Ops Talk Magazine Spring 2017

Covering all aspects of educational facilities and operations.

Ops Talk

PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT #40934510

Spring 2017

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B.C.’s Rural Education Fund provides a second life for rural schools The great outdoors, a perfect classroom for an Okanagan school Radon gas and the impact of it in B.C. schools

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In this issue

Message from the president of EFMA, Harold Schock................................................................ 6 Message from Premier Christy Clark............................................................................................. 8 Message from Education Minister Mike Bernier....................................................................... 10 EFMA member profile, Russ Sales............................................................................................... 12 Welcome to the club: A spotlight on four new EFMA members............................................. 14 B.C.’s Rural Education Fund provides funding to rural schools headed for closure.............. 20 Outside the norm: The beginning of new traditions at a school in the Okanagan............... 23 In a digital age: SD#23 paving the way for how schools access the Internet........................ 24

Published by: DEL Communications Inc. Suite 300, 6 Roslyn Road Winnipeg, Manitoba R3L 0G5 www.delcommunications.com President David Langstaff

2017 EFMA Conference & Trade Show program........................................................... 26 2017 EFMA Conference & Trade Show registration form............................................. 34 EFMA 21st annual golf tournament information and registration.............................. 35 2017 EFMA Conference & Trade Show Partners Program........................................... 36 2017 EFMA Conference & Trade Show Partners Program registration...................... 37 2017 EFMA Conference & Trade Show accommodations............................................ 37 2017 EFMA Conference & Trade Show exhibitors 2017............................................... 40 2017 EFMA Conference & Trade Show sponsors.......................................................... 41

Taking innovation to a new level at school district #27............................................................ 42 Radon gas and the impact of it in our schools............................................................................ 44 Never diminish your worth............................................................................................................ 46 EFMA B.C. members and ASTTBC: Sharing common goals.................................................. 47 Introducing the BC Education Marketplace............................................................................... 48 Thoughts on: Risk management and shops................................................................................ 49 The BC QAC: A quality assurance program for mechanical insulation applications.......... 50 Website takes guess work out of equipment management...................................................... 52 From media centres to learning commons................................................................................. 54 New changes to energy standards for schools........................................................................... 56 Introducing the highly efficient and versatile Grundfos ALPHA2 Circulator....................... 57 Going wireless: The ABCs of wireless microphones................................................................. 58

Index to advertisers

Philips InstantFit: The right LED tube every time..................................................................... 62 B.C. Insulation Contractors Association...................................51 B.G.E. Service & Supply Ltd......................................................56 Breathe Easy Duct Cleaning.....................................................60 Busy Bee Sanitary Supplies Inc................................................58 Canstar Restorations..................................................................3 Caster Town Ltd........................................................................48 Craven Huston Powers Architects............................................48 D.g. Maclachlan Limited.........................................................51 Dobbin Sales Ltd.........................................................................9 Emco Corporation....................................................................22 Erv Parent................................................................................60 Esc Automation & Delta Controls......................................... OBC Etp Energy Technology Products............................................50 Etps..........................................................................................50 Extron Electronics.....................................................................32 Fortis B.C...................................................................................21 Garaventa Lift B.C.....................................................................22 Grundfos Canada Inc................................................................ 17 Houle.........................................................................................39 Ibc Technologies........................................................................5

Integral Group..........................................................................18 Interior Turf Equipment..............................................................8 Irc Building Sciences Group....................................................15 Mapei....................................................................................... 11 McGregor Hardware Distribution............................................ 19 Quantum Lighting....................................................................62 Reliable Controls Corporation.................................................IBC Rocky Point Engineering Ltd....................................................58 Roofing Contractors Association of B.c...................................61 Royal Stewart Ltd.....................................................................46 Schoolhouse Products Inc........................................................55 Sound Solutions Inc..................................................................59 Spears Sales & Service Ltd........................................................51 Thinkspace................................................................................51 Viessmann Manufacturing Company Inc................................25 Wesclean...................................................................................45 Wesco Distribution & Philips Lighting.................................... IFC Western Bus Parts & Service Ltd..............................................13 Winmar.......................................................................................7

Publisher Jason Stefanik Managing Editor Shayna Wiwierski shayna@delcommunications.com Contributing writers Jason Jung | Andre LeBlanc | Chuck Morris Paul Muntak | Curt Palme | Tammy Schuster Advertising Sales Manager Dayna Oulion Toll Free: 1.866.424.6398 Advertising Sales Gary Barrington | Jennifer Hebert Dan Roberts Production Services Provided by: S.G. Bennett Marketing Services www.sgbennett.com Art Director Kathy Cable Layout/Design Dana Jensen Cover Photo by Harold Schock Copyright 2017. EFMA. All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced by any means, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of the publisher.

©

While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein and the reliability of the source, the publisher in no way guarantees nor warrants the information and is not responsible for errors, omissions or statements made by advertisers.

Opinions and recommendations made by contributors or advertisers are not necessarily those of the publisher, its directors, officers or employees.

Publications mail agreement #40934510 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: DEL Communications Inc. Suite 300, 6 Roslyn Road Winnipeg, MB R3L 0G5 Email: david@delcommunications.com PRINTED IN CANADA 3/2017

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF EFMA

Harold Schock

Photo by Vladimir Kostka, FortisBC.

T

he Educational Facilities Managers’ Association (EFMA) of B.C., over its long historical development from the small town of Nanaimo to the province's leading resource and advisory organization, has demonstrated an exceptional capability to adapt to an ever-changing external environment. The core values and principles that have guided this journey are fundamental to our culture and our success.

The EFMA executive team has worked hard organizing this year's conference. Sharing Solutions – Challenge of Change is our conference theme for 2017 and we encourage our members to engage in the many learning sessions that are offered. Learning new technologies and sharing ideas will help your school district facility experts progress into the future.

By definition, progress means change. This is not always comfortable. It may challenge our assumptions and the way we are used to doing and seeing things. Keep change in prospective and increase your leadership capacity by empowering your teams to engage in our workshops and by creating a culture of continuous learning.

Being the president of EFMA has been an excellent learning opportunity. Leading our executive team to meet with the ministry of education, school districts, and other partners in collaboration to identify opportunities in attendance support and wellness, facilities energy and transportation, as well as procurement has been extremely rewarding. The province's Service Delivery Project (SDP) is an effort to find efficiencies, build sector capacity, implement effective and economical solutions, and achieve service consistency through shared delivery of services across B.C. school districts. The Facilities Management Working Group (FMWG) has been created to validate key measures that highlight potential efficiencies and savings.

School District No.23, EFMA and FMWG collaborated with five underserved school districts and has hired a district-wide energy manager. The energy manager will be responsible for developing and implementing a strategic energy management plan that will meet the deliverables of BC Hydro’s Energy Manager Program.

I would like to thank again our executive secretary, our current executive, and our association membership for the faith you have shown in electing me as your president. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all committee and zone chairs for their dedication and hard work.

Please know that it has truly been a pleasure to serve as your president for 2016/17. n

Join us in Penticton in May 2017!

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Ops Talk • Spring 2017

Fraser Valley – 604-392-0664

Prince George – 250-640-9105

Kitimat – 250-639-1111

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Nanaimo – 250-758-9899

Squamish/Whistler – 604-849-1039 Terrace – 250-638-1111

Okanagan Valley – 250-862-3500

Vancouver – 604-433-6000

Powell River – 250-758-9899

Victoria – 250-386-6000

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message from premier christy clark

Building on B.C.’s strength

T

his is an exciting time in B.C. More and more people are moving from other provinces and countries to build their lives in Canada’s leading economy. As our communities continue to grow, we’re making new investments in school infrastructure.

That includes $2 billion over the next three years in capital and seismic projects for B.C. schools. It means a lot of new schools to support growing communities, renovations, and improvements to extend the

life of existing schools, and seismic projects to support our students’ safety. I know the members of the Educational Facilities Managers’ Association of B.C. will see these projects through, on time and on budget.

I want to thank EFMA and its members for your continued hard work to keep our schools thriving. Together, we will build an even stronger B.C. n

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message from education minister mike bernier

Building up B.C.’s schools

W

e have had a banner year for British Columbia’s students and education system. On top of a record $5.1 billion in funding in 2016, we’re proud to have introduced a number of new measures that cut costs for families, support student learning, and help teachers bring B.C.’s new curriculum to life.

Most recently we announced a $29.4-million Student Learning Grant, which schools can use to purchase classroom equipment and supplies like textbooks, lab equipment, and art supplies. We also introduced the $14.7-million Student Transportation Fund, which has made bus services more accessible and affordable for families across the province. And we kept seven rural schools open with our $1.8-million Rural Education Enhancement Fund to support students, families, and communities.

We made great progress creating new student spaces - work is underway to build more than 4,800 new student seats in Langley, Surrey, and Coquitlam through the construction of new schools and classroom additions. We built on that with $217 million for the Surrey School District to build up to 5,200 new student spaces, which will help tackle their rapidly growing enrolment.

We made strong headway on the seismic front too. To date, 163 projects have been completed under B.C.’s award-winning and globally recognized Seismic Mitigation Pro-

10

Ops Talk • Spring 2017

gram, for a total of $1.3 billion. In Vancouver alone, there are nine seismic projects worth more than $200 million currently underway, or recently completed.

We were able to make all these investments because B.C.’s economy is booming.

People from all over the world are coming here to live – many of our communities are growing, and we’re seeing more young families in our province. With these changes brings the need for us to invest even more in our education system – funding more teachers and building more classroom space to support our growth.

On April 1, B.C.’s education budget will increase to $5.9 billion. That’s a record yearover-year increase of $314 million – or a lift of 5.6 per cent. This historic increase means that every new student coming to school in B.C. will be fully funded at almost $9,000 a year.

In addition to this funding increase, Budget 2017 supports $2 billion in capital spending over the next three years to replace, renovate, expand or seismically upgrade B.C. schools. This is great news for students, parents, teachers, and communities right across our province. With this funding, we will be able to support our growing communities by building space for more students, supporting student learning and achievement, and ensuring more schools are seismically safe for students, teachers, and staff.

Part of this funding will be used to continue to help school districts improve their facilities through a number of programs.

We will continue the School Enhancement Program, allowing districts to apply for funding to extend the life of their schools through a multitude of projects, from roof replacements to window and mechanical upgrades.

The Carbon Neutral Capital Program will also continue to help schools reduce their carbon footprint and save money by investing in energy-efficient upgrades. Each year $5 million is made available under this program to districts.

The School Bus Replacement Program helps districts with the cost of replacing and buying new school buses, ensuring safe and reliable transportation for B.C. students. Last year, we invested almost $10 million under the program to help districts buy new and replacement school buses.

I urge all Educational Facilities Managers’ Association of B.C. members to encourage their districts to take advantage of these programs by submitting applications.

With the Province making record investments like these to build up B.C.’s school infrastructure, EFMA B.C. members will continue to play a big role in our success – bringing projects forward and seeing them through to completion. I want to thank all of EFMA B.C.’s members for your leadership and expertise in protecting and maintaining our school buildings.

Together, we are ensuring students have the environment and tools they need to succeed and building a stronger B.C. n

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Creating a difference

Retired director of facilities for the Burnaby School Board, Russ Sales remembers his 32 years in the industry

By Shayna Wiwierski

L

ife has come full circle for Russ Sales, retired director of facilities for the Burnaby School Board.

Sales started his career in 1979 when he became a Red Seal ticketed carpenter, working on high rises until 1984 when he became a carpenter for CUPE 379 and the Burnaby School District. He held that position until 1989 when he moved up to being a carpenter locksmith. In 1991 he became the maintenance supervisor and was put in charge of the grounds, carpentry paint, mechanical trades, electrical paint, and more, and then took over the position of manager of capital projects for the school district until 2011 when he became the director of facilities.

As director of facilities, Sales was in charge of all the district buildings and made sure the managers and supervisors, as well as crew, were on task. He also did all the budget work and put in ministry requests for new funds for new additions on buildings, seismic upgrades, carbon neutral offsets, and more.

“The whole reason we were there was to make the facilities warm, safe, and secure. I oversaw $120 million worth of new construction work completed, 90 per cent of which was on time,” says Sales, who was born and raised in Burnaby, B.C. In addition to four new facilities that he oversaw, Sales was involved in 40 seismic upgrades and retrofitted additional facilities.

His favourite part of the job was being able to work with others and get tasks completed every day so the big schools remained open.

He got to troubleshoot a lot of problems, and one in particular that comes to mind was the major wind storm in Vancouver three years ago that wiped out Stanley Park.

“We survived that. A couple buildings we couldn’t get power to, but most of them we kept operational. We kept kids in the building where they belong.”

Although he recently retired, Sales credits being a member of EFMA B.C. (formerly SPOA), as an organization that gives you opportunity to network with your counterparts and learn from them. As a member since 1991, he mentions the great leadership programs and the ability to feed off of others to do the job better.

