Failed transformer to be rebuilt; estimated cost is $35,000

(updated 12: 15 p.m.)

A blown transformer caused the electrical panel failure that shut down power in Metzger Hall, according to Brian Phillips, director of facilities services. A backup generator arrived at 11:10 a.m., and Phillips says the crew is on schedule to have power flowing by 1 p.m.

He ruled out human tampering or fire as a cause for the incident. The blown transformer was 30 years old – original to the building – and likely failed due to old age. Options on the table included repairing or rebuilding the transformer, but Phillips said rebuilding it is the most probable solution. That would take about a week and will cost around $35,000.

In the mean time, a 1-megawatt backup transformer will power the building, which houses main administrative offices including the registrar, accounting, marketing and financial aid departments. The transformer is parked behind the building and will be fueled around the clock until the permanent system is in place.

Earlier hypotheses pointed to yesterday’s storms for the blown transformer, but Phillips said there were no indications of moisture damage once the machine was located.

This is the first time a major outage occurred in Metzger, Phillips said, but the department takes precautions to prevent such failures. This summer, the building’s high-voltage cable was replaced, and the broken transformer had been inspected and serviced in the summer of 2007.

An earthquake drill within the past few weeks helped speed up Biola’s response to the emergency. Facilities services had reviewed its procedures for electrical outages and checked that emergency lighting was working.

“The first thing we did was get battery-operated fluorescent lanterns to light up the restrooms and offices,” he said, noting that the process flowed smoothly after the drills.

Irene Neller, director of integrated marketing communications, said the school’s preparation made for a swift response and open communication. Campus Safety deployed the 3N notification system to give students voicemail updates about the situation.

Meanwhile, displaced Metzger employees flocked to other offices and the library in search of light and working electrical outlets. Neller estimated that about 90 percent of the building’s workforce did show up to campus today, but the work is somewhat different without internet access.

“They’re getting creative,” Neller said – writing memos by hand or cleaning up their offices while waiting for power.

Another unfortunate side effect of the outage: The Biola Web site is unavailable both on- and off-campus.

“It’s very disconcerting,” Neller said. Viewed by thousands of visitors daily, and heavily used by employees and students, the site will not be live again until power is restored.

Finals-week power outage thwarts printing systems

(10: 44) A power outage that derailed internet service all over campus is hampering students’ efforts to print final papers.

Smart Stop, an advising center and free printing station on campus, was not operational during the outage, according to employee Matthew Jones. It comes at an inconvenient time --he said finals week thus far has been “extremely busy.”

“At 8 a.m., students were already lining up to print things,” he said of his Monday shift. In his estimation, finals week is the busiest week of the year.

The outage was affecting students who don’t have personal printers and wanted to use some of their 50 free printouts from the center. But the outage – which downed internet service all over campus – also shut down efforts for paid printing in the library.

The pay-per-print Diginet system has been down for the past few days, and the library has compensated by doing all printing for free at the reference desk.

A reference desk employee said some students are trying to type their term papers on library computers, but students are currently unable to access and print from their e-mail.

Failed electrical panel shuts down power in Metzger

(9:54 a.m.) Finals week was disrupted by a power outage in Metzger Hall this morning that shut down the BUBBS e-mail system and kept some employees out of their offices.

The outage began at about 6:45 a.m. when an electrical panel failed. Students received an automated message on their cell phones a few hours later announcing that the downed panel had been located and was expected to be repaired by early afternoon. Emily Soto, a Campus Safety dispatcher, said the early-afternoon timeline was a best-case scenario.

Many Metzger-based employees were still working by window light, though computer systems were crippled. Those whose offices were located in darker areas of the building were instructed to report to work later in the afternoon.

Brian Phillips, director of facilities services, was unable to be reached at press time due to the emergency, but Campus Safety confirmed facilities workers were busy equipping Metzger with generators.