At 9 am, in a complex housing a swimming pool and skating rink in operation since 1993, 2 of the 4 tonnes of chlorofluorinated refrigerant introduced into the refrigeration installation leaked. Spreading through the maintenance shop, the refrigerant escaped from the site’s installation after a hammer joint broke at the threading between the collector pipe and one of the relief valves. Fire-fighters ordered the public to evacuate. A safety perimeter remained in place for 2 hours. A chemical emergency squad plugged the leak and suctioned the gas heavier than air for discharge outside the premises. The facility was closed for an unspecified period. Inspectors for classified facilities conducted an investigation. The complex operator was asked to determine whether the faulty valve suspected of excess wear should have been replaced during annual refrigeration installation repairs. An independent control body was commissioned to perform a thorough inspection of the installation, specifically relief valves and couplings, and then verify with an infrared camera every junction and weld across all cold system networks. Restarting the installations was contingent upon a favourable written notice from this body, after all cited repairs had been completed by the designated equipment maintenance contractor. The skating rink reopened to the public 45 days later; facility operating losses amounted to between €50,000 and €60,000.