As for life after retirement, he’s gone back to his carpentry roots and enjoys building things in his shop out back (he still lives on the same street he was born and raised on), and visiting his property in the country, where he goes to dig holes using his small excavator bulldozer, hunt and fish. He also spends lots of time with his grandkids.

“You reach that time and you look at the numbers – 32 years – it’s time to enjoy some of the other stuff I do. I still work in my shop out back, build furniture, do small renos. I went back to what I was doing.” n

Although he recently retired, Sales credits being a member of EFMA B.C. (formerly SPOA), as an organization that gives you opportunity to network with your counterparts and learn from them.

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Ops Talk • Spring 2017

ILES F O R PR E B MEM W NE

Welcome to the club

A spotlight on four new EFMA members

By Shayna Wiwierski

ww w.efmabc.ca

There are so many benefits to joining the Educational Facilities Managers’ Association of B.C. (EFMA). With a strong membership of facility managers across the province, word is getting around that joining the association definitely has its perks.

Here’s a look at four new members who have joined in the past year.

Glen O’Keefe, Property/Custodial Manager for SD#62

O

ne of the best decisions Glen O’Keefe says he ever made was leaving his job working as an opera-

tions manager for a major fuel company in Canada to become the property/custodial manager for SD#62.

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Ops Talk • Spring 2017

“A great opportunity to join the SD#62 team presented itself. My wife and I were born and raised in this community, and our kids also attend school in this district. It’s local and close to home,” said O’Keefe, crediting the management experience he gained working in the oil and gas industry for 27 years as part of the reason for landing this position.

Six months into the job, O’Keefe loves what he does, and has a huge sense of pride working for the school district in the community that he lives in. His role has him supervising a team of 75 custodians, as well

as managing the full- and part-time tenants who use the schools.

O’Keefe became a member of EFMA in September 2016 and is currently taking the EFMA leadership courses. He says he didn’t know much about the association prior to his career change, but is excited to attend the EFMA Annual Trade Show and Conference in Penticton this June and meet his fellow colleagues.

“It’s a great organization, I see the emails with the support and people helping each other. What I’ve seen so far is fantastic.”

Jim MacKenzie, Director of Facilities Maintenance and Planning for the North Vancouver School District (SD#44)

J

im MacKenzie loves his job so much, he describes it as a hobby.

The director of facilities and planning

for the North Vancouver School District #44 started in the position in December 2015. He moved to the public education sector after a career working in the commercial real estate sector where he managed the facilities maintenance division for a broad portfolio of properties across Canada. He left the private

sphere because he wanted to affect positive change and bring value to an organization.

After some research, he came across SD#44, the North Vancouver School District, and had the opportunity to get a personal tour through a number of schools with the former superintendent.

“There had been a lot of meaningful change across the organization, and the culture and collaboration I observed in the workplace inspired me as a [place] where I wanted to work,” said MacKenzie, who adds that in the year that he has been there, they have undertaken a lot of great projects, such as replacing Argyle Secondary School and implementing a new computerized maintenance management system (CMMS).

MacKenzie joined EMFA in November

2016 after meeting some EFMA members at a recent symposium. He said he joined the very next day because it is nice being able to learn who your peers are and knowing there is a community you can reach out to.

As for the job itself, MacKenzie is loving his current position, and brings a lot to the position and EFMA. “I really like mentoring people and finding ways to position them in their areas of strength to strategically advance the organization, and provide them with career growth. I also tend to quickly identify systemic weaknesses in an organization and figure out ways to strategically transform or enhance them to make them more effective.

Speaks to my natural desire to mentor and problem solve.”

Mike Chapman, Assistant Director of Facilities and Planning for the North Vancouver School District (SD#44)

A

fter 15 years of working as a mechanical engineer in the automotive sector in Toronto, Ont., Mike Chapman

decided to pack his bags, make a lifestyle change, and move to the west coast.

Since there isn’t much work in the auto sector in Vancouver, Chapman went into building sciences and facilities maintenance and took a job with the University of British Columbia focusing on mechanical building

16

Ops Talk • Spring 2017

systems. As a resident of North Vancouver, he jumped at the opportunity to work in his local community with the North Vancouver School District, where he’s been the assistant director of facilities and planning for the past year and a half.

“I really wanted to live and work in the same community. The opportunity came up with the North Vancouver School District with their facilities and planning team and I thought it would be a good fit,” said Chapman, who also mentions that he liked the idea of working for an organization that builds and maintains educational facilities in which children and youth learn and grow.

His job entails a lot of strategic planning for the operation and maintenance associated with SD#44’s facilities.

Chapman joined EFMA at the same time that his supervisor Jim MacKenzie did. Both men were at a climate action meeting sitting at the same table as EFMA president Harold Schock, who convinced them to sign up. Chapman looks forward to attending his first EFMA conference this spring and the networking opportunity that the association will give him.

“I think the conference will be a great opportunity to meet my peers in the education sector from across the province and ministry contacts. I’m looking forward to discussing best practices and expanding my network.

I’ve met people periodically through other functions outside of EFMA, but I’m told this is a key networking event and I’m looking forward to attending,” he said.

Jose Pelayo – Project Manager for the Richmond School District (SD#38) Prior to joining the Richmond School Dis-

staff,” says Pelayo, who joined EFMA last year.

trict, Pelayo worked with one of Vancouver’s

After wanting to have more collaboration

largest real estate developers and he also

with other school districts, Pelayo says that

worked in the oil and gas industry all over

he saw value in joining EFMA after hearing

Alberta. Wanting to make the move back

about the association from a conference he

to the Vancouver area, he applied for the

had attended in Victoria. He also says that

project manager position at the Richmond

some of his colleagues are also members,

ose Pelayo’s vast experience in the construction industry can best be described as “east meets west”. Pelayo has

School District and got the job. In his cur-

something he didn’t realize previously.

J

rent position, which he’s held for two years,

“They said EFMA is a good resource. You

he works on capital projects, working on the

get good collaboration from other school

a bachelor’s degree in architecture and ex-

building envelope program along with B.C.

districts and other facility managers. Last

tensive construction industry experience in

Housing, seismic upgrades, and on new con-

year, one of our managers went to the an-

Asia, the U.S., and Canada. His expertise and

struction for schools.

nual conference and met with the ministry.

experience include not only the design of

“I love what I do, organizing, coordinating,

It was a nice conversation and collaboration,

complex structures, but also project man-

and managing projects. I also like meeting

and you can put faces to your emails; there’s

agement, administration, and finance.

with stakeholders, consultants, trades, and

more connection.” n

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Ops Talk • Spring 2017

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A new lease on life

B.C.’s Rural Education Fund provides funding to rural schools headed for closure

By Shayna Wiwierski

S

ome schools in B.C. are getting a new lease on life thanks to a new provincial initiative.

Announced on June 15, 2016 by Premier Christy Clark, the Rural Education Enhancement Fund is targeted to districts outside Greater Victoria, the Lower Mainland, and Kelowna who are able to apply for ongoing provincial funding that recognizes the unique challenges faced in keeping schools open in rural communities.

“Closing the only high school or elementary school in a rural community has a large impact on that local economy,” said Premier Clark in a press release from June 15, 2016. “With Canada’s strongest economy it’s important that we make sure the benefits are shared by rural communities throughout our province to ensure they have the infrastructure they need to grow, attract talent, and provide critical services like health care. Our rural education strategy will help us accomplish this.”

Districts are able to apply annually for the funding if they meet certain criteria. Schools must be in a rural community or sub-community outside the Greater Victoria, Lower Mainland, and Kelowna areas with a population of less than 15,000; closure would eliminate specific grades within the community; the funding will be used to keep the

SD#67 felt that since West Bench Elementary School, located in a neighbourhood fringe community of Penticton, had similar circumstances to Trout Creek, they deserved funding as well. The school received $369,404 from the Rural Education Fund.

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Ops Talk • Spring 2017

school open; and closures due to facility condition or extreme enrolment decline are not included. The amount of funding each district will be eligible for is to be equal to their expected savings from closure of the school.

The Okanagan Skaha School District (SD#67) applied for and received funding for two of their schools, Trout Creek Elementary and West Bench Elementary, both of which are K to Grade 5. Originally the government only recognized Trout Creek to be eligible for the funding, but since West Bench had similar circumstances, the district applied for both and got approved.

“Trout Creek currently has 160 students and it was a smaller enrollment. [The school] was within a larger community so that’s why it was named one of our possibilities,” said Bonnie Roller-Routley, secretarytreasurer for SD#67. “West Bench was also named for closure and is a community that’s only five kilometres from its closest elementary school. It’s a neighbourhood fringe community of Penticton, separated by highway and a valley, which makes it less easy to walk. When we were looking at why the ministry felt that Trout Creek was a rural school we felt that West Bench too qualified under the criteria, so we did applications for both, and both were approved.”

The two schools were at the time headed for closure. The board did a school closure process in March 2016 and had identified several situations and passed the motions to close the elementary schools, as well as one of their middle schools. They felt it was better to reconfigure the schools to the K to Grade 3, Grades 4 to 7, and Grades 8 to 12 models. They felt that by having a primary, intermediate, and 8 to 12 school it would keep the three schools vibrant. As a result, the community was unhappy with the decision and went to their local MLA. Thankfully, legal action never occurred, but instead it was good timing on the government’s part with the announcement of the new Rural Education Fund.

Throughout the school closure process, the board did indicate that if any opportunities came their way to not close the schools, they would take it. Although the motions were already passed to close them, the board ended up reverting them when this funding initiative was announced.

“As a district, we were really surprised when the ideas came out because it had been a very conscientious issue to close the schools, and the board had worked really hard to make the decision and felt it was the best for the district. When the announcement was made, they

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Trout Creek Elementary School, a K to Grade 5 school in SD#67 received $369,815 from the Rural Education Fund.

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said they would do whatever they could, so we went ahead and put applications forward,” said Roller-Routley, who submitted a 90-page document as the West Bench application and a 110-page document for Trout Creek.

As a result of funding, Trout Creek received $369,815 and West Bench received $369,404.

The numbers were calculated as the savings if they were to close the schools. The money will be used for the salaries of the principal, various teachers, and the scales of economy from the teaching side. As well, they will be used for maintenance and utilities. RollerRoutley says that the funding is guaranteed for the 2017-2018 school year. The real issue though is the government’s classification on what makes a school rural.

MLA Linda Larson out of Oliver, who was named the parliamentary secretary for rural education, was tasked to work with the education sector, the public, and community stakeholder groups to create a Rural Education Strategy by the summer of 2017. The purpose of this engagement is to explore rural school funding and educational practices, as well as the role that educational programs and schools play in rural communities across B.C. “One of the questions is ‘what is your definition of rural and remote, and how we would identify between a rural, remote, and neighbourhood school’, as right now they are all defined the same. That is her mandate,” said Roller-Routley, adding that until this strategy in complete, they don’t know if the two schools will be considered rural and if they will continue to get the funding in the future.

Members of the community can join the conversation on the Government of B.C.’s site. The final report will be released near the end of the 2016/2017 school year. In the meantime, both the district and communities of Trout Creek and West Bench are happy that their two elementary schools will remain open.

“I think it’s a good thing that this district went ahead with the applications and received the funding. It’s also a good thing this conversation has triggered the investigation into what is rural and what is rural education.

Any time you have more money coming into the rural education system it’s welcomed.” n

Outside the norm

The beginning of new traditions at a school in the Okanagan

By Tammy Schuster

Students practicing music. The school boasts an outdoor amphitheatre, made of rock slabs in the shape of a golden spiral.

A

young student sitting at his desk gazing out the window instead of at his math problem may just be a part of every child’s school experience. But for elementary students at Oyama Traditional School in Oyama, British Columbia, learning is taken off the desk, out of the classroom, and into the wilderness.

Oyama Traditional School, a K to Grade 6 public school located in a rural area of the Okanagan, was once slated to be closed due to low enrollment. It now boasts 147 students and is part of a region-wide initiative that incorporates place-based learning into its curriculum, which utilizes the outdoors as an elementary school classroom.

The traditional school promotes 21st century learning, with a focus on academics, technology, student leadership, art, and athletics. But having an outdoor classroom, amphitheatre, greenhouse, and garden is adding something more.

“There is a new energy to learning,” says Ross Hett, principal, Oyama Traditional School in School District #23. “Instead of receiving a bunch of information and regurgitating it out on a test, students are encouraged to collaborate with each other on projects that have real-world implications with less of an emphasis on out-of-context learning.”

Hett, who has a background working in both public and independent schools, says he recognized the power of student engagement and the power of a student that identifies with his or her school.

He says the school’s goal is to instill the attributes of 21st century learning in every child, such as that of a learner, thinker, contributor, collaborator, and innovator. Having the outdoor learning areas is an opportunity to broaden that spectrum of engagement.

Students also develop an interest in subjects like science and math through connecting with nature, while fostering an appreciation for environment.

The Oyama Traditional School, which has an enrollment of 147 students, is part of a region-wide initiative which utilizes the outdoors as an elementary school classroom.

