Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools

Transcription

1 CT School Indoor Environment Resource Team 2nd Training Session: Walkthrough Investigations Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools

2 Agenda: Welcome, Introductions Show and Tell: Presentation of Blueprints, Summaries IAQ Sources Ventilation Basics Walkthrough Investigation Exercise Next Steps

3 Mapping the Checklist Results Show & Tell: What Problems Did You Find?

4 Tools for Schools Building Team Training Industrial Hygienist Presentation

5 Tools for Schools 2nd Resource Team Training Savita Trivedi CONN-OSHA OSHA

6 IAQ - WHY NOW Tighter building construction for energy conservation Reduced levels of outdoor air provided to building interiors New building materials: insulation foams, glues, particle board, fibrous glass Increased worker awareness & concern

7 FACTORS AFFECTING INDOOR AIR QUALITY AIR CONTAMINANTS Indoor Sources Outdoor Sources VENTILATION SYSTEM Thermal Comfort Ventilation - outdoor air

8 SOURCES of CONTAMINANTS

9 SOURCES - The Occupants Themselves Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) Perfumes, personal products, etc. Inorganic gases Carbon Dioxide from Breathing Biological pollutants Germs, skin flakes

10 SOURCES Educational Activities in the building Particulates - Chalk, paper, woodwork VOCs - Art & science materials, shop activities, magic markers, printers & copiers Ozone - Photocopiers

11 SOURCES - Non-Educational Activities in the Building Cleaning Cooking Pesticides Construction Renovation Roofing Project

12 SOURCES: The Building Itself & Its Systems VOCs - new furnishing, carpets, floors, building materials Particulates - dust, tracked-in dirt, fiberglass, asbestos, old carpet Bioaerosols - mold, bacteria spores nutrient source temperature (optimum F) water

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28 SOURCES - Outside the Building Particulate - pollen, dust, fungal spores, construction, dirt Gases - carbon monoxide; exhaust fumes from buses, traffic, parking lots; ozone Bioaerosols - from standing water near ventilation intakes, grass cuttings Odors - unsanitary debris near intakes, low tide, land fills Soil Gases leaking from underground tanks, previous use of sites Nearby industry, construction

29

30

31

32

33 VENTILATION

34 VENTILATION Windows Windows and Exhausts Unit Ventilators Central HVAC Systems Combination of the Above

35 Ventilation and Temperature Control Mechanical or Natural Ventilation Central HVAC or Unit Ventilators What Type of Heat Air Conditioning? Where are the Air Handling Units (AHUs) Where are the fresh air intakes Which AHUs serve which rooms

36 VENTILATION SYSTEM

37 PATHWAYS

38 PATHWAYS exhaust ventilation system only

39

40

41 Results of CO2 Test This is what happens when books are stacked on the unit ventilator Credit: Bill Thompson, Director of Facilities Management Lockport Township High School District 205, IL

42 Results of CO2 Test Removed Books Off Unit Ventilator Credit: Bill Thompson, Director of Facilities Management Lockport Township High School District 205, IL

43 Results of CO2 Test Example of a Room with a Dirty Filter Credit: Bill Thompson, Director of Facilities Management Lockport Township High School District 205, IL

44 Results of CO2 Test Example of Same Room with a Clean Filter Credit: Bill Thompson, Director of Facilities Management Lockport Township High School District 205, IL

45

46

47

48

49

50 EVALUATING HAZARDS

51 The Walkthrough- Outside Walk around the building looking for anything that might impact the air indoors Ventilation inlets, outdoor pollutant sources (dumpsters, exhaust, pesticide), site drainage, condition of roof, etc. Around intakes - check for birds nests, droppings, leaves, exhausts, trash AHU/HVAC units - are dampers open, clear & in working condition

52 The Walkthrough- In Classrooms Check for thermal comfort temperature, relative humidity Measure CO 2 (IAQ indicator) Check for air movement at each diffuser, return, exhaust Look for items placed on top of unit ventilators or items blocking supplies or returns Look at the general cleanliness in the classroom Watch for potential pollutant sources - evidence of water damage, mold, condition of carpets, equipment, animals, art supplies, etc Ask about activities & occupancy Ask open ended questions of teachers

53 Quantitative Measures of the Ventilation Carbon Dioxide Outdoor Air Measuring air flow all diffusers & returns & exhausts < ppm 15 cfm/person in each classroom

54 Evaluation of Bioaerosols- Indoor fungal genera and levels should be equal to or less than the background levels found outdoors Similar type of fungi should be found indoor as are found outdoors

55 Evaluation of Air Contaminants Compare levels against OSHA PELs Compare levels against ACGIH TLVs Compare levels against NIOSH RELs

56 Note: it is rare that occupational standards will be exceeded - or even approached in schools, including those with known IAQ problems

57 SOLUTIONS Indoor Air Quality Problems are almost always multifactorial in solution Reduce or Eliminate Sources Improve Ventilation Interrupt/Alter Pathways Publicize/communicate what you are doing to correct problems Evaluate Changes Try again if necessary

58 Lets Look at the Room We re In- Potential Indoor Air Pollutants Chemical Contaminants? Biological Contaminants? Water incursion? Ventilation what type serves this room? Is it adequate? Thermal Comfort temp? relative humidity?

59 Implementation Guide Summary 1. Initial School Team training 2. Assemble Action Packets 3. Distribute Action Packets 4. Summarize checklists 5. Training on conducting a walkthrough investigation 6. Walkthrough Investigation 7. Prioritize Results of Investigation 8. Taking Action

60 Developing Priorities IAQ Problem Priority Action Completed By? Responsible party Cost Bus fumes from parking area High, Cat. A Enforce Bus Idling Policy ASAP Bus Drivers $0 Moldy carpeting in Room 202. High, Cat. C Replace w/ Floor tiles End of Summer School Main. Dept., Contractor $2000 High VOC floor stripper Medium, Cat. B Replace w/alternative Start using in new school yr School custodian/ purchasing office $200

61 Making TfS Successful! 1. Coordinators Keep Everyone Informed 2. Develop Written Report 3. Board of Education Presentation 4. Fall Kick-off Meetings 5. District TfS Coordinating Structure

62 CT Success Stories 1. West Hartford Successfully Used students on Teams 2. Ridgefield Hired TfS Coordinator 3. Sherman Renovation Company to Follow Proper H & S Guidelines 4. EPA National Excellence Award Winners: - Hamden - Waterford - Norwich - North Haven

63 Tools for Schools Building Team Training Evaluations! Thank You!