Steam leak sets off alarm, gives students rude awakening
James Oswald
Issue date: 11/6/08 Section: News
"It sounded like a bomb siren," said sophomore Lee Clements. "If we were getting bombed, I think that's what it sounded like. Then there was some inanimate voice that came on the speaker that told us to go outside immediately."
It was an unexpected early start to the day for Clements and many other students after a fire alarm went off last Tuesday.
For the approximately 370 students living in Schaaf Residence Hall, the day began before 7:00 a.m. after steam particles triggered a fire alarm in the basement of the building.
Students proceeded outside and many believed that a fire had started because of the immense amount of steam inside.
No fire actually occurred, but steam particles act similar to smoke particles, and caused the fire alarm to go off.
Initially it was believed that a steam pipe had broken, causing the overflow of steam throughout the basement. According to Assistant Director of Facilities Management, Rex Fisk, a device that regulates steam pressure failed.
"It is supposed to regulate from 80psi to 10psi", Fisk said. "The device malfunctioned and when the pressure got too high; it blew the safety valve open, sending steam through the basement."
Personnel from the Facilities Management department handled the situation and made sure the building was safe.
Fisk says everything with the unit has been repaired.
"The system is all fixed and a new regulator has been installed," Fisk said.
joswald@capital.edu
It was an unexpected early start to the day for Clements and many other students after a fire alarm went off last Tuesday.
For the approximately 370 students living in Schaaf Residence Hall, the day began before 7:00 a.m. after steam particles triggered a fire alarm in the basement of the building.
Students proceeded outside and many believed that a fire had started because of the immense amount of steam inside.
No fire actually occurred, but steam particles act similar to smoke particles, and caused the fire alarm to go off.
Initially it was believed that a steam pipe had broken, causing the overflow of steam throughout the basement. According to Assistant Director of Facilities Management, Rex Fisk, a device that regulates steam pressure failed.
"It is supposed to regulate from 80psi to 10psi", Fisk said. "The device malfunctioned and when the pressure got too high; it blew the safety valve open, sending steam through the basement."
Personnel from the Facilities Management department handled the situation and made sure the building was safe.
Fisk says everything with the unit has been repaired.
"The system is all fixed and a new regulator has been installed," Fisk said.
joswald@capital.edu
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