Rota-Loo

Operations Manual

Phone: (03) 5135 3900

Fax: (03) 5135 3955

[email protected]
[email protected]

www.rotaloo.com

AS/NZS 1546.2:2008 is the Standard

that sets out the requirements for the
design and performance of Waterless
Composting Toilets to assure of safe,
effective and efficient operat ion.
Proudly Made in Australia by Kiel
Authorities regulating the installat ion of Industries Pty Ltd
Waterless Composting Toilets (local
Councils etc) require Cert ificat ion to the A Quality Assured Company
Standard to approve the installat ion of
a system like Rota-Loo
www.kielindustries.com.au

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OVERVIEW
Using your Rota-Loo is great for the environment... you will use less water and less energy and you'll
return nutrients to the local eco-system.

But using a Rota-Loo requires some effort and care - it is not the same as pushing a button and having
someone else look after your waste, but with a little care and maintenance you can expect many years of
trouble free operation.

PLEASE READ THIS OPERATION MANUAL CAREFULLY

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU MAINTAIN THE ROTA-LOO PROPERLY

Using the Rota-Loo (Page 2-3)

Rota-Loo is a composting
The Rota-Loo is used as any other toilet but care must be taken: toilet - the composting
• Always keep the toilet seat down when not in use process can be improved but
some things will harm the
• The toilet may be used to compost other waste, but only process.
certain materials See Page 2-3 for details
• Do not use disinfectants to clean the toilet
• Use good quality toilet paper

Rotating the Rota-Loo (Page 4)

You will need to check regularly to make sure the waste bins
When emptying the Bin, use
do not overflow - this can be done by looking down the gloves, eye protection and a
waste chute with a torch. dust mask to protect yourself
from any residual pathogens
When a bin is full a Bin Rotation needs to be done - expect that may exist.
to do this several times each year depending on use:
Bury the compost under 300mm of top soil away from
• Cover the waste pile with a suitable material where food cultivation may occur for a 3 month period
• Rotate the bin to the left - this is a requirement of many A uthorities and an
• Empty the bin that is next to be used. additional safe guard against disease transmission

Routine Maintenance and Checks (Page 5)

It is recommended that each time the Bins are Rotated, you:
• Check that the fan is operating and air flow is unobstructed
• Flush out the base of the Rota-Loo with a bucket of water

Trouble Shooting (Page 6-7)

Sometimes things go wrong! Most problems are due to the composting
process getting too wet or out of balance. An outline of common
problems and remedies are listed in the Manual.

Theory (Page 8)
We suggest you also read the Appendix to this Manual, which will help you understand the
composting process and ways you can make the Rota-Loo work better.

Rota-Loo Model Number of bins Full Time Users

Capacity RL650 6 Up to 4
RL950 6 Up to 8
RL2000 8 Up to 20

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OPERATING THE ROTA-LOO

Each installation will be slightly different because we all have different lifestyles and Refer to "Theory" on
diets and we live in different climates. Rota-Loo is designed to operate in a wide page 9 for more detail on
range of conditions and in most cases composting will be effective with a minimum operating conditions
attention.

Start -Up

Once installed correctly and the final checks are done, the Rota-Loo is ready to use:

• Make sure Bin No. 1 is under the Waste Chute and fitted It is a good idea to place a small amount
with a Geotextile filter of mushroom compost, potting mix, pea
straw or similar in the bottom of the bin -
• Replace the door, switch on the fan and the toilet is now this will help start the composting process
ready for use. more quickly

• Fill in the Diary Sticker with the date Bin 1 started being used.

Bin Filling

Use the Rota-Loo as you would any other toilet.

Periodically check the level of the waste pile in the bin - this can be done by shining a torch down the
waste chute or removing the bin through the access door. As you get to know the operation of the Rota-
Loo, you'll get a feel for how long to leave the checking periods - we suggest you check weekly until you
are familiar with your system.

The Bin is considered full when the pile reaches 100mm below the waste chute (before the top
rim of the bin). Never let the bin overfill as the result is a mess you'd rather not deal with!

