High-Rise Won’t Reopen Until Friday; More Repairs Needed

The Great American Building, originally scheduled to reopen for business Monday, will now remain closed at least until Friday morning, a spokesman for the federal Occupational Health and Safety Administration said Monday.

Electricians have been working since last week to repair the damage done by two small electrical fires in the downtown high-rise last week. Building management has said the building will remain closed until the source of the electrical problems has been identified and repaired.

“They found that there are some grounding problems in the electrical system, which are primarily mechanical problems,” OSHA safety supervisor Jack Rhodes said. “So, until they clear that up, they’re not going to be allowed to open. It’s a fairly major problem, but given that much time, they should be able to easily overcome it.”

Rhodes said there was a “slim possibility” the building might open earlier than Friday. Office workers will be allowed into the building between 6 a.m. and noon today to collect personal belongings, a building spokesman said.

The 24-story structure at 600 B St. has been shut since Thursday, when a fire broke out in an enclosed room containing electrical circuits for the building, prompting the third evacuation of the building in one week. Office workers were evacuated Oct. 17 because of a similar electrical fire, and again last Tuesday when the fire marshal determined that the building’s fire safety systems were not working.