Ops Talk Magazine Spring 2007 by DEL Communications Inc.

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CONTENTS

Published By:

DEL

Communications Inc.

President’s Message ~ John Garossino

A Peaceful Lake Deep in the Forest of Interior British Columbia ~ Chuck Morris

SPOA B.C.’s Historian ~ Says We’re Moving In The Right Direction DEL Communications Inc. 211 Hespeler Avenue Winnipeg, Manitoba R2L 0L5 Phone: (204) 254-6418 Fax: (204) 668-4641 Publisher David Langstaff david@delcommunications.com

~ Dawn M. Barker, Prairie Visions Design Ltd.

Is It Time To Renew Your School Plant Officials Certification?

Anecdotes of SPOA BC ~ Jack Hannan

Capital Funding: Developing A Successful Strategic Plan ~ Hugh Skinner, Associate, Stantec Consulting Ltd.

The Impact of Declining Enrollment: Boards Look At Options For Vacant Schools Editor Katrina Senyk Contributing Writer Dawn M. Barker Sales Manager Jason Stefanik Advertising Sales Debbie Angers Gary Barrington Ross James Dayna Oulion Production Services Provided by: S.G. Bennett Marketing Services Unit 7 - 414 Westmount Drive Winnipeg, Manitoba R2J 1P2 Layout & Design Debbie Dunmall Advertising Art Kathy Cable Hayden Sundmark ©Copyright 2007. School Plant Officials of B.C. 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 in 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. 211 Hespeler Avenue Winnipeg, MB R2L 0L5 Email: david@delcommunications.com

~ Melanie Jackson

In Search of...A Better Insulated Steel Framed Wall

BCSDSTA Message

Abbortsford Middle School ~ Ryan Huston, MAIBC, Craven / Huston / Powers Associates

Water Damage, Beyond the Obvious ~ Canstar Restorations

Sooke School District No. 62 Just Got Greener ~ Honeywell

Thoughts On Talent ~ Chuck Morris

Innovative B.C. School District Chooses Innovative Roofing Solution

2007 SPOA Conference Information

Clean With CRI-Certified Carpet Extractors

MJM Acoustics: A Western Canadian-Based Supplier of Acoustical Products and Services Designed With Your Facility In Mind ~ Mike Maxwell

Drying Out ~ Don Proctor, Munters Inc. Moisture Control Services

Condensing Boilers in Retrofit Applications ~ Kevin Woolley – Cannepp

Janitors’ Warehouse Moves Into The Alberta Market

The Cost of Green ~ Seven Steps To Cost-Effective High Performance Design ~ Witmar Abele – KMBR Architects

Green Dreams – Green Roofs on Schools ~ Ron Schwenger

Index to Advertisers

Mission Statement: To provide support and recognition to our members who work in partnership with leaders in education in the province of British Columbia. School Plant Officials Association of B.C. Spring 2007

PRESIDENTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S MESSAGE

JOHN GAROSSINO

S.P.O.A. .P.O.A.

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Adon T. Rigg Market Manager British Columbia

As this year is passing, I realize just how important friendships and networks are in the professional world, and how the balance between personal life and business must be maintained to ensure you are growing within both your profession and your personal life at a pace that will keep you competitive, informed and fulfilled. I have seen how the involvement with SPOA has assisted members in expanding their horizons, and provided a vehicle for member education and networking that is second-to-none; I am proud to be a part of this association. This past year has brought a lot of positives for our association. Your executive went to Victoria in November, and made a presentation to the Deputy Minister and the Associate Deputy Minister, in order to bring the Ministry up to speed on the changes that have happened within our association over the past five years. The Ministry received the presentation in a very positive manner and commented on how SPOA is seen to be a positive and valued partner in education. Your executive also met with the British Columbia Institute in November, who represents the PMAC in the Province of BC. Our discussions centered on ensuring they were aware of our annual conference and trade show, and extended an invitation to their members to attend the conference. I look forward to the possibility of seeing more purchasing managers from school districts across the province start to attend our annual conference and trade show. In December, members of the education committee and some of the executive also met to work on completing the standards and practices manual for the association. It looks very positive that we will have the SPOA Standards and

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School Plant Officials Association of B.C. Spring 2007

Procedures Manual ready for distribution before the 43rd annual conference and trade show this June. This has come about primarily through the efforts of Kelly Gahir and Ernie Lambert both of which sit on the education committee. Kelly and Ernie are presently looking for someone to assist them on the education committee. If you are interested in getting involved and being a part of an exciting and challenging committee, please contact one of the SPOA executive. January brought on further opportunities to promote our association with other associations. Members of your executive made a presentation to F.I.S.A. (Federation of Independent Schools Association) in January promoting our association. At this presentation, an open invitation was extended to the members of FISA to have their Facilities Managers and Facilities Supervisors become involved in both our association and our annual conference. With this invitation comes the hope of attracting new members to our association, which will assist in expanding the working networks of our membership. Kelly Gahir, Director of Marketing and Education, and I attended a meeting with SPOSA in February to work on promoting and advancing our Joint Certification Program. Discussed in this meeting was the need for certified members to maintain their certification and to keep their certification current by providing proof of continuing educational credits as per certification program requirements. The members from SPOSA commented on how positive the meeting went, and how they are looking forward to working with SPOA BC to get the CEFM designation professional status. During this meeting, both associations agreed to

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ensure the program is maintained in an identical fashion in both provinces, to assist in the application for professional status. March started with a bang, as the executive of SPOA were invited by the BCSDSTA to attend a meeting with the BC School District Secretary Treasurers Association and the Association of School Transportation Supervisors of BC, to exchange information and explore joint professional development opportunities. This meeting produced a positive working environment which could lead to a joint association educational session sometime in the late fall. All three associations have agreed to further discussions in the near future. April and May will bring about many more opportunities to promote SPOA with our partners in education and other associations. Glenn Millar of Victoria School District will represent SPOA at the BC School Trustees Association’s (BCSSTA) Annual meetings in Victoria this April, and we will have representation at the ASTSBC conference, the SPOSA conference and the BCSDSTA conference in May. On the SPOA conference front, Grant Davidson (who accepted the Conference

Director Chair in June) has worked extensively with the conference committee (which included Glenn Brenan, Speakers Director, and Pat Zino, Exhibitors Director), to put together one of the finest educational programs and trade shows to date. It is noted that this year’s trade show sold out quicker than in any previous year. This shows the ever increasing level of support our exhibitors provide to this association and our membership. Also included in the conference planning committee were Ken Emmons, president of BCSSA, and Jim Micklejohn, Director of CEFPI (with special mention going to Kendall Jessiman, President of CEFPI, BC Chapter). The partners for this year’s conference include the BC School Safety Association and the Council for Educational Facility Planners International (BC Chapter). On the sponsorship front, Jim Garfield has secured two main sponsors for the upcoming conference, and is presently working with a number of companies who have expressed interest in sponsoring different events throughout this year’s conference and trade show. Jim’s efforts have made it possible for our conference committee to bring in quality

speakers and programs for the benefit of our members. We are pleased to have both BC HYDRO and TELUS joint us as Corporate Sponsors for this year’s conference. Both Lisa Johnston and Chuck Morris have worked endlessly this year promoting this association and keeping me on the straight and narrow. For this I am eternally grateful. On another note, the SPOA bursary committee is hoping to receive a record number of bursary applications for this year’s bursaries, so please pass on the word to all of your staff who have children graduating this year. I feel I have been blessed to be a part of this year’s executive, and I am pleased with the advancements the association has made on the members’ behalf over the past year. It is only with the assistance and support of the members that our association prospers. I would like to thank everyone for their support this past year. Yours in service, John Garossino President School Plant Officials Association ❏

COVER PHOTO: A PEACEFUL LAKE DEEP IN THE FOREST OF INTERIOR BRITISH COLUMBIA

Throughout British Columbia, we run across such breathtaking beauty. From the Canyons near Telegraph, to the desert around the south Okanogan and the rain forests of Vancouver Island, each discovery is absolutely awesome. The quiet lake featured on the cover is nestled in amongst fir, pine and spruce, usually only frequented by moose and beaver; it is a prize to treasure when it suddenly appears in front of you. Usually a glimpse of shimmering water alerts you that something is ahead of you and you may see some wild life. Our Province holds thousands upon thousands of small lakes nestled in the forest and each of them is a gem. If you are back a number of miles into the wilderness, you are likely viewing something not many others

has seen before. What a treat to stumble across one of these treasures in such pristine state. The right time of day may even provide you with early morning light or the hues the sun provides as sunset approaches. Enjoy our wilderness and leave it as you found it (or in better condition). ❏ We welcome your comments and feedback. If you have an idea for a story or profile in an up-coming edition, please send it to: katrina@delcommunications.com Please include the name of the magazine or association in your email header or subject line. We look forward to hearing from you.

School Plant Officials Association of B.C. Spring 2007

Member Profile

SPOA B.C.’S HISTORIAN SAYS WEíRE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION By Dawn M. Barker, PrairieVisions Design Ltd. Bob Hardy has seen a lot of changes in his years of involvement with the education system, and he says he’s confident that these changes have moved the School Plant Officials Association, as well as B.C. schools themselves, in a positive direction. When he first embarked on his career, Bob had no idea he’d end up working in the educational field, but when his job at Pacific Coast Packers came to an end and an opportunity arose at Vancouver’s Langara Campus, he applied. The new position had many challenges, but after seven years, Bob had met them and decided to move on. His next step was to Supervisor of Operations with South Cariboo School District #30 in Ashcroft. Here, he spent 11 years reinforcing the existing school maintenance program, with responsibilities including staffing, supervision, program development and manage-

ment of building maintenance, custodial and transportation services for the district’s 11 schools. When the school district was restructured, Bob’s job there ended, and he took on what was supposed to be a three-week temp position with Fraser-Cascade District #78 – and ended up staying for over a decade! He took the eight-school district through a thorough improvement program including maintenance administration, staffing requirements, and a five year capital program. In 1997, Bob saw a familiar scene, as his position was again eliminated through the amalgamation process. “I was 58, and was seriously considering taking a severance package and retiring, but wasn’t sure I was ready to,” he said. It would appear that the educational system certainly wasn’t ready

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for him to retire – he was approached very quickly by the president of the School Plant Officials Association, who encouraged him to apply for Manager of Facilities in the Haida Gwaii/Queen Charlotte School District #50 in Queen Charlotte, BC. “I had an interview, and wasn’t sure I wanted to take the position. I remember coming home and my wife Linda said, ‘You don’t want to do this, do you?’ I said, ‘No, I don’t think so….’ “And she looked at me and said, ‘You got it, didn’t you?’, and I said, ‘Yes.’” Going into what would prove to be the most challenging segment of his involvement with the education system, Bob was prepared to spend two to three years at the position, living in a teacherage on Queen Charlotte Island and shuttling back and forth from home every four to five weeks. He retired in 2001 after two years and four months, leaving the entire district on a much improved and more stable footing. Buildings which had been neglected for years saw new ventilation systems, upgrading to current standards and the repair of previous, poorly done work. From roofs to underground oil tank removal, from asbestos surveys to sanding and refinishing gym floors, Bob saw every need and did his best to fill it. Fire sprinkler systems, upgraded floors, installation of new playground equipment and the development of a capital program were also on his list. Bob even made presentations to the Ministry of School Finance and Capital Planning for the replacement of Queen Charlotte Secondary School in 1998. It wasn’t the only time Bob was in contact with the ministry of Education – he repeatedly applied for emergency funding to continue on with his numerous essential projects. “It got so that I’d call up and they’d say, ‘What do you need money for now, Bob?’”, he smiled. “I ended up with a series of binders, with photos on ‘what not to do’. Those were the ‘before’ photos,” Bob explained. These came in handy when he met with school, district and ministry officials to show them how things had changed in just a short time. “I just wanted to create the best environment for people to work in,” he said modestly of the considerable changes he has made over the years. The Teacher’s Association president wrote Bob a letter of appreciation for what he’d done in the district, a rare and much

appreciated occurrence. He retired in 2001 for health reasons. Today, Bob spends his time golfing, gardening, and volunteering on the Cedar Heights Community Association as president. Bob still hasn’t left his affinity for the educational system behind, though - he continues to volunteer on the School Plant Officials Association as historian, a position where his years of expertise are invaluable in assisting the Executive of the Association

when needed. “I look at my time in school maintenance as having left things a little better than they were when I came. I left knowing that there are great people in charge now, who will keep on with these improvements. And I know that there have been a lot of changes in the Association as well. It has gone forward a great deal since I began there in 1977. It’s done some excellent work, and continues to do so.”

