Dear BNC User,
As an update, we had a fire alarm evacuation of the center where one of the fire sprinkler heads froze and busted in the front west entrance of the center flooding the office and lab areas shown below. Purdue
fire department and building services are in the process of vacuuming up all the water. Items setting on the floor in these areas did came into contact with standing water. We will wait to see how PUPF will address the water damage from the flooding and
contact those directly involved as a result from the flooding. Please let me know of any issues when you return to your offices or lab space so we can report it back to PUPF risk management department.
The campus steam pressure is doing better, we up from 13 psi to 41 psi and climbing (normal is 125 psi). So at this time all lab and cleanroom HVAC and humidification systems are back on line and humidity levels
for all lab and cleanroom areas are normal.
Thank you for your patience and understanding during this emergency situation.
Best Regards,
Mark
From: Bnc-facility-notice <bnc-facility-notice-bounces@ecn.purdue.edu>
On Behalf Of Voorhis, Mark L.
Sent: Monday, January 20, 2020 2:44 PM
To: bnc-facility-notice@ecn.purdue.edu
Subject: Re: [Bnc-facility-notice] NOTICE - Loss of Campus Steam Pressure
Sensitivity: Private
Dear BNC User
We have just lost HVAC controls for both east and west general lab wings. These air handling systems are protected by freeze protection system when heat (campus steam) is lost the systems
are design to shut down to protect them from freezing damage. All research in the general labs should be shut down.
Part of the BNC steam contingency plan is to shutdown general lab space to protect the cleanroom positive static pressure. At this time cleanroom static pressure is okay but could be
lost if steam pressure does not return.
At this time there has been no change with campus steam pressure.
Mark
From: Voorhis, Mark L. <mvoorhis@purdue.edu>
Sent: Monday, January 20, 2020 1:54 PM
To: Voorhis, Mark L. <mvoorhis@purdue.edu>;
bnc-facility-notice@ecn.purdue.edu
Subject: RE: [Bnc-facility-notice] NOTICE - Loss of Campus Steam Pressure
Sensitivity: Private
Dear BNC Users
Things went from bad to worse, during the process of bring more boilers on line at the wade power plant one of the two remaining boilers tripped off, one of them being a very large coal
burning boiler. Our high pressure steam is 13 psi (normal is 125 psi) and we are close to losing HVAC controls for the general labs. We have implemented steam contingency plans and shut all atrium and office HVAC systems plus all general lab and cleanroom
humiditiy control. The humidity in the general labs and cleanroom are very low at 20% (normal is 45%). Wade is in the process of bring up a larger gas fired boiler but it takes time to start generating steam.
We will keep you posted.
Mark
From: Bnc-facility-notice <bnc-facility-notice-bounces@ecn.purdue.edu>
On Behalf Of Voorhis, Mark L.
Sent: Monday, January 20, 2020 12:17 PM
To: bnc-facility-notice@ecn.purdue.edu
Subject: [Bnc-facility-notice] NOTICE - Loss of Campus Steam Pressure
Sensitivity: Private
Dear BNC Users –
We have lost campus wide steam pressure at 11:30AM where 2 of 4 wade power plant steam boilers shut down. Several building alarms came in that we are responding to. Our high pressure steam normally operates at
125 psi and is currently at 25 psi. This may cause a loss of humidity control for cleanroom and general lab spaces. PUPF have started 2 backup boilers to recover. At this time it appears that the building is stable with no shutdown of building systems is
needed. I will update once campus steam is back to normal.
Thank you,
Mark Voorhis
Building Manager
Purdue University
Birck Nanotechnology Center
Office: (765) 494-3036
