100 days to le Grand Départ!

PAINTING SHEFFIELD YELLOW

 

 Thursday 27 March 2014

Barker’s Pool                            1 pm onwards

Peace Gardens                        2 pm onwards, with illuminations after dusk

ANY QUESTIONS?

What’s happening?

On Thursday 27 March, the fountains in Sheffield City Centre will turn yellow for the launch of Yorkshire’s Cultural Festival celebrating the Tour de France.

Why Yellow?

Yellow is the colour of the Tour de France winner’s jersey.

What is making the fountains yellow?

A dye called fluorescein. It is powerful so only a small amount is being used – less than 3 Kg altogether in The Peace Gardens and Barker’s Pool.

Is it poisonous?

No! it is has been used in medicine for many years (in eye examinations for example) and has not caused any problems.

Will it get into the rivers?

No! the fountains come from water in closed tanks – a 55,000 litre tank in the Peace Gardens, and two 4,000 litre tanks in Barker’s Pool. The tanks are emptied once a year, in the summer, by which time all the dye will have disappeared.

Is it safe for the environment?

Yes! it is biodegradable and will not harm wildlife. Click here to read ‘A risk assessment of the use of fluorescein in public fountains in Sheffield‘. 

Does it glow in the dark?

Only when it is illuminated with ultra violet or blue light.

What makes it so bright?

The dye is fluorescent: it absorbs the light in the violet and blue range of the spectrum, and gives it out again at a longer wave-length, so it appears as green or yellow light.

This effect is also used in fluorescent highlighter pens and Hi-vis jackets, to make them look very bright.

How long will it last?

Fluorescein degrades in daylight. It will disappear completely in a couple of weeks – more quickly if there is lots of sunshine.

Help! It’s on my hands / my trousers…

Don’t worry! The dye dissolves quickly in water. Simple washing will remove it. Sunlight alone will destroy it in a few days.

If you should accidentally get splashed by the fountain and stain your best white shirt yellow, you can use a weak domestic bleach solution to remove the colour rapidly.

 

 

 

100 days to le Grand Départ!

 

Thursday 27 March 2014

Barker’s Pool                            1 pm onwards

Peace Gardens                         2 pm onwards, with illuminations after dusk