❏

School Plant Officials Association of B.C. Spring 2007

CEFM Certification

IS IT TIME TO RENEW YOUR SCHOOL PLANT OFFICIALS CERTIFICATION?

Written by John Garossino

In 2003, the School Plant Officials Certification program was first offered to the members of both SPOSA and SPOA in the provinces of Alberta and BC. The School Plant Officials Certification Program reflects a dedication to setting the highest standards for professionals in the management, maintenance and operation of educational buildings in Canada. The program is a joint venture between the School Plant Officials’ Society of Alberta and the School Plant Officials’ Association of British Columbia. The intent of this certification program is to advance the educational facility maintenance and operations practice through the development and implementation of a valid, credible, and reliable certification system based upon a sound structure and quality standards. Industry needs will be met by establishing benchmarks for knowledge, performance, and professionalism. The certification program establishes identifiable career paths and promotes the development of a future workforce that can assure the continued growth of this practice.

The certification program establishes identifiable career paths and promotes the development of a future workforce that can assure the continued growth of this practice. To ensure the highest degree of professionalism and competency, all certified professionals must take a minimum number of continuing education units (CEUs) to maintain their certification. This requirement ensures certified practitioners always possess the most up-to-date knowledge and stay current in their skills and knowledge. Certification constitutes recognition by both organizations that, to its best knowledge, an applicant meets the minimum educational, experience, and ethical standards adopted by both organizations.

Continuing Education is required to help ensure that individuals certified by this program continue to be knowledgeable of technological advancements and regulatory requirements in the school plant management fields. Continuing education enhances the operation, maintenance and management skills of the certificate holders, and ensures the quality of school plant management. This ultimately increases the ability and confidence of certificate holders and the credibility of the educational facility management professions certified by this program. The School Plant Officials Certification Program recognizes that to maintain competency, members would need to attain a minimum of 12 continuing education credits per year. Both SPOSA and SPOA of BC realized that to renew a member’s certification every year would be burdensome for both the individuals and the associations, but a mechanism needed to be put in place to ensure the integrity and professionalism of the program was upheld. Hence the requirement was developed for members to renew their certification by application. Renewal of certification is required for all classifications every three years. Certificate holders are obligated to provide documentation of the 36 CEUs (12 per year) required with their application for certificate renewal. The CEUs must address the essential duties of the vocation and level of the certificate held. The essential duties are a list of job tasks that are covered on the certification tests. The essential duties for each certificate are available in the Certification Handbook. Remember, any training or educational activity will be acceptable as long as it is related to at least one of the core competencies. You may even apply your CEUs to more than one certificate as long as the training program focuses on some of the Essential Duties of each vocation. If you have not received an application for renewal of certification, a continuing education unit’s documentation form or a renewal notice, please contact Molly Shipowick, SPOA of BC or Ken Fate, SPOSA. Contact numbers can be found on both associations’ web pages.

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Anecdotes of SPOA BC

Written by Jack Hannan

In your last issue, Art Vanidour was absolutely right: Jim Thorpe was the granddaddy of this organization. Besides being into this association, I had one other thing in common with Jim: we both had been radio hams. With me, this had grown into a Wireless Operator’s certificate – in those days “Wireless” meant Morse code at thirty words a minute. It got me a depression-time job in a fish plant on the west coast of Vancouver Island, later with government wireless at Point Grey, then a year at Dease Lake.

The gang up there thought I was nuts, quitting a good job to go to university. In my final year at UBC I remember the Dean saying “most of you boys will go east, but you will come back.” He was right, after ten years in Montreal I was back, this time working for Don Sutherland at the Vancouver School Board. When Jim Thorpe came over from Nanaimo with a bee in his bonnet about a school plant group, Don was sold on the idea but he didn’t come to meetings; instead he prodded Ken Warner and me to get involved. We didn’t need any prodding, and with Don’s initial backing, Ken and I enthusiastically participated in the activities of the Association on and off for over twenty years, serving at times as members of the executive; each of us even took a turn as President. Our friends, the suppliers At that first formal meeting at the Blue Boy Hotel, Jim Wilkie was President and I was Secretary Treasurer. We organized a meeting that

Saturday morning at a Vancouver secondary school with suppliers participating. It was the beginning of the “portables” era; we had one outfit putting up sections of a portable on the blacktop, another crowd was demonstrating their grass cutting equipment, and others were indoors finishing and cleaning floors. As this drew to a close, I told these suppliers it had been a successful day, one of them called out “what about the money?” I was dumbfounded; I hadn’t planned to pay these guys for their efforts. I didn’t realize they were asking how much they owed us for the use of our premises! This misapprehension was corrected when the SPOA moved up to Prince George the next year, and the suppliers paid rent for booth space. It doesn’t always work as planned Two incidents of this come to memory: In 1967, Jim Thorpe was the up-coming President. He asked me if I would be the final speaker on a panel of three dealing with fire safety. He remarked that in the best conventions, speakers publish their material ahead of time, so that at the meeting there is a discussion with the audience rather than a lecture. I dutifully wrote up my ideas and everyone had them to read beforehand. BUT the first of the three men used up all of the time. His presentation was attractive, exciting, and sometimes funny; it seems he must have had a drop of fire-water to help the subject of fire safety. Jim thanked this speaker for his “spirited” presentation and we adjourned for lunch. My paper never was discussed. In 1971, I was President; my summary of the meeting reads in part: “The conference itself went along like clockwork……I had emphasized that the technical program was the heart of the Conference, and our speakers were successful………….” BUT “The Association’s business meeting on the Friday afternoon was a disaster. One member seemed determined to filibuster throughout the meeting and the membership, tired from sitting through three days of lectures, were frustrated. Robert’s Rules of Order were abandoned, I railroaded through what I guessed the members wanted, and we left for a much-needed drink.”

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School Plant Officials Association of B.C. Spring 2007

CAPITAL FUNDING: DEVELOPING A SUCCESSFUL STRATEGIC PLAN

By Hugh Skinner, Associate, Stantec Consulting Ltd.; CEFPI International Past President

The capital funding environment is rapidly changing for school districts in British Columbia. Traditional capital funding mechanisms and strategies are becoming less successful. This is partially due to changing demographics and service needs related to the intensifying demand for capital funds from other ministries in the provincial government, and the limited availability of capital funds from traditional sources. While the issues associated with securing capital funding from the provincial government are challenging, there are strategies that are proving successful in obtaining funds for major capital projects for school districts. TRADITIONAL CAPITAL FUNDING British Columbia was experiencing a growing enrolment throughout most of the province in the 1990s. A growing enrolment enabled the Ministry of Education to have a strong rationale for additional capital funding from Treasury Board. School districts had a good chance of securing funding for new space if they had an accurate enrolment, capacity, and utilization database as well as the other key components of a successful application, significant overcrowding and a growing enrolment. DEMOGRAPHIC REALITIES Historic Population Trends The school age population (ages 5 to 19 years) increased by 134,000 in the 1990s, from 653,000 in 1990 to 787,000 in 2000. The increase in enrolment was due to several factors, including: (a.) relatively high inmigration to British Columbia from other provinces; (b.) relatively high immigration to British Columbia from other countries; and (c.) a relatively high age cohort of children of the “Baby Boom” generation working their way through the school system. Existing and Projected Population Trends The age 5 to 19 cohort population peaked at 791,000 in 2001, and has been steadily declining since this date. This age cohort is projected by BC Stats to decline by 2013 to 715,000, a decrease of 76,000. The province of British Columbia is approximately half

way through this cycle. It is the demographics of the 65 year and older age cohort that is dramatically growing in demands for increases in services and associated facilities. This age cohort increased from 416,000 in 1990 to 603,000 in 2006. The 65 and older age cohort is projected to surpass the school age (ages 5 to 19) age cohort by 2012 and reach the 1,000,000 mark by 2020 or shortly thereafter. These demographic trends are shown in the chart on the next page. CAPITAL FUNDING CHALLENGES The challenges for the Ministry of Education to secure additional capital funding from Treasury Board are daunting. Firstly, the debt from borrowing for the major capital school projects in the 1990s is very significant. Secondly, the province has made a significant political decision to focus on transportation infrastructure improvements. Thirdly, the health facilities requirements, as illustrated in the demographic discussion, are massive. Fourthly, a declining enrolment means that there is a significant questioning of the number of school facilities required for the future. Collectively, these variables created a major capital funding challenge for the Ministry of Education and school districts relative to other public service facility demands. CAPITAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES The greatest single potential sources of additional capital funding are the land assets that school districts possess. The school facility

land assets in British Columbia are potentially worth billions of dollars. With declining enrolments, many schools are underutilized. Coupled with declining enrolments and underutilization are facilities that are near, or beyond, the end of their life-cycle. The single biggest hindrance to reusing surplus facilities and their associated lands is the negative perceptions of the process associated with potential school closure. SUCCESSFUL STRATEGIC PLANNING A successful strategic plan for securing additional capital funding commences with accurate data of lands, facilities, and enrolments. Without an accurate database, the quality and accuracy of the information will be questioned. Secondly, a school district should have the capabilities to develop short term, medium term, and long term enrolment projections by school, by grade and by educational program using a commonly accepted and understood enrolment projection methodology. Thirdly, a school district should develop some District goals and objectives. These goals and objectives may range from financial (e.g. sustaining existing educational services) to educational (e.g. increasing educational programming opportunities) to facilities (i.e. revitalizing existing facilities). Fourthly, a school district should develop a public communication and consultation process to educate a variety of stakeholders on historical and projected enrolment trends

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British Columbia - Historical and Projected Population by Age Grouping (in thousands) 987

1000 950

5-19 916

65+ 883

900 851 820 800

Enrolment

723 700 653

666

684

791 788 781 777 783 785 787 775 769 763 759 751 743 745

759 729 738 731 724 719 715 713 711 710 712 715 720 725 699 677 658 639

701

600

500 416

429

440

451

463

789

475

487

519 499 509

529

540 550

562

574

587

603

620

400

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS Capital funding is becoming scarce for school districts, partially due to changing demographics and service needs related to the intensifying demand for capital funds from other ministries in the provincial government and the limited availability of capital funds from traditional sources. While the issues associated with securing capital funding from the provincial government are challenging, there are strategies that are proving successful in obtaining funds for major capital projects for school districts.

19 90 19 91 19 92 19 93 19 94 19 95 19 96 19 97 19 98 19 99 20 00 20 01 20 02 20 03 20 04 20 05 20 06 20 07 20 08 20 09 20 10 20 11 20 12 20 13 20 14 20 15 20 16 20 17 20 18 20 19 20 20

300

school facilities as they relate to the Districtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s goals and objectives, and a matching with the community shortages. A school district can then constructively create a school facilities renewal strategy with a potential source of capital funding and the creation of an additional non-educational asset for the community.

Year

relative to the age, condition, and number of school facilities. The relevant stakeholders may range from internal (Senior Administration, Board trustees, principals, teachers, parents, etc.) to external (municipality, media, general public, etc.). The public consultation process should exhibit historical and projected enrolments and the tangible impact on educational programs and facilities. A public consultation process can also offer an opportunity for stakeholders to identify community shortages of non-educational services and facilities (e.g. seniors housing) and to suggest opportunities. The outcomes from a public consultation process can be shared in a format that matches the issues with the opportunities. These opportunities can also be educational. The Province of Saskatchewan, for example, has very successfully integrated discussion on declining school age enrolments, and surplus space in secondary schools, with a growing demand for post-secondary educational programs and space in communities. There are a number of examples of Saskatchewan facilities that were historically secondary schools, which have been extensively renovated to become integrated secondary school / community college facilities. The culmination of the above process is the identification of surplus

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School Plant Officials Association of B.C. Spring 2007

The Impact of Declining Enrollment:

Boards look at options for vacant schools Written by Melanie Jackson, Writer/Editor for the BC School Trustees Association

A school is a living, breathing fount of activity. Children stream through doors and down its hallways; they clamber across its fields and over its playground equipment. That’s probably why a vacant school, with boarded up windows, rusting equipment, and overgrown baseball diamonds, is such a depressing sight. “It suggests that a community has no vibrancy, that it’s dying,” says Gordon Comeau, chair of SD #58 (NicolaSimilkameen). With student enrollment on the decline, more and specters of vacant schools could haunt our neighbourhoods. However, with foresight, school boards can keep schools alive and breathing - by opening them to community use. This is the solution Comeau’s district has found, answering what he sees as two objectives in dealing with closed schools: “taking

away the poor aesthetics of a vacant building, and providing opportunities for community groups such as seniors, performing arts, and many more.”

