Facility Operations Building Trades

Electrical

The Electrical staff is responsible for installing and maintaining lighting, electrical equipment, cable systems (except telephone), clock systems, elevators, motors and special equipment.  In addition, emphasis is placed on checking all electrical systems for compliance with codes.  Electricians also stand by at special events, such as football games and commencement, to assure that any malfunctions in electrical equipment are quickly corrected.

The Electrical Staff installs, trouble-shoots and maintains lighting systems, ventilation fans, various types of high and low voltage switch gear, elevators, clock systems, and control circuits; just to mention some of the large quantity of electrical equipment on campus. By monitoring the installation of electrical equipment, the electrical staff also assures compliance by contractors for with the National Electric Code. 

All requests for electrical services must be approved by the requesting department and submitted using the on-line "General Work Order" request form on the GUS system.  If you have an emergency situation, please contact Ed Meyer at extension 4770 or the Front Office at extension 4779 and follow up with submission of the "General Work Order" form.

Electricity

Electrical power supplied directly from Westar Energy is distributed at 12,470 volts to the buildings on campus.  Transformers located near most buildings further step down electricity to 480, 277, 208, and 120 volts.

As transformers are taken out of service because of age, malfunction, or obsolescence, they are replaced by ones with similar capacity that are owned by Westar.  All transformers owned by the university have been tested by an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved laboratory for the concentration of PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyl's).  PCBs are a family of 209 manufactured chlorinated organic chemicals widely used in electrical equipment.  Because of their toxicity, PCBs are regulated by the EPA.  Transformers containing concentrations of PCBs greater than 500 PPM (parts per million) are no longer allowed near public buildings.  All transformers containing PCBs in concentrations greater than 500 PPM have been removed from campus and disposed of by a licensed contractor according to federal regulations.

Electronics

The Electronics staff installs, trouble-shoots and maintains computerized emergency lighting systems, complex electronic control equipment for scoreboards, message centers, public address systems (both fixed and portable), specialized electronic circuitry in campus equipment and dig-safe requests for campus utilities.

Our staff also has the responsibility for the campus-wide energy management system, fire alarm and security monitoring equipment.  Sensors for HVAC, lighting, fire systems and security monitoring have been placed in strategic locations throughout campus buildings so that temperatures, humidity, smoke, fire and security can be monitored and controlled by various departments on campus.  Temperature is programmed to maximize energy conservation by automatically altering day and night temperature changes.  They work closely with University Police on these systems.

The Electronics staff also works at special events, such as football games and commencement, to ensure that all systems are operating properly and that any malfunctions in electronics equipment are quickly corrected.

Part of the responsibility of the Electronics section is to staff and maintain a Honeywell Delta 1000 Energy Management System.  Terminals are located in the boiler room at the Physical Plant, the Electronics Department at Hartman Hall and in the dispatcher's office at the University Police and Public Safety Services office in Shirk Hall.

All requests for services must be submitted through the online "General Work Order" system located on GUS.  If you have an emergency situation, please contact Ed Meyer at extension 4770 or the front office at extension 4779 and follow up with the submission of the "General Work Order" form.

Rules and regulations concerning hazardous materials have become increasingly complex.  Combined with the positive trend on campuses toward developing safety and health programs, the full-time services of a Campus Environmental Officer were begun in 1987.  Duties and responsibilities of the job area divided into four broad and equally important areas:

 1.     To focus resource efforts for continuous improvement, development, implementation and

         monitoring of the safety and environmental conditions at Pittsburg State University.

2.     To oversee and ensure compliance with government regulations for handling and disposing of

         hazardous waste and to advise on related procedures.

3.     Serve as Chair of the PSU Safety Committee.

4.     Serve as a member of the Physical Plant Safety Committee.

Policies and guidelines have been prepared and adopted as official university standards in each of the four areas.  These have been distributed to appropriate departments and sections.  Copies are available at the Physical Plant.

Assistance with handling or disposing of hazardous materials must be obtained through the Physical Plant.  Please call Jeff Stotts at extension 4774 with any questions regarding university environmental issues.  All requests for services must be submitted through the online "General Work Order" system located on GUS.  In the event of an emergency situation, please submit the "General Work Order" form as soon as possible following the incident.