A few years ago, one of the teachers at the school suggested taking advantage of the beautiful Okanagan landscape by arranging a few tables and chairs around the school grounds. Parents rallied together with the school district and local companies donating time, services, and materials, and built a large natural amphitheatre made of rock slabs in the shape of a golden spiral. Another learning area located approximately 150 feet away near a small forested area contains tables and seating along with a greenhouse, and there are plans for community gardens.

And, Hett says the vision is continuing with plans to develop a perimeter boardwalk and a wharf reaching into the middle of a marsh located adjacent to the school property. The marsh, owned by Ducks Unlimited Canada, will be an additional outdoor learning area.

The district is also working with the University of British Columbia Okanagan to begin having university students attend on a biannual basis to conduct wetland studies as part of their biology undergrad degree, while working with the elementary students.

While literacy and numeracy are at the core of learning at OTS, Hett says the school also promotes place-based learning and environmental education, science and technology, engineering and math, and global citizenship and culture as the four main routes in the school’s education plan.

“Each direction generates its own steam and excitement. When you have a really cool vision, everyone just seems to come together,” he says. “With a redesigned curriculum, and the excellent planning of the teachers who work in such a collaborative culture, it’s really helping students achieve great outcomes. I hear nothing but great stories.”

Those stories can come from students attending music class in the amphitheatre on a crisp spring morning, an art class held in the grass on a fall afternoon, or a biology lesson in the middle of the foggy marsh. All utilizing the outdoors as a classroom. n

Students develop an interest in subjects like science and math through connecting with nature, while fostering an appreciation for the environment.

In a digital age

SD#23 paving the way for how schools access the Internet

By Shayna Wiwierski

B

ased on a recent statistic, it’s estimated that the overall number of mobile phone users will reach 4.77 billion in 20171. Google also reported a couple years ago that 87 per cent of people always have their smartphone at their side, day and night.

It’s a no-brainer that we live in a technologically filled world, and since anything and everything is readily available on our smartphones, computers, and tablets, the education system is a hub for these devices.

Since WiFi is incredibly important to being connected, there’s one school district in B.C. that is paving the way for keeping their staff, students, and guests on a digital network.

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Ops Talk • Spring 2017

The Central Okanagan School District (SD#23) offers an assortment of different WiFi networks to their 47 different sites, 44 of which are schools. Depending on who is accessing the Internet, whether it’s a student, teacher, or guest, their firewall will provide different qualities of services to the user. Meaning, that if a teacher is on one of the networks, they will get a higher bandwidth (faster Internet, perfect for streaming), versus a student or a guest. Depending on the machine type, whether it’s a district-owned device or their own personal one, each user must log on with district credentials so SD#23 can recognize who they are and allot the amount of bandwidth accordingly.

“If it’s a student with their personal device, our network will recognize that and give them a different quality of service.

Same with teachers,” says Dave Swystun, learning technology department manager for SD#23, who adds that personal devices get a lower quality of service. “We give priority to the district-owned devices. Now they can log onto multiple different WiFis based on the device you’re using, and depending on who you are, you will get a different quality of service.”

Since there are over 14,000 devices that access their networks, SD#23 offers different networks to avoid congestion. They also have a dedicated guest access one if a vendor comes in and wants access to the

Internet. The guest would visit the office of the school or site and the secretary or administrator would visit a page created specifically for generating guest user IDs, which are accessible for a week.

Having these different networks is a big feat for the school district as it allows them to see who is accessing them. Since there is an authentication process, that allows a digital log of who is using the Internet and what they are doing on it.

The upgrade to the current network was a few years in the making. The province announced the Next Generation Network (NGN) upgrade in 2014, which is a partnership with school districts, the Ministry of Education, Telus, and IBM, which are the primary service providers. NGN replaced the Provincial Learning Network, which had been in use for 17 years and was not built to meet the demands of modern applications and the proliferation of mobile devices. The NGN provides modern infrastructure that services all public schools in the province and keeps pace with the evolving use of Internet by students and educators. In addition, it also provides firewall management, web/URL filtering, and Intrusion Detection Systems and Intrusion Prevention Systems.

“We were one of the first pilot school districts to [upgrade to the system]. As a school district, we were suffering from terrible bandwidth issues. The original PLN network was an outdated system and there was no way of upgrading the bandwidth,” says Swystun, who did research on what the NGN network could look like and came up with ideas that he brought forth to the provincial level. “We got some vendors like IBM that were trying to do some research into how we could improve it and my findings were brought in. We worked with IBM and the province to come up with a network that was more sustainable for the district to upgrade the bandwidth and provide a more scalable Internet service to school districts.”

Swystun says that once they upgraded, which was two years ago, their prior bandwidth problems went away. They also had more control over the networks and bandwidth, and could scale the amount to each schools’ needs. The WiFi is also transferrable

to each school on a personal device, meaning that once someone logs in for the day, the WiFi will remember them if they leave one school and go to another in the district.

Although every public school in the province was expected to upgrade to NGN by March 2017, Swystun says that a lot of districts have the capability to run the same system as SD#23 but don’t know how. He adds that their network is pretty technical and a lot of times the schools don’t have the staff to create a similar network. A lot of districts don’t use the same technology as

them, especially when it comes to a guest network, which a lot of them don’t have.

“Our guest network is kinda unique and built up more than other districts that I’m aware of. Different people come back that have been out to different districts and they say we are miles ahead of where other districts are. What we have here is pretty unique.” n

Footnote https://deviceatlas.com/blog/16-mobilemarket-statistics-you-should-know-2016

1

Educational Facility Managers Association of B.C. | www.efmabc.com 25

2017 CONFERENCE PROGRAM Penticton Trade & Convention Centre

MAY 29 – JUNE 2, 2017

Sharing solutions – challenge of change MONDAY, MAY 29th

Professional Development (two days)

Pre-Registration is Required for A and B Sessions

8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

(A) Leadership Development Program – Room 5

Instructor: Bob Johnstone, Johnstone & Associates, Education and Management Consulting Services

Today’s school districts are large, diverse, and complex organizations. No longer can supervisors of district operations focus solely on the tasks at hand and the staff performing those tasks. Now they must respond to the expectations of, and interact with, a wider audience in an era of ever-changing technology and instant communication. No longer can they succeed simply by managing the day-to-day work of their departments. Now they must become members of a management team providing strategic leadership in the district.

The Education Facilities Managers’ Association’s Leadership Development Program was designed to assist supervisors of operations to meet the changing challenges of their positions. Through the four-part program, participants have been developing greater self-awareness, improving their ability to manage themselves, and enhancing their capacity to lead others towards high performance in changing times.

The final session in June will focus on: • understanding change • responding effectively to change • leading organizations in changing times.

Professional Development (one day) 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

(B) Motivation-Based Interviewing – Room 6/7

Instructor: Georgina Johnson, Director of Labour Relations, BCPSEA

Motivational-based interviewing (MBI) is a globally-used interviewing method that is simple, yet highly effective for hiring high performers. MBI training teaches interviewers how to assess a candidate’s skill, attitude, and passion.

Traditional behaviour-based interviewing training does an okay job teaching interviewers how to assess skills, but falls short when it comes to correctly assessing a candidate’s motivation. That’s a big deal! Why? Hiring decisions based on skill alone produce mixed hiring results because it takes more than skill to succeed. Think of skill as being analogous to a car. Think of motivation as its fuel. A car without fuel runs great….but only downhill. MBI interviewer training equips recruiters and managers with the ability to distinguish between incremental performance differences, and it’s this distinction that leads to more high performers being hired.

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Ops Talk • Spring 2017

TUESDAY, MAY 30th

Professional Development 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

(A) Leadership Development Program (con’t)

Room 5

3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Registration – Members and Exhibitors

South Lobby

12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

EFMA 21st Annual 9 Hole Golf Tournament

Penticton Golf & Country Club

4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Exhibitors Set-Up

Ballroom II/Salon A

7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

Presidents Reception

South Lobby

Sponsored by: Tremco Roofing & Building Maintenance

10:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.

Hospitality Suite – Everyone Welcome

Kettle Valley Station Pub, Ramada

Sponsored by: Armstrong World Industries

Canstar Restorations

Colliers Project Leaders

DEL Communications Inc.

Lightspeed Technologies Inc.

RCABC Guarantee Corp.

Rede Energy Solutions

WEDNESDAY, MAY 31st South Lobby

7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.

Registration – Members and Exhibitors

7:30 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.

New Member Orientation

8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.

Zone Meetings – Continental Breakfast • Zone I Kootenays • Zone II Okanagan • Zone III and Zone VI North Coast & North Central • Zone IV Mainland Fraser Valley • Zone V South Coast Vancouver Island

9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

New Zone Chair and Executive Meeting

Boardroom

9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Visit Exhibitors Booths - Coffee

Ballroom II/Salon A

8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

SSABC Meet and Greet

11:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Opening Ceremonies Delegates, Exhibitors, and Partners Luncheon Keynote Speaker: Joe Roberts Sponsored by: Quantum Lighting, Inc.

2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Visit Exhibitors Booths - Coffee

Salon B/C

Ballroom II/Salon A

Educational Facility Managers Association of B.C. | www.efmabc.com 27

WEDNESDAY, MAY 31st (continued) 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Concurrent Sessions:

1. (A) Ministry Presentation – Capital Plan Instructions (SEP) & Facility Condition Index

Speaker: Michael Nyikes – Director, Standards and Construction Branch (Capital Division)

(B) Round Table 2. (A) Floorcovering Installation Problems

Speaker: Chris Maskell, National Floor Covering Association Chris will be discussing NFCA standards, available resources for all construction parties involved in floorcovering installations, including acceptable conditions, examples, and explanations of sub-floor and floorcovering problems. He will also focus on testing requirements, product acclimation, planning concrete dry times, sub-floor correction, and who is responsible for what on site.

(B) How to Maintain and Set Up a Proper Matting Program

Speaker: Cody Gallacher, Edgewood Group Managing the matting lifecycle for multi-site facilities can be daunting; don’t be overwhelmed. Join us to learn about in-depth facility analysis and detailed entrance management strategies that will help you predict future needs and minimize unplanned purchases, while getting the greatest lifespan possible out of your matting.

3. The Down and Dirty on Wood Dust

Speaker: Geoff Clarke, Sr. Occupational Hygienist, WorkSafeBC Exposure to airborne wood dust has long been associated with a variety of health problems, ranging from nose and throat irritation to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, and even cancer. This is especially true if the wood is allergenic (e.g., red cedar) or a hardwood (oak, beech, mahogany, etc.). In addition, fine wood dust accumulating on surfaces and in vacuums or dust collectors is a combustible dust and can burn or explode if an ignition source is present. How can you protect workers and students from this hazard? Do you need a dust collection system? If you have a dust collection system, how do you know it’s even working properly? This session will answer these and many other questions.

4. (A) The Great Disconnect – Roofing in the Age of Millennial’s and What To Do About It!

Speaker: Judy Slutsky, Director of Business Development, RCABC Roofing is an age-old traditional trade where skills and best practices are passed down from generation to generation. As experienced people begin to retire from the roofing industry, a multi-generation workforce can benefit from a blueprint to record both institutional memory and new technology, systems, and methodology related to roofing. This blueprint is called a Roof Design Guideline. A Roof Design Guideline documents best practices in roofing that have proved successful within a school district and/or throughout several school districts and records successful roofing design, roofing systems and materials used, installation methods and new technology. This presentation will highlight key components of a roof design guideline, process, timeline and cost.

(B) Commercial Roofing 101: Know Your Stuff & Meet Your Budget Speaker: Jordan Gervais, IKO Industries A Commercial Roofing 101 presentation explaining system make-up, what to look for in a roof review and meeting the budget when the time comes for repair or replacement of your roof system.

(C) Complexities of New School Construction Speaker: Mohamed Sharnouby, Colliers Project Leaders Presenting a series of case examples from Sharnouby’s work with the Vancouver School Board on four elementary schools under the Seismic Mitigation Program, this presentation will provide hands-on advice to facility management professionals who undertake new school or replacement projects. A discussion on tried- and-true PMI-based stakeholder framework, alongside insights into practical tools used by project managers. This presentation will also be useful for those planning and designing new schools to learn what works, what does not, and what pitfalls to look out for during design reviews.

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Ops Talk • Spring 2017

WEDNESDAY, MAY 31st (continued) 16. Building Strategic Energy Management into Schools Operations

Speaker: BC Hydro

BC Hydro is excited to present on strategic energy management planning and how the 2016 Climate Leadership Plan can tie into your school districts overall drive to reduce your carbon footprint. In this discussion, we would like show some tools that BC Hydro has available (as well as others) that can be used to manage your electrical data and ultimately explain how that information can be used. Additionally, we want to show how the ability to forecast your utility information is easily understood and how to manage your school districts’ energy use.

5:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Exhibitors Hosted Evening – “Saloon” C Costume: Western 9:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.

Hospitality Suite – Everyone Welcome – Kettle Valley Station Pub, Ramada

Sponsored by: Armstrong World Industries

Canstar Restorations

Colliers Project Leaders

DEL Communications Inc.

Lightspeed Technologies Inc.

