Page 30 - School Planning & Management, April 2018

HEALTHY FACILITIES | SPECIAL SECTION
Birmingham Public Schools (BPS) is receiving the 2018 Gold Standard of Excellence recognition for its holistic approach to healthy indoor environments; notably, indoor air quality (IAQ).
• Stellar IAQ—Classroom air is consistently cleaner than outdoor air.
• BPS frequently tests indoor air for the presence of particles and gases and uses portable devices to assess IAQ, including taking measurements of airborne particles; CO2, CO, temperature, relative humidity, and dew point; VOCs, oxygen, hydrocarbons, other substances; non-viable mold/pollen; and viable mold/bacteria.
• HVAC filters (MERV 7) are changed on a rigorous schedule, with a focus on actual
air quality rather than high-tech equipment (although they have that). They most value the outcomes produced through ventilation and moving the right volume of air through appropriate media as part of a system to optimize air cleanliness for
the application, rather than touting the best filters or air tech. STEM lab areas have been updated with specialty air cleaning units, and the six natatorium (indoor pool) environments have increased ventilation.
• Carbon dioxide sensors are in every HVAC system to help control outside air intake, including in all classrooms.
• BPS uses Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to address prevention and eliminate pest harborage (e.g., removal of food sources), rarely using pesticides.
• BPS tests all water sources that students drink from including those not required by law, such as lab faucets where students often fill water bottles.
• BPS has a sound meter-based testing program during occupied and unoccupied times to prioritize and attenuate noise issues.
• BPS operations staff works with architects and engineers as new construction is planned and launched, to ensure cleanability and help optimize other health factors.
• BPS buildings have 15+ feet of entry matting to prevent tracking in contaminants which can become airborne and create other exposure issues.
• BPS custodial uses truck-mounted extractors to frequently deep clean carpet, a measure associated with better IAQ.
• Spray-and-vac restroom cleaning machines enable more thorough removal of soils and bio-pollutants than manual methods.
• Hand sanitizer is provided in corridors.
• BPS uses cameras with 30-day digital storage; security vestibules at all schools; classroom doors with locks for quick access and ease of use; card security access for staff including tracking users; and an exterior door locking program that is tested six times annually.
• Buses have GPS systems; internal and external cameras; pre-trip inspection, and systems monitoring.
• BPS is focused on “social / responsible” return on investment (ROI), not just fiscal ROI; i.e., believing “doing the right thing” is investing in the educational success and health of students for optimum social ROI.
Birmingham Public Schools (BPS) is also receiving a Kaivac Lithium-ion-powered OmniFlexTM AutoVac and a case of Kaivac’s Neutral
Floor Cleaner as part of their recognition. The high-performance floor cleaning machine that’s three to four times faster than a mop removing soils from the floor surface is valued at $2,439 and is donated by Kaivac Cleaning Systems, sponsor of the Healthy and Safe Facility Handbook – School and College Edition, which can be found at www.healthyfacilityhandbook.com.
EXCELLENCE
BIRMINGHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS
RECOGNIZED FOR OUTSTANDING FACILITIES 2018
HEALTHY FACILITIES AWARD
BIRMINGHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Institution Type: PK-12 Location: Beverly Hills, MI Number of Students: 8,200 Number of Sites: 17 Founded: 1834
Website: www.Birmingham.k12.mi.us
Birmingham Public Schools is focused on social/responsible return on invest- ment (ROI), not just fiscal ROI, and believes that “doing the right thing” is investing in the educational success and health of students for optimal social ROI.
Birmingham Public Schools uses real-time airborne dust monitoring and other portable devices to help protect indoor air quality.
Spray-and-vac restroom cleaning machines enable more thorough removal of soils and bio-pollutants than manual methods.
30 SCHOOL PLANNING & MANAGEMENT / APRIL 2018 WEBSPM.COM