The use of open-circuit water cooling for cooling condensers in research laboratories at USC shall be phased out and ultimately prohibited by Jan. 1, 2024. After the deadline, any observed open-circuit use of water for cooling condensers shall be considered a finding during an EH&S laboratory safety inspection.
The most common cause of avoidable flooding in laboratories arises from open-circuit use of water to cool condensers. This flooding can be easily avoided by using one of the following alternative setups:
- Closed-circuit chiller
- Air cooling
- Recirculating water using a bucket and pump