College of Eastern Idaho Closes Building 5
The school shuttered the facility after discovering a legacy chemical cylinder during a routine safety review.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Chemistry
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The College of Eastern Idaho has closed Building 5 as a safety precaution following the discovery of a legacy chemical cylinder containing hydrofluoric gas. The Idaho Falls Fire Department has confirmed the gas remains fully contained.
Why it matters
The closure allows for the specialized handling and disposal of the cylinder, ensuring the safety of students, faculty, and staff. The college took the action after identifying the item during a modernization review of its chemistry laboratory inventory.
The college identified the cylinder during a modernization review of its chemistry laboratory inventory. Officials confirmed that 34 classes were relocated to alternative campus sites, such as the Battelle Energy Alliance Future Tech Building.
The players
College of Eastern Idaho
This is a public community college providing technical and academic education to residents in the Idaho Falls area.
Idaho Falls Fire Department
This municipal agency provides fire protection and emergency response services to the city of Idaho Falls.
The details
Building 5, which houses science labs, library resources, and an electrical apprenticeship program, will remain shuttered until experts clear the site. The Idaho Falls Fire Department verified that the hydrofluoric gas within the cylinder is secure.
Timeline
October 20, 2026: College of Eastern Idaho closed Building 5.
The Big Picture
The closure follows established safety protocols similar to the OSHA Laboratory Standard, which mandates regular chemical inventory management to prevent workplace hazards. The discovery highlights the critical nature of ongoing legacy hazardous material tracking in academic institutions.
Students and faculty previously utilizing Building 5 should check the college website to confirm the new locations for their relocated classes. The campus will remain restricted in the affected area until safety officials provide further clearance.
The takeaway
Legacy chemical cylinders can pose unforeseen risks even in modern educational settings. Institutions are encouraged to conduct thorough laboratory audits to identify and mitigate hazardous materials before they become a safety concern.
Further reading
Find more campus updates on the Idaho Falls Chemistry section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by East Idaho News.
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