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School Plant Officials Association of B.C. Spring 2007

• You have to board up the windows, turning a once-appealing school into an eyesore – and attracting vandals to do damage. After all, they figure, no one’s around to stop them. • The boarded-up look also attracts burglars, for the same reason. • You have to keep up the playground equipment, because children will continue to use it. If an accident results from neglected equipment, your district will become vulnerable to a liability suit.

BCSTA the Ministry of Education “to make greater utilization of school facilities for broader community purposes” (www.schoolconnections.ca). Riverside was in fact the first facility in BC to apply for the grant, Comeau notes proudly. “We’re obligated as school trustees, as representatives of our communities, to maximize opportunities for those communities,” he says. “You don’t have to look far for people to keep a school alive. When one becomes vacant, there’s usually a multitude of people showing interest.” He cites another example: Tulameen School, whose 100th anniversary was celebrated by a barbecue attended by grads from far and wide. The barbecue also served as a farewell, since Tulameen was closed - but a farewell to Tulameen as a school, not as a living building. There are plans to preserve it as a heritage site, and again may be used as an active community facility. Steve Jackson, director of operations in SD #6 (Rocky Mountain), says, “The foresight of our trustees to close schools when declining enrollment started to affect us back in 2002 has reduced the financial impact of the lost enrollment. We have sold and leased some of the closed schools, which means we are not spending funding maintaining these schools - which in turn allows us to redirect that money for the benefit of all students.” Jackson gives the example of Radium Elementary School, which Rocky Mountain closed, then leased to Parks Canada. “They’ve amalgamated the separate offices they used to have for Yoho, Banff and Radium Parks, and are operating out of the former school. Through the lease agreement with Parks, funds have been provided to make

many renovations and improvements to the facility. With Parks occupying the facility, they will cover most of the ongoing maintenance costs, and if we ever need the school in the future, they will move out, allowing us to once again operate an elementary school in Radium.” Meanwhile, the Village of Radium Hot Springs has also entered an agreement with Rocky Mountain, to make community use of the gym and sports field at Radium Elementary. In turn, the Village provides the ongoing maintenance for the gym and sports field. Other SD #6 buildings have been sold to community groups and church groups, and even exchanged with the Royal Canadian Mountain Police for one of its buildings. “The continued decline of students throughout our district has allowed us to provide space in our open schools for early childhood and after-school programs,” Jackson says. Al Cumbers, director of operations in SD #23 (Central Okanagan), says his district hasn’t been as hard hit so far by declining enrollment. Central Okanagan is down by 200 students this year – but the burgeoning suburbs are producing more kids. The result? Inner-city schools are emptying to some extent, with programs such as preschool taking up the newly available space. “However, young families are moving into neighbourhoods farther and farther away from where schools exist. The schools they do attend are bursting at the seams.” Many need transportation, which means busing costs are climbing, Cumbers adds. For further information, please send an e-mail to: mjackson@bcsta.org.

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School Plant Officials Association of B.C. Spring 2007

...In Search of...

A Better Insulated Steel Framed Wall

By Les Yard

The increasing demand for a more energy efficient building envelope is an important challenge facing current and prospective owners and designers. With more and more attention being given to saving energy and reducing the impact of buildings on the environment(1), a greater effort is being made to improve how building assemblies are constructed. Traditional steel stud wall construction can be a versatile and economically viable construction method, but how thermally efficient is it? How effective are current building practices in managing moisture accumulation, and the associated problems that can occur as a result of an inadequate design or poor installation? Can today’s construction methods meet the rapidly growing requirements for increased insulation values and performance in tomorrow’s walls? In general, steel framed walls offer many advantages such as relative low cost, non-

combustibility and high strength. They enable a small footprint and are lightweight. However, steel is also highly conductive and can create a pathway to expel a building’s increasingly expensive heating and cooling load to the exterior, thereby dramatically reducing a building’s thermal efficiency, and increasing the cost to its owner to provide thermal comfort for its occupants. Traditional steel stud walls insulate only the wall cavity space and as a result of this common practice, the R-value(2) of these walls can be reduced by as much as 40 to 60 percent due to thermal bridging though the walls steel framing. ASHRAE (The American Society of Heating and Air Conditioning Engineers) recognizes this and requires that designers use a correction factor when calculating the effective thermal performance of fiberglass insulation in steel stud walls. One way to improve upon this is to use continuous rigid insulation on the exteri-

BC SCHOOL DISTRICT SECRETARY-TREASURERS’ ASSOCIATION c/o 14225 - 56 Avenue, Surrey, BC V3A 3X3 Ph: (604) 599-7416 Fax: (604) 596-4197

April 1, 2007 Several members of our Executive Committee had the opportunity to meet with representatives from the School Plant Officials Association (SPOA) last month in an effort to promote dialogue between our two organizations. I would like to express our appreciation to John Garossino, Chuck Morris, Jim Garfield and Grant Davidson for taking the time to participate in this meeting. Although both groups share involvement on a number of Ministry committees and initiatives, it has been some time since our Associations have had a face-to-face meeting to discuss issues and explore opportunities. After outlining the purpose and objectives of our respective organizations, the focus of the meeting shifted to how we could utilize resources more effectively, particularly in the area of professional development for our members. There was a commitment to investigate shared professional development activities in the future in an effort to strengthen the ties between the two organizations. I believe both groups came away from this meeting encouraged by its potential. We look forward to working with your Association on such an endeavor and would welcome the opportunity to meet with representatives of SPOA on a more regular basis. Yours truly,

Cameron Dow, President

School Plant Officials Association of B.C. Spring 2007

Note the pattern where morning frost has melted more quickly through uninsulated steel framing or side of a wall assembly. Continuous rigid insulation on the exterior of the steel studs is not affected by the high thermal conductivity of the framing, and as a result, ASHRAE gives full credit to the Rvalue(2) of exterior insulation (See Chart: Effective R-Value Comparison)(3,4). Controlling moisture in steel stud wall cavities is also extremely important to the long-term durability of the wall system. Regardless of the climate location, moisture can find its way into the wall through many means, including vapour diffusion, exfiltration and infiltration of air or bulk water intrusion. Real life example: 400 occupants in a typical commercial building can emit up to 80 kgs (176 lbs) of water vapour into the air per day. This water vapour can diffuse into the wall cavity and may reduce the efficiency of the cavity insulation(5). In Severe Cold, Cold and Mixed Humid climates, exfiltrating air can lead to concealed condensation and moisture accumulation when cavity temperatures are below the dew point temperature of the exfiltrating air. One method to reduce or avoid the potential for condensation in a wall assembly is to keep the cavity warm by providing continuous exterior insulation in addition to fiberglass batts, or for greater moisture control, continuous insulation and an empty cavity space. Moisture accumulation can cause a reduction in insulation efficiency and also create conditions that may support the growth of mould and mildew in a wall. Regardless of the means of entry, the key to controlling moisture buildup is to limit the amount of water that enters the cavity from the exterior side of the building, and manage the environment in the cavity space to ensure proper drying of the wall system. For more information to help understand how a wall system will have a better chance at longevity and superior performance, please see “Moisture Management in Steel Stud Assemblies”(6). Owners, occupants, designers and the general public are all becoming increasingly aware of the pressing need to reduce our energy and environmental footprint. This fact alone will necessitate a movement toward improving the effective energy performance of wall assemblies measured over a building’s lifetime and will, with greater frequency, replace building practices which emphasize short term, cost driven and status quo design. Well documented construction practices, such as the use of exterior insulation and its ability to greatly improve the thermal efficiency and moisture management ability of a steel stud wall assembly, will be become increasingly more common. Les Yard is an Account Manager with Dow Building Solutions

based out of Vancouver. He has been with Dow Chemical Canada Inc. since 2003 and is active in many local construction associations including the BC Building Envelope Council (BCBEC) and Construction Specifications Canada (CSC). He can be reached at P (604) 472-7266, F (604) 472-7267, lyard@dow.com, www.styrofoam.ca. References:

(1) Buildings are responsible for 36 to 40% of total energy consumption worldwide (various sources) (2) R-value means resistance to heat flow. The higher the R-value, the greater the insulating power (3) ASHRAE/EIS Standard 90.11989, User’s Manual, November 1992 (4) The Pennsylvania Housing Research Center Report Number 58 (5) Building Science Corporation, www.buildingscience.com (6) Moisture Management in Steel Stud Assemblies (Dow Building Solutions Form# 178-00956-0105P&M)

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Abbotsford Middle School By Ryan Huston, MAIBC, Craven / Huston / Powers Architects

The new Abbotsford Middle School is designed for 600 Grade 6, 7 and 8 students. The school will emphasize instructional technology as it leads to industrial education as a feeder school to a revitalized shop program offered at Abbotsford Collegiate School. Emphasis will be

A key generating architectural idea will be the establishment of a school within a school ‘pod concept’ where students are grouped in areas according to grade. Elective and common spaces will act as an adjunct to these pods.

placed on attracting a student body back to the ‘inner city’ school by offering expanded Physical Education, First Nations and Special Education programs.

Architecturally, the School District is searching for a singularly unique structure; a building that will act as the centerpiece of this community and help attract and foster a student body that is proud of the new facility. Emphasis will be placed on the use of steel, glass, concrete and wood in a building that serves to educate its inhabitants should they be interested in its construction and function.

School Plant Officials Association of B.C. Spring 2007

Abbotsford Middle School

Scaled Model

Mechanically and electrically the School District hopes to benefit from the LEED program without becoming slave to certification. Incorporating energy conservation initiatives as well as daylighting and natural ventilation techniques into the design of this school is paramount. Architecturally, natural material selections (stained and natural

concrete floors), low VOC finishes, and organic materials will be explored and their cost versus benefit will be reviewed. Indoor air quality and natural lighting are important design considerations.

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WATER DAMAGE, Beyond the Obvious Written by Art Johnson The fall addition of Ops Talk has inspired this article entitled “Water Damage, Beyond the Obvious”. It is correct that water damage is one of the largest contributors toward property loss and that the effective

T and timely restoration of these losses is absolutely imperative. There was a time when water damage was taken very lightly; clean-up the water with a mop and bucket or even a truck mounted extraction system, open the doors and windows, and then let nature

takes it’s course. But there are many factors influencing the approach we take today that were not as much of an issue in the past. The People According to Asthma Society of Canada, asthma can be triggered by mould, dust mites, pollen, chemicals, and odours. Statistics Canada reports that “Asthma is most common during childhood and affects at least 12% of Canadian children.” The number of children with asthma in Canada quadrupled from the 1970s to the 1990s, according to some sources. The Buildings In the early ‘70s, with the oil and energy crisis sending us scurrying for ways to conserve, the need for tighter, more energy efficient buildings moved to the forefront. Construction techniques and products thus changed utilizing products like gypsum board, carpeting, and six mil. poly vapor barriers accompanied by less air exchanges. All of this has contributed to building materials and environments being more susceptible to mould infestations and other indoor air quality issues. The Obvious With so many young ones displaying greater sensitivity to contaminate and chemicals, and construction materials with greater potential for fungal growth and absorption, it’s obvious that there is a greater demand on those doing restoration and clean-ups to be both, more thorough, and at the same time, protect those occupants that are at risk.

