MiddBrief Ammonia Leak Contained in Kenyon

Author: Claire Bourne and Virginia Harper

Middlebury College's athletic complex was evacuated on Nov. 6 when the building's alarms signaled an ammonia leak. In response to the alert, Director of Public Safety Lisa Boudah dispatched an officer who was able to smell ammonia within the facility. "I did not want to take any chances regarding safety. I directed my staff to call the Middlebury Fire Department and asked that officers direct people to leave the area," said Boudah.

Amy Josephson '05 was participating in weekly physical education class, "Fit and Lean," when an officer came in to evacuate the students. "We'd just completed an intense round of step aerobics and were just about to do our cool down and crunches when an officer came in," said Josephson. "Because the music was loud (techno) we couldn't hear what he said. But then our instructor, Leigh, called into her microphone, 'we all need to evacuate immediately, there's been an ammonia leak!'

George McPhail, a staff engineer for Facilities Management, explained that the leak came from a heat exchanger in an isolated part of Kenyon Arena. The ammonia is "only used for the ice rink. It keeps the floor cold," he said. The freezing chemical is contained in its own room and is not a threat to the rest of the building. "It was a mechanical thing. That's not to say there won't be more ammonia leaks. Eventually a seal will wear out, and there may be a small leak," added McPhail.

An ammonia detection system in the room alerts technicians of a leak. The system sets off a red alarm light and turns on an exhaust fan that blows the chemicals into outside air, keeping them away from athletes inside the building.

"I know that the threat was small," said Boudah, explaining the decision to evacuate the building, "but did not want to take the risk and find out later that it was a greater problem."

"We did not even have time to put our steps away," said Josephson. "I cannot say I was scared or nervous really, it was more just strange. [Some class members], disappointed that we didn't get to do our abs, found some space in the CFA and finished up our workout there."