RCABC Guarantee Corp.

Rede Energy Solutions

THURSDAY, JUNE 1st 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.

Buffet Breakfast - Everyone Welcome – Salon B/C Sponsored by: Modern PURAIR

8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

EFMA Annual General Meeting – Salon B/C

9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

Exhibitors Meeting - Appointing New Exhibitor Representative – Ballroom II/Salon A

10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Visit Exhibitors Booths / Hosted Luncheon – Ballroom II/Salon A Sponsored by: Fortis BC

1:00 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.

Concurrent Sessions:

5. Capital Procurement & Policy

Speakers: Heather Hill, Ministry of Finance, Executive Director, Capital

Kim Anderson, Partnerships BC, Assistant Vice-President

Keith Sashaw, President, Association of Consulting Engineering Companies of BC Representatives from the construction industry and the provincial government have been working together through the Deputy Ministers and Industry Infrastructure Forum (DMIIF) to review capital procurement practices and current policy direction. The work of this forum represents an innovative approach, where best practice guidelines have been developed with input from government and industry representatives. As a result of the successful working relationship between government and industry fostered by DMIIF, the Province has implemented three new best practice guidelines under the Capital Asset Management Framework (CAMF) to date: prequalification processes, privilege clauses, and release of information/documents related to competitive procurement opportunities.

The Capital Asset Management Framework is the over-arching government capital policy document, and applies to agencies including school districts. Topics discussed at this session include the updated procurement chapter of the CAMF, as well as initiatives undertaken by DMIIF including use of standard contracts, and the new best practices guidelines. This session will provide a valuable opportunity for EFMA members to discuss capital procurement and policy with industry and central government representatives, and give us your perspective on how these policies impact your business.

Educational Facility Managers Association of B.C. | www.efmabc.com 29

6. (A) Management of Change – “Change” In An Ever-Changing Environment

Speaker: Alan Kavanaugh, Senior Loss Control, Risk Management Group, Suncorp Valuations Kavanaugh will discuss the recommended practices in regards to dealing with occupancy and process changes, changes to fire protection and fire alarm systems, human elements and training, as well as construction or modifications to existing structures and how they relate to various code reviews, workplace orders (WCB & BC Safety Authorities), and others.

(B) Safety Hazard Trends, Owner Roles and Responsibilities Speaker: Carrie Hughes, Regional Business Leader – Interior Region, BC Safety Authority As a facility manager, you have unique responsibilities throughout the lifecycle of your regulated equipment. Join BC Safety Authority to learn more about best practices in managing these responsibilities and discover the latest safety hazards that may be putting your equipment, employees, and the public at risk.

THURSDAY, JUNE 1st (continued)

7. (A) Energy Management: Stories from the Energy Wise Network

Speaker: Sarah Smith, Sustainability Team Leader; Duncan Wilcock, PUMA Team Leader, Prism Engineering The new BC Hydro and Fortis BC Energy Wise Network program provides school districts and other B.C. organizations with training and networking opportunities, campaign toolkits, and customized coaching and incentive funding all to help engage students and staff to save energy. Working closely with the utilities to design and deliver the program, Prism Engineering will share program highlights and some of the best stories, campaigns, and lessons learned about implementing engagement initiatives from the eight B.C. school districts participating in the program.

(B) Building Automation and Energy Management

Speakers: Eric Balt, Division Manager, John McLellan Business Development Houle Ltd., Controls Div. Overview of control strategies to reduce energy consumption and costs. Non-mechanical building systems, such as building envelope, insulation, windows, glazing, and building controls. Discussion on strategies and for building management systems required by energy managers to effectively manage facilities energy use and liaise with day-to-day operations. Discussion on concepts of organizational behaviour and change management, including group effects, motivators, and communication techniques. Business case development, strategic energy management plans and reporting structures.

8. Reducing Hazards in Your Workplace on Wheels - Part 1

Speaker: Angelina Robinson, Road Safety at Work Injury claims, lost workdays, and vehicle repairs all translate into higher costs that can have a dramatic impact on your bottom line.

Mitigating the risks of driving begins long before your staff get into a vehicle. This session will highlight preferred practices that are helping organizations to reduce injuries and avoid costly property damage and downtime.

3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Concurrent Sessions:

9. (A) Ministry Presentation - Facility Condition Index

(B) Maintenance Round table 10. Energy Management

(A) Leveraging Analytics for Operations

Speaker: Matthew Redekopp and Marco Bieri, Rede Energy Solutions Analytics help you do more with less as resources are spread increasingly thin for facility teams. With more and more to manage using the same resources, analytics empowers your team to get out and solve problems instead of combing through data to find issues.

Join us as we explore how other districts have leveraged analytics to make them more proactive, eliminate temperature complaints, and save energy.

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Ops Talk • Spring 2017

THURSDAY, JUNE 1st (continued)

(B) The Latest Developments in Lighting Controls for Schools

Speaker: Len Horvath, M.Sc., President, Quantum Lighting, Inc. The topic would give an insight into some of the latest advances in lighting controls, including digital wireless systems that work with: new lighting fixtures, “smart” lamp products, daylight and occupancy sensors, and “tunable white” and its impact on student behaviour.

11. Custodial Round Table 12. Reducing Hazards in Your Workplace on Wheels - Part 2

Speaker: Angelina Robinson, Road Safety at Work Injury claims, lost workdays and vehicle repairs all translate into higher costs that can have a dramatic impact on your bottom line.

Mitigating the risks of driving begins long before your staff get into a vehicle. This session will highlight preferred practices that are helping organizations to reduce injuries and avoid costly property damage and downtime.

6:00 p.m. – 12:30 a.m.

Reception, BBQ Dinner and Social – Penticton Lakeside Resort Sponsored by: Axis Communications

FRIDAY, JUNE 2nd Friday Events Sponsored by: BC Safety Authority 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

SSABC Round Table

• Classroom Acoustics -Terry Gomez, SD#41 Burnaby

• Science Safety Resource Manual - Will Dirksen, SD#68 Nanaimo Ladysmith

• Dusting off the Dust - Dave Cavezza, SD#23 Central Okanagan

• Critical Incident Debrief - Collette O’Reilly, SD#39 Vancouver

9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Consecutive Sessions:

13. Shared Services

14. BCPSEA

15. Ministry Update Speakers: Michael Nyikes – Director, Standards and Construction Branch (Capital Division) Shanna Mason – Assistant Deputy Minister (Capital Division)

ww

om w.ef mabc.c Educational Facility Managers Association of B.C. | www.efmabc.com 31

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• One touch recording – Automates all functions for a simplified recording studio where single button press starts recording. Operation is simple and intuitive, with no support staff required.

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EFMA 2017 CONFERENCE & TRADE SHOW Registration Form First name:________________________________________________ Surname:__________________________________________________ Organization:_______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Address:_____________________________________________________________________Postal Code:_____________________ Tel:_________________________________ Fax:__________________________________ Email:_____________________________ Cheques, MasterCard or Visa are accepted via website www.efmabc.com. Forward form with payment.

Educational Facility Managers’ Association of BC PO Box 19032, 1153 – 56th Street, Delta, BC V4L 2P8 • fax: 604-943-3541 • email: society@telus.net Name on the card:___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Credit Card #_________ / _________ /_________ /_________ / Exp Date __________ / __________ Code: ______________________

Conference Fees Members Full Conference Package (includes banquet) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $450_______________________ Non-Members Full Conference Package (includes banquet) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $600_______________________ Members One-Day Pass (does not include banquet) Wed___ Thurs ___ Fri ___ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $200_______________________ Non-Members One-Day Pass (does not include banquet) Wed___ Thurs ___ Fri ___ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $300_______________________ Professional Development “A” Leadership Development (two days) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $350_______________________ Professional Development “B” Monday, May 29 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $300_______________________ Partners Program (includes banquet) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $100_______________________ Additional Banquet Dinner Ticket Only . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 50_______________________ Golf Tournament (Handicap ____ ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 55_______________________ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GST 5%____________________ Please indicate your selection of sessions and social events: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Total $_____________________

TUESDAY – May 30 President’s Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

o

WEDNESDAY – May 31 Zone Meeting Breakfast . . . . . . . . . . . . . o Luncheon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . o Exhibitors Hosted Evening . . . . . . . . . . . o Concurrent Session 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . o Concurrent Session 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . o Concurrent Session 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . o Concurrent Session 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . o Concurrent Session 16 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . o

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Ops Talk • Spring 2017

THURSDAY – June 1

FRIDAY – June 2

Buffet Breakfast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . o Hosted Luncheon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . o Concurrent Session 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . o Concurrent Session 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . o Concurrent Session 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . o Concurrent Session 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . o Concurrent Session 9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . o Concurrent Session 10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . o Concurrent Session 11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . o Concurrent Session 12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . o Reception, Dinner, Social . . . . . . . . . . . . o

Consecutive Session 13 . . . . . . . . . . . . . o Consecutive Session 14 . . . . . . . . . . . . . o Consecutive Session 15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . o

Please inform us of any dietary needs.

Cancellation Policy: Cancellation of registration must be received before May 12, 2017 for registration fees to be refunded. A processing fee of $50 will be charged on all refunds.

EFMA 21st ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT Tuesday, May 30, 2017 Shot Gun 1:00 p.m.

This year’s highlights and information: • Texas scramble - nine hole - shot gun start • Even out teams for score and fun • Wine cellar • Prizes for long drive/closest to the pin/hole in one/draw prizes • Trophies for winning team • Golf cost $55 (plus GST), includes lunch and transportation to and from golf course • Limit to first 72, please reserve now • Golf Cart reserve on your own, limited number of carts available, call 250-492-8727 Golf Registration: Name:____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ School District / Company:____________________________________________________________________________________________ Email: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Handi-cap:

Under 15 _________________ Between 15-25 _________________ Rarely golf over 25 _________________

Please try to place me on a team with: ___________________________________________________________________________________ Please indicate any food allergies: _______________________________________________________________________________________ Cheques, MasterCard or Visa are accepted, also able to pay via the EFMA website at www.efmabc.ca.

To register by mail, send this form with cheque, Visa or MasterCard made payable to:

Educational Facility Managers’ Association of BC PO Box 19032, 1153 – 56th Street, Delta, BC V4L 2P8 Fax: 604-943-3541 Email: society@telus.net Website: www.efmabc.com Name on the card:___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Credit Card #_________ / _________ /_________ /_________ / Exp Date __________ / __________ Code: ______________________

How would you like to have an instant wine cellar?

Educational Facility Managers Association of B.C. | www.efmabc.com 35

EFMA 2017 CONFERENCE & TRADE SHOW Partners Program TUESDAY, MAY 30 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

EFMA 21st Annual 9 Hole Golf Tournament at the Penticton Golf & Country Club

4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Registration

7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

Presidents Reception

10:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.

Hospitality Suite – Everyone Welcome

WEDNESDAY, MAY 31 7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.

Registration

9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

Meet & Greet Breakfast

9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Tools to Giddy Up and GO! Sometimes our everyday lives can wear us down and leave us slouching in the saddle of life. Linda Abbott Simons will teach us some quick and easy techniques that will help us release stress, increase energy and build resilient foundations so we are ready to spur on the bucking broncos of life with ease. Abbott Simons brings experience and training as a professional kinesiology practitioner, a certified HeartMath Coach, and a therapeutic touch practitioner, however where she really shines and where the “ah ha” moments happen for her audiences, is her ability to demonstrate and apply this knowledge to everyday real life situations.

10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Get Your Hat On

11:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Opening Ceremonies Delegates, Exhibitors and Partners Luncheon – “Joe Roberts”

2 :30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Kick Up Your Heels Line Dancing

3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Boot Scoot Boogie…Moving Forward Breaking new ground, changing direction, removing trail blocks, riding high in the saddle and kicking up our heals to celebrate.

5:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Exhibitors Hosted Evening Costume: “Western” 9:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.

Hospitality Suite – Everyone Welcome

THURSDAY, JUNE 1 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

The Wagon Train – Bus leaving PTCC at 10:30 Audie Yastremski, award-winning chef and caterer extraordinaire from Summerland, B.C. will be cooking up some delicious vittles as he demonstrates some international cooking techniques and dishes. You may be trying your hand at a few yourself. Your taste buds will do the do si do!

Let the adventure begin as we saddle up for a fandango of an afternoon. Yee haw!

(Wear your woolies as we will be outside for parts of the day.)

6:00 p.m. – 12:30 a.m.

36

Reception, BBQ Dinner, and Social at the Penticton Lakeside Resort

Ops Talk • Spring 2017

EFMA 2017 CONFERENCE & TRADE SHOW May 30 - June 2, 2017 Partners Program Registration First name:________________________________________________ Surname:__________________________________________________ School District / Company:____________________________________________________________________________________________ Home Mailing Address:_____________________________________________________________________Postal Code:_________ Tel:_________________________________ Email:_____________ __________________________________

Please indicate which social event(s) will be attended: Presidents’ Reception (Tuesday @ 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ________________ Meet & Greet Breakfast (Wednesday @ 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .________________ Tools to Giddy Up and Go (Wednesday @ 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ________________ Delegates, Exhibitors & Partners Luncheon (Wednesday @ 11:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .________________ Kick Your Heels Line Dancing (Wednesday @ 2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .________________ Exhibitors Hosted Evening (Wednesday @ 5:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ________________ Wagon Train (Thursday @ 10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ._______________ BBQ, Dance and Social (Thursday @ 6:00 p.m. – 12:30 a.m.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .________________ *** Please inform us of any dietary needs ***

Please return this form, as it will help us in determining transportation and meals needed for various functions.

