UCR’s Central Plant will be conducting a routine inspection and maintenance of the steam utility distribution system. 

When: Friday, July 12, 2024 at 12:00 PM through Sunday, July 21.

Impact: Heat and steam will be off to facilities throughout campus. This will affect building heating, hot water, sterilization, autoclave operations, and other laboratory processes. Affected buildings are listed below.

Purpose: The inspection ensures continued, reliable delivery of pressurized steam and hot water for campus buildings. This is for sterilization and other laboratory processes and climate control. July requires a minimal demand for steam, due to warmer weather and smaller campus population, and has the least impact on the campus community.

Safety: Campus boilers will be turned off to cool for two days, and work will commence on July 15. The shutdown is labor intensive, both in the Central Plant and the steam tunnels. Skilled trade staff will work 10-12 hour shifts to shut down boilers, drain the system, make necessary repairs, reignite boilers, reintroduce high-pressure steam, check the entire system for leaks and bring buildings back online. The work is done in an environment that has no climate control and temperatures exceed 110 degrees, 24 hours a day, in a confined space. Boilers are planned to be relit on the morning of July 21 to have steam fully restored by July 22.

Affected Buildings: See the full list of buildings at Facilities Services

Thank you for your patience as we continue our commitment to maintaining a safe and sustainable campus environment. If you have questions regarding this inspection process, please call us at (951) 827-4214 or email us at facilities@ucr.edu.