Western RJA Offices Work Together on World Record Research Facility

Ron Mahlman, of RJA’s San Francisco office, and Joe Cappuccio, of RJA’s Washington office, are working on the world’s longest linear accelerator, the SLAC National Accelerator laboratory in Menlo Park, California.

For nearly 50 years, the SLAC has been host to brilliant minds and brilliant work including scientists who have been awarded 6 Nobel Prizes. Focusing in astrophysics, photon science, accelerator and particle physics research, the SLAC is a 2-mile linear facility with portions of it 50 feet underground.

RJA will be providing fire protection consulting services for this project. RJA’s team will work closely with the SLAC Fire Marshal to develop the fire protection approach for the project to comply with both the California Building Code and NFPA 101 Life Safety Code.

One notable challenge for this facility will be egress. As the facility hosts radioactive materials, a simple door for evacuation would not protect the exterior environment from contamination. Thus, exit systems must be configured in what is called a “maze”.

Photos via.

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