DETROIT ARSENAL, WARREN, MI -- The Detroit Arsenal experienced an unplanned internal power outage March 22 at 4:25 p.m. that shut down the installation for two business days.
Initial investigations conducted by the arsenal's Directorate of Public Works pointed towards the failure of an underground primary electrical cable that feeds Building 229. This failure tripped one of the main electrical circuits for the post and cut off commercial power to the other buildings. While not technically an explosion, the force of the short lifted a manhole cover next to Building 212. Power was restored to all the buildings except 229 before midnight.
The installation closed March 23 while electrical crews continued to check electrical systems and to identify the source of the electrical problem. Late in the day, crews found two damaged segments of the electrical cable near the intersection of Arsenal Ave. and MacArthur Dr. It was determined that 120 yards of cable would need to be replaced.
The post reopened March 24, with power to all buildings except 229. Those employees affected by the power outage were allowed to either telework, placed on administrative leave or were assigned another work space depending on their scope of their work.
The arsenal closed again March 25 in order to shut off the electrical power and begin repair work. Crews installed a temporary electrical generator for 229 which costs the garrison $18,000 a week. They removed the 120 yards of faulty underground cable and conducted further testing on the remaining 1,300 yards of cable between the substation and 229.
"Electrical megger resistance testing determined that the insulation on the remainder of the cable downstream to Building 229 was compromised - most likely in multiple locations," stated Ron Wesley, DPW Chief of Operations & Maintenance. "The cable is 35 years old and was further deteriorated and degraded from the electrical short on 22 March. The entire 1,300 yards will need to be replaced."
This additional cable replacement will be scheduled as a future planned project to upgrade the electrical infrastructure.
PCSI, the garrison's base-operations contractor, continued to trouble shoot the cable and identified an electrical switch cabinet that needed replacement. Work on replacing this switch and the 120 yards of cable occurred during a partial power shut down last weekend. Building 229 was connected to a generator March 28 and remained on generator power through April 3.
Cost estimates for manpower and materials are not available yet. No further power shut downs for this repair are scheduled.
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