Update – All Clear: Cooling tower failure prompts temporary Code Grey at Perth & Smiths Falls District Hospital
The Perth site of the Perth and Smiths Falls District Hospital has declared a Code Grey after its cooling tower malfunctioned, prompting staff to implement measures to keep patients, visitors and employees as comfortable as possible in the intense heat while repairs are underway.
In a release issued by the hospital on Friday, July 10, 2026, officials shared that they announced the Code Grey earlier this morning, advising that the cooling tower at the Perth site is currently out of service.
A Code Grey is a hospital emergency code typically used to indicate a loss of, or disruption to, critical building infrastructure or essential services that could affect hospital operations.
The release detailed that its facilities team is working alongside external contractors to restore the cooling tower as quickly as possible. In the meantime, hospital staff have been distributing fans throughout the hospital, while managers have been visiting departments to provide water and popsicles to help patients and staff cope with the warmer than usual indoor temperatures.
The hospital did not indicate how long repairs are expected to take, however, they did state than an additional update will be issued once the cooling tower has been repaired and the Code Grey has been lifted.
Hospital officials thanked their staff, patients and visitors for their patience and understanding while repair work continues.
Update: Friday, July 10, 2026 (4:20pm)
In an update provided in the late afternoon, hospital officials shared that the initial Code Grey declared earlier today has been resolved.
“Our Facilities team has been tirelessly working all day in the heat and they have managed to successfully get the Perth Cooling Tower back on-line,” hospital officials stated.
They also noted that the temperature and humidity levels within the hospital are slowly dropping, however it will take some time to come down to “ideal temperatures.”