diff --git a/src/ca/nciu.cpp b/src/ca/nciu.cpp
index dc0ca29cf..4ba522319 100644
--- a/src/ca/nciu.cpp
+++ b/src/ca/nciu.cpp
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@
  */
 
 #include <new>
+#include <stdexcept>
 
 #define epicsAssertAuthor "Jeff Hill johill@lanl.gov"
 
@@ -41,8 +42,6 @@
 #include "cadef.h"
 #include "db_access.h" // for INVALID_DB_REQ
 
-epicsSingleton < tsFreeList < class nciu, 1024 > > nciu::pFreeList;
-
 nciu::nciu ( cac & cacIn, netiiu & iiuIn, cacChannelNotify & chanIn, 
             const char *pNameIn, cacChannel::priLev pri ) :
     cacChannel ( chanIn ), 
@@ -76,12 +75,21 @@ nciu::nciu ( cac & cacIn, netiiu & iiuIn, cacChannelNotify & chanIn,
 
 nciu::~nciu ()
 {
-    // care is taken so that a lock is not applied during this phase
-    this->cacCtx.uninstallChannel ( *this );
-
     delete [] this->pNameStr;
 }
 
+void nciu::destroy ()
+{
+    // care is taken so that a lock is not applied during this phase
+    this->cacCtx.destroyChannel ( *this );
+}
+
+void nciu::operator delete ( void * pCadaver )
+{ 
+    throw std::logic_error 
+        ( "compiler is confused about placement delete" );
+}
+
 void nciu::initiateConnect ()
 {   
     this->cacCtx.initiateConnect ( *this );
diff --git a/src/ca/nciu.h b/src/ca/nciu.h
index dddb29f76..01a776dd8 100644
--- a/src/ca/nciu.h
+++ b/src/ca/nciu.h
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@
 #include "tsDLList.h"
 #include "tsFreeList.h"
 #include "epicsMutex.h"
-#include "epicsSingleton.h"
+#include "cxxCompilerDepPlacementDelete.h"
 
 #ifdef nciuh_restore_epicsExportSharedSymbols
 #   define epicsExportSharedSymbols
@@ -66,7 +66,8 @@ class nciu : public cacChannel, public tsDLNode < nciu >,
 public:
     nciu ( cac &, netiiu &, cacChannelNotify &, 
         const char *pNameIn, cacChannel::priLev );
-    ~nciu (); // force pool allocation
+    ~nciu ();
+    void destroy ();
     void connect ( unsigned nativeType, 
         unsigned nativeCount, unsigned sid, bool v41Ok );
     void connect ();
@@ -76,8 +77,6 @@ public:
     bool searchMsg ( class udpiiu & iiu, unsigned & retryNoForThisChannel );
     void createChannelRequest ( class tcpiiu & iiu );
     bool identifierEquivelence ( unsigned idToMatch );
-    void * operator new ( size_t size );
-    void operator delete ( void *pCadaver, size_t size );
     void beaconAnomalyNotify ();
     void serviceShutdownNotify ();
     void accessRightsStateChange ( const caAccessRights & );
@@ -98,6 +97,10 @@ public:
     void writeException ( epicsGuard < callbackMutex > &,
         int status, const char *pContext, unsigned type, arrayElementCount count );
     cacChannel::priLev getPriority () const;
+    void * operator new ( size_t size, tsFreeList < class nciu, 1024 > & );
+#   ifdef CXX_PLACEMENT_DELETE
+    void operator delete ( void *, tsFreeList < class nciu, 1024 > & );
+#   endif
 private:
     caAccessRights accessRightState;
     cac & cacCtx;
@@ -129,20 +132,27 @@ private:
     bool ca_v42_ok () const;
     void hostName ( char *pBuf, unsigned bufLength ) const;
     static void stringVerify ( const char *pStr, const unsigned count );
-    static epicsSingleton < tsFreeList < class nciu, 1024 > > pFreeList;
 	nciu ( const nciu & );
 	nciu & operator = ( const nciu & );
+    void * operator new ( size_t );
+    void operator delete ( void * );
+    void * operator new [] ( size_t );
+    void operator delete [] ( void * );
 };
 
-inline void * nciu::operator new ( size_t size )
+inline void * nciu::operator new ( size_t size, 
+    tsFreeList < class nciu, 1024 > & freeList )
 { 
-    return nciu::pFreeList->allocate ( size );
+    return freeList.allocate ( size );
 }
 
-inline void nciu::operator delete ( void *pCadaver, size_t size )
+#ifdef CXX_PLACEMENT_DELETE
+inline void nciu::operator delete ( void * pCadaver,
+    tsFreeList < class nciu, 1024 > & freeList )
 { 
-    nciu::pFreeList->release ( pCadaver, size );
+    freeList.release ( pCadaver, sizeof ( nciu ) );
 }
+#endif
 
 inline bool nciu::identifierEquivelence ( unsigned idToMatch )
 {
diff --git a/src/ca/netIO.h b/src/ca/netIO.h
index 392b12e39..e4b3b739f 100644
--- a/src/ca/netIO.h
+++ b/src/ca/netIO.h
@@ -27,17 +27,7 @@
 #define netIOh
 