IMPORTANT

DO NOT PLACE INTO THE ROTA-LOO:

ANY BURNING MATERIALS SUCH AS CIGARETTES OR MATCHES,

•
DISPOSABLE NAPPIES, TAMPONS OR SANITARY NAPKINS,
•
PLASTIC, RUBBER, METAL OR GLASS MATERIAL.
•
Cheap toilets papers contain
USE ONLY A GOOD QUALITY TOILET PAPER "size" and do not break down
easily.
(either unbleached, recycled or new white paper).
PLEASE DO NOT USE EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF TOILET PAPER Paper Hand-towels and
kitchen towels are made to
KEEP THE TOILET SEAT CLOSED WHEN NOT IN USE. hold water and not break up.
Don't use these in a Rota-loo

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Cleaning of the Pedestal And Seat

Generally once a week, or more often if required, clean the pedestal and seat with water and if
necessary, a small amount of biodegradable detergent. No problem is caused if a small amount of
water is let into the system.

Keep the use of disinfectant to a minimum and wherever possible use only biodegradable
disinfectant. When using disinfectant, use it only on a damp sponge around the pedestal and seat
areas to prevent any spillage.

Be careful that disinfectant is not allowed to go down Bio-Stimulant is a sea-weed based

the chute. Should this happen, add a dose of Bio- pro-biotic, available from Rota-Loo,
Stimulant and up to a small bucketful of peat moss or that helps keep the right environment
potting mixture into the bin. This will help restart the and balance in the composting pile for
bacterial activity and isolate fresh wastes from the the aerobic bacteria to grow and work.
disinfected area. Alternatively you can rotate the Rota-
Loo. In this case add Bio-Stimulant and bulking material Adding a small amount of Bio-Stimulant regularly
to give the bacteria plenty to work on. according to the instructions on the bottle will
improve composting and control odours.

It is recommended that Bio-Stimulant be used

weekly, or at least monthly, and whenever a bin
(or the house) is being closed up for a period.

APPLICATION
Adding Other Material (Some Useful Additives) Dilute 1 part Bio-stimulant in 10 parts water
(1:10). Apply 50ml of diluted mix three times a
The Rota-Loo can be used to help compost other per week in active bins (pour down the
household wastes, but please don't expect it to do pedestal).
everything. The aim is to safely handle human waste
and adding other materials should be done with the
objective of improving the composting process only.

We recommend that you at regularly intervals (about once a week) put down the
toilet a handful of two of the following:
• Chopped pea straw (compressed bales are at available from most
garden supply shops)
• Hard vegetable peelings (ie. Potato or carrot). The peelings should be
chopped to no larger than 30mm (1”) square
• Fresh grass clippings
• Hay, Peat moss, Rice hulls, Peanut shells. Pop corn, or similar organic
materials

• Wood shaving can be good but DO NOT USE PINE OR EUCALYPT as

they are disinfectants!

These additives help to allow oxygen to flow around the solid material as well as add some Carbon
rich matter ensuring that it remains aerobic and healthy so you obtain good quality compost.

Do not put soft vegetable scraps, fruit scraps or meat/fat scraps into the Rota-
Loo as they are putrescibles and attract flies and other vermin.

Adding additional matter to the bins will fill the bins more quickly so keep an eye on the bin levels
more often. It may also mean that you will need to rotate the bins more often, but remember that if
the composting bacteria are healthy decomposition will occur quickly.

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Bin Rotat ion

When the bin is full (the waste pile is no higher than 100mm below the top of the bin):
• Open the access door. Adding some
• Pour 2 to 3 litres of water into the bin – this can be done via the pedestal earthworms to the
full bin will further
• If available, we recommend you cover the compost with about 30mm (11/4”) improve the humus
of mushroom compost, potting mixture, chopped straw or hay, or any mixture and speed up the
of similar organic material. composting process.