Cost of the Partners Program is $100 (plus GST) and includes all functions.

Payment: Cheque: _________________________________ Name on the card:___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Credit Card #_________ / _________ /_________ /_________ / Exp Date __________ / __________ Code: ______________________

Cheques, MasterCard or Visa are accepted, also pay via the EFMA website at www.efmabc.ca.

To register by mail, send this form with cheque, Visa or MasterCard made payable to:

Educational Facility Managers’ Association of BC PO Box 19032, 1153 – 56th Street Delta, BC V4L 2P8

Educational Facility Managers Association of B.C. | www.efmabc.com 37

EFMA 2017 CONFERENCE & TRADE SHOW Accommodations The following hotels have been chosen with block reservations for your benefit. Each hotel is located close to the Penticton Trade & Convention Centre and has issued special discount rates for those attending the conference. Please ensure you reserve prior to the scheduled deadline date of April 30, 2017 and that you quote “EFMA Conference” to receive the special discount rate.

RAMADA COURTYARD INN (Host Hotel) 1050 Eckhardt Avenue West, Penticton, B.C. V2A 2C3 Tel: 1-800-665-4966 / 250-492-8926 Room Rate: Single $120 to $130/ Business King $140 Kitchen/fireplace $180 - $215 THE COAST PENTICTON HOTEL 950 Eckhardt Avenue West, Penticton, B.C. V2A 1L2 Tel: 250-492-8926 Room Rate: Single $105 - $125/ Premium Suite $135 SANDMAN HOTEL PENTICTON 939 Burnaby Avenue West, Penticton, B.C. V2A 1G7 Tel: 250-493-7151 (Quote Group #281056) Room Rate: Twin/Queen $104/ King $124 DAYS INN & CONFERENCE CENTRE PENTICTON 152 Riverside Drive, Penticton, B.C. V2A 5Y4 Tel: 250-493-6616 (EFMA Conference Group) Room Rate: $105 - $125 PENTICTON LAKESIDE RESORT 21 Lakeshore Drive West, Penticton, B.C. V2A 7M5 Tel: 1-800-663-9400 / 250-493-8221 Room Rate: Standard Parkview $147 / Standard Beachview $157 Standard Lakeview $167 / King $182 Please quote EFMA conference when making reservations. *** Reservations must be made by April 30, 2017***

38

Ops Talk • Spring 2017

EFMA 2017 CONFERENCE & TRADE SHOW EFMA EXHIBITORS 2017 Booth

Exhibitor

Booth

Exhibitor

Booth

Exhibitor

118

3 Phase HVAC Systems

3

Flynn Canada Ltd.

62

Prism Engineering

66/67

A&G Supply Ltd.

49

Forbo Flooring

33

Progressive Services Ltd.

46

A.O. Smith WPC Canada

45

Fortis BC

58

Quake Trip

108

Allegion Canada

117

Front Row

61

Quantum Lighting

83

Alpha-Vico Inc.

35

Game Day Flooring Inc.

112

RC Lighting

5

Apollo Sheet Metal Ltd.

36

Garaventa Lift

113

RCABC

79

Armstrong Ceiling

70

Garland Canada

2

Refrigerative Supply

23

Assa Abloy

100

Grundfos Canada

47

Reliable Controls Corp.

26

Avmor

34

Habitat Systems Inc.

119

Rochester Midland Ltd.

90

Axis Communications

37

Henderson Recreation Equipment

41

Rocky Point Engineering Ltd.

124

BC Hydro

102/103

Houle

11

Royal Stewart Ltd.

42

BC Safety Authority

110

Hy-Line Sales Ltd.

84

S.C. Restorations Ltd.

114

BCICA

38/39

IBC Technologies Inc.

81

Schoolhouse Products

107

Breathe Easy Duct Cleaning

120

ICS Clean Supplies

93

Shelter Modular

78

Buckwold Western

116

IDN Canada

40

Sound Solutions 2002 Inc.

95

Canada Mats

60

IKO Industries

82

Stoncor Group

32

Canstar Restorations

75

Interface

21

Super Save Disposal Inc.

9

Centaur Products Inc.

63

Inter-lite Sales

99

Swing Time Distributors

52, 53, 54, 55

Centura

122

Island Cleaning Supplies

27

Sybertech Waste Reduction

89

Clean Air Services

109

J&J Flooring

94

Systemair

97

Current, powered by GE

71

J.M. Bean & Co. Ltd.

111

TaLedi Distribution

22

Dafco Filtration Group

86

Johnson Barrow BC

92

Talius

68

Deb Canada

4

Karcher Canada Ing.

10

Tandus Centiva

96

Detex

123

Lightspeed Technologies Inc.

115

TB Concept Inc.

6

DG MacLachlan

24

McCrann Cyrus MFG.

121

Tennant Company

40

30

Douglas LIghting

98

McGregor Hardware Distribution

50

Terracom Systems

85

EB Horsman & Son

73/74

Modern PURAIR

57

Titan Sport Systems Ltd.

28

Ecolab

80

National Air Technologies

72

Tremco Roofing & Building Maint.

31

Edgewood Matting

101

National Floor Covering Association

18

Unitech Construction Management

48

Elkay (Dobbin Sales)

69

North West Rubber Ltd.

105

Venetian Blind Service

88

Enviro-Vac

1

On Sie Restoration

59

Viega

56

Equipco Ltd.

51

Orion Security Systems Ltd.

64/65

Viessman Manufacturing Co. Inc.

8

ERV Parent Co. Ltd.

25

Pacificom Integration Ltd.

29

Vortex Industries

76/77

ESC Automation

7

Paladian Security Systems Ltd.

14/15/16

Wesclean Equipment

17

ETP Energy Technology Products

43

Pinchin West Ltd.

87

West Sun Communications Ltd.

106

Extron Electronics

12/13

Planet Clean Canada Inc.

104

Westpac Paper

19/20

Falcon Engineering Ltd.

44

Polyflor Canada Inc.

91

Winmar

Ops Talk • Spring 2017

EFMA 2017 CONFERENCE & TRADE SHOW EFMA 2017 SPONSORS 2017 Sponsors

Educational Facility Managers Association of B.C. | www.efmabc.com 41

Ariterm pellet boiler, 400kW installed on the Cataline Elementary school property.

Taking innovation to a new level at school district #27

A

lex Telford, manager of facilities and transportation, has a big job maintaining over 28 facilities, keeping his finger on the pulse of energy reduction strategies, and supervising custodial services and transportation at Cariboo-Chilcotin School District #27 (SD#27).

Like most diligent facilities managers, he juggles priorities to ensure school facilities run smoothly, while seeking innovative ways to meet B.C.’s Carbon Neutral Government (CNG) requirements, including offsetting its greenhouse gas emissions.

The heating system at Cataline Elementary School, built in 1972, located in Williams Lake, and bordering Thompson Rivers University (TRU), was on Telford’s radar back in 2013. Suffering a cracked heat exchanger, costly to operate, and suspected of producing high emissions, he was concerned its serviceable life was close to ending. Telford knew it was high time to put a comprehensive heating system upgrade plan in place.

When approaching the planning, Telford

42

Ops Talk • Spring 2017

had multiple goals in mind, including carbon emissions reduction, cost savings, efficiency, and easy maintenance. The requirements of the CNG program were a major driver (i.e., offsets at $30/tonne of emissions), as were provincial carbon taxes at $25/tonne, and the school district’s five per cent annual emissions reduction target. The SD#27 Alexis Creek and Tatla Lake facilities already had pellet boilers (also referred to as biomass boiler) installed, combined with propane for shoulder seasons, resulting in an average of $40,000 savings per annum. But space was a major limitation for a pellet boiler, especially since Cataline was also due for an HVAC mechanical upgrade that would take up additional floor space. Plain out-of-the-box thinking and creative brainstorming brought together a unique and innovative solution that checked all the boxes.

Firstly, a decision was taken to construct a separate building on the Cataline property with space for a new state-of-the-art pellet boiler, new compact Viessmann gas boilers, heat exchangers, HVAC mechanical

upgrade, and fuel storage. Next, with economies of scale in mind, and given the sheer power of the proposed pellet boiler, SD#27 approached Jim Gudjonson, director of sustainability at TRU, and proposed the new pellet boiler provide heat not only for the Cataline Elementary building and the EJ Bare kindergarten annex, but also for the entire TRU campus during the heavy winter season. Gudjonson thought using a renewable source to heat TRU in lieu of its current gas boilers that consumed a whopping 6,000 gigajoules per year made perfect sense. Because pellet boilers have limited dial-down capabilities, it was determined to use natural gas boilers (existing boilers at TRU, and new gas boiler heating at Cataline) for shoulder season, pellet boiler heating for heavy winter, and in extreme weather, e.g., -25° C, to rely on the on-site gas boilers for supplemental heat.

The framework for this stellar plan was coming together nicely; time to bring in some additional expertise thought Telford.

Rocky Point Engineering had already provided engineering oversight on SD#27’s pre-

Wood pellet storage in stand-alone structure at Cataline Elementary school.

Stand-alone structure housing pellet boiler, boilers, heat exchangers, HVAC, and fuel storage.

vious pellet boiler installations. Team lead, Cory Langevin, was excited by the prospect of working to meet the emissions reduction targets while optimizing efficiencies. Rocky Point took the lead designing the system, identifying the capacity and criteria, developed the contractor RFP, and oversaw the entire project to ensure it met specifications.

Additionally, the team secured funding for the project through the province’s Carbon Neutral Capital Program—this was an enormous boost.

The successful contractor, Ventek Energy Systems, is without a doubt an industry expert having managed 12 of the 50 installations across Canada. It launched the 24-month SD#27 project in discussion with the global manufacturing leader of pellet boilers, ARITERM, located in Finland. The tried and tested process, from start to finish, included system design and requirements, building a budget for SD#27 approval, and securing funding—this took about 12 months. Once the first phase was approved, the pellet boiler was manufactured in Finland, shipped to Canada—a two-month voyage—assembled by the Ventek team in Quesnel, lowered into its new building structure on the Cataline grounds by crane, and finally hooked up and ready for testing.

Markku Riionheimo, team lead at Ventek, is a huge supporter of biofuel options, which significantly reduce fossil fuel-based carbon emissions and one of the least expensive methods of helping the earth. The biofuel wood pellets used are produced locally in

Williams Lake, and a seven-ton dump truck load costs as little as $900 and lasts two weeks in the dead of winter; this is a substantial savings over natural gas.

Over and above Rocky Point and Ventek expertise, the SD#27 maintenance team of five, led by Marc Loewen, managed the onsite heavy lifting including all the piping, electrical, plumbing, welding, mechanical work, and final tie-in of the system. Removal of all asbestos tile and electrical heating, a new sprinkler system, new dampers, DCC system, and fire alarm panel were side benefits of the project. All this was achieved, as well as the team’s regular maintenance work, which meant a lot of hard work starting 18 months prior to go live. It has paid off, because now the team is familiar with the ins and outs of the system and is well prepared to maintain it going forward, including daily checks and regular service checks at four- to six-month intervals.

The soft launch for the new Cataline pellet boiler occurred on October 23, 2016—just in time for the onset of another cold winter in Williams Lake. The children and student benefactors of the new system have been enjoying the new regulated heat with individual thermostat controls in each classroom. John Silkstone, principal at Cataline, is very pleased with the quietly efficient clean tech solution.

So now it’s all up and running smoothly, the big question is: did SD#27 meet all its goals? Rede Energy Solutions, SD#27’s energy management engineering team, is

Wood pellets used to fuel SD#27’s new pellet boiler.

happy to report the following noteworthy benefits: the new pellet boiler is 95 per cent carbon neutral, resulting in significant carbon tax and offset purchase requirement reductions; compared to earlier SD#27 pellet boiler systems, the new system is far superior having unique heat regulation abilities and versatile turn-down ratios that translates into less reliance on the more costly gas boilers; TRU is enjoying a 15 per cent savings in heating costs with no capital outlay, no maintenance expenses, as well as lower carbon tax and offset purchase requirements. Rede believes it’s safe to say that all goals were met, although it will be a few months before SD#27 will get the real numbers.

Says the mastermind behind this project, Telford, “It’s a most promising project that certainly makes sense to replicate. It was a busy time with multiple simultaneous projects on the go, and we learned a lot. Kudos and thanks to all involved on this outstanding energy-conserving project.” n

Educational Facility Managers Association of B.C. | www.efmabc.com 43

A newer-built structure with HVAC ducting running under the slab. IAQ could be as much of an issue as radon. The ground is cool and moist and the ducting inside is handling warmer air. Much the same as “the perfect storm".