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School Plant Officials Association of B.C. Spring 2007

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Water Damage, Beyond the Obvious The Results Let’s begin by going through a couple of water losses scenarios and then determining the best practices associated with each situation and thus avoid people and building problems down the road. Scenario No. 1: The school experiences a broken water line resulting in fresh water flowing down the hallways and onto the gymnasium floor. The leak is detected within 48 hours and remediation begins immediately. Is the area safe? That should be our chief concern. There exists a trip, slip, and fall risk. Are there any electrical hazards to worry about? Has the HVAC system been affected? Secondly, has the source of the water stopped? Does a plumber need to be called? Next, start the extraction. For every minute that passes the water is making every effort to find the most absorbent materials and the lowest point. It will not stop until it does. Good extraction is imperative with the calculation that extraction is 1,200 times faster than most evaporation techniques and a whole lot less expensive. New tools in this area are helping this effort by reducing technician fatigue by allowing the operator to ride on them as opposed to using the old carpet wand and having to put their back into it. That resulted in a very good job for the first 15 minutes, and a very “good enough” job for the rest of the extraction process. As soon as the extraction process is underway, a diligent search must take place to determine, without a doubt, just where the water went. Water in building materials is largely invisible to the naked eye. How do you know just how far the water went? Professional restorers have the tools to determine this. Not only do they learn through experience, but they also have the tools to do the job. Here are some examples: Moisture detectors that require the insertion of metal pins that measure electrical conductivity of the material. The greater the conductivity - the higher the meter goes or the alarm sounds indicating greater moisture content. For carpeting, these are very effective, but if you don’t want the walls showing these pin marks, then one may opt for the non-invasive style that accomplishes the same thing using electrical conductivity, capacitance or radio frequencies to determine the presence of moisture. This system is complimented by attachments having the capability to measure moisture behind base-

boards, within the pages of books and through walls and insulation to the exterior sheathing. A very unique tool that has left the battle field of late and found a more peaceful use in our environment is the thermal imaging camera. This tool only measures the temperature of a material. As most know, water absorbs energy and thus always shows up cooler than the unaffected materials. It takes a very short investigation to see a very clear

picture emerge that outlines exactly what is wet in which locations. That being said, understanding how and when to use these tools is a trained professional’s judgment call. What about the water that went underneath the gymnasium floor? With the use of insulated pins that only pick up moisture at the tips, using the same conductivity, a person can drive the pins into the hardwood floor or even passed it to the concrete below

School Plant Officials Association of B.C. Spring 2007

Water Damage, Beyond the Obvious it and search out the extent of the affected area. If the restoration is performed affectively and expediently these floors can usually be saved. Addressing hardwood gymnasium floors using special air extraction mats or tenting systems has drastically reduced the need for their costly replacement. Digital cameras also play a part in the restoration contractors’ tool box. Utilizing this tool allows us to look into wall cavities and underneath sub-floors where our head has difficulty reaching. They prove to be perfect eyesight for the investigator and on a large computer screen, the ability to reveal much. An effective drying process can then be implemented to address these wet areas. The IICRC (Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration) has produced a ANSI (American National Standard Institute) approved standard and reference guide for professional water damage restoration, the S500, that helps an individual recognize the proper methods for effective drying. It makes it clear that to dry effectively you must use hot dry air passing over all wet areas. Using air movement in schools may contribute to increasing the number of airborne particles of dust and allergens that may have a negative impact on those with respiratory issues like asthma, and thus require setting up engineering controls like poly doorways or barriers and the introduction of HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Arrestors) air scrubbers or negative air machines. As long as there is an excess of moisture in the environment, there is greater potential of rapid proliferation of bacteria and mould, so the emphasis should be on drying the area as soon as possible. A tool that has proven very effective at accomplishing this is the “Water

School Plant Officials Association of B.C. Spring 2007

Out” drying system. It utilizes the fresh air that exists outdoors, heats it, and delivers it to the wet areas; it then draws the moisture-laden air back outside to then be released into the atmosphere, where it will do no one any harm. With good use of air movers throughout this process, the moisture is suspended long enough to be exhaled through the machine. This air exchange and purging is very effective in maintaining a healthy indoor environment and thus reduces the need for the HEPA or air scrubber machines. Within just a few days, and at temperatures that do not support bacteria or mould growth, the building can go through rigorous moisture testing. The results will satisfy the dry standards for the building materials and environment of that specific area. Scenario No. 2: A storm has caused the sewers to backup, and raw sewage has spewed from the toilets and run through the hallways and under the gymnasium floor. This scenario poses a whole new set of issues not encountered by scenario no. 1. Here you have the risk of pathogens and other biohazards contaminating the building and affecting the occupants in a negative way. The investigation of where the sewage went and was absorbed does not change; every area must be examined closely utilizing the tools mentioned in scenario no. 1. A risk assessment of the affluent and the environment must also be conducted, however, calling for personal protection equipment, engineering controls, HEPA filtration and other precautionary methods being implemented. In this scenario, all absorbent materials

Water Damage, Beyond the Obvious For further information, please contact Art Johnson at: 604-944-1461 or by e-mail: art@canstarrestorations.com or visit the website www.canstarrestorations.com. posed of, and all substrate and concrete be thoroughly cleaned. Products for cleaning and sanitizing must be selected based on the efficacy and their effect on the occupants. Upon effective cleaning, the Water Out drying system may be utilized to expedite the final leg of the emergency drying aspect of the job. Water damage remediation is not just a simple drying job. Technicians require rigorous training and a clear understanding of the affects of water on structural and content materials. They also must understand their testing equipment and its limitations. It would be wise to suggest then, that if an individual in the maintenance department of the school district is not qualified or does not possess the tools and instruments to do an effective investigation or remediation---even if the situation seems small in nature---a restoration professional should be called. These professionals can be identified by their training, certifications and experience, along with a clear understanding of the industries water damaged restoration standards and guidelines. The RIA (Restoration Industry Association) (www.ascr.org) or the IICRC (www.IICRC.org) is a resource for those looking for qualified restoration contractors in their area that go “beyond the obvious”.

About the Author: Art Johnson CR, WLS Art Johnson is the Operations Manager of Canstar Restorations (with locations in Vancouver and Surrey B.C.), and is certified by ASCR International as a Water Loss Specialist (WLS) and a Certified Restorer (CR). He has proudly served on the Water Loss Institute committee for a number of years and as the co-chair for the Restoration Council from the spring of 2004 to 2005. Art currently serves the ASCR(RIA) as the Environmental Chair. Art has been published in many industry journals, including the Cleaning and Restoration magazine, and has presented to various groups including the insurance industry, property owners and managers, and industry specialists. He also serves as an expert witness and has been featured on news and talk show programs. Art has attained his Master’s Certification with the IICRC in Cleaning and Restoration, and has had extensive training and experience in Mould, Asbestos, and Trauma Scene remediation.

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School Plant Officials Association of B.C. Spring 2007

SOOKE SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 62 JUST GOT GREENER

Enhances the learning environment for students through infrastructure upgrades; uses energy-efficient technologies to replace older, less-efficient systems

April, 2007 marks 10 years since Sooke entered into its guaranteed energy saving performance contracting program with Honeywell. Sooke was the first school district in British Columbia to leverage an energy saving performance contract guarantee to help fund facility upgrades. In 1995, this school district was coping with aging infrastructure, increased utilities costs and deferred maintenance issues. A decade later, Sooke is proud to have retired the debt associated with this program by paying for the upgrades entirely through the energy savings. Honeywell’s program provides infrastructure upgrades, and uses energy efficient technologies to replace older, less efficient systems. Schools become more energy efficient, reducing utility and operational costs, decreasing greenhouse gas emissions, and most importantly, enhances the overall classroom environment, providing students with improved learning conditions. SD No. 62 had to convince the ministry (new to this type of program) that funding should remain at the same level, even though the district’s utility costs would decrease once the energy saving upgrades were implemented. Getting the ministry onboard paved the way for other school districts to follow Sooke’s lead. With limited capital fund-

School Plant Officials Association of B.C. Spring 2007

ing available, performance contracting was the perfect to way to implement the much-needed upgrades. Honeywell developed a $1.9 million energy retrofit project for 22 buildings that focused on lighting upgrades, heating plant optimization, facility wide building automation controls including CO2 ventilation control and other utility saving measures. As part of the performance contract, Honeywell provided an annual guarantee of $230,000 in utility savings, which was expected to pay for the project over a 10-year period. “Ten years is a long time, and a lot of things can go wrong”, said Dave Lockyer, Secretary-Treasurer at Sooke District No. 62. “But everything went as planned. I am proud that we were the first district to embark on this type of project, enabling us to provide a better learning environment for our students and staff.” The partnership with Honeywell has solved many of Sooke District’s energy and facility renewal issues and created an impressive list of benefits: • A 31% reduction in total energy use • Less glare, strobing and noise from fluorescent lights and ballasts • 30% reduction in CO2 greenhouse gas emissions (700 tonnes annually) • Elimination of PCBs and their onsite storage (a contract provision) • Creation of 18,000 hours of labour for local contractors • Increased awareness of energy conservation across the board, staff and students • Reduced maintenance overhead A comprehensive, guaranteed approach to facility renewal was the most effective and risk free way for the district to meet their facility improvement goals. Given the demands on staff to keep up with dayto-day maintenance issues, it would’ve take years to complete a project of this magnitude on their own. “Honeywell continues to add value to Sooke beyond the original energy performance contract project,” says Dave Lockyer. “They continue to lend their expertise to our new school designs, enabling our board to build more energy efficient schools up front. This has already benefited other districts in the province who share our building models.” Now that the project is fully paid for, money that was previously used to pay utility bills is now available to the district to invest in school programs. The annual guaranteed savings of $230,000 was consistently over-achieved on average by 16%, freeing up additional funds that were also redirected to various school programs. It takes a common vision, and a desire to create solutions, to address the need for capital improvements without available funding. The Ministry of Education played an important role in allowing this to come to fruition, by supporting Sooke in their innovative endeavor mapping the way for others. Without their support, other BC school districts would not have been able to accomplish similar feats. Being an environmental leader in the province remains high on Sooke’s list of priorities, and they will continue to look for additional ways to improve their energy efficiency. ❏

THOUGHTS ON TALENT By Chuck Morris What is Talent? One dictionary definition is, ‘a special, often creative or artistic aptitude’. Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman, in their celebrated book First, Break all the Rules (Simon and Schuster, 1999), say a lot about talent. A short excerpt gives us a brief glimpse how they think of talent; “Every role, performed at excellence, requires talent, because every role, performed at excellence, requires certain recurring patterns of thought, feeling or behavior. This means that great nurses have talent. So do great truck drivers and great teachers, great housekeepers and great flight attendants.” We see talent around us very often. Take that crusty old Tradesman who has been working at his trade for decades. He may be able to figure out in short order what could take hours of troubleshooting by someone else. How about our peers? How often have you been amazed by someone’s ability to steer through almost unimaginable obstacles and yet achieve very desirable outcomes? Are you born with talent? Some may have the uncanny aptitude and expand on it as they grow up. Others will learn how to exploit perhaps lesser talents that will allow them to grow into a person with the knowledge and expertise to stick-handle difficult situations. It is always wonderful to watch those with the uncanny adroitness to absorb every facet of a problem and plan an outcome that really addresses the issues. Alison Coleman, who authored a piece on ‘Human Capital’ back in 2005, said “Talent management, by definition, means nurturing and developing those people identified as having ability and potential, and it should form part of any organization’s recruitment and retention strategy.” We should be doing everything we can to encourage talent to grow within our organizations. When we recruit, we are looking for the best talent we can find. As a supervisor or manager, we should be doing what we can to grow our own talent. This is a subject that can be talked about for hours. Let’s hope this short piece has caused the reader to think about a few things and take action in order to enhance your employees’ abilities…and of course, your own.

Getting ahead in a difficult profession requires avid faith in yourself. That is why some people with mediocre talent, but with great inner drive, go much further than people with vastly superior talent. ~Sophia Loren (1934 - ) Use what talents you possess: the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best. ~Henry Van Dyke

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Hide not your talents, they for use were made. What’s a sun-dial in the shade? ~Benjamin Franklin (1706 - 1790) Whatever you are by nature, keep to it; never desert your line of talent. Be what nature intended you for and you will succeed. ~Sydney Smith (1771 - 1845) School Plant Officials Association of B.C. Spring 2007

INNOVATIVE B.C. SCHOOL DISTRICT

Chooses Innovative Roofing Solution

As part of Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows District 42, in Maple Ridge, B.C., the Riverside Elementary School embraces a challenging academic and cultural curriculum designed to help international students master the English language while acquiring the necessary credentials to eventually achieve a B.C. secondary school diploma. Committed to innovative thinking with a focus on achieving core competencies, the school’s “leadership” philosophy parallels its facility management philosophy. When Jim Pasquill of the district’s properties department was confronted with a failing two-ply SBS roof on the elementary school’s gymnasium, he was determined to find a roofing solution that would combine longevity and reduced maintenance requirements. Rick Delorme, the district’s director of maintenance, explains, “We [the district

administrators] are doing more with less. Staff reductions in our department have resulted in each of us being spread pretty thin. We were looking for more than a roofing solution; we were looking for a roofing partner we could trust to look after our interests.” When infrared scans revealed extensive wet insulation, it was clear that a total tearoff and replacement would be necessary. Pasquill looked to Thomas Hekl, Vancouver-based representative for Garland Canada Inc., for assistance. As Hekl recalls, “The district’s primary concerns were that the new roof be watertight, long-lasting, virtually maintenance free, and aesthetically compatible with the gym’s surrounding buildings, which are a combination of grey modified bitumen and blue standing seam metal.”