• Rotate the bins one position in the clockwise direction (to the left). If you wish to try this,
• The bin now under the waste chute will be full of composted material (unless check to ensure you
are using the right
it's the first use) and needs to be emptied.
worms.
• Empty the composted material in a safe place, taking care to retain the
Geotextile filter.
• Replace the filter, return the bin to the Rota-Loo (place some mushroom compost or potting mix
in the bottom if desired) and close the door - it's ready to use again

WARNING:
DO NOT USE A BIN THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN When emptying the Bin, use
USED AND THE CONTENTS COMPOSTED UNTIL gloves, eye protection and a dust
IT HAS BEEN EMPTIED. mask to protect yourself from any
residual pathogens that may exist.

If the Rota-Loo has 2 pedestals If any contact is made between compost and skin, wash
installed (RL950 and RL2000 only), immediately
the bin rotation must include both
active bins even if one is not full. Bury the compost under 300mm of top soil away from
where food cultivation may occur for a 3 month period -
this is a requirement of many Authorities and an
additional safe guard against disease transmission

Keep A Record

Use the Bin Rotation Diary supplied, either on the door of the Rota-Loo or kept in a safe and accessible
place, to keep a record of when the bins are turned and emptied.

o In the 'clear' triangle fill in the date that bin was filled and rotated to the next bin
o In the 'greyed' triangle note the date that bin was emptied and rotated into the 'active'
position.
As a guide, well composted material will be soil like in If the rotation rate is such that a bin is to be emptied
texture and appearance. It will be free of foul odours less that 12 months after it's 'filled' date, composting
and there won't be anything that is recognisable as may not be complete and it is advised that the bin be
faecal matter. removed and allowed to compost longer - spare bins
and lids are available for this purpose.
Even if it passes all these tests, remember to bury it
away from food cultivation to ensure the natural Additional bins must be fitted with a lid (supplied with
process is complete. spare bin) and provided with a flat and secure location
to ensure waste material cannot be spilled or accessed
until properly disposed.

The location should be in a dry, warm place to assist

composting.

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PERIODIC MAINTENANCE
It is wise to create a maintenance plan and carry out routine inspections of all equipment. A little
effort regularly can save a lot of trouble later.

We recommend that each time you open the door to rotate the bins, you should also carry out the
following checks and maintenance.

1. Check the air inlet filter and brush off any dust that will have
covered the mesh. Wash the filter if required.

2. Pour water from a bucket into the bottom of the Rota-Loo. This will When carrying out
maintenance wear
help to dissolve the salt build up. Drain the liquid into the bucket appropriate protective
through the 40mm drain fitting, making sure that there is no clothing - at a
blockage of the outlet. Drain out only about one third of the liquid minimum, wear gloves
into the bucket and top with fresh water. Use this mixture on your and wash immediately
flower garden or lawn. If your Rota-Loo is connected to a permanent if you come into
drain, make sure that the outlet in the Rota-Loo tank is not blocked contact with any
and that the liquid flows out. compost, waste or
surfaces that may
3. Check the fan is operating. come into contact with
such.

Salt Build-Up

Over a period of time, depending on use (1-3 years), there will be a build-up of urea salt in the
bottom of the tank. Pouring 2 or 3 litres of fresh water may reduce this build up. Allow the mixture
to stand for twenty-four hours and drain off into the emergency overflow absorption trench.
Regular flushing will keep the tank free of build-up.

Fan

As the only moving part, the fan is likely to be the only part that will need to be replaced if found
not to be working.

Removing the fan periodically (annually) to check it and clean it may pre-empt a failure which if not
found could adversely impact the Rota-Loo operation.

• Remove the fan clover from the fan housing.

• Remove the fan by sliding it out of the housing - carefully using a screw driver as a lever
may help.

• Using a soft brush eg. a paint brush, clean off the dust which can build up around the fan
blades and motor. Replace the fan.

• When the toilet is unoccupied, keep the lid closed over the seat. If the toilet seat lid is left
open for long periods, there will be a decrease in evaporation and odour could occur.

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TROUBLE-SHOOTING
The Rota-Loo is a simple system that if maintained, will operate without problems for many years.
However, sometimes things go wrong! This section will help you diagnose and rectify some issues that
may arise, and addresses a few common questions. If in doubt, please call your Rota-Loo agent or Kiel
Industries (see front cover of the manual) for help and advice.