A typical example of poly just laid over soil, unattached, and unsealed. IAQ as well as radon are the issues here.

Radon gas and the impact of it in our schools

By Paul Muntak

T

he term “radon” seems fairly new, or even unheard of to many people. So, what is radon gas? It is the natural radioactive decay of uranium in soil and rock. It ultimately breaks down into radon, which is a colourless, odourless, tasteless, chemically inert gas. It occurs everywhere on

earth. We even have low levels of radon in the outdoor air we breathe.

Radon levels can significantly increase when contained within a building envelope that is in contact with the soil (so unless you are on a houseboat, or have built up on stilts, there is a potential radon issue). It is important to note, that not every building will have an issue with radon, even in potentially “high” radon zones, but on the other hand, buildings that are located in potentially “low” radon zones can have significant radon issues. The simple take-away message is no matter where the building is located, the only true way to know if you have an issue is to test for it.

Radon is the second-most leading cause of all lung cancers. AccordTypical system with radon fan installed and exhausting from below the slab /membrane to the exterior.

ing to Dr. Bill Field, one of our foremost experts on radon, in an interview with Jeff Rosen of Today, “Of all the environmental exposures you get, this is the one that causes the most deaths.” As a society, we have gone to great lengths to protect our youth from smoking and its effects by increasing the age limits, taking the visual impact away, etc. More needs to be done with radon. Also, in the interview with Dr. Field, when asked “If you had to compare radon exposure to smoking, what are these children being exposed to?” Field’s response was, “Well, if a student’s exposed, even at the U.S. EPA’s action level, four picocuries per litre (148 Bq/m³),

44

Ops Talk • Spring 2017

Membrane applied and sealed at the perimeter. Suction is applied below the membrane.

that’s the equivalent to smoking half a pack of cigarettes per day.”

Our action level here in Canada exceeds that of the U.S. EPA’s at 200 Bq/m³ (5.4 pCi/l). There is risk at any level of radon, and to date we only have “guideline action levels”. We should be instead seeking ALARA (as low as reasonably achievable), rather than focusing on the stated action level.

Conducting a long-term test of at least 91 days between October to April is the first step in determining your radon levels. This test is fairly easy to do for the homeowner, however, when we get into large industrial and public buildings, specific protocols need to be followed to ensure your testing is conducted properly and you will have beneficial test results resulting from the buildings’ footprint. For this reason, you should have a radon professional conduct testing in these types of buildings. After conducting a long-term test, other follow-up testing can then be conducted to break down the actual exposures during occupied times within the building. The initial testing (using typical Alpha Track-type detectors or equivalent) will only give a total radon exposure, but cover the entire footprint of the building. This includes evenings, weekends, and holidays. Follow up testing with a continuous radon monitor (CRM) can take these unoccupied times out of the equation and determine your actual exposure based on occupancy times, although it is cost prohibitive to initially set CRM’s in every classroom required for testing during the initial test.

The solution to reducing radon levels will vary depending on the building. When building new schools, regardless of location, radon-resistant construction technologies should be employed.

In existing buildings, adjustments and balancing of HVAC systems may be enough to reduce the radon levels, or more involved procedures could be required.

Some schools have been constructed with crawlspaces having vast areas of exposed soils, which may not only be a radon issue, it could also be a general indoor air quality (IAQ) problem as well. Other schools have been constructed with HVAC ducting that has been run below the slab, this is usually a radon issue, and also holds a strong potential for other IAQ issues as well.

Often seen in the field for "radon reduction". Fans drawing air from inside the structure actually make matters worse. Radon levels go up as it further depressurizes the interior of the building. This can also significantly affect the exhaust draft of gas-burning appliances and product carbon monoxide gas inside. A much more immediate danger than radon and a huge liability as well.

Building pressurization can also be a technique used, but caution must be used. If your building envelope was not designed to handle positive pressure, you could end up with future building envelope issues when pushing warm moist air through the envelope into sections not originally designed for this scenario.

Radon is an issue that we cannot ignore any longer as it is clearly a significant environmental issue for everyone. Testing is the only way to know, and due to the limited “best time of year” for testing, it should be conducted as per protocols for the most accurate results. n

Innovation for the Future

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We are driven to provide our clients with high quality products, equipment and hands-on professional training, while maintaining the highest level of customer satisfaction.

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Educational Facility Managers Association of B.C. | www.efmabc.com 45

Never diminish your worth

By Chuck Morris, CTech

L

et’s face it; some of us have been around for quite a few years! That likely means we have a lot of history within the public sector, and more than likely in the public school portion of that public sector.

Do not let your history be diminished by the years you have seen fly by. We have all seen them and what better way to preserve that history than to speak to someone about it (record it).

When looking back on what you have gone through and what you have accomplished, you have carved a path. All of us have wandered and thought about what we could do to alleviate a certain problem. You could say we have helped to pave the way for the younger generation following us and willing to become facilities people.

Willing to understand what came before them, and incorporate what they have discovered, and what they are dealing with today to form the path they envision; the path that will lead them to greater successes than we could experience. Those that follow us are from a newer generation and have a different

idea of how things can be done. Of course the ASHRAE’s and NFPA’s of the world will continue to coach us into compliance; that younger generation being barraged with so many other compliance issues as time moves forward that they will develop other methods to deal with regulations, bylaws, and legislation.

Let us not forget the issues we dealt with and share them (the moments that will not embarrass us) with the new managers and directors in an effort to assist them with some insight to the issues of the day. I have been an advocate of mentorship for a very long time and the way I see it is we need to help those following in our footsteps, train them, and point them in a direction where they can succeed. I have mentored under a few different people through my life and they have had a profound influence on me; and how I interpreted whatever it was that I was dealing with at the time. Those of us who have had an opportunity to learn under the guidance of others, understanding why and what they were sharing, and developing their own ideas using the combined knowledge of mentor and mentee can only succeed!

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www.royalstewart.com 46 Ops Talk •1Spring 679420_RoyalStewart.indd

2017

I look back on those who have become part of my life experiences and what that means to me today. There are many stages of anyone’s life where people (parents or many others) had an impact on how you grow and the choices you make. What choices did you have available to you? Not all interferences in your upbringing may have been positive, but with that being said, even those had an impact. How you were able to deal with that (with or without support) had a major impact on how you as a child growing up or as a young person entering the workforce dealt with situations that could be career changing.

I suppose when we look at what we can offer to the younger generation of leaders following us, we can be honest, earnest, and straightforward, and offer a sense of determination that shows the responsibility we all carried. The sense that enabled us to do what we had to do, what we were dealt with, and as we think about that, how we actually carried out the directives, tasks, and moral obligations to see it through.

I am proud of my history within the facilities management field. I am proud of the people I had an opportunity to coach, mentor, and lead. I can only hope that what I have done has had an impact on others and enticed them to look through the mists of time to find something that will enable them to deal with the new challenges that they now face. I also hope that my vision was clear enough to allow those following me to understand what it is they are actually facing and the tools are already nearby to give them the confidence they may need to face things head on and be as successful as I may have been.

This is a proud and serious profession that cannot be taken lightly. Remember, look around and watch and listen. Do not take things for granted. Remember what your peers have told you, what those who came before you have done to create a pathway for you. n

3/14/14 10:32 AM

EFMA B.C. members and ASTTBC: Sharing common goals

By Jason Jung, AScT, Manager, Professional Practice & Development, Applied Science Technologists & Technicians of BC

T

he general public often does not stop to think about technology professionals and the work they do each day. It is this work which has a profound impact on our lives. Whether it’s working in a building, driving on roads, streets and across bridges, or using technology to learn and keep up-to-date, switching on electricity or gas, or using facilities available at educational institutes and healthcare centres, members of the Education Facilities Management Association of BC (EFMA) and the Applied Science Technologists & Technicians of BC (ASTTBC) are making a difference.

It was in 1958 that ASTTBC was established under the Society Act. It was then formally incorporated as a self-governing professional association under the ASTT Act in 1985. Its primary ‘object’ as set out in the ASTT Act is to regulate the standards of training and practice of and for its members, and to protect the interests of the public. With over 10,000 technologists, technicians, and technical specialists practicing throughout the province and beyond, ASTTBC ranks as

With over 10,000 technologists, technicians, and technical specialists practicing throughout the province and beyond, ASTTBC ranks as the eighth-largest professional body in B.C.

the eighth-largest professional body in B.C. A strong and equally tenured presence in itself, the EFMA has long been viewed as an association with a history of dedication to its members and the profession. It has continually evolved with a focus on creating an environment that fosters support, learning, and partnership within the industry.

It is interesting to discover that upon further investigation; the two organizations have much more in common than one might initially be aware. Aside from its members sharing similar occupational backgrounds in engineering disciplines such as building, civil, electrical, and mechanical, both associations believe strongly in maintaining the highest standards of certification, competency, and accountability of its members.

In fact, you will find that EFMA’s Certified Educational Facilities Manager (CEFM) Certification Program has some connectivity to ASTTBC registration. The CEFM Level III certification criterion indicates that registration as an applied science technologist (AScT) with ASTTBC is one of the requirements in order to qualify. As it pertains to CEFM Level

II, this certification could eventually lead to registration as a Certified Technician (CTech) with ASTTBC depending on educational courses and applicable work experience.

And in other areas, ASTTBC’s Registered Fire Protection Technicians (RFPT) – individuals who inspect and test building fire protection systems – are likely common points of contact for EFMA members who seek to certify equipment.

But aside from the mutual recognition of each other’s certification framework, it’s important to know that together, members of the EFMA and ASTTBC can find other common areas of interest such as shared continuing professional development, professional recognition, or finding opportunities to network.

“When you come to think of it, our organizations are critical to developing and sustaining B.C.’s economy, environment, and a highly trained workforce. We do important work,” says John Leech, ASTTBC’s CEO, adding, “We look forward to exploring areas where the EFMA and ASTTBC can work together to support our members in reaching these common goals.” n

Educational Facility Managers Association of B.C. | www.efmabc.com 47

Introducing the BC Education Marketplace

T

he BC Education Marketplace (BCEM) began providing service to B.C. public school districts in July 2015.

This new shared procurement entity is working hard to usher in a new era of increased collaboration with and between B.C. K-12 school districts. The BCEM was

created to identify and capitalize on opportunities where the combined provincial demand for common products used by most school districts can result in better prices and enhanced service for all. Maria Melan, director of BCEM, is quick to point out that this does not mean BCEM solutions are ‘one-size-fits-all’.

“What districts need to know is that BCEM is negotiating master agreements in key product categories, but that those agreements can be customized to meet local district needs,” says Melan. “There is considerable flexibility in every contract negotiated because BCEM understands that each district has unique needs and unique ways of buying.”

The mandate of the BCEM is to generate cost or administrative savings for the K-12 sector through collaborative procurement projects, allowing districts to reinvest saved time and money in other priorities.

District purchasing departments will continue to do the majority of procurement activities for their organizations. BCEM will establish and maintain relationships with districts, professional associations, and other procurement entities to better coordinate activities for the benefit of the sector. It will also act as a resource to school districts seeking information or assistance on procurement-related issues. BCEM will complement and supplement districts and other shared services entities through collaboration, communication, information sharing, and professional support.

BCEM is governed by the Procurement Steering Committee (PSC), which is appointed by the BC Association of School Business Officials (BCASBO) and includes representation from all five BCASBO zones in the province. Support is also provided by the Ministry of Education Service Delivery Project Committee (SDPC) and staff.

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BCEM Projects Participation in all BCEM contracts is completely voluntary, but as time goes on, more and more districts are seeing the advantage of accessing BCEM agreements. Contracts of particular interest to EFMA’s K-12 members, which have been signed and can be accessed immediately, include a natural gas contract for metres purchasing more than 2,000 gigajoules (GJ) annually, contracts for custodial products (garbage bags, paper towels, toilet paper), and a fuel contract for gas and diesel.

For information on existing BCEM contracts, visit the Agreements page on the BCEM website, or send an email directly to info@bcedmarketplace.ca. On the Agreements page, you will also find more than 70 agreements available to school districts via the broader public sector.

BCEM’s Collaborative Framework One of the greatest strengths of BCEM projects is the people who contribute to making them a success. Every BCEM procurement project is led by a working committee of regional subject matter experts who have significant experience in buying and using the products being procured. With all five (5) BCASBO zones represented on each project committee, BCEM can ensure that regional differences are recognized and respected.

These committee work together to study prior sales data, develop product specifications and identify criteria for evaluating the bids submitted in response to BCEM RFPs. Once the bids are in, they actively participate in evaluating responses and make final decisions, fully supported by BCEM staff. If you work for a B.C. school district and would like to help BCEM on future procurement projects, please email info@ bcedmarketplace.ca with your name, contact information and areas of expertise. BCEM will contact you when an opportunity arises.