After a thorough analysis of the district’s needs, Hekl recommended Garland’s unique R-Mer Lite® low-slope steel roofing solution. To ensure a quality installation, a Garland engineer provided a special twoday training seminar for the sheet metal tradesmen invited to bid on the project, which was eventually awarded to Cambie Roofing Contractors Ltd. Cambie’s Richard Skujins helped Hekl devise an alternative drainage system designed to protect the gymnasium for decades. Skujins reports, “What we had to do was to remove the old SBS roof down to the deck, install a vapor barrier, then add slope and insulation, providing slope to the outside drain to prevent ponding water on top of the gym. By creating a peaked roof we were able to reconfigure the drainage from four drains down to two that channel

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School Plant Officials Association of B.C. Spring 2007

Innovative B.C. School District

The 4,600 square foot gymnasium is the tallest building on the Riverside Elementary School campus. The bright white surface of the R-Mer Lite system complements the blue standing seam rooftops surrounding it.

the run-off through the wall-through scuppers out the side of the roof.” Despite a late start in mid-August of 2006, the team managed to complete the installation before school resumed in September. By using an ENERGY STAR® *qualified white reflective surface, the district will gain the additional benefits of a cooler interior during early summer and early fall, when B.C. temperatures otherwise might have made the un-air-conditioned gymnasium uncomfortable.

The ENERGY STAR® qualified white reflective surface of the R-Mer Lite roof will help cool the gymnasium’s non-air-conditioned interior during the warm weeks of early summer and early fall.

Delorme concludes, “Jim {Pasquill] has been in the maintenance end of this business for 20 or more years, and prior to that he was involved in construction. He has a wealth of knowledge about what works and doesn’t work, and we respected his decision to integrate this low-slope metal roofing solution into the district’s plans. Jim does a great job of tracking our maintenance requirements and the annual status of our roofs. We expect to see fewer man-hours on preventive maintenance and increased

longevity in general – and that will be the real test of this roof’s success.” * ENERGY STAR® is a registered trademark of the U.S. government. The ENERGY STAR Program represents a voluntary partnership between businesses and organizations and the federal government to promote energy efficiency and environmental activities. For more information, please contact Garland Canada Inc. at 800-387-5991 or visit www.garlandco.com.

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British Columbia Jessica Sinclair (604) 787-6002

School Plant Officials Association of B.C. Spring 2007

Wednesday, June 6th

Concurrent Sessions

Concurrent Sessions (Cont)

(12:30pm – 2:30pm)

(10:30am – 12:30pm)

Session-1:

Session-3: Maintenance Round Table Taking Service to the Next Level

General Meeting Health & Safety Round Table

Session-4:

Michael Kerr Session-2:

Illumination Engineering Society

“Opportunities for Sharing” One of the most significant challenges facing the public sector today is to ensure we achieve the best value for each and every dollar spent. This presentation is your opportunity to learn about the diverse shared services available to all public sector agencies. Services include the supply of a wide range of products from office and janitorial products to uniforms, emergency preparedness, first responder, medical supplies and pharmaceuticals. Printing and publishing, mail processing and distribution, the sale of surplus assets, warehousing and services such procurement advice, electronic bidding (BC Bid), pre-negotiated corporate supply arrangements. No matter what your requirements, this session will provide opportunities for sharing. Jennifer Wood Director, Marketing and Business Development Shared Services BC

Conference Sponsor

IES 100, Introduction to Lighting program, condensed version. Roy Hughes and Christian Suvagau, BC Hydro

Session-5: Seven Habits of Highly Effective Operations Directors and The Seven Deadly Sins This session discusses how to use strategies to help get your department recognized, understood, supported and appreciated by your institution. Lee Prevost, President and Founder of School Dude

The Workplace Energizer

Michael Kerr is known as one of North America’s leading authorities on how to create healthier and more inspiring work environments by helping audiences tap into their HUMOR resources. Michael’s presentations have taken him from Iran to Honolulu, while his clients have included WestJet Airlines, Compaq Computers, Bell Canada, and the Canadian Military. A recovering government manager, Michael is also a certified Laughter Leader, a member of the International Group for Humour Studies and a founding member of the Canadian Association for Therapeutic Humour.

PARTNER’S PROGRAM This program provides a full range of activities for Delegates and Exhibitors Spouses/ Partners to enjoy while the conference is in session. See Page 7 for more information on the partners Program

Conference Sponsor

Wednesday, June 6th

TRADE SHOW OPEN

Concurrent Sessions (Cont)

(2:30pm – 4:00pm)

(4:00pm - 5:30pm)

EXHIBITORS HOSTED EVENING

Take some time to drop in again and pick up where you left off in the morning. There is a lot to see and more to learn as you browse the inventory on display.

Session-4:

CONCURRENT SESSIONS (4:00pm - 5:30pm) Session-1: BCSSA Disability Management for Supervisors An overview of successful strategies dealing with injured worker graduated and/or modified return to work. Learn what you can do to get employees back to the workplace. Real life scenarios will be discussed in this session. Ken Emmons, SD 23 Central Okanagan Session-2: What’s New in Lighting BC HYDRO Session-3: Boiler Plant Maintenance and Water Treatment This session will cover the latest and greatest on hydronic heating system maintenance, boiler water testing and today’s treatment technology Nick Eaden, President CANNEPP Services

Grounds Round Table Top Dressing, irrigation and tree removal are current topics for discussion. Session-5: Pulling Together A partnership driven solution to redesign business functions to create efficiencies and improve services, leverage information and labour skills while retaining local control and autonomy. Judy Shoemaker, MBA SD 23 Central Okanagan Session-6: Wireless Solutions in Operations – Hype vs. Reality With all the recent attention on wireless technologies, is there place for wireless in plant operations? And if so, where’s the fit?

(7:00pm – 10:00pm) “Fun on the Farm” Join delegates and exhibitors in the exhibition hall for an evening of “Down on the Farm” country fun! Prizes for best costume will be awarded, so be sure to come in costume. A light dinner is provided. Early Bird wine tasting from 7:00 pm – 7:30 pm

HOSPITALITY SUITE (10:00pm - 12:00am) Ramada Courtyard Inn Penticton An excellent time to network with exhibitors and delegates Thursday, June 7th REGISTRATION REGISTRATION DESK OPEN.

This session explores the state of wireless technologies such as Global Positioning Systems (GPS), Automated Vehicle Location (AVL), high speed data networks, and applications for supporting operations in business and education. Learn from examples of both the successes and failures of organizations that have deployed wireless technologies. Brian DeMuy, Sr. Manager of Mobility Solutions and Professional Services TELUS

Sponsored By

(7:30am – 8:30am)

DELEGATES AND EXHIBITORS

BREAKFAST (7:30 am – 8:30 am)

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (8:30am - 10:30am) All members are encouraged to attend the AGM. Come join us for breakfast and find out where your Association is headed. Annual elections will be held.

Thursday, June 7th

Thursday, June 7th Session-4

CONCURRENT SESSIONS (1:00pm - 2:45pm) Session-1 BCSSA/SPOA Shared Services Panel Discussion

OPEN TRADE SHOW (9:30am – 1:00pm) Over 120 Exhibitors will be displaying an array of products. Spend some time checking out the latest offerings and see what new information you discover. MINISTRY UPDATE

Panel discussion lead by school districts in BC that have achieved success in offering various support services to other organizations. An opportunity for questions / answers will be part of this session. Ken Emmons SD 23, Central Okanagan Rand McKenzie SD 37, Delta Mary Sluggett SD 61, Victoria

(10:30am – 11:30am)

Deal or No Deal...From Gas Marketers to Hi-Efficiency Boilers A presentation discussing the pros and cons of purchasing gas from marketers as an option to buying from the utility, and the pros and cons of natural gas conservation measures including condensing versus near-condensing hi-efficiency boilers, CO2 occupancy sensors, and other technologies; incorporating discussions of provincial natural gas rates, future impacts and the differences on Vancouver Island and Whistler versus the rest of the province. Matt Steele and Dennis Light, Terasen Gas Session-5

Session-2 A spokesperson from the Ministry of Education will be on hand to provide the Ministry Update to all of us. This is typically an informative part of the day and allows those present to learn more about where things are headed and what, if any, impact it will have on our Districts.

EXHIBITORS HOSTED LUNCH (11:30am – 1:00pm) Browse the Trade Show while munching on a light lunch and network with our exhibitors.

Conference Sponsor

Custodial Round Table Tree Risk Management This presentation will discuss key inspection protocols and specific defects that are encountered in mature trees in British Columbia. Emphasis will be placed on identifying, assessing and managing root and stem decay organisms on mature trees. Graham Mackenzie, Talbot Mackenzie and Associates Session-3

Meeting the challenges of reduced enrolment. Session-6

Annual General Meeting & Connecting Facility Design to Learning Outcomes Dr. Lance Roberts, University of Manitoba

CONCURRENT SESSIONS

Duty to Accommodate (3:00pm – 5:00pm) An in-depth review of the employers, unions and employees obligations and responsibilities, as they relate to the duty to accommodate. Brian Chutter, Managing Consultant BCPSEA Renzo Del Negro, Senior Labour Relations Consultant, BCPSEA

Session-1 Power Smart Program Update Informative session on the small high performance building program Brian MacDonald, BC Hydro

Friday, June 8th

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Friday, June 8th

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Session-6 Concurrent Sessions (Cont)

(10:00am – 11am) Session-5

Benefits of Commissioning Your Building

(10:30am – 12 noon) Microfibre Cleaning for Today’s Custodian What is microfibre technology and what it can do for us, classification of microfibre product options, microfibre usage and maintenance. Jessica Morgan, Rubbermaid

PARTNER’S PROGRAM Tuesday, June 5th CONFERENCE REGISTRATION

Bryan Welsh, Welsh Commissioning Group Inc. Session-7 (11.am –12 Noon) Dr. Knox Middle School Kelowna Patrick May, Grant + Sinclair Architects Ltd., Jim Meiklejohn, Meiklejohn Architects.

PARTNER’S PROGRAM Wednesday, June 6

(12:30pm – 2:30pm) Lunch with the Delegates

(2:00pm – 7:00pm) Partner’s Program registration is in the South Lobby of the Penticton Trade & Convention Centre. Presidents Reception (8:30pm – 11:00pm) Delegates, Exhibitors and Partners are welcome to our complimentary Wine & Cheese at the Conference Centre. Come renew old friendships and make some new ones as well!

Michael Kerr The Workplace Energizer

(2:30pm – 4:30pm) Dance To Your Hearts Content

(9:00am – 10:00am) Surprise Crafts (10:00am – 12:00noon)

Thursday, June 7th Breakfast on Own (9:30am – 3:00pm)

Bus Tour of the Okanagan Region

Thursday there will be a bus tour, a visit to a winery and of course, a wonderful lunch before we head back for the banquet Bus leaves from the Convention Centre.

Banquet and Dance Come enjoy a fun filled afternoon learning to line dance. Exhibitors Hosted Evening (7:00pm – 10:00pm) “Fun on the Farm”

Wednesday, June 6th Partners Breakfast

PARTNER’S PROGRAM

Remember your costume! Hospitality Room (10:00pm - Midnight) Ramada Courtyard Inn Penticton

Dinner, Entertainment and Dance (6:00pm -12:30am) This is an excellent time to partake in a wonderful, first class dinner followed by thought provoking entertainment, dancing and fellowship at the Convention Centre.

