Officials weigh $28,000‑per‑floor drain‑down retrofit at county jail after freeze incidents

County facilities staff described repeated freeze incidents at the Oklahoma County detention center and presented a retrofit option to prevent chilled‑water coils from freezing during certain life‑safety modes.

Keith (staff member) and a mechanical contractor explained that when the HVAC system reverses to remove smoke from pods, outside air can be drawn in; if outside‑air dampers stick open or the system brings in sub‑20‑degree air, chilled‑water coils can freeze and burst. To reduce that risk, staff proposed installing drain‑down valves that would empty coils during cold events. The contractor estimated about $28,000 per floor; with roughly 10 floors affected, the total estimate was about $280,000.

Staff framed two implementation options: install valves now while the HVAC vendor is on site (potentially as a change order to the current contract) or postpone full installation until fall, recognizing the risk of higher prices or scope changes if the vendor must return later. Staff noted that a fully automatic system would cost more than manual valves, and manual valves would require personnel to drain and recharge coils when temperatures warrant.

Committee members pressed on design responsibility and past oversight. Staff said architects and designers did not anticipate outside‑air dampers failing stuck open, and that the system graphics can show dampers as closed even when a louver is physically stuck. Committee members and staff recounted prior incidents; one staff member said he had been part of three freeze events of this type. Possible funding sources discussed included change‑order money on the current HVAC contract and other infrastructure reserves, but staff said the item could only formally be added to the FY25‑26 watch list after July 1, when that watch list opens.

No formal action was taken. Staff were asked to check available change‑order dollars on the ongoing contract and to return with options and cost deltas (manual valves versus an automated drain‑down system). Committee members suggested infrastructure and policy committees review the project and that the county weigh implementing valves while the vendor is on site to avoid higher redeployment costs later.

The committee concluded no action on item 6 at the meeting; staff will return with cost details and funding options for future consideration.