Hammer Building Advisory: HVAC, condenser water, and limited emergency power disruption, Friday, April 28, 5 a.m. - 8 a.m.

As part of our efforts to renovate the second floor of Hammer Health Sciences Center, the following services will be temporarily unavailable from 5 a.m. to 8 a.m. on Friday, April 28:

• Building-wide heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) and condenser water systems
• Emergency laboratory power on floors 5, 6, and 7 only

Highlights of What to Expect:

1. Environmental boxes, supplemental air conditioning equipment, and specialized laboratory equipment will be temporarily unavailable throughout the building. Building occupants may notice temperature fluctuations throughout the building.
2. Emergency power will be unavailable on floors 5, 6, and 7. Normal power, however, will remain operational throughout the building, as will emergency power on all floors not listed.
3. Representatives from Facilities Management will be walking the floors starting today, to discuss the upcoming shutdown with building occupants and address any questions or concerns. Facilities Management personnel also will be on-site conducting rounds before, during, and after the shutdown to assist with any issues that may occur.
4. In an effort to protect critical equipment from a surge in voltage upon re-activation of emergency power on floors 5, 6, and 7, CUIMC Facilities recommends plugging critical equipment into normal power outlets on floors 5, 6, and 7 for the duration of the shutdown. For assistance with this, call 212-305-HELP (4357), option 3, and a team member will assist.
5. Additionally, representatives from Cryostar will be onsite prior to the shutdown to assist laboratories located on floors 5, 6, and 7 only with performing a controlled shutdown of -80 Freezers.

In preparation for this upcoming shutdown, please take the following precautionary steps before you leave on Thursday, April 27:

• Save all files and important documents.
• Completely turn off all computers and laptops.
• Turn off all other electronic devices and non-essential laboratory equipment.
• Tightly seal all containers in fume hoods or remove and safely store them elsewhere in the lab.
• Shut off all gas valves servicing the fume hoods.
• Keep all freezers, refrigerators, and environmental room doors closed and limit access. Typically, this equipment will maintain temperature for approximately four (4) hours. Do not place dry ice or cryogenic materials in cold rooms, as they can create a hazardous, oxygen-deficient atmosphere. If necessary, please relocate critical materials to unaffected freezers for the duration of the shutdown.

We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your cooperation as we work to improve our facilities. If you have questions in advance of the shutdown, please contact Fernando Bedoya, associate director, at fb2330@cumc.columbia.edu or at 646-678-0548.