Friday, June 8th Friday, once again we are leaving open for you to enjoy doing what ever you wish. Relax, shop or maybe the CASINO!!!

Registration Form: SPOA of BC 2007 Facilities Conference & Trade Show Register online @ www.spoabc.org To register by mail send the Conference Registration Form with cheque, Visa or MasterCard made payable to: School Plant Officials Association of BC, PO Box 19032, 1153 – 56th Street, Delta, BC V4L 2P8 First Name:_______________________________Surname:____________________________________________ Organization:__________________________________________________________________________________ Address:______________________________________________________________________________________ City: _________________________________________ Province: ___________ Postal Code ________________ Tel:_______________________ Fax:_______________________ Email:__________________________________ Payment: Cheque ____ Credit Card________________________________________________ Exp Date ______________

Pre registration is required for the following:

Please check if planning to attend

Conference Fees

Before May 15th

After May 15th

Number of Packages

Dollar Amount

Members Full Conference Package Non-Members Full Conference Package Members One Day Pass Non-Members One Day Pass Professional Development Partners Program Reception, Banquet and Dance (only) Golf Thursday trade show only 9:30am – 1pm

$295 $395 $150 $200 $100 per day $ 75 $ 50 $ 40 n/c

$ 340 $ 440 $ 175 $ 220

_________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________

Totals __________

__________

Social Events: please check if planning to attend Tuesday, June 5: Wednesday, June 6: Thursday, June 7:

President’s Reception ͘ Luncheon ͘ Exhibitors’ Hosted Evening ͘ Members’ Breakfast ͘ Exhibitors’ Hosted Luncheon ͘ Banquet and Dance

Registration Information The Full Conference Package includes admittance to all Conference Sessions, Lunch on Wednesday and Thursday, Trade Show on Wednesday and Thursday, President’s Reception on Tuesday, Exhibitors’ Night on Wednesday and the Banquet & Dance on Thursday.

Cancellation Policy Cancellation of registration must be received before May 15, 2007 for registration fees to be refunded.

A processing fee of $25.00 will be charged on all refunds. SPONSORED BY

CLEAN WITH CRI-CERTIFIED CARPET EXTRACTORS

Clean with CRI-certified carpet extractors When evaluating carpet extractors, you want equipment that gets the maximum soil out of the carpet and leaves the carpet as dry as possible. While manufacturers claim their products are efficient or effective, it can be difficult to validate these claims. Now, however, there’s help. The Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) has established a testing program that rates extractors for their ability to remove soil and water as well as their ability to preserve carpet appearance. An extractor with the CRI Seal of Approval means the machine meets the highest standards in the industry for efficient and effective cleaning, as well as appearance retention. CRI’s scientific testing procedure provides the

hard data you need to evaluate and compare carpet extractors. What a CRI Seal of Approval means A CRI Seal of Approval on an extractor tells you that the machine meets specific standards for operation and performance. Equipment manufacturers voluntarily submit their extractor models for the Carpet and Rug Institute’s independent testing. An independent board of scientists reviews the test results and recommends whether to certify the machine. An extractor must meet CRI standards in all three parts of its independent testing in order to gain the CRI Seal of Approval. The first test, utilizing technology developed by NASA, measures the machine’s

ability to pick up soil by measuring how much soil is removed from a carpet sample. The second test measures the amount of moisture remaining in the carpet after the extractor is finished cleaning. The final test ensures the extractor doesn’t negatively affect carpet appearance. In order to achieve certification, an extractor must pass all three tests. Results from all three tests are peer reviewed by experts in the field of maintenance and indoor air quality to assure their validity. If an extractor model passes all three tests, it receives the CRI Seal of Approval. Your space is ready faster with Advance The AquaRide® SE rider extractor from Advance is the first rider extractor to be certified by CRI and the only extractor to be certified in both maintenance and restoration cleaning modes. This extractor was designed to eliminate vacuuming by sweeping and extracting in one pass. Dual rotating brushes sweep and clean, leaving the carpet with a “groomed” appearance. Its 28 inch (71 cm) cleaning path combines with ride-on technology for maximum productivity. The AquaRide extractor is also available with Advance’s patent-pending AXP onboard detergent dispensing system. The AXP system eliminates pre-mixing of detergent and water because the two are stored separately in the machine until the

School Plant Officials Association of B.C. Spring 2007

CRI Additionally, a certified machine will effectively remove the water from the carpet, thus greatly reducing mold and bacteria growth. All this translates to a longer life for your carpet. Established in 1991, CRI is a national carpet and rug industry trade organization with the goal of achieving standardization and certification in carpet cleaning. In 2000 they established a performance certification standard for vacuums, and now

CRI’s research and certification programs have been extended to carpet extractor performance. Nilfisk-Advance is the world’s largest manufacturer of high quality commercial and industrial floor maintenance equipment. For more information on the Advance AquaRide® extractor visit us at www.advance-us.com or in Canada call 1800-668-8400.

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solution is sprayed on the brushes or carpet. This eliminates solution waste and increases cleaning productivity. The AquaRide AXP is the highest productivity carpet extractor available on the market today. The advantages of CRI certified extractors There are many ways an extractor with the CRI Seal of Approval can positively impact your company’s cleaning program, including: • Improved Indoor Air Quality – IAQ depends on many factors, including effective building design, up-to-date maintenance, and the selection and use of “green” cleaning products. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has determined that improving IAQ can reduce health problems, improve worker productivity and improve the efficiency of cooling and ventilation systems. • Lowered Costs – CRI-certified extractors are more effective at removing soil, dust and other compounds, which translates to greater cleaning efficiency and less time spent extracting. In addition, other studies have shown that improved IAQ helps reduce employee absenteeism and liability issues, which in turn contributes to cost reduction. • Longer Lasting Carpet – Having CRI’s certification means an extractor is both able to effectively remove dust particles, as well as not adversely affect the carpet’s overall appearance.

When floor cleaning seems endless, the answer is simple. NEW

AquaClean 16XP Extractor • with bidirectional cleaning

Convertamatic Automatic Scrubber AXP™ • with Smart Solutions

Adhancer Rider Sweeps, Washes, Polishes In One Pass

You need Advance floor-cleaning equipment. Your Advance Dealers of Western Canada: THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR GOOD WILL

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Vancouver & Lower Fraser Valley, BC 1-800-823-2728

Northern BC 1-800-797-0588

Vancouver Island, BC 1-800-667-2263

Let Advance help you with your “Green Cleaning” program. Visit us online at www.advance-us.com

Driving down.the cost to clean.SM

School Plant Officials Association of B.C. Spring 2007

MJM ACOUSTICS: A Western Canadian-Based Supplier of Acoustical Products and Services Designed With Your Facility In Mind

By Mike Maxwell

We practice a conception-to-completion philosophy, ensuring a successful project every time. Our products have a wide range of applications and are a perfect fit when renovating or upgrading your building. One of the more popular items we carry for noise control is the modular acoustical functional panel, designed to reduce reverberation (echo) in areas where hard surface building materials such as concrete, metal and some types of wood have been used for a large area such as a pool or gymnasium. The panels are constructed out of metal, making them a durable product for installation in the harshest of environments, such as a gymnasium or body/repair shop. Offered in a wide range of sizes and colors, as well

Functional panel design as custom configurations, these modular panels offer a great deal of versatility when used in your facility. For noise reduction in areas such as band rooms or theatres, a textured metal can be used; when painted to match the room’s

Installation in a gymnasium décor, the panels are an effective, attractive and durable addition. Placed two inches off

DAVIS KYLE CTR, LEED® AP Divisional Sales Manager Telephone: (604) 252-9203 Fax: (604) 252-9230 Cel: (604) 307-4463 Email: dkyle@generalpaint.com Web: www.generalpaint.com 950 Raymur Avenue Vancouver, British Columbia Canada V6A 3L5

School Plant Officials Association of B.C. Spring 2007

MJM Acoustics

Acoustic lay-in panels with textured finish

by Dow Chemical, the panels are composed of a fire-rated, light weight, chemicallyenhanced foam. Offering high sound absorption qualities and durable composition, the panels and tiles are designed as an economical option to the treatments detailed above. The closed cell foam construction gives the panels a high resistance to excessive heat or damp, wet conditions such as a swimming pool or ice rink. Easy installation, exceptional noise absorption and a rugged finish make Quash panels and hanging baffles a long lasting sound solution. Some popular

applications include meeting or conference rooms, band rooms, lecture halls and cafeterias. Available in standard and custom made sizes with white or black finish. MJM Acoustics welcomes all inquiries and invites you to visit our website www.mjmacoustics.com for more details on these items and further information of the products and services we offer. Fill out our online acoustical survey to determine the best treatment for your application. We look forward to working with you in the future.

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of walls and/or ceilings, the perforated metal face and acoustic filling of the panels absorbs sound as it travels through. The sound wave then hits the wall and reflects off of it, being filtered through the panel again before emitting into the area a greatly reduced level. The number and placement of the panels will determine how effective they work.

Burnaby (Head Ofﬁce)

Coquitlam

3958 Myrtle Street Burnaby, BC V5C 4G2

2394 Canoe Ave Coquitlam, BC V3K 6C2

Phone: (604) 435-1313

NEWION AT LOC

Victoria 524E Culduthel Road Victoria, BC V8Z 1G1

Phone: (604) 944-0441

Phone: (250) 475-6055

Fax: (604) 944-0450 Email: coqsales@rsl.ca

Fax: (250) 475-1985 Email: vicsales@rsl.ca

Vancouver

Langley

Kelowna

132 West 2nd Avenue Vancouver, BC V5Y 1C2

#102 – 6375 202nd Street Langley, BC V2Y 1N1

1885 Baron Road Kelowna, BC V1X 6W2

Phone: (604) 539-2290

Phone: (250) 763-3114

Fax: (604) 539-2295 Email: lansales@rsl.ca

Fax: (250) 861-1546 Email: kelsales@rsl.ca

Fax: (604) 435-7677 Email: bursales@rsl.ca

Phone: (604) 872-7521 Fax: (604) 872-7460 Email: vansales@rsl.ca

Distributing Refrigeration, Air-Conditioning, and Heating Parts and Equipment to the HVAC and Refrigeration Trade.

Hanging Baffles The acoustic lay-in panel (ALP) is another product we carry to reduce noise levels. The lay-in ceiling tiles used in today’s construction industry offer very little sound absorption. The ALP is designed much like the functional panel, constructed out of metal with a perforated face. The installation of just a few of these panels in place of existing ceiling tiles can greatly increase a room’s acoustical characteristics. In addition, the panels reduce sound transfer from room to room, providing more privacy. Panels are made to replace existing 2x2 and 2x4 ceiling grid patterns (custom sizes are also available). Offered in up to 40 different color options, the panels can be used in a number of applications, including conference rooms and offices. As an option to the above sound solutions, we now carry Quash acoustical panels, hanging baffles and ceiling tiles. Produced

Innovative Ideas - Sound Solutions

Western Canada's Leader for Noise Control Functional panels are an effective, economical and attractive Sound Solution for reverberation (echo) and help to greatly reduce background noise. Easily installed panels are ideal for gymnasiums, pools, auditoriums or larger areas where noise control is required.