If the Liquid level in the bottom of the Rota-Loo is greater than 50mm deep.

The liquid needs to be drained off. Do this by placing a container under the drain outlet (near the
access door) and removing the cap.

Use and extra dose of

If the Rota-Loo emits an unpleasant odour. Bio-Stimulant to get
the bacteria balance
The composting matter is probably too wet. Excess liquid may need to right again
be drained off as above.
Check the fan operation and Turbo vent. Insufficient air flow which
may be caused by a failed fan or blocked air piping (a bird's nest in the APPLICATION
Dilute 1 part Bio-stimulant in 10
Turbo vent!) will reduce evaporation. Or, if the fan stops, the airflow
parts water (1:10). Apply 50-
from the Rota-Loo may flow up the pedestal bringing what odour there 100ml of diluted mix three
is into the room. times a per week in active bins
Restart the fan (failed power supply maybe) or replace the fan. (pour down the pedestal).

If the Liquid Level is continuously building.

Check the fan, as above. It may be that the airflow is not enough to evaporate the liquids.
Or, more heat is needed for the system to evaporate the liquid properly. A Soltran Module may
need to be installed or an excess liquid handling system should be constructed.

If the turntable won't rotate.

Some early models
Check for obstructions. experienced turntable wheel
failures. The Rota-Loo design
On the RL650 the bins are quite close to the chamber sides and it may be that has overcome that rare failure,
a bin has got caught on a Vent Pod screw that is a little long. but if you find one with a
wheel failure they can be
On models with turntable castors (RL950 and RL2000), check for salt build up replaced. Contact your
on the base of the chamber as it may be that salt crystals block the turntable supplier or Kiel Industries for
advice.
wheel path - flush with water and drain from the excess liquid outlet.

The turntable hasn't been rotated and a Bin has become overfilled.

Should the bin overflow, the Rota-Loo will need to be Take particular care when cleaning
cleaned out carefully. The overflow bin will need to out after a bin overflow as you will
be removed and excess waste transferred to the next need to handle raw waste.
Use gloves, eye protection and a
bin (after emptying). Any overflowed waste solids can
dust mask and wash cloths
be cleaned out be flushing with water and pumping immediately after.
out the Rota-Loo base (block-off the excess liquid
outlet) to be disposed of properly (a septic pump out It is strongly recommended that a septic tank cleanout
truck will take the waste to a proper disposal facility. specialist be contracted to do this task.

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There was a power failure during the last few days. Will this affect the composting?

No. The heat generated from the composting process is usually sufficient to maintain the correct
temperature in the composting pile. Also, the heat from the compost will set up a natural draught,
which should take away the odours and keep the toilet free of smell.

What should be done if the area will be closed down for a while?
If the toilets will not be used for only a few days, we would recommend you keep the fan on, but if
the toilets are not to be used for a few weeks, the fan may be turned off.
When you turn the fan off, a smell may enter the room. However, this should be gone in a few
hours, after the heat from the composting process starts to push the gases up the vent on its own
or the fan is restarted on return.
It is also recommended that you add a dose of Bio-Stimulant down the pedestal before shutting up.
This works to keep the right balance of bacteria while nothing is being added.

If there are too many flies in the composting chamber. The toilet seat cover
should always be kept
Generally, flies are attracted by excessive amounts of carbon dioxide and closed when the toilet is
methane, which is a result of anaerobic bacteria indicating that the composting not being used to prevent
pile is too moist, there is not enough heat or the wrong things have been flies from entering the
dropped down the pedestal. compost bins.
A few flies may be part of the process and may be helpful, but if they Check the Inlet Filter.
become a nuisance they can be dealt with.
• First check all the other ventilation systems (fan etc.) are working properly. and that liquid It's rare for flies to enter
drainage and evaporation is adequate. via the Turbo Vent - if you
wish to add a filter to the
• Commence using a bulking regime to aerate the pile. This allows more air through the pile
and will increase aerobic activity and evaporation.
vent outlet take care not
to restrict the airflow
• The most effective way to kill the flies is by using the Rota-Loo Bio-Stimulant. Bio-
Stimulant helps the compost pile, by increasing and sustaining a higher metabolic rate of aerobic bacteria therefore
increasing the compost rate and producing less gases to attract the flies.
• It is also recommended that a pyrethrum (natural insect repellent) spray or powder be added to the pile and the bin
rotated. Two tablespoons of boracic acid can also work.
• Another option to kill these flies is by pouring boiling water down the waste chute. The boiling water kills the larvae
and stops the breeding cycle. About 4 litres of boiling water down the chute, everyday for about 14 days is
required. Make sure you have a drainage system in place first.
• If flies are still present and all methods have failed, it would be worthwhile emptying all bins and flushing the whole
system out with water. This will allow you to start afresh.

