What to do when you are too hot or too cold

Have you ever found yourself breaking a sweat or layering-up in the workspace?

The service request portal is the simplest and fastest way to notify building operators so they can address the issue.  

Here’s how you can notify us  

Found front and centre on the Facilities and Services website—anyone with a UTORid can submit a service request through the portal. 

After logging in, users can create a new request by indicating the description, their building, floor, and room number.  

Describing the degree of discomfort and any extenuating circumstances—such as if a class or meeting is occurring in the room—will help building operators respond in a timely way.  

What happens when you submit a request 

Once a service request is submitted, the lead hand in charge of the area on campus will receive the request on their system. The lead hand will assign the order to technicians, who are notified through their mobile phones. The technician then connects with the requestor and proceeds with the necessary troubleshooting.  

Lead hands prioritize orders based on severity. For example, flooding, steam leaks, and power outages are emergencies that require the immediate dispatch of technicians.  

Let’s examine why thermal discomfort occurs 

Thermal discomfort is especially common when seasons change.  

Most office spaces are set to 20 to 22 degrees Celsius during the winter and set to 23 to 25 degrees Celsius in the summer. When systems are switched from cooling to heating, or vice versa, some manual adjustments are required to achieve a comfortable temperature.  

F&S receives over 200 too hot or too cold calls a month. F&S receives over 200 too hot or too cold calls a month. The most common causes for space discomfort include malfunctions with the thermostat, variable air volume boxes, or base building system issue such as air handling unit, issue or chiller and boiler operations. 

Is it an emergency? Don’t wait—call us 

Emergencies, such as temperature issues affecting sensitive research facilities, animal facilities, or daycare centres, should be called in to 416-978-3000 immediately to ensure the safety of our community and research operations.