With sprinkler installation taking up a large portion of housing funds, university officials are trying to balance the need to update residence hall's heating systems and furnishings.

"They're busily funding the important fire prevention system, sprinkler system, so a lot of effort has be put on that," Office of Physical Plant (OPP) spokesman Paul Ruskin said. "So we don't quite have the resources to do as much as we would like to keep the heating systems up to date."

So far, 30 residence buildings at University Park have had the sprinkler systems installed. The project began in 2001 and is estimated to cost about $50 million once completed at University Park and the commonwealth campuses.

"We budget funds every year for our projects," Sandy Harpster, director of housing, said. "The sprinklers and heating systems are part of that, and some money is set aside each year for each."

If the sprinkler system was not being installed, more money could be spent improving components of residence halls such as the heating control systems and furniture in the student dorms and lounges, Harpster said.

"There are priorities that we set," Harpster said. "The sprinkler project is a priority, but we take a look at everything across housing."

Two weeks ago, several students complained to housing officials about dorm rooms being chilly during a severe cold spell.

As the buildings around campus age, sludge, formed from iron oxide, builds up in the heating systems and restricts air flowing from the heaters. Improvements are being made to the heating control systems by adding filtration components and cleaning out the sludge that has built up, but piping and electronic control systems also need updating.

"The heating control needs updating simply because most of our buildings are aging," Ruskin said.

The state does not fund housing for the university. Instead, appropriations for improvements and repairs come directly from student room costs, said David Manos, assistant director of housing for West, North and East Halls.

Improvements are costly, and housing is trying to control costs because it does not want to drive up the cost of living on campus, he added.

"We want housing to be affordable for students," Manos said. "Every place we've gone in and remodeled -- the price has gone up."

This summer, sprinkler systems will be installed in Beaver, Mifflin and Hartranft Halls in Pollock.

Sprinklers have not been installed in South Halls yet because housing officials are still determining the extent of renovation they want to do in South. The university is considering renovating South to include suites and more movable furniture.

"It's the direction we would like to go to let students rearrange the room the way they want," Harpster said.

Moveable furniture would also be easier for housing to maintain because it would be easier to replace when damage occurs, Harpster said.

The decision to put sprinkler systems in the residence halls was voluntary, Jeff Spackman, OPP project manager, said. Spackman added that the state recommended the university install new sprinklers, which is required in all new construction projects Penn State undertakes. However, the university is not required to install them in the older buildings on campus.