The Life Sciences Complex ventilation system shut off unexpectedly around 9:20 p.m. Tuesday, causing a building-wide evacuation.

The Energy Systems and Sustainability Management department, which oversees the ventilation system, alerted the Department of Public Safety of the issue, said DPS Chief Tony Callisto. The Syracuse Fire Department was notified of the shutoff shortly after it occurred. Callisto said it appeared no dangerous chemicals leaked into the air.

Students in professor Nancy Totah’s ‘Chemistry 276: Organic Chemistry Laboratory’ class were conducting a ‘relatively standard experiment’ when the emergency alarms sounded and the class was told by a volunteer firefighter to evacuate, said Patrick Beebe, a sophomore biochemistry and nutrition major.

Amanda Vo, a sophomore also in organic chemistry at the time, said the class was working with substances including hydrochloric acid and chloroform. The substances were dissolved in water and used in small quantities.

The ventilation systems were reset and working by 10 p.m., though it is unclear why the system shut off in the first place, Callisto said. Everything worked as it should, as ESSM was alerted of the shutoff and responded accordingly, he said.

Yellow caution tape blocked off the front entrance of Life Sciences, while officials from DPS guarded the remaining entrances to the sides and behind the building. Students huddled across the street as the building aired out and were let back in at 10:19 p.m.

dbtruong@syr.edu

Published on October 4, 2011 at 12:00 pm

Contact Debbie: dbtruong@syr.edu | @debbietruong