2008 Woodie Awards
Sensor controls carbon monoxide leak at Pastore Hall
Jeff Sullivan
Issue date: 10/23/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
10/23/07 - A carbon monoxide leak in the Pastore Hall Annex could have presented a more alarming concern if it wasn't for a safety mechanism that is set in place.
On Oct. 12 at 10 p.m. it was reported that a smell of gas was coming from the Pastore Hall Annex. The Kingston Fire Department responded to the call and found that the heating apparatus's water tank in the boiler room sprung a leak and put out the gas-fired furnace. The leak caused carbon monoxide and other gases to be expelled into the building for a short time.
The leak could have lasted longer, but a safety sensory mechanism was activated and stopped the fuel from being fired into the air.
"There's a thermal coupler connected to the heater that controls the gas flow, which has to be hot for the gas to exit the fuel injector," said Harry Davis, assistant director of facilities. "When the gas went out it flowed for about a fraction of a second, but our detectors are so sensitive they picked it up right away and the [Kingston] Fire Department was alerted."
Because of the thermal coupler safety feature, no one had to be evacuated from the building, which resulted in no one knowing what had happened.
The Kingston Fire Department opened a window to remedy the situation and workers in the building were not aware of the leak.
"I was not informed of this at all," chemistry department chair William Euler said. "I had absolutely no idea,"
On Oct. 12 at 10 p.m. it was reported that a smell of gas was coming from the Pastore Hall Annex. The Kingston Fire Department responded to the call and found that the heating apparatus's water tank in the boiler room sprung a leak and put out the gas-fired furnace. The leak caused carbon monoxide and other gases to be expelled into the building for a short time.
The leak could have lasted longer, but a safety sensory mechanism was activated and stopped the fuel from being fired into the air.
"There's a thermal coupler connected to the heater that controls the gas flow, which has to be hot for the gas to exit the fuel injector," said Harry Davis, assistant director of facilities. "When the gas went out it flowed for about a fraction of a second, but our detectors are so sensitive they picked it up right away and the [Kingston] Fire Department was alerted."
Because of the thermal coupler safety feature, no one had to be evacuated from the building, which resulted in no one knowing what had happened.
The Kingston Fire Department opened a window to remedy the situation and workers in the building were not aware of the leak.
"I was not informed of this at all," chemistry department chair William Euler said. "I had absolutely no idea,"