The Problem
A health authority had a hidden leak in a mechanical room serving a 24-bed patient wing with an operating suite. Shutdown was not an option.
Detection Method
Acoustic + tracer gas injection into the suspect supply line. Detected a pinhole leak in a 75mm copper hot water line above ceiling tiles within the existing 4-hour maintenance window.
Results
Repaired within the same window. No patient rooms affected. OR never lost service. Authority now schedules annual mechanical room surveys.
“If we'd shut that wing down, we'd have lost 24 bed-days and an OR schedule. They worked inside our window.”