Sphaeroceridae are a family of true flies in the order Diptera, often Vinegar Flies or Ferment Flies are a small, yellowish fly (3-
called small dung flies 4mm) with distinct red eyes and are commonly seen around
rotting fruit
The larvae are microbial grazers found
in abundance in many The Vinegar Fly is not actually a fruit fly as it does not feed on
microenvironments with decomposing fruit directly, just the yeasts associated with rotting fruit.
organic material. Most species appear
to be associated with decaying plants They are common in homes and restaurants and wherever
or fungi and they are a part of the food is allowed to rot and ferment. With a life cycle of 1 week
and the ability to lay 500 eggs, they can become very plentiful
nutrient cycle. Many species are
very quickly.
associated with various kinds of faeces
including human faeces. Sphaerocerids
may abound in decomposer
communities such as compost and
manure.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sphaeroceridae

https://australianmuseum.net.au/vinegar-fly

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APPENDIX - The Theory

The Composting Process
Composting is nature's recycling process. It is how organic material is broken down
by micro-organisms to produce a rich product called Humus, an organic fertiliser, To learn more about
naturally disposal of
mulch and soil conditioner made from decayed organic material. Because human human waste and how to
waste is an organic material, it can be composted to produce humus. improve the composting
process and end product,
The quality of the humus from a Waterless Composting Toilet (WCT) will be the book "The Humanure
influenced by the design and installation, the materials you are adding and climatic Handbook" by Joseph
Jenkins is a useful
conditions. In a correctly installed and maintained Rota-Loo you can create humus resource
which is soil like in texture and smell.

There are two main groups of bacteria that can be used in composting. Aerobic (requires oxygen)
and anaerobic (no oxygen required). Aerobic bacteria processes material faster and with significantly
less odorous gases than anaerobic bacteria.

If the material in the bin gets too wet or compacted down, air (oxygen) cannot circulate through the
pile and aerobic bacteria will die out and be replaced by anaerobic bacteria. Anaerobic bacteria are
responsible for creating odours (nitrous oxide or “rotten egg gas”) which are associated with some
composting and septic systems.

To maintain aerobic decomposition, it is important to keep the moisture contain of the material below
70%, and ideally between 50% and 60%. As faecal matter is 70-80% moisture and urine about
95%, for a WCT to work correctly there must be a method to separate the liquids from the solids.

The heat of the compost pile is also very important in

composting. Depending on the temperature there will
be different dominant bacteria groups:
• Below 5°C very little activity takes place.
• From 6°C to 20°C – Psychrophilic,
• From 21°C to 45°C - Mesophilic,
• From 46°C - 71°C Thermophilic.

From the graph shown (from AS1546.2) the time for

organic material to be composted is very dependent on
the temperature. Heat will be generated by the bacterial
activity, but holding that heat and adding to it is
important for effective operation of a waterless
composting toilet system.

A realistic operation is to encourage the Mesophilic

bacteria by maintaining warmth in the WCT and adding
bulking materials to promote a loose textured pile that
allows good air flow (oxygen supply).

The Carbon-Nitrogen ratio (C/N) is a further important aspect in composting. Carbon and Nitrogen is
the food required by micro organisms. The C/N Ratio can vary from 40:1 to 25:1, but in general
terms you need a lot of Carbon to a small amount of Nitrogen so for optimum efficiency some high
carbon bulking materials should be added.

