Alert: Don't be alarmed by steam and hissing

Don’t be alarmed if you see steam, or hear a hissing noise over the next couple weeks.

From approximately Saturday, March 23 to Sunday, April 7, boilers at the new hospital will be started up.

During the start-up, the system will be flushed clean using high pressure steam, which will be continuously vented to the building’s exterior.

This venting can be a loud continuous hissing noise and may appear as a 20–30-foot smoke-plume. (This is actually high-pressure steam but can look like smoke.)

Venting will occur on several occasions during the two-week start-up period. Once the steam system is started up and in service, it remains in service.

These boilers will support hospital operations. They will produce the steam used to heat water in the new hospital and support the sterilization of surgical equipment, among other things

No danger or risk

During this start up process and ongoing operations, there is no risk of any hazardous contaminants being expelled.

All work is within the new hospital construction site, and the entire operation will be supervised and secure with safety measures & control zones in place.

All work will also be in accordance with local noise bylaws, between 7am and 7pm.

Emergency services (police and fire) have also been informed.