The University of Otago's new Hunter Centre building was operating as normal yesterday following two malfunctions in its heating system this week.
On Thursday night, Campus Watch security staff were alerted at 9.30pm when smoke was noticed inside the Great King St building. Three fire crews attended.
Fire crews were also called to the building on Wednesday morning after smoke was seen coming from the boiler room.
On Thursday night, smoke was found in the boiler room and two adjoining lecture rooms, university chief operations officer John Patrick said yesterday. It was discovered to be the result of "blow-back" in one of two new pellet boilers installed in the building.
Blow-back was when unburnt gases ignited within a boiler, he said. The boilers were designed to contain blow-back and did so, but some smoke escaped. Minor settings adjustments were being made to the boilers to prevent a repeat.
"There was no damage as a result of the incident and the centre is operating as normal today."
The $9.7 million building houses teaching and social facilities for medical and dental students. It opened its doors to students last week.
Construction site manager John Fleming, from Amalgamated Builders, said yesterday the boilers had been operating for two weeks and put the malfunctions down to "teething problems".