To find out more about the BC Education Marketplace, see the BCEM Year in Review 2015/16 and BCEM Strategic Plan, both posted on the BCEM website. n

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THOUGHTS ON: Risk Management and Shops

By Chuck Morris

W

alking into the wood shop, the first thing I noticed was the heaviness of the air I was breathing. Then I saw a student in a cloud of sanding dust, no mask, and working a good six feet in front of two sanding tables that were not being used.

Could have been because the tables were cluttered with bits of wood and had five handheld sanders dropped where they may have been used some days past. Dust collectors had not been turned on and there were a good 20 students in the room along with the teacher.

Whether or not this actually took place is irrelevant. What is relevant is the fact we may not know what is taking place on a daily basis in the shops within our district. If that is the case in your district, changes are required. It is important to know what is going on and if safety is being followed as it needs to be.

It behooves all of us to ensure a program is in place to inspect all shops. Look at all equipment and note anything out of order. With a tech education fund, are there new pieces of equipment that have been continually added since the original set up took place?

Are they in a proper location with an adequately marked “safe work zone” painted around it? Each piece of equipment has its own safe work zone measurements and they should not overlap with an adjoining piece of equipment.

Look at the dust collection equipment. Is it (are they) in compliance? How do you know? Have other pieces of equipment been added to the work floor and piped into the collection system? How do you know if the extraction equipment is not over-loaded? They all have a maximum CFM requirement that shall not be exceeded.

Is yours overloaded? How do you know? This is important because if overloaded or if not being used, dust will settle in the shop. It will settle on the overhead joists, extraction piping, and any other horizontal surface. These need to be cleaned regularly. The last thing any of us want is the possibility of a flash fire or dust explosion. Look up,

Proper maintenance in school shops areas is incredibly important for students’ health.

look around. Do not exclude this from your observations.

Do you have proper electrical connections to each piece of equipment? Are there power bars on the floor loaded with cords running to pieces of equipment? Are these connections laden with dust? Are there controls not fixed to the machine but just hanging or laying on a surface nearby?

How is the housekeeping throughout the shop? If your custodian is tasked with cleaning the shop areas it is difficult for them to do so when the area looks like a hoarder may live in it. What is excessive, throw it out. Why keep bags and bags of cut-offs? Make sure the students and teacher are picking up after themselves and putting tools away at the end of the class. Part of doing this provides a basis for responsibility. We should not be teaching students bad habits during class time, as that will be a sure-fire failure once out in the workforce if they decide to work as a carpenter or other.

Let’s help improve safety in our shops by being diligent and enforcing fire codes, electrical code issues, and good common risk management practices. Let’s help students learn properly and without creating future health problems by allowing them to learn in a space that no one should be in. n

Make sure the students and teacher are picking up after themselves and putting tools away at the end of the class so custodians aren’t left with hoarder-type situations.

Educational Facility Managers Association of B.C. | www.efmabc.com 49

The BCICA QAC

A quality assurance program for mechanical insulation applications

I

n 2015, the BC Insulation Contractors Association (BCICA) proudly announced its proprietary Quality Assurance Certificate (QAC) program

for new and retrofit mechanical insulation projects throughout B.C. Under the program, the mechanical insulation (MI) contractor registers the MI por-

tion of a project with the BCICA, which then assigns a qualified independent third-party inspector to oversee the work.

Specially trained inspectors The BCICA partnered with the BC Institute of Technology (BCIT) to develop

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logistics and inner workings of the QAC

In order to complete the BCICA designation process, inspectors must also attend a one-day course and exam focusing on the program. Successful graduates can apply to BCICA for consideration as a ‘designated’ inspector. Once accepted, inspectors are assigned QAC projects and are responsible

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for ensuring that the MI work complies with specifications.

From concept to completion The QAC process demands that the mechanical insulation inspector attend a pre-construction meeting with the insulation contractor and perform a series of site inspections, followed by a final inspection and report. The reports are submitted to the BCICA, with copies distributed to all stakeholders – the building owner, insula-

604-371-ETPS (3877) | etpservice@etpbc.ca 50

Ops Talk • Spring 2017

tion contractor, mechanical contractor, and engineering firm.

Only BCICA members can provide the Quality Assurance Certificate. BCICA holds surety bonds on all contractor members as a requirement of continuing membership.

Quality. Assured. In writing.

Further support for quality assurance comes in the form of the Quality Standards for Mechanical Insulation manual published by the BCICA. The manual contains detailed information on MI installation best practices, as well as a list of ASTM and CAN/ ULC Standards applicable to all MI materials accepted for use in the QAC program.

The manual is a resource available to mechanical engineers to assist them with writing a specification that reflects current best practices consistent with energy conservation. The manual contains a complete specification that can be inserted as part of an engineering firm’s master specification.

It also acts as a reference tool for properly trained, independent third-party inspectors to work to defined, reviewable standards and ensure that QAC work is completed as specified.

With quality assurance clearly defined, several major engineering firms have endorsed the QAC program enthusiastically.

Among them are Rocky Point Engineering, Smith + Andersen, and Fortis BC, which have specified the QAC on their projects, and Integral Group, which has included the QAC in its master specification.

cal engineer and the owner with the peace

For more information about the BCICA

of mind that the work, as well as the mate-

Quality Assurance Certificate program,

rials used in the application process, meet

please visit www.bcica.org, or email

specification. n

brian.bcica@telus.net.

Higher standards Only BCICA members can provide the Quality Assurance Certificate. BCICA holds surety bonds on all contractor members as a requirement of continuing membership.

This ensures that in the event of a dispute, all parties will work diligently to promptly resolve any workmanship and/or material deficiencies.

The QAC program provides the mechani-

Educational Facility Managers Association of B.C. | www.efmabc.com 51

Website takes guess work out of equipment management

M

anaging large and complex equipment can be challenging, especially when the Safety Standards Act outlines specific obligations that facility managers are expected to fulfill on behalf of asset owners. What are these responsibilities and how do facility managers know which regulations apply to them?

To simplify access to this information, the BC Safety Authority (BCSA) has created a new website for facilities managers who manage, own, or operate regulated equipment.

The website helps facility managers easily learn about safety risks and find guidance materials through the entire lifecycle of their equipment, from installation to disposal. Answers to questions like, “When are operating permits required?” or, “Which equipment requires an acceptance inspection before operation?” are available at this one-stop resource. Information available throughout the site includes everything from the roles and responsibilities of asset owners to the hiring of qualified individuals, and even how to register new equipment designs.

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Ops Talk • Spring 2017

“Managing safety risks is an effort where all participants in the safety system must exercise accountability and leadership. Proper maintenance not only helps keep patrons of your facility safe, it can also help extend equipment life and protect your investment,” says Phil Gothe, vice-president, safety systems operations at BCSA. The website also features short videos, one of which gives more insight into when an inspection from BCSA is more likely to be scheduled and what to expect. n Bookmark the website at: www.safetyauthority.ca/owners-responsibilities.

BC Safety Authority is an independent, self-funded organization mandated to oversee the safe installation and operation of technical systems and equipment. In addition to issuing permits, licenses and certificates, BCSA works with industry to reduce safety risks through assessment, education and outreach, enforcement, and research.

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Educational Facility Managers Association of B.C. | www.efmabc.com 53

The 21st century learning commons accommodates technology, allowing students to gather and learn around collaborative tables. With furniture that provides comfort and flexibility, it is easy for students to collaborate or work individually on projects. Mobile furniture on casters allow students and faculty to easily reconfigure the space.

From Media Centres to Learning Commons

A

lmost every school in Canada has an area in the school set aside for student personal study or research. It was originally called the school library, subsequently named the media centre.

While advances in technology used in the schools has been going on for a number of years, these advances have finally led to a requirement for accelerated changes in these libraries and media centres – with many school districts deciding to convert

these areas to what is being called learning commons.

Education wants to encourage active, project-based learning, and use online tools and other technology to deliver a more personalized education experience. These requirements have had a dramatic effect on how we think about the design and layout of these learning commons spaces and the nature of the furniture used within. Whereas historically the furniture in the libraries/ media centres consisted largely of book shelving and tables and chairs, the new re-

quirements are for a more informal range of furniture – with a dramatically increased emphasis on lounge furniture, intermixed with “face out” display shelving. Overall requirement for all the furniture is a requirement for areas of the room to be mobile and flexible, so that it can be reconfigured easily and quickly.

Why are there these new requirements?

Well, we are finding the students can learn in different ways. Some students would like to work in groups, with tables that are available in various configurable shapes. Another

A K-8 school learning commons that has seating within the shelving units to make it more tempting for students to want to pick up a book and read. All shelving and lounge is mobile for easy mobility and reconfiguration of the space.

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Ops Talk • Spring 2017

A K-8 school learning commons that wanted the lounge to be the focal point of the space. Curved bright mobile shelving with books facing forward really make this space fun.

group may prefer to work at standing-height work surfaces – as research is increasingly showing that there are real benefits for students to be working in a standing position, or using “perching” stools. Still others would prefer to be seated on soft seating or loungetype furniture.

Obviously, a key type of furniture being required today is lounge furniture, furniture that is comfy and durable – where students can hang out. This lounge furniture should be available in various shapes and include sofas, side chairs (some with tablet arms), and ottomans.

Along with the lounge furniture, there is an increasing demand for much of the furniture to have power available, power that is integrated into furniture itself. This is particularly important for the lounge furniture.

As you will no doubt be aware, many of the products that are needed to meet these

A multicultural secondary school updated a traditional library into a 21st century learning commons. The new space encourages access to technology and offers sitting and standing-height workspace.

new requirements have not been previously available. Schoolhouse Products, as one of the leading suppliers of furniture for the education market, has had to work with a group of existing and new suppliers to help develop the products necessary to meet these new requirements.

For example, one of the key requirements in these new facilities has been the need to bring power to all areas of the renewed space. While this can often be done relatively easily, it is often difficult to provide power to spaces within existing buildings that are often 50 to 60 years old – when the spaces being renewed were not designed to support modern power needs. So we have found or helped work with our suppliers in providing tables and lounge furniture with built-in power, or power towers that can be placed within the room. We even have a supplier that provides mobile tables with a built-in

battery – you can place it anywhere in the room during the day (and recharge the battery at night, so it will be ready for the next day classes).

Obviously, the solution to convert an existing space to a modern learning commons is not prepackaged – every space is different.

To help ensure that the schools we are working with get the best solutions, Schoolhouse Products has a team of designers available to work with the designated school personnel to come up with appropriate solutions. As noted previously, we have found manufacturers with a wide range of creative products, products that if used properly, can transform and enhance a new or existing space into a true 21st century learning commons. n For more information on 21st century learning commons, please do not hesitate to contact our B.C. representative.

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Educational Facility Managers Association of B.C. | www.efmabc.com 55

New changes to energy standards for schools

By Andre LeBlanc

T

he American Society of Heating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) may be a familiar name to some school educational facility operators. ASHRAE is a regulatory organization run by volunteer members from the heating, ventilating, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC) industry. The organization exists to create standards, foster education, and provide connections in the HVAC industry. These standards are adopted by buildings of all kinds, including schools.

As of 2016, the 90.1-2013 Energy Standard of Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings has been updated. The newest standard was developed with prototype modeling which featured hundreds of different climate zone and building type combinations. The 90.1-2016 standard will likely continue to be the defining benchmark of energy-efficient buildings both in Canada and the USA. Listed below is a technical overview of some of the major updates to the standard that building managers can expect to see: • “Building envelope” now includes the addition of envelope verification in support of reduced air infiltration with increased requirements for air leakage of coiling overhead doors.

• Dedicated outdoor air systems (DOAS) now have efficiency and rating compliance requirements.

• Air-cooled DX cooling units with economizers must now have a monitoring system to determine that the air economizer is working properly.

• The Energy Cost Budget (ECB) model has been updated to link to the previous 90.1 standards by computing the Performance Cost Index (PCI).

• Modeling rule changes for: heat pump auxiliary heat, economizer shutoff, humidification systems, cooling towers, and the simulation of preheat coils.

• New definitions for several concepts, including the fault assumptions for the effective R-value of air spaces.

• Climate zone 0 is a new addition to models in the standard, which identifies humid (zone 0A) or dry (zone 0B) climates.

While some of these changes may seem quite complex, the net takeaway is that the technological scope, modeling, and building types covered by the standard has been expanded. These changes are designed to improve the energy saving capabilities of buildings as our technologies advance. For our schools, this means new ways to build and maintain HVAC systems to reach cost savings, while reducing our environmental impact.

The 90.1-2016 Energy Standard of Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings should also improve the ways schools manage energy savings initiatives across the three different climate zones found in British Columbia

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Ops Talk • Spring 2017

(Zones 5, 6, and 7). The new standard was also reformatted to make it easier for users to navigate and understand.

When it comes to implementing energyefficient HVAC systems, consider energy efficiency when selecting air filters. Efficient air filtration systems will help reduce costs associated with running HVAC equipment.

