DeKALB – Two weeks after a burst pipe required students to relocate from their dorms, NIU has completed work to ensure conditions are safe for students to return.

On Jan. 21, a pipe burst in Stevenson B Residence Hall caused unsafe conditions for the students living in the affected rooms. NIU estimated 300 students were impacted the morning of Jan. 21 while there was difficulty resetting the fire alarm system and cleaning up the water.
All students were able to return to their rooms by noon to assess damage. There were 48 students directly impacted on the third through ninth floors.

In an email to the Northern Star, Jami Kunzer, editorial writer for NIU’s Office of Institutional Communications, said 13 students were offered the ability to use the Holmes Student Center Hotel last weekend in order for additional equipment to be put in their rooms to speed up the drying process.

“Only two students elected to go to the hotel, the rest went home or stayed with friends,” Kunzer said.

To extract all water in affected rooms, a variety of companies and services were brought in for assistance. Belfor Restoration Services performed daily moisture assessments using moisture meters and thermal imaging cameras to identify which areas were most affected by the flooding throughout the building. Belfor Restoration Services deployed fans, dehumidifiers and hot air distribution devices to speed up the drying process.
All students who were temporarily moved are expected to be back in Stevenson B before the week is over.
Students living on campus in the dorms are encouraged to keep all windows closed during the cold months to prevent potential damage to pipes.