Published by Communications and Public Affairs (519) 824-4120, Ext. 56982 or 53338
Campus Bulletin
June 20, 2002
Campus steam system to shut down for two weeks
Physical Resources will carry out a complete shutdown of the steam system for all campus buildings on the east side of Gordon Street June 23 to July 7. During this time, there will be no centrally produced steam available for building systems or domestic hot water for showers, swimming pools, laboratories, food preparation and autoclaves/sterilizers that are connected to the central steam distribution system.
The shutdown is needed to allow Physical Resources to do an inspection of the Central Utilities Plant (CUP) exhaust stack and to complete essential repairs to the stack, says Martin Hodgson, manager of mechanical design services. The shutdown is also required to enable Physical Resources to install an energy-conserving heat-recovery system in the CUP that will allow the University to use exhaust gas from the existing boilers to provide all heat for the new classroom complex and to reduce natural gas use on campus. Physical Resources will take advantage of this shutdown period to complete other necessary repairs in the steam tunnels and the swimming pools, he says.
Hodgson notes that Physical Resources staff worked with units across campus throughout the winter to implement contingency plans to reduce the disruption to the campus community and to ensure that all appropriate health and safety requirements are in place. "The co-operation of the campus community in dealing with this essential shutdown has been appreciated."
Some temporary hot water heaters will be supplied to Hospitality Services for its food-service operations, he adds. During the shutdown period, Hospitality Services will be using disposable dishware in all of its operations on the east side of campus.
The Athletics Department has notified users that there will be a disruption to its services. There will NOT be hot water in shower facilities in the arena or in the gym . As well, major maintenance is being done on both pools during the shut- down period.
The shutdown will begin at 1 p.m. June 23 and continue until late afternoon July 7. For more information, contact Hodgson at Ext. 3308 or martin@pr.uoguelph.ca or Paul Specht, director of maintenance operations, at Ext. 3306 or paulsp@pr.uoguelph.ca.
