 corridor are powered from a designated supply which is linked to a back up generator. This generator will automatically start up if there is a power failure to the department. The operation of the back up generator is tested monthly by the Estates department.

Please contact the Infrastructure Team for further information

Defrosting

Defrosting

Please book the freezers, using the sheet on the door of the freezer

A thermal trolley (‘coffin’) for cooled transportation is kept in E021

Dry ice can be bought from BOC for delivery on a Monday or Wednesday

Biology Supplies & Goods Services sometimes have spare dry ice

When defrosting a -80 attached to the freezer alarm system please inform Electronics Workshops, requesting disconnection of the transmitter before the freezer is turned off

Alarm System Information

Freezer Alarm System Information

The Infrastructure Team manages an alarm system which is connected to all -80 ⁰ C and some -20 ⁰ C freezers.

The system is operated on the basis of users purchasing the transmitter and temperature probe for the freezer and the Department providing the receiver stations and dial-up facilities

A freezer failure would activate the alarm when the temperature rises to a set point of -50 ⁰ C for -80 ⁰ C freezers and -10 ⁰ C for  -20 ⁰ C freezers for more than 30 minutes. This activates the automatic system to send a text to the two mobile numbers programmed in to the transmitter for that freezer. The text will detail the freezer and current temperature.

It is up to the member of staff attending the alarm to take the appropriate action

  •  Reply to text to acknowledge the alarm

 

THEN

  •  Monitor temperature of freezer by texting the system

 

OR

  •  Come in to work to attend to the freezer and decant contents in to the back up freezer on F0 corridor if necessary

 

The two back up freezers are located on F0 corridor and E021, accessible 24/7

Thermal trolley for material transfer is kept in E021, accessible 24/7

The system will send out a test text every month to the first mobile number programmed in to the transmitter for that freezer, no action is necessary

 

Please contact the Infrastructure Team for further information: biol-infrastructure-group@york.ac.uk

 

Valuable sample storage

Valuable Sample Storage / Freezer with Backed Up Power Supply

A freezer on F0 corridor is connected to the emergency generator supply as well as being on the Infrastructure alarm system. This automated backup power is supplied by a generator that provides electricity in the event of a mains power failure and is designed to operate continuously for as long as the failure lasts.

Lockable boxes 14cm wide X 23cm deep X 54cm long are available free of charge

To rent space in this freezer please contact the Infrastructure team