 #include "nciu.h"
-
-// does the compiler support placement delete
-#if defined (_MSC_VER) && ( _MSC_VER >= 1200 )
-#   define NETIO_PLACEMENT_DELETE
-#elif defined ( __HP_aCC ) && ( _HP_aCC > 033300 )
-#   define NETIO_PLACEMENT_DELETE
-#elif defined ( __BORLANDC__ ) && ( __BORLANDC__ > 0x550 )
-#   define NETIO_PLACEMENT_DELETE
-#else
-#   define NETIO_PLACEMENT_DELETE
-#endif
+#include "cxxCompilerDepPlacementDelete.h"
 
 // SUN PRO generates multiply defined symbols if the baseNMIU
 // destructor is virtual (therefore it is protected). 
@@ -96,7 +86,7 @@ private:
     void operator delete ( void * );
     void * operator new ( size_t, 
         tsFreeList < class netSubscription, 1024, epicsMutexNOOP > & );
-#   if defined ( NETIO_PLACEMENT_DELETE )
+#   if defined ( CXX_PLACEMENT_DELETE )
     void operator delete ( void *, 
         tsFreeList < class netSubscription, 1024, epicsMutexNOOP > & );
 #   endif
@@ -129,7 +119,7 @@ private:
     void operator delete ( void * );
     void * operator new ( size_t, 
         tsFreeList < class netReadNotifyIO, 1024, epicsMutexNOOP > & );
-#   if defined ( NETIO_PLACEMENT_DELETE )
+#   if defined ( CXX_PLACEMENT_DELETE )
     void operator delete ( void *, 
         tsFreeList < class netReadNotifyIO, 1024, epicsMutexNOOP > & );
 #   endif
@@ -161,7 +151,7 @@ private:
     void operator delete ( void * );
     void * operator new ( size_t, 
         tsFreeList < class netWriteNotifyIO, 1024, epicsMutexNOOP > & );
-#   if defined ( NETIO_PLACEMENT_DELETE )
+#   if defined ( CXX_PLACEMENT_DELETE )
     void operator delete ( void *,
         tsFreeList < class netWriteNotifyIO, 1024, epicsMutexNOOP > & );
 #   endif
@@ -185,24 +175,14 @@ inline void * netSubscription::operator new ( size_t size,
     return freeList.allocate ( size );
 }
 
-#if defined ( NETIO_PLACEMENT_DELETE )
+#if defined ( CXX_PLACEMENT_DELETE )
     inline void netSubscription::operator delete ( void *pCadaver, 
         tsFreeList < class netSubscription, 1024, epicsMutexNOOP > &freeList )
     {
-        freeList.release ( pCadaver, sizeof ( netSubscription ) );
+        freeList.release ( pCadaver );
     }
 #endif
 
-inline void * netSubscription::operator new ( size_t sizeIn )
-{
-    return ::operator new ( sizeIn );
-}
-
-inline void netSubscription::operator delete ( void * p )
-{
-    ::operator delete ( p );
-}
-
 inline netSubscription * netSubscription::factory ( 
     tsFreeList < class netSubscription, 1024, epicsMutexNOOP > &freeList, 
     nciu &chan, unsigned type, arrayElementCount count, 
@@ -246,24 +226,14 @@ inline void * netReadNotifyIO::operator new ( size_t size,
     return freeList.allocate ( size );
 }
 
-#if defined ( NETIO_PLACEMENT_DELETE )
+#if defined ( CXX_PLACEMENT_DELETE )
     inline void netReadNotifyIO::operator delete ( void *pCadaver, 
         tsFreeList < class netReadNotifyIO, 1024, epicsMutexNOOP > &freeList )
     {
-        freeList.release ( pCadaver, sizeof ( netWriteNotifyIO ) );
+        freeList.release ( pCadaver );
     }
 #endif
 
-inline void * netReadNotifyIO::operator new ( size_t sizeIn )
-{
-    return ::operator new ( sizeIn );
-}
-
-inline void netReadNotifyIO::operator delete ( void * p )
-{
-    ::operator delete ( p );
-}
-
 inline netWriteNotifyIO * netWriteNotifyIO::factory ( 
     tsFreeList < class netWriteNotifyIO, 1024, epicsMutexNOOP > &freeList, 
     nciu &chan, cacWriteNotify &notify )
@@ -277,22 +247,12 @@ inline void * netWriteNotifyIO::operator new ( size_t size,
     return freeList.allocate ( size );
 }
 
-#if defined ( NETIO_PLACEMENT_DELETE )
+#if defined ( CXX_PLACEMENT_DELETE )
     inline void netWriteNotifyIO::operator delete ( void *pCadaver, 
         tsFreeList < class netWriteNotifyIO, 1024, epicsMutexNOOP > &freeList )
     {
-        freeList.release ( pCadaver, sizeof ( netWriteNotifyIO ) );
+        freeList.release ( pCadaver );
     }
 #endif
 
-inline void * netWriteNotifyIO::operator new ( size_t sizeIn )
-{
-    return ::operator new ( sizeIn );
-}
-
-inline void netWriteNotifyIO::operator delete ( void * p )
-{
-    ::operator delete ( p );
-}
-
 #endif // ifdef netIOh