Laboratory Safety - Ventilation System Malfunction - March 22, 2013

On March 22, 2013, a malfunction in the building's ventilation system caused steam and a chlorine smell to fill a laboratory space. It was later determined that the steam and disinfectant fumes originated from a basement autoclave used to sterilize laboratory animal cages. One of the building's exhaust fans had failed, causing the autoclave steam and fumes to release into the room. No injuries or damage to equipment occurred, and the exhaust fan was subsequently repaired, with no other subsequent releases occurring.