In case of an emergency environmental safety situation during the Environmental Safety and Health hours of 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday - Friday, call extension 4777.  If an emergency situation occurs after 4:30 PM or on Saturday or Sunday, please call University Police at Extension 4624.

The Physical Plant has the responsibility to maintain the general plumbing system on campus including maintenance of steam vents, sewage lines, water lines, gas lines and the steam piping system. All work is performed according to codes and regulations.

General plumbing duties involve repairing and installing pumps, safety valves, hot water tanks, water lines, plumbing fixtures, and various specialized kitchen and laboratory equipment. In addition to repairing all types of clogs, plumbers install, repair, and insulate water, sewer, gas, and laundry systems. The plumbing section tests for water and gas leaks, maintain signs, and is responsible for high pressure steam distribution systems.

All requests for services must be submitted through the online "General Work Order" system located on GUS.  If you have an emergency situation, please contact Jack Freeman at extension 4781 or the Front Office at extension 4779 and follow up with the submission of the "General Work Order" form.

Metal Working & Welding

Part of the plumbing section includes welding and sheet metal work. Skilled craftsmen design and fabricate metal duct work, ventilation systems, metal roofing, flashing, vent hoods, electrical boxes, and various metal fixtures that often require a great deal of innovation and creative design. Examples include metal cages and signs, guard rails, accessories for lawn mowers, truck and tractors, door locks, handles and hardware, fence posts, gates, and brackets. Welding is also performed on steam and water lines.

Water & Sewage

Water for the campus is purchased from the City of Pittsburg at a usable pressure so that it is not necessary to "re-pump" the water to maintain working pressure.

The university has adopted a policy of strict adherence to city pretreatment ordinances that specify substances that cannot be poured or flushed down the sanitary sewer. A copy of this ordinance is on file at the Physical Plant and has been distributed to all departments.

Tests have been conducted to identify any potential cross connection between the storm and sanitary sewer that could cause mixing of sewage and runoff during periods of heavy rainfall. None have been identified and any backup of water is considered to result from hydraulic overload in the city's nearby interceptor sewer.

The sewer system on campus is owned by the university and maintained by the Physical Plant. Sewage from the campus is discharged into the city sewage system at the perimeter of the campus. The university pays a monthly charge to the city for handling sewage.

The refrigeration and air conditioning department is comprised of six trained technicians who operate, maintain, and repair over 1000 pieces of HVAC/R equipment across campus.  Technicians are certified, as required, with the Environmental Protection Agency in regard to safe and proper handling of CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons).

Among the equipment maintained, are 17 chillers with a cooling capacity in excess of 3,500 tons.  Water from these chillers is cooled to approximately 42º and pumped through a  network of piping, to more than 85 central station air handling units and hundreds of individual fan coil units.  From there, conditioned air is distributed to classrooms and offices.  Eight of these chillers are water cooled employing the use of seven cooling towers.  Water is pumped through the chiller's condenser which absorbs heat and is then pumped outside the building and through the cooling tower.  Evaporation lowers the temperature of that water approximately 10º, and is then returned to the chiller to start the process over again.  This condenser water is treated with scale inhibitors and biocides to maintain an efficiently operating system.

Air handling units are serviced on a regular basis according to a preventive maintenance schedule.  During this process, bearings are lubricated, drive belts are replaced and more then 2,600 filters are replaced each year.

Additionally, the HVAC/R department is responsible for maintaining the following:

• 240 split-system or package rooftop air conditioners and heat pumps.

• 130 window air conditioners or package terminal air conditioners.

• Approximately 55 gas-fired furnaces.

• Nearly 400 fan-powered variable air volume terminals.

• 70 Chilled or condenser water circulating pumps.

• More than 100 refrigerated drinking fountains.

• Numerous laboratory fume hoods.

• Numerous exhaust and ventilation fans.

• Nearly 20 ice machines.

• More than 100 refrigerators and freezers (including walk-ins, reach-ins and prep tables).

• Approximately 25 air compressors.

• Hundreds of other heating, air conditioning, ventilation and refrigeration items.

All requests for HVAC services must be submitted using the "General Work Order" system located on GUS.  If you have an emergency situation, please contact David Pentola at extension 4782 or the Front Office at extension 4779 and follow up with the submission of the "General Work Order" form.