Ops Talk Magazine Fall 2009

Head Office/Plant

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CONTENTS President’s Message – Steve Jackson, AScT, RPA, CEFM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 SPOA Member Profile on John Vantol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Duchess Park Secondary School goes for (LEED®) Gold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Supporting the Educational Mission with Effective Capital Planning. . . . . . . . . 12 SPOA’s Mentoring Program. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 The Science of Drying . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Coldstream Elementary School Meets the Green Challenge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Black – or white? Dark Roofs vs. Cool Roofs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 LEED® Gold House of Learning joins Thompson Rivers University. . . . . . . . . . . 21 Sustainable Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 TRANSPORTATION SECTION: Mark your Calendar for the 2010 Canadian Pupil Transportation Conference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 No News, Slow News for TILMA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Making the Grade with Geoexchange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Find The Energy-Saving “Sweet Spot” with Condensing Boilers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Thoughts on Co-operation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 The Choice of Cleaning Investments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Reroofing: When to Retrofit and When to Replace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Chute Lake Elementary School, a Candidate for LEED® Silver Certification . . . . 40 Barclay – Restorations Most Wanted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Secure-Rite Mobile Storage Offers Solutions for all Spaces and Budgets . . . . . . 43 Air Filtration for Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

INDEX TO ADVERTISERS Acuity Brands Lighting / Peerless Lighting Allmar International Armstrong Commercial Floors B.G.E. Service & Supply Ltd. Barclay Restorations Bevanda Architecture Blue Imp Recreational Products Busy Bee Sanitary Supplies Inc. Canstar Restorations Chairlines Don’s Power Vac Erv Parent Group Firestone Building Products Company Fortis BC Garaventa Lifts and Elevators Garland Canada, Inc. Genivar Guillevin International Co. IBC Energy Saving Technologies InterfaceFLOR

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31 11 26 46 42 41 24 33 3 20 OBC 26 19 21 20 39 34 35 44 16

JM Bean & Co. Ltd. MAPEI Norspec Filtration Ltd. Nu-Tech Systems Ltd. Reliable Controls Corporation Roofing Contractors Association of B.C. Schoolhouse Products Inc. Secure-Rite Mobile Storage Shanahan’s Building Products Shutters & Shade Simplex Grinnell Spears Sales & Service Ltd. Stutters Disaster Kleenup Talius Terasen Gas Thomas & Betts Ltd. Tyco Electronics Victaulic Wesco Distribution / Philips Western Canada IC Bus Inc. Wood Wyant Inc.

37 9 45 7 IBC 30 39 43 29 43 16 10 15 IFC 33 5 37 23 25 27 37

DEL

Communications Inc.

Suite 300, 6 Roslyn Road Winnipeg, Manitoba R3L 0G5 TF: 1.866.831.4744 TFF: 1.866.711.5282 President David Langstaff david@delcommunications.com Publisher Jason Stefanik Advertising Sales Gary Barrington Jennifer Hebert Ross James Dayna Oul ion Managing Editor Katrina Senyk Contributing Writers Colleen Biondi | Lisa Fattori Melanie Franner | John Hurst | Deb Smith Production Services Provided by: S.G. Bennett Marketing Services www.sgbennett.com Art Director Kathy Cable Graphic Designers Deryn Bothe Dana Jensen Michelle Hooey Cover: Rendering of Duchess Park Secondard School Courtesy of Western Industrial Contractors Ltd. ©Copyright 2009. School Plant Officials of B.C. All rights reserved. The contents of this publ ication may not be reproduced by any means, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of the publ isher.

While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein and the rel iabil ity of the source, the publ isher 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 publ isher, its directors, officers or employees.

Publ ications mail agreement #40934510 Return undel iverable Canadian addresses to: DEL Communications Inc. Suite 300, 6 Roslyn Road, Winnipeg, MB R3L 0G5 Email: david@delcommunications.com PRINTED IN CANADA 11|2009

Yikes! No Annual Facilities Grant. Who would have believed it? Our province cancelled $110,000,000 in life cycle replacement projects for schools. As a result, many districts are in a deficit, and many will suffer a serious value-loss – senior maintenance tradesman and construction managers who have the inside knowledge of our buildings. Yes, we understand the need to make provincial spending cuts in these tough economic times, but we also understand the importance of this targeted funding. It allows facility professionals to plan and upgrade school facilities to ensure we keep them safe and in good condition.

The provincial capital asset management system (CAMS) for schools was rolled out this past summer. Facility audits on schools all around the province commenced. To date, approximately 500 audits are complete. It is anticipated that all schools (approximately 1,600) will be audited within the next three years, at which point the cost of deficiencies will be calculated. This information will help establish a funding level that will annually be required to properly maintain our schools.

It is my hope that when the decision makers see this information, they will understand the dire need for this funding.

The software tools which come with the CAM system will assist in illustrating that there is no economic benefit derived from deferring life cycle replacement funding. When the cost is deferred into the future, inflation and further degradation occurs and, in the end, it actually costs us, the taxpayer, more.

So, enough about that … for now.

It’s the beginning of a new year. As a former past president, I have started my term as president with the benefit of eight years experience gained during my time on the Executive in the ‘90s. Oh, how we have grown! Our former executives have done a fantastic job to continually improve our association.

Great job, guys and gals!!

Have a great year!

Cheers, Steve

RE: The “Little Flower Academy opens new wing, proudly displays cost-effective school floors with an artistic flare” article (pages 16-20, spring 2009 edition of Ops Talk).

In the intervening time since the installation at this Vancouver school was completed, the school has noted wear to the decorative concrete finish. Subsequently, school officials at Little Flower Academy are dissatisfied with the aesthetics of this installation in prominent traffic areas.

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This year, your Executive has been pro-actively working on your behalf. Like the past SPOA executives, we too have a great team! We recently added an executive director to our team (Welcome, Bob!). The education committee, building on the excellent work from last year’s committee, has been diligently working on enhancing our certification program. Meetings with the British Columbia Public Schools Employers Association have occurred, and a meeting with School Plant Officials Society of Alberta (SPOSA) is planned for later this fall to further discuss future enhancements to our certification program. And then there is our conference … hat’s off to our conference committee (you’d think they were training to go to the Olympics!), which started planning our 2010 conference back in July. With a series of meetings through the summer and early September, they are well on the way to setting up a great conference for June 2010 in Penticton. Be sure to watch for information on our conference!

Now back to our AFG; it is our hope that this is a one-year cancellation, and that funding to all school districts is restored next year. Your Executive has had many discussions regarding the AFG situation. As in the past, our association wants to work collaboratively and positively with the Ministry of Education, to ensure there are proper systems and practices in place that empower school districts and facility professionals to properly maintain our schools. We remain positive that due to the benefits of this annual targeted funding system, in existence for more than two decades, it will once again be restored and we will be provided with certainty. Our youth are worth it!

One more thing: we have hired a consultant to work with the Executive this year to help draft our long-range plan (SPOA directions). It is our goal to present this plan to members at our annual conference next June.

I’m honoured to be working with a great team, your 2009/ 2010 Executive. I look forward to an exciting year, once again representing all the members of our association. Together we will continue to build a great association, filled with members who have a wealth of knