July 26, 2007
Building evacuated due to refrigerant leak
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - A refrigerant leak on Thursday (July 26) forced the evacuation of a Purdue University building.Purdue's fire department was called to the Yue-Kong Pao Hall of Visual and Performing Arts at 1:04 p.m. in response to an automatic fire alarm. Responding firefighters noticed a haze inside the mechanical room in the basement's west side and discovered what appeared to be a leaking refrigerant called R-22, said interim fire chief Kevin Ply. R-22 is commonly used in light commercial air conditioning, refrigerators and freezers.
No smoke or fire was found inside the building.
After the building was ventilated, firefighters determined that the leak's source was a small compressor. The building was determined to be safe and people were allowed to return at about 2 p.m. Physical facilities staff were notified to make repairs to the compressor.
Writer: Kim Medaris, (765) 494-6998, kmedaris@purdue.edu
Source: Kevin Ply, (765) 494-6910, kmply@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
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