Be sure that the air filtration system is also protecting the indoor environment by removing particulate matter to levels safe for human occupancy. Air filters should also be independently tested and compliant with ASHRAE standard 62.2-2016. A full filtration survey should be completed by a NAFAcertified technician, and followed up with air-quality testing to provide evidence of a school’s indoor air quality. A filtration survey will reveal any limitations of a current air filtration system and help to diagnose IAQ problems. Air quality testing monitors the presence of any harmful contaminants, pressure deficiencies, and HVAC problem areas.

To view the latest ASHRAE standards on energy, indoor air quality, and more, visit www.ashrae.org. Consult an industry expert affiliated with ASHRAE for more information on how the standards apply to your school’s HVAC needs. n

References ASHRAE Standing Standard Project Committee 90.1. 2016. 90.1-2016 Energy Standard of Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Building. www.ashrae.org.

Canadian Consulting Engineer. 2016.

ASHRAE Issues New Energy Standard 90.1. www.canadianconsultingengineer.com.

Introducing the highly efficient and versatile Grundfos ALPHA2 Circulator

T

he new Grundfos ALPHA2 takes reliability in small domestic circulators to new heights. Designed and built based on 65 years of hydronic experience, the ALPHA2 will ensure long-lasting trouble-free operation, even in systems where the operational environment is a challenge.

ALPHA2 is versatile and efficient whether you use one of its six-speed, pressurecontrol settings, or simply leave it on the factory setting AUTOADAPT™. The ECM motor design reduces energy consumption by 50 per cent, and in AUTOADAPT mode, will automatically analyze the heating system, find the optimum setting and continue to adjust its operation to changes in demand - reducing power consumption by up to 85 per cent. This ensures the lowest possible energy consumption without sacrificing comfort.

The Grundfos ALPHA2 is a replacement of previous ALPHA 15-55 models and includes several new features and benefits: • Manual summer mode - The pump is stopped to save energy, and only the electronics are running. To avoid liming and blocking of the pump, the pump is started every 24 hours for two minutes at a low speed.

• Improved LED Watt/GPM indicator flashes between 0 and 1 GPM during low-flow conditions and shows “HI” in high flow conditions.

• Constant restart – The ALPHA2 with its high-torque motor will continuously attempt to restart in blocked rotor conditions and continue to attempt restart indefinitely.

• Foam insulation shell included.

Grundfos ALPHA2 with terminal box for conduit connections.

• New/improved terminal box and wiring connections.

• New, black, e-coat protective pump house coating.

ALPHA2 is the perfect circulator for hydronic and potable water applications.

It features the same versatile operating modes as the former ALPHA; • three constant speed modes • three constant pressure modes • AUTOADAPT™ Other key features and benefits of the ALPHA2 include: • Simple push-button control enables the ALPHA2 to be programmed in one of three constant speed, three-constant pressure, or AUTOADAPT control modes.

The current operating mode is always visible on the ALPHA2’s LED display.

• The large LED display shows the current energy consumption in watts and estimated flow in gallons per minute.

• For installation, you have the flexibility to use either our unique ALPHA Plug with line cord or the ALPHA2 with terminal box for conduit connections.

• ALPHA2 is complete with an integrated check-valve, foam-insulation jacket, and nut captures for flanges.

• ALPHA2 comes in both cast iron and stainless-steel models.

• Robust startup enables the ALPHA2 to continuously attempt to restart – indefinitely – in blocked rotor conditions.

• ALPHA2 can be used as a replacement for more than 30 competitor pump models. n For more information on the Grundfos ALPHA2, please visit our website www.grundfos.ca.

Grundfos stainless-steel ALPHA2 model.

Grundfos ALPHA2 with insulation shell.

Educational Facility Managers Association of B.C. | www.efmabc.com 57

Going wireless: The ABCs of wireless microphones

By Curt Palme

Looking to go wireless?

A guide to wireless mic styles, setups and solutions Wireless mics come in three basic styles: Handheld: Handheld mics are designed for a single person’s use, whether for speeches or singing. This is also the mic to use when passing a mic around during a meeting or assembly, or as an audience mic in an assembly or council meeting.

Headset: Think Madonna or an aerobics instructor. These mics are worn on your head with the mic placed by your cheek.

Lapel: These little mics come with a clip that is attached to a lapel or collar and are useful when you want to hear what is being said or sung, without the user having to hold the mic.

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Ops Talk • Spring 2017

Royal Bay Secondary

U

p until the 1960s microphones had a cord, which meant the speaker or performer was forced to stay within the limits of the cable.

In the 1970s wireless mic technology became more common and companies like Sennheiser

and Nady started putting out single-channel wireless mic systems.

The radio frequencies used back then were called VHF. The problem was the VHF units were susceptible to interference from other wireless devices, and some radio frequencies interfered with other ones, causing pops and clicks (and occasional taxi transmissions) to come over the wireless mic system.

Since wireless microphone systems do not require a license to operate, it also leaves each channel wide open to interference from other devices. For example, if a church buys a wireless mic on one frequency, and six months later a house next to the church gets a wireless karaoke system on the same frequency, there’s nothing preventing the systems from interfering with each other.

In the 1990s wireless mics began using UHF, as the VHF frequency band was becoming overcrowded. The UHF frequency bands have far fewer dead spots than VHF systems, and generally have a further range than the older VHF systems did. Most importantly, though, UHF systems are also less prone to interference from other wireless mic systems, allowing for the use of more wireless mic systems in the same room, such as a church, bingo hall or theatrical event, where multiple wireless mics may beadused simultaneously.

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Naturally, as everyone switched from VHF to UHF mics, the frequency band also became crowded, and multichannel wireless mics were released at affordable prices. These range from six-channel to 1,500-channel models, allowing users to simply switch to another channel that is interference free. Some models of wireless mics automatically scan the frequency range and set the mic and receiver to a free channel.

Diversity systems: Both UHF and VHF mics are available as ‘diversity’ systems. A diversity receiver has two complete receivers in one unit, complete with two antennas, and circuitry in the receiver senses which antenna is picking up the stronger signal from the microphone and automatically switches to that receiver. Of course, diversity systems are a bit more expensive than non-diversity systems.

Battery life: Most wireless mics will last eight to 12 hours on one battery. High-end microphones will have additional features such as a battery level indicator on the receiver, so a sound system operator can monitor the battery level at the receiver without touching the transmitter. This is handy both when the system is used for long hours, but also for systems that are rarely used.

Portable receivers: Some wireless mic systems are available as portable receivers, handy if you’re going to put the receiver on a floor somewhere to plug into an existing microphone jack, or if you are moving the system from place to place. Other receivers are rack mounted: permanently bolted into a sound rack to prevent 3:55 PM

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Educational Facility Managers Association of B.C. | www.efmabc.com 59

Although it’s popular to do a “mic drop”, it’s never a good idea to drop the mic as a dented windscreen (as seen here) will affect the sound quality and reliability of your wireless mic.

theft. Some receivers come in half-rack sizes allowing you to put two different wireless mic systems side by side in the same rack, saving space.

Good The basic wireless mic system is a nondiversity VHF system. Good for short-range use and for budget systems, you usually can’t run more than two systems simultaneously in the same area as they will cross interfere. These systems are great for elementary schools. Systems are available with handheld, lapel and headset mics.

Better

A 1,000-channel auto-selecting wireless mic system is the best system for sound.

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A step up from the basic VHF system is a 10- to 20-channel UHF diversity system.

Many of the single channel systems have been discontinued over the last few years, as the technology has gone up and pricing has gone down, making 10 channel systems like this one more affordable than ever. A UHF selectable channel system allows you to change frequencies in case of interference, and the range and audio quality is generally better than with an entry-level VHF wireless mic.

Best A higher-end wireless mic system is a 1,000-channel auto-selecting wireless mic system, with a full-colour receiver display, with features such as transmitter battery life shown right on the receiver face. Some systems are digitally encoded, which means that the transmitter sends a digital code along with the mic audio to the receiver. If the receiver doesn’t receive the digital code, the receiver mutes and does not transmit the audio. This is very useful in mission-critical applications such as theatres, where many wireless mics may be used simultaneously, and also to ensure privacy, as a radio scanner cannot decode the audio signal, even if it is set to the right frequency. This is very important for police and applications where audio privacy is a must.

Wireless mic dos and don’ts: • Do maintain a line of sight between the transmitter and the wireless mic receiver antennae. While many UHF mic systems will transmit through walls, a concrete wall is an effective barrier to block the wireless mic signals, and even a sheet of drywall or a steel equipment rack can reduce the effective transmission range.

• Don’t drop the mic! Mic drops have become popular by entertainers in recent years, but in reality it’s never a good idea to physically abuse your wireless mic! A dented windscreen or cracked transmitter case will affect the sound quality and reliability of your wireless mic.

• Don’t use rechargeable batteries. While some wireless mic transmitters are designed for use with rechargeable batteries, a rechargeable battery does not put out the same voltage as a standard alkaline battery, which can reduce range, cause dropouts, or cause short battery life before having to recharge them again.

• Don’t go cheap and use ‘no name’ dollar store batteries. These batteries often last only an hour or two in a wireless mic transmitter. Always use a name-brand alkaline battery for longest battery life.

• If you use wireless mics on a regular basis, get a battery tester. An inexpensive battery tester with a ‘good/bad’ metre on it will give you a good indication of battery life left, and allow you to get the most life from a disposable battery.

• If your wireless mic receiver is mounted in a metal sound-system rack, make sure the antennae are brought to the front of the rack rather than be buried in the back. This will ensure the signal isn’t blocked. Antenna extenders are inexpensive, and will increase the range of your wireless mic.

Sound Solutions carries the Audio Technica, TOA, and Mipro wireless mic lines. Call us and let us help you select the right wireless mic system for your application and budget. Sound Solutions is also one of the very few companies in Canada that owns all of the equipment needed to service today’s wireless mics, including an RF spectrum analyzer. n

Curt Palme is owner of Sound Solutions Inc., an audio and video installation and service company serving commercial and institutional clients across B.C.

www.soundsolutionscanada.com info@soundsolutionscanada.com facebook.com/SoundSolutions2002Inc Twitter @soundbc

RCABC — the mark of a quality roofer.

Do you know who is installing your roof?

If they’re RCABC members, then you know they can be trusted.

That’s because every member contractor is required to employ Red Seal certified journeypersons who are also required to be on every job site. That’s just one of the strict criteria our organization sets for members, and it’s all a part of our mission to raise the standard of roofing in British Columbia.

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Ask more from your roofer, ask for an RCABC member.

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Philips InstantFit The right LED tube every time

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luorescent lamps have been traditionally used in educational facilities, offices, parking lots, and by retailers.

However over the last few years a new efficient and environmentally friendly alternative has been available, Philips InstantFit LED Tubes. Containing no mercury

and producing virtually no UV or IR light, these lamps are kind to the environment.

Upgrading to energy-saving lighting just got a whole lot easier.

Philips InstantFit T8 LED lamps fit seamlessly into your existing fluorescent fixtures, so you can switch to energy-efficient illumination just by swapping the tubes. These ground-breaking linear lights come in a

cy ballasts to ensure a high-quality performance across compatible systems.

Philips LED tubes are compatible with 80 per cent of fluorescent ballasts in use today. What’s more, they provide energy savings of up to 40 per cent compared to fluorescent 32W T8 systems. Providing a quick and convenient way to upgrade to LED, InstantFit is setting new standards in sustainable lighting.

The Philips LED tubes uses an LED light source into a traditional fluorescent form factor. Its unique design creates a perfectly uniform visual appearance which cannot be distinguished from traditional flu-

wide range of sizes, colour temperatures, and they utilize your existing

orescent. For those on a limited budget, it is an ideal lighting solution.

ballasts so no re-wiring is needed. With no re-wiring or new ballasts

Installation is quick and easy.

needed in compatible fixtures, this product provides the simplest,

Philips has a proven product history and a company with a long history of innovation and reliability in the lighting industry. Rest easy

swiftest way to upgrade your lighting system It only takes seconds to install InstantFit tubes. The futuristic technology is compatible with the majority of instant-start T8 fluorescent

knowing that you’ve installed InstantFit, a truly compatible plug and play LED lamp with great performance. n

fixtures, and a number of program-start fixtures. We have tested these tubes with numerous instant start, programmed start, and emergen-

For more information, please visit our website www.philips.com/instantfit.

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MACH-ProView

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Reliable Controls unveils the new MACH-ProView™ LCD. This freely programmable, combination BACnet® Building Controller (B-BC) and BACnet Operator Display (B-OD) resides on Ethernet, Power over Ethernet, Wi-Fi or EIA-485 networks. Backed by an industry-recognized 5 year warranty and a nation-wide network of certified Authorized Dealers, the new MACH-ProView will empower you to stay in touch with your building's performance.

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Quality, built in.

You’re in safe hands You can be safe in the knowledge that your building automation system is being taken care of by ESC Automation experts. We deliver a comprehensive and meticulous service, from installation to maintenance, ensuring you get a solution that’s right for your building.

Our systems help you manage operating costs effectively by identifying inefficiencies and acting upon them (even remotely) to keep your buildings running smoothly and reduce your energy costs.

Visit our website for more information www.escautomation.com or call us now on (604) 574-7790