Carrying the full line of acoustical and sound abatement products from

For more visit mjmacoustics.com Toll free 1-877-580-2980 Fax 604-580-2980 10354 120th street Surrey BC V3V 4G2 School Plant Officials Association of B.C. Spring 2007

DRYING OUT Excerpted from The Trowel Magazine, January 2007, by Don Proctor

Desiccant dehumidification technology was first developed by Carl Munters, founder of the Munters Corp, a global company Jerry Kofsky, Munters Inc. district manager for Moisture Control Services in central Canada, says the company’s objective when dealing with water damage is to return the building to its “pre-loss conditions.” Rather than rip out water damaged materials and replace them with new materials, as some contractors do, Munters attempts to “dry and save everything.” He says it is often possible to save interiors if the contractor is called in immediately, and the damage is the result of clean water. Rain and clean plumbing water are examples. Contractors like Munters are in a race against time, particularly in humid weather, because mould can start growing within 24 hours of water damage. The first step of a drying operation for Munters is to thoroughly inspect the entire interior. It is important to look at the possibility that some of the damage (including mould) might have resulted from previous water-related events. Munters has desiccant dehumidification units for small and big applications, ranging from portable units that deliver a mere 120 cubic feet per minute (CFM) to units that deliver up to 9,000 CFM of dried air to a water-damaged space. The company’s smallest unit works on the same principal as a home condensing dehumidifier, while its larger units are designed to dry air without requiring water holding tanks. “The idea is to minimize downtime for the customer,” says Kofsky, pointing out that it would be inappropri-

ate to scatter a number of small units about a building, which might disrupt building operations, if one or two large units will suffice. In one instance, drying out a school involved installing a desiccant dehumidification unit outside the building and then running tubing seven feet above the floors to dry the air in water damaged areas. “Even though we caused some disruption, it was minimal.” While contracts for companies like Munters vary in size, they typically are completed in three to seven days, says Kofsky. Alternatives to desiccant dehumidification include propane heat or indirect heat. While both options work well in some climates, in high humidity weather such as is often experienced on the west coast and during southern Ontario’s summers, propane heat can result in a higher dew point. At certain temperatures, when the heated air cools, condensation forms on windows or inside wall cavities, leading to more moisture problems. The advantage of desiccant dehumidification is that the air temperature has to be considerably colder before condensation occurs. “In essence, you are pulling the moisture out of the building, rather than pushing it into the materials,” explains Gregg Lowes, industrial accounts manager, Munters-Moisture Control Services, Western Canadian Region. He says the potential market for desiccant dehumidification in new construction is huge because it reduces drying times of materials, such as drywall compound, from two or three days to overnight. “If a taper finishes mudding at 3 pm, he can be back at 6 the next morning to sand the compound and apply the next coat,” explains Lowes. Desiccant dehumidification also allows builders to install materials such as flooring early on. Installing floors before all new building materials (like concrete) have fully dried can lead to warping and heaving. The key to working at new construction sites is to minimize disruption. That means making sure the drying equipment is sized properly and placed where it won’t get in the way of builders. Munters is providing large units for drying and climate control at the construction of the new Abbottsford regional hospital. Lowes says smaller units, like propane heaters, would have had to constantly be moved around. “As the market comes to understand the technology and its applications I think it is going to become the gold standard approach to construction drying. The big market will be the LEED certified buildings, universities, hospitals and other buildings where there is high level of expectation of performance during the construction phase.” ❏

Manufacturers of Fire Alarms, GPS Clocks, Security, Card Access & CCTV Systems

John Smith Account Executive Fire Alarm Division Direct: 604.515.8284 Ext. 128 josmith@tycoint.com www.simplexgrinnel.com SimplexGrinnell A Division of Tyco International of Canada Ltd. 1485 Lindsey Place Delta, B.C. V3M 6V1

SimplexGrinnell 40

School Plant Officials Association of B.C. Spring 2007

Phone: 604.515.8872 Fax: 604.519.1477 1.800.492.4093

Condensing Boilers in Retrofit Applications

The condensing boiler could be one of the most mis-applied boilers in the retrofit market. When applied to a traditional hydronic system, no condensation occurs.

One of the products of combustion of natural gas is water vapour. Typically this passes as a vapour up the boiler vent and is visible as it condenses in the air above the boiler stack. This water vapor carries approximately 1150 btu’s per pound. A condensing boiler, as its name indicates, causes this water vapor to condense within the boiler, as opposed to discharging it to atmosphere. As a result, the hydronic system absorbs an additional 1150 btu per lb of water vapor. This is what creates the additional efficiency ratings that condensing boilers offer. Temperature is the key to being able to absorb this additional heat. Condensing boilers should be designed from the ground up to run at lower temperatures. Typically condensing boilers are at their most efficient when the return water temperature is at or below 80°F. Above this point, the efficiencies start to fall off as the hydronic temperature becomes too high to absorb the heat content in the combustion side water vapour. The condensation in the boiler stops when the hydronic system temperature rises above roughly 110°F. Hydronic systems in buildings more than 10 years old were typically designed to run with a 180°F supply, and 160°F return water temperatures. These are well above the low temperatures required for condensation in a boiler. As a result, there is no gain in efficiency to be had by putting a condensing boiler into this type of application. In order to realize an efficiency gain, the

By Kevin Woolley – Cannepp entire heating system needs to be changed with the boiler to operate at low temperatures. Older buildings have heating coils sized for 160°F-180°F supply temperature. To change the supply water temperature to 110°F in these older coils would typically result in an inadequate heat supply – and complaints. For older buildings designed with a high temperature hydronic system, a mid efficiency (85%) boiler like the DeDeitrich cast iron sectional type is ideal. Suited for the retrofit market, they can be easily transported into an existing boiler room without needing to remove wall, rent cranes, etc. Made from Eutectic, as opposed to conventional grey iron, these boilers can run as low as 120°F for spring and fall applications, without fear of damage from condensation, and they can be run at 180°F for the colder winter applications. The boiler’s thermal efficiency will remain at 85.2% year round. To fully utilize the benefits of a condensing boiler, the air heating devices need to be changed to provide sufficient heat with a lower temperature water supply. Recently we have seen an old school converted to a Cleaver Brooks Clearfire condensing boiler by utilizing unit ventilators. The hydronic system temperature runs as low as 110°F, which means the return temperature to the boiler is even lower. Condensation happens and an efficiency gain is achieved. A word of caution with condensing boilers is materials of construction. Flue gas condensation has a pH of approximately 4.8-5.2, in other words it is acidic. Copper boilers are easily attacked by this acid. Typically copper based condensing boilers

actually require blending supply water back into the returns to prevent condensation in the copper exchanger – which basically defeats the purpose of a condensing boiler. Copper based boilers also have specific flow requirements. As stated earlier, a condensing boiler should be built from the ground up to handle a pH of 4.8. The Cleaver Brooks Condensing boiler is built from Titanium stabilized 316TI Stainless Steel. Its’ remarkable efficiencies are accomplished with Alufer tube inserts to scrub heat from the flue gas. With no minimum flow or temperature requirements, The Cleaver Brooks Clearfire boiler is ideally suited for all true condensing applications. Needless to say, the Clearfire still offers 85% efficiency in a non condensing application if there are unusual flow conditions, or if stainless steel is desired for durability and longevity. Kevin Woolley is a Sales Engineer with Canadian Engineered Products & Sales (CANNEPP) Ltd.

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School Plant Officials Association of B.C. Spring 2007

JANITORS’ WAREHOUSE MOVES INTO THE ALBERTA MARKET

Janitors’ Warehouse, a premier supplier of custodial supplies, equipment and training across Western Canada, has opened its first distribution center in Alberta with the acquisition of Calgary Caretaking Supplies Ltd. Calgary Caretaking Supplies Ltd. and Janitor’s Warehouse bring together over 180 supplier partners with over 6,000 products being offered.

School Plant Officials Association of B.C. Spring 2007

Janitors’ Warehouse was founded in 1982 in Vancouver, and is celebrating its 25th anniversary as a supplier of janitorial equipment, solutions and supplies with a customer contest giving away one prize per month leading up to the grand prize draw of an Alaska cruise for two! Janitors’ Warehouse has 15 locations serving all of Western Canada with locations in B.C., Vancouver Island, Okanagan, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba…and growing. Janitors’ Warehouse is an industry leader in training in such areas as WHMIS, IICRC Industry Certification and Business-to-Business solutions. Most of our locations have an on-site service center for the repair of customers’ equipment. Our web site at www.janitors-warehouse.ca provides 24/7 access to product information, on-line ordering, MSDS and cleaning procedures. All of Janitors’ Warehouse efforts strive to find ways to increase customer revenue, reduce total costs and improve worker health and safety. Our Vision is to bring the most advanced cleaning technologies and solutions to our partners and customers. Our Mission is to offer solutions that create a healthier, cleaner and safer environment for you and your schools. Calgary Caretaking Supplies Ltd., was originally founded in 1975 by Ralph and Lois Solinger, was acquired in 2001 by Terry King, Mike McDonald, and Nora Niddrie, long-time staff members. Calgary Supplies, as it has become known, has proudly served the industry in Calgary and surrounding market areas for many years with quality products, friendly service and competitive offerings and pricing. This commitment to service will continue, as all the Calgary team will remain in place, with the exception of Mike McDonald, who will be retiring. We wish him all the best! We extend a warm welcome to Mark Lunnin as our new Sales Manager and who brings with him over 18 years of industry experience, new ideas and a firm commitment to customer service that will propel Janitors’ Warehouse to become the industry leader in Alberta. Terry, Mark, Nora and all the staff at Calgary Janitors’ Warehouse wish you a successful and informative show. ❏

The Cost of Green

SEVEN STEPS TO COST-EFFECTIVE HIGH PERFORMANCE DESIGN By Witmar Abele

In the wake of the report on global warming issued by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in Paris last February, that sent shockwaves through all levels of government around the world, we can be sure to expect changes in the way public buildings will be required to perform in the future. Given the fact that roughly 40 per cent of all energy is consumed, and as much as 50 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions produced by the offices, hospitals, schools and other buildings we live in, this is low-hanging fruit for governments trying to figure out how they will be able to meet their Kyoto commitments. While many municipalities have already committed to a high level of sustainability in their buildings, other levels of government are now likely to follow suit, with LEED Silver or Gold as the minimum standard for any of their new buildings.

Consequently lowest first-dollar cost is still the name of the game, and the construction budget generally does not support the features that will result in those long-term savings. Or does it? While it is generally accepted that buildings designed to a LEED standard will cost anywhere between 1% to as much as 10% more, the good news is that in the hands of an experienced and skillful design team it is possible to achieve a high level of green design (up to LEED Silver) within the project budget. It is true that certain components and building systems will be more costly up front. The trick is to achieve offsetting savings in other areas of the design. This does not mean substituting inferior finishes to pay for a more expensive mechanical system, for example, but rather that true green design is a holistic approach whereby all systems and components that comprise a building are carefully considered from the beginning to explore synergies that will result in efficiencies and economies throughout.

Heritage Woods Secondary School located in Port Moody, B.C., is Canada’s first LEED Silver Certified School, becoming the second school in Canada to be officially recognized as achieving a LEED rating. The design team has achieved a high standard of sustainable design by focusing on strategies that would yield the highest return in terms of resource conservation, environmental impact and occupant health and comfort. This 11,770m2 school for 1,200 students was completed in 2005 within the Ministry of Education’s allowance at a construction cost of $1,140/m2 – a bargain compared to today’s rapidly escalating construction costs.

But what is the cost of building green? In the light of finite financial resources, will a number of capital projects be shelved or cancelled as a result of mandating green design? Sustainably designed buildings consume less energy and less water, utilize materials and resources more efficiently, and generally provide a healthier environment, thereby enhancing the performance and productivity of the people who work there. Green buildings cost less to operate and maintain, and should last longer than regular buildings. So from a School District’s perspective green buildings make good sense. The problem is that while funding authorities would do well to build long-term operating costs into project funding formulas, it seems that for now at least there is no mechanism by which to shift money from operating budgets to building budgets. School Plant Officials Association of B.C. Spring 2007

The Cost of Green Consider the example of classroom lighting. An inefficient light fixture not only uses more energy but also produces a great deal of heat, which adds to the HVAC cool-

Science Lab at Heritage Woods Secondary. Transparency and light are a major theme in this school. Classrooms facing inward receive light and have access to views by way of the multi-story atrium.

