Brooks Hall pipe leak damages classrooms, current cost unknown
Charles Novitski couldn’t teach his BIO 315: Human Genetics course in Brooks Hall Monday due to a water leak.
Pipes on the third floor of Brooks began to leak around 2 p.m. Friday.
“There was a coupling where two 90 degree elbows were joined together and it failed,” said Steve Lawrence, associate vice president of Facilities Management.
Novitski, associate professor of biology, was scheduled to teach in room 203, but water leaked through the ceiling tile, wetting desks and the floor.
“While much work was accomplished on Friday, Saturday and Sunday to clean up the water present, my classroom was permanently moved to (Dow Hall) for my course,” Novitski said. “It was only because of quick response of people present that the damage wasn’t much worse. If it had gone overnight before noticed, it would have been enormously more serious.”
Central Michigan University hired Coach’s Catastrophe Cleaning and Restoration Services in Midland to clean the building.
“We had crews working on it all weekend,” said Steve Smith, director of public relations. “The immediate need was to stop the water flowing and clean up the building.”
Wilcox Professional Services made errors in the original renovations in August 2008, including installation of underground water pipes and air conditioning ducts.
Smith said it is too early to tell if those renovations made last year by Wilcox Professional Services could be the source of the pipe leak.
CMU’s Board of Trustees approved hiring a mediator to seek refunds from the company at its February meeting.
Smith said attorneys are currently working on the mediation letter for the company.
“That letter is still being drafted,” he said.
Insurance agents from Mid-State Plumbing and Heating, 111 W. Pickard St. inspected the damage Monday. An insurance agent from Victaulic, a manufacturer of the pipes used in Brooks, also inspected the damage Monday.
EFI Global, an investigative and consulting firm, and a technical consultant from LWG Consulting inspected the building Tuesday.
Lawrence said before the pipes can be removed, the cost of the damage needs to be determined through inspections.
“Once that happens, we’ll remove it,” he said.
Drywall, ceiling tile and carpet was damaged from the leak. Lawrence said damages will be reviewed by insurance companies to determine the level of damage done and the cost of replacing and repairing damages.
He said results from the inspections should be complete by the end of the week.
