FOI #26-478 - Subject - Boiler Explosion, Central Utility Plant, Storrs Campus, May 15, 2026
Name - Domenic Perito
Affiliation -
Pursuant to the Connecticut Freedom of Information Act, Conn. Gen. Stat. § 1-200 et seq. (the “FOIA”), I request copies of the public records described below. These records concern an explosion involving “Boiler 9” at the University of Connecticut Central Utility Plant (“CUP”) on the Storrs campus that occurred on or about May 15, 2026, at approximately 11:35 p.m. (the“Incident”), in which a University employee was injured.
Records Requested
For the period May 15, 2025 (one year before the incident) through the present, unless otherwise stated:
1. Incident documentation. All incident reports, injury reports, accident reports, near-miss reports, and internal correspondence concerning the Incident, including the DAS WC-207 First Report of Injury and any supervisor or employee statements.
2. Investigation records. All records of any internal safety, root-cause, or engineering investigation of the Incident, including reports, findings, photographs, video, witness interviews, and corrective-action documentation.
3. Boiler identification. Records sufficient to identify Boiler 9’s manufacturer, make, model,serial number, National Board number, date of manufacture, date of installation, and installing contractor.
4. Operating and alarm data. Boiler control system, DCS/SCADA, data-historian, and alarm/event logs for Boiler 9 for May 14–16, 2026, together with operator logbooks and shift turnover notes for the CUP for the same period.
5. Maintenance and service history. All maintenance, repair, testing, and inspection recordsfor Boiler 9 and its burner, fuel train, flame-safeguard/burner-management system, lowwater cutoffs, and safety/relief valves, including work orders, vendor service reports, andinvoices.
6. Post-Incident repairs. All records of repairs, alterations, or component replacements made to Boiler 9 after the Incident, including identification and current location of any removed components.
7. Service contracts. All contracts, purchase orders, and statements of work with any outside vendor for boiler maintenance, burner service, combustion tuning, water treatment, or inspection services at the CUP.
8. Boiler Replacement project file (Project #300151). For the CUP Boiler Replacement project: contracts with the construction manager and trade contractors; design specifications and drawings for the packaged boiler units; equipment submittals and approvals; operation & maintenance manuals; commissioning, startup, and testing & balancing reports; punch lists; warranty documents; and warranty claims or related correspondence.
9. Inspection certificates. The current and prior certificates of operation/inspection for Boiler9 and all boiler inspection reports, including the identity of the inspecting insurance company or inspector.
10. Prior problems. All records of prior malfunctions, alarms, shutdowns, leaks, or safety concerns involving Boiler 9.
11. Personnel on duty. The shift roster or schedule identifying CUP personnel on duty during the 11:00