ing load. Thus, energy is wasted not only on lighting the room, but also on the increased amount of cooling required to compensate for the heat produced by the lamp. Using a green approach, efficient light fixtures (complete with daylight sensors for the row nearest the windows) in combination with large areas of high-performance glazing, and well-placed shading devices to eliminate solar heat gain (and glare), will all act together to result in a lowered cooling load. A lower cooling load in turn translates to a smaller, hence less expensive cooling plant. A smaller cooling plant requires less mechanical space, and so on, … you get the picture. While there is little doubt that the energy savings over the life of the building - not to mention the well being and better performance of students and staff – will pay dividends many times the cost of the green approach in the above example, the smaller cooling plant alone will likely not offset the initial cost of daylight sensors, high-performance glass and shading devices, and it requires careful consideration of the entire building design to achieve a first-cost-neutral green building. Other components such as a groundsource geo-exchange system are even more capital intensive. On the other hand such strategies as building orientation, to minimize low sun-angle heat gain, cost nothing, yet could have a big impact on the size of the mechanical plant. If you find yourself faced with the chal-

lenge of implementing green strategies into a building project either with the goal of LEED Certification or simply to achieve a high performance school based on the LEED model, the seven points listed below may provide a useful roadmap to achieving your objective within - or at least very close to - a standard project budget. 1. Commitment Clarity of commitment by the decision makers in your organization is a key to success. Without a firm commitment from the client, the task of designing a green building will be like pushing a rope uphill. If possible, the school board should pass a resolution establishing clear goals for the design and construction of high performance schools, and specify what level of LEED or other standard the design team is expected to meet. The project manager must champion the School District’s interests throughout each of the project phases, and should ideally be experienced with the delivery of green buildings. In the absence of direct experience, a certain amount of education on the subject of sustainability will be necessary. There are many excellent resources available, including the web sites of the US Green Building Council, and the Canadian Green Building Council (CaGBC) – www.usgbc.org and www.cagbc.org. I can also recommend a number of great books, including Natural Capitalism, by Paul Hawken, Amory Lovins and L. Hunter Lovins; Biomimicry – Innovation Inspired by Nature, written by Janine M Benyus; and Good News for a Change, by David Suzuki and Holly Dressel, all of which are great primers on thinking green. 2. Experienced Design Team To successfully design a green building

without adding to the project cost requires an experienced team of professionals with a proven track record of high performance school design. All of the individuals who comprise the design team, beginning with the architect, and including the mechanical, electrical, structural and civil engineers as well as the landscape architect, should have been involved with at least one LEED school project or equivalent. In the absence of experience, design solutions will tend to err on the conservative side, and will likely result in system redundancies and needless project cost overruns. 3. Clearly Defined Project Goals The targeted level of performance for the school, including the desired level of LEED or other standard should be clearly communicated. The project manager should prepare a brief describing in detail the design objectives and specific strategies to be used in order to achieve the objectives. School Districts should consider engaging the services of a design professional with proven green design experience to assist in the preparation of the RFP terms of reference. This will eliminate much of the up-front work of the design team, and should help to reduce the fee premium for green design. 4. Integrated Design Process To the extent that a true green building involves the harmonious interaction of all components, a total-systems approach to design is required. To that end, all consultants must be engaged at the outset of the project. The earliest of conceptual design meetings should take the format of design workshops or design “charettes,” that involve the design professionals, the client’s P/M and user group representatives. Invariably this process results in the discovery of a number of cost effective design

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School Plant Officials Association of B.C. Spring 2007

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The Cost of Green

The plan of Heritage Woods is organized around a light-flooded three-story atrium, which serves multiple functions. It is the social heart of the school, study hall, lobby, and eating space among others, and also plays an important role in the environmental control system. Warm air naturally rises in the atrium, and this is used to pull in natural ventilation from opening windows around the building through stack effect. At the top of the atrium, mechanical heat recovery units extract heat from the air, and use it to temper the fresh supply-air to the building, thus conserving energy. Ample daylight is brought into the interior of the building by way of high overhead clerestory glazing.

solutions that will help to ensure the desired green concepts are achieved within the project budget. 5. Green Design – not “Green Wash” Green design must be integral to the process from the outset. Any attempt to make a conventionally designed building green by simply trying to add “green features” part way through the design process

will almost certainly result in much higher costs due to redundancies in systems, or require a complete re-design, which will double the design costs. Furthermore, accept that green design will require innovation, approaches, and systems that may not meet the School District’s or the funding authority’s accepted standards, and that a high performance school will likely look and feel different from a traditional school building. Strict enforcement of design standards will impede the design team’s ability to implement the required innovations and will at best result in band-aid solutions that will almost certainly fall short of the design objectives. 6. Design Fees and Timing Green design requires more analysis and consideration of various design options in order to achieve the level of systems integration required in a successful high-performance building. This requires more time than a standard design process, as well as additional design fees. However, in the hands of an experienced design team, the initial investment in up-front costs will pay huge dividends in terms of a more efficient, well integrated, and consequently less expensive building. As well, the additional design time will allow better coordination of contract documents, which in turn should result in fewer change orders during construction. Studies have shown that an additional 3% of the building budget invested

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during the design stage in additional fees for design and energy modeling can lower the cost of construction by up to 10%. If LEED certification is desired, expect to pay between $10,000 and $60,000 in additional design fees. The higher LEED ratings will tend towards the upper end of this range. However, as consultants become more familiar with the LEED certification process, these cost premiums can be expected to decrease over time. Again, if you want to achieve LEED certification for your project, engaging a team that is experienced with the process will result in time and cost savings. 7. Aim for the Low-Hanging Fruit Focus on the green strategies that will yield the highest returns in terms of lower operational costs and improved user comfort, and those with offsetting construction cost savings. As well as those strategies, which will actually cost less to begin with, for example reducing the number of parking spaces below the minimum required by municipal standards or drought-resistant landscaping, which may eliminate the need for irrigation. My own experience has been that nearly all of the LEED credits for energy savings, as well as access to daylight and views, and controllability of systems, among others can be achieved within the project budget. If for ideological reasons you or your organization feel compelled to achieve LEED Gold or Platinum and you have adequate funding, by all means go for it. But if your main interest lies in lowered energy consumption and maintenance costs, as well as maximizing environmental quality, you may find that a LEED Silver standard applied in accordance with the seven strategies outlined above will allow you to meet your objectives at little or no additional cost to the project. Witmar Abele, MRAIC, LEED a.p. is a principal at Vancouver based KMBR Architects Planners Inc., a leading firm in high efficiency learning environments. Witmar is passionate about sustainability and was the lead designer for Heritage Woods Secondary School, Canada’s first LEED Certified School receiving LEED Silver designation. For further information, please contact Witmar Abele by telephone: 604-732-3361 or by e-mail: wabele@kmbr.com, or visit the company website at: www.kmbr.com.

❏ School Plant Officials Association of B.C. Spring 2007

Green Dreams

1st Chapter of Green Dreams – Building Sustainable Schools

GREEN ROOFS ON SCHOOLS By Ron P. Schwenger

Green Roofs are a Natural for Schools: Most schools are operated by local municipal school districts, funded by the Province and are designed and built to function for 50plus years. With the long-term nature of school facilities and the significant footprint they have in the community, school buildings are in a perfect position to play a leadership role in sustainability. There are many ways for schools to positively effect the environment and a green roof system is probably one of the most dramatic with the greatest amount of immediate impact. Imagine if we were to measure the sheer size of the dead roof space on all of the schools in British Columbia and Alberta, we would be using hundreds, if not, thousands of acres as a cumulative number. These roofs are functioning only to keep the weather elements out and the conditioned interior dry. Yet they could be doing so much more. This article looks at how green roofs can benefit the community’s environment while providing a considerable economic and environmental return on investment in the long term. What are the Benefits of a Green Roof? A green roof has multiple benefits to both the building operator and the surrounding community: infrastructure: 1. Green Roofs control and improve the quality of storm water run off. Green roof systems actually slow down, absorb and filter the water that drains from a roof during rainfall. Much of the water that is absorbed is later con-

verted to oxygen through photosynthesis and also reduces carbon dioxide in the process. 2. Green Roof Systems reduce the heat island effect by absorbing CO2 and creating oxygen and greatly reducing the heat that is usually reflected from a traditional roof. 3. Green Roofs also reduce the amount of interior heat gain during warmer months, keeping buildings cooler in summer months as they act like an additional insulation layer – minimizing air conditioning costs. 4. Green Roofs are proven to greatly increase the life span of the waterproofing layer or membrane roofing system. As the green roof consists of a multilayered system that sits on top of the existing roof, the roof no longer ages as fast because it is protected from direct exposure to the sun and other damaging weather elements. 5. Green Roofs beautify an otherwise dead environment by turning it into a usable park like setting with extremely positive aesthetic appeal.

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School Plant Officials Association of B.C. Spring 2007

Green Dreams What are the primary elements of a Green Roof System? Primary Components in a Green Roofing System 1. Plant material 2. Lightweight growing medium 3. Filter sheet 4. Drainage – and water retaining element 5. Moisture retention/ protection mat 6. Roof construction with rootresistant waterproofing

• Extensive green roofs: Simple green roof systems usually on a flat roof surface, using shallow soil depths and hardy, no irrigation, low maintenance plants like sedums and grasses. These roofs are primarily utilized as an ecological layer and are often not accessible. • Intensive green roofs: More elaborate green roof systems using deeper soils with larger plants, shrubs and even trees. Intensive systems often employ patio areas, walkways or water features requiring irrigation and regular maintenance. These green roofs are usually accessible and usable space. SAMPLES OF GREEN ROOFS

There are different types of Green Roof Systems When it comes to designing and installing a green roof system that functions as its meant to and lasts, you need have it independently designed and engineered to suit the climate and building circumstances. The one-size fits all approach simply will not work. There are many types of green roof systems but most fit into two primary categories:

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Green Dreams PROJECT: Primary and Secondary School, Unterensingen, Germany Project Data: Area: ca. 1.400 m² (15,000 sq.ft.) Renovation: 2002 Architect: Ulrich Kahl, Unterensingen Contractor: Firma Rouff, Aichtal with ZinCo-System build-up “Sedum Carpet” Peak power output: 200 panels with an output of 23 kW(p) Solar equipment: Solarfabrik Freiburg Solar technology contractor: TK-Energietechnik, Albershausen Operator of solar plant: “Spitzmaus” GbR Roof garden in Japan. GREEN ROOFS ON SCHOOLS IN EUROPE:

The solar plant and green roof in July 2003 - the “Sedum Carpet” vegetation which will soon have 100 % coverage.

A strip of yellow flowering Sedums was planted within a “field” of red flowering Sedums.

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Green Dreams PROJECT: Educatorium University Utrecht, Netherlands Project Data: Area: ca. 1.500 m²(20,000 sq.ft.) Year of construction: 1997 Architects: OMA, Rem Koolhaas und Christophe Cornubert Contractor: Van der Tol, B.V. Amsterdam Build-up: Sedum Carpet on Floradrain® FD 25 At right top: This unconventionally styled lecture hall building was designed to incorporate the principles of sustainable development. Especially the low use of energy and water as well as the durability of the materials were considered in the planning. At right bottom: The plants were specially chosen for their contrasting colors. The yellow blossoms of the cushion shaped Sedum hybridum ‘Immergrünchen’ contrasts with the reddish brown surroundings. For further information, please visit www.architek.ca or email ron@architek.ca

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INDEX TO ADVERTISERS ACM Environmental Corporation Allmar International

15 6

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Johnson Diversey

Killick Metz Bowen Rose Architects Planners Inc.

MAPEI

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McGregor & Thompson Hardware LTD.

Bevanda Architecture

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Blue Imp Playgrounds

Nilfisk – Advance Canada

Canstar Restorations

Nu-Tech Systems Ltd.

Cariboo Awnings & Shutters

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Chairlines Clean Air Services Canada Ltd.

37 IBC

Pacific Controls Ltd.

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Progressive Services Ltd

R.G. Dobbin Sales Ltd.

Comfort Agencies Inc.

Refrigerative Supply

Con Cur West Marketing Inc.

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D.G. MacLachlan Limited

Rubbermaid Canada

Comac Corporation Inc.

Dow Chemical Canada Inc.

SimplexGrinnell

Erv Parent Group

OBC 41

Spears Sales & Service Ltd.

Flexible Eutectic Boilers Ltd.

Sybertech Waste Reduction

26 & 27

Garaventa (Canada) Ltd.

Taiga Building Products

Garland Canada, Inc.

Talius

IFC

General Paint

Tandus

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Tectum Inc.

Honeywell

The Colborne Architectural Group Pacific Inc.

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Winmar

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Zurn Industries Limited

Janitors’ Warehouse Enterprises

“Rowing Together In Partnership” Ops Talk actively seeks article contributions from industry professionals. If you have an idea, or wish to write an article, please send an email to katrina@delcommunications.com or call 866-403-5467.

School Plant Officials Association of B.C. Spring 2007

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Ops Talk Magazine Spring 2007

Articles inside

SPOA Conference Information 28

SPOA B.C.’s Historian ~ Says We’re Moving In The Right Direction ~ Dawn M. Barker, Prairie Visions Design Ltd