The MK6 Earthquake Trigger Recorder is installed wherever an earthquake's secondary effects — gas fires, machinery damage, infrastructure failure — pose a risk to life or property. Below are the most common applications across New Zealand and Australia.

Commercial & Multi-Unit Residential Buildings

In multi-storey apartments and commercial buildings, a single gas pipe can run dozens of metres from the street connection to boilers and appliances on different floors. An earthquake that ruptures that pipe mid-run fills the building with an ignitable gas-air mix before anyone can manually intervene.

The MK6 is installed at the building's gas entry point, wired to an automatic shutoff valve. The moment seismic acceleration exceeds the pre-set threshold, the valve closes — automatically, within milliseconds, without human intervention. Building managers are alerted via the event counter, and gas is not restored until a qualified person has inspected the system.

Industrial Facilities & Manufacturing

Industrial sites carry risk beyond gas: high-pressure steam, rotating machinery, chemical processes, and precision equipment that can be made dangerous if an earthquake strikes mid-operation.

The MK6 can trigger multiple shutdown sequences simultaneously through its relay outputs — closing gas valves, de-energising boilers, stopping conveyor lines, or signalling a PLC. Sensitivity is field-adjustable so the trigger threshold matches the site's risk profile: a foundry may tolerate higher background vibration than a cleanroom or food production facility. The 6-digit event counter provides an auditable log for health and safety compliance records.

Hospitals, Schools & Public Infrastructure

Buildings where occupants cannot quickly self-evacuate — hospitals, schools, rest homes, and public facilities — carry the highest responsibility for seismic safety. In these environments, secondary effects like gas-fed fires can be catastrophic when evacuation is slow or impossible.

The MK6 provides automatic, immediate response without relying on staff to act under pressure. It is suited to compliance with NZ building and life-safety standards for critical facilities. A single unit can protect an entire building's gas supply, with additional units deployed to protect specific high-risk plant rooms or equipment.

Gas Distribution & Utility Networks

Pressure reduction stations, district regulators, and substation installations require automatic isolation capability at multiple points across a network. A major earthquake can simultaneously compromise several locations, making manual response impractical.

The MK6's DC power option makes it ideal for remote or battery-backed installations where mains supply cannot be guaranteed. Multiple units can be deployed independently across a distribution network, each set to the appropriate sensitivity for its location and function. The sealed cast aluminium casing protects against damp subterranean environments common in utility installations.

Equipment Isolation — Lathes, CNC Machinery & Lifts

Precision machinery — CNC machining centres, lathes, coordinate measuring machines — can be severely damaged if an earthquake strikes during operation. A cutting tool under load, thrown against a workpiece by seismic forces, can ruin both the machine and the work. Lifts that continue operating during seismic events present an obvious safety hazard.

The MK6 can be wired to a machine's emergency stop circuit or a lift's safety relay, triggering a controlled shutdown the moment the threshold is detected. The 10 ms response time ensures the machine stops before the full force of the S-waves arrives.

To discuss the right configuration for your site, contact us or see the MK6 product page for specifications and options.