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Phase one school HVAC work continues; transformer shutdown scheduled at North Strathfield with generator backup
Summary
Committee heard updates on ductwork and transformer work at three schools — Fairfield Woods, Osborne Hill and North Strathfield — and approved contingency plans for a planned shutdown and energizing of a new transformer.
The building committee received a status update on Phase One HVAC work at three schools — Fairfield Woods, Osborne Hill and North Strathfield — and heard that a planned transformer shutdown and energizing at North Strathfield is scheduled to start at 7 a.m. on the upcoming workday.
The committee was told that ductwork continues at Fairfield Woods, deliveries for Osborne Hill are expected next week and crews will begin installing the ductwork into ceilings shortly thereafter. Work at North Strathfield is advancing to connect and energize a new transformer; crews set the transformer and completed primary conductor terminations earlier in the week and planned a shutdown and power-up the next day.
Why it matters: The transformer energizing will require a temporary power shutdown to the school. Committee members and staff described contingencies to preserve heat, refrigeration and life-safety systems.
Contingencies and plans Presenters said a generator will run boilers and refrigeration so those systems did not need evacuation during the shutdown. A custodian will be on site to monitor equipment during the outage and to make any immediate interventions. Staff also noted a dry‑pipe sprinkler system at one school has a compressor that could require a reset after a prolonged outage; maintenance is on call and the committee instructed staff to use the district’s normal maintenance company for that reset rather than a subcontractor if needed.
Schedule and logistics Gilbane reported that crews will start very early the next morning at 7 a.m. and expected the work to take a full day, with the building back online from the new feed by mid‑ to late‑afternoon. The presenter said weather might be annoying (rain) but should not create a safety or stoppage issue because most work is at the transformer box and in building boiler rooms.
Other Phase One items The committee was also told that coordination meetings are set with a security-glass contractor and electricians to align scopes, and that coordination visits are planned to walk the work with subcontractors and trades.
Ending Staff said the project team will send an email to the committee once the transformer is energized and systems are back online.