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How Rot a-Loo Works and Ensures Eff icient

Compost ing TEMERATURE

The Rota-Loo bins are designed for the waste

Inside the Rota-Loo are six bins located on a turntable. generated by normal use of persons up to the
When a bin is in use it is located directly below the design capacity of the Rota-Loo to remain in the
toilet pedestal and human waste, toilet paper and composting environment for 12 months. As can
bulking material will be added to the bin. When the bin be seen in the graph above this allows for
is full the turntable is rotated to the next available bin complete composting even in cold environments.
and the full bin is allowed to compost until it is needed
again - typically about 12 months. By keeping the When installed in climates where the average
composting material inside the Rota-Loo, the best monthly temperature falls below 10°C for 3
composting environment is maintain. and there is no months or more each year, the Rota-Loo must be
insulated and installed where additional heat is
need to move uncomposted material.
provided by a solar collector or otherwise. This
ensures a factor of safety of at least 2
In the bottom of the bins there are a number drainage (composting should take no more than 6 months).
holes and a Geotextile filter which allows liquid to seep
through to the outer tank reducing the moisture Where installed in cold climates where average
content of the composting pile. temperature regularly falls below 6°C for
extended periods, the Rota-Loo must be provided
with additional heat (north facing solar collector)
and care should be taken to provide extra
composting time by de-rating the Rota-Loo or
using additional bins

Oxygen is provided by air flow which is

created by the continuous operation of the
fan. This fan, located on the air outlet pipe,
also creates a negative pressure at the
pedestals, making sure your toilet room is
always fresh. The sides of the bins also
have a number of holes to allow warm air
to flow around and through the bin
delivering oxygen to the bacteria.

HUMIDITY
Typically, the air flow through the Rota-Loo
In most cases the environmental humidity will not be a critical factor, unless
is sufficient to evaporate the liquid that has
it is particularly high for long periods of time.
collected in the base of the Rota-Loo
chamber - note that the design of the Where it is high (over 80% relative humidity for 3 months or more each
Rota-Loo has the inlet vent low and year), it is important to provide warm air into the Rota-Loo and insulation
opposite the outlet to promote cross-flow. and a vent drain to the outlet vent (see installation manual page 3). Excess
Where the usage of the Rota-Loo results in Liquid handling may also be needed in humid climates where evaporation is
excess liquid that cannot be evaporated in difficult.
normal operation, there is provision to
drain off the excess liquid to a secondary In very dry climates (regularly under 40% relative humidity) and when the
Rota-Loo is seldom used, it may be necessary to pour a bucket of water
evaporator or absorption trench.
down the pedestal from time to time to prevent the composting pile from
drying too much

Heat for composting is generated by the bacterial activity. Retaining the heat available is important
and adding extra heat will assist the process. Using good insulation and passive solar heat are both
important methods to create and retain internal warmth.

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The design of the Rota-Loo provides a natural air-gap

insulation around the bins. It is recommended that the
Rota-Loo is installed in an insulated space to help retain
heat - this is particularly important in cold climates where
temperatures are regularly below 10°C. Placing the
Rota-Loo in a sun-facing position and/or in a Soltran
module will improve operation.

A significant amount of heat is lost in the airflow system,

so a Rota-Loo installation requirement is that the inlet air
is drawn from a warm air area, preferably through piping
that acts as a solar collector (being placed in a sunny
location and painted black are the simplest methods).

As noted, the Rota-Loo design provides for normal use to retain

State Regulations often stipulate the
the waste for 12 months of composting, which is more than disposal methods of composted waste
sufficient time for the composting to be completed in all except from a WCT. Please check with your local
some extreme climates. The actual composting time will be A uthority.
determined by the rate of use, what additional materials are
Typically in Australia, Authorities require
added and the climate. that the humus from a composting toilet
be buried with 300mm of soil on top and
When a composted bin has rotated through the Rota-Loo in a location that is not intended to be
chamber, it will be ready to empty before filling again. If all has used for food cultivation for three months.
been operating well the result will be a soil like Humus compost
which can be used as a fertiliser in the garden.

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DIARY

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