Our Experience with EPAs IAQ Tools for Schools

1
Our Experience with EPAs IAQ Tools for Schools

• Gregg Smith, P.E.
• Director of Facilities Services
• Salt Lake City School District

2
Why Did We Get Involved?

• Weve had IAQ incidents in the past
• Smells or odors that were perceived by the
  occupants as IAQ issues
• Mold problems
• Health issues blamed on IAQ
• Radon and asbestos concerns
• Well continue to have them in the future
• We want to provide a safe and healthy environment
  for our staff, teachers and students
• We were already conducting inspections and
  performing some of the activities listed in the
  TfS kit
• We wanted to be proactive!

3
TfS Timeline

• 2000 - Initial involvement
• Ordered an IAQ TfS kit after reading about the
  program in a professional publication
• Contacted EPA Region 8 for more information
• 2001 - Training for HVAC technicians
• Assistance provided by EPA Region 8
• 2001-2002 Formalized system inspections and
  ventilation testing
• 2002 - Recognized with the IAQ TfS Leadership
  Award
• 2003 - Expanded our efforts
• Expanded scope of inspections
• Enhanced our Design Guide for IAQ
• Program improvements and outreach efforts
• 2003 - Recognized with the IAQ TfS Excellence
  Award
• 2004 - Member of the IAQ TfS Mentor Network

4
Attendees at the 2003 IAQ TfS Symposium

• Allergy and Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics
• American Association of School Administrators
• American Federation of Teachers
• American Lung Association
• Association of School Business Officials
• Council of Educational Facility Planners
  International

• National Association of Counties
• National Association of School Nurses
• National Education Association Health Information
  Network
• National Environmental Health Association
• National Education Association
• National Parent Teachers Association

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How We Implemented TfS?

• Adapted the TfS program to our District
• Trained our HVAC technicians about IAQ
• Conducted HVAC system inspections
• Performed ventilation checks measurements
• Incorporated IAQ inspections and ventilation
  checks into our routine maintenance tasks
• Incorporated IAQ considerations into our Design
  Guide for new or remodel construction

6
Adapting TfS To Our District

• We tailored an approach that allowed us to
  achieve our goals with our limited resources and
  available time
• While we generally followed the Road Map for IAQ
  TfS we didnt have time for stakeholder meetings
  or to organize IAQ Teams
• Except in problem situations, we didnt
  distribute checklists to teachers, staff,
  administrators, nurses, etc.

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Rationale for our Approach and the Disadvantages

• Rationale
• Allowed us to implement TfS quickly
• Minimized the number of meetings held with
  stakeholders
• Less potential for confrontation with
  stakeholders

• Disadvantages
• Our efforts were behind the scenes and not as
  visible as they could have been
• Limits the educational benefits for the
  stakeholders
• Limits public relations value
• No IAQ Team

8
TfS Training

• Solicited support from EPA Region 8
• Completed hands-on training with EPA consultants
  during walk-thru inspections of HVAC systems
• EPA Region 8 also provided technical support with
  analyses of measurement data and checklist
  responses
• Contact Ron Schiller [phone]

9
HVAC System Inspections

• Performed visual inspections of building air
  handlers, filters, coils, outside air intakes,
  dampers, control linkages, etc.
• Reviewed data and trends from our Building
  Automation Systems to validate system performance
• Corrected problems as they were encountered

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Room Inspections

• HVAC technicians performed visual IAQ checks of
  schools
• Performed and documented room-by-room CO2
  measurements to verify proper ventilation rates
• Performed CFM supply measurements as needed
• Used modified checklists to solicit input from
  occupants as needed
• Utilized resources from EPA Region 8 tointerpret
  results and spot problems

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Why Measure CO2?
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Associated Costs

• Approximately 300 man hours to conduct initial
  inspections over a five month period
• 4,000 for a Quest Technologies model AQ-5001
  handheld carbon dioxide monitor
• Material costs to correct problems
• Overall, over 1,800 man hours have been invested
  in IAQ inspections and correcting problems since
  2001

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Lessons Learned

• IAQ In General
• Theres more to IAQ than just air - its about
  the TOTAL indoor environment
• Complaints
• Dont assume that just because youre not hearing
  any complaints that everything is OK
• Ventilation Rates
• Dont assume you wont have IAQ problems just
  because your ventilation rates are OK
• Mold
• Dont assume there are no mold problems in the
  West - it grows everywhere even in the desert
• The more you know about mold, the easier it will
  be to react when you have an incident
• Design Away Your Problems
• Dont assume compliance with Building Codes
  eliminates IAQ problems
• Be smart when building or remodeling buildings -
  avoidcircumstances that will turn into IAQ
  problems later

15
What Would We Do Different Today?

• More collaboration with school nurses and local
  TfS Partners to
• Assist with educating stakeholders about IAQ and
  possible health concerns
• Track health statistics to assess the impact of
  TfS
• Educate principals, teachers and staff about IAQ
  issues and
• Rely more on the District website including
• IAQ information
• Checklists or feedback forms

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Conclusions

• Involvement with the IAQ TfS program is simply
  good public relations in the sensitive
  environment of public education
• Being proactive has helped our departmental image
  and let us deal with IAQ problems much more
  effectively
• The TfS program is flexible and can be adapted to
  any Districts needs

17
Thank You!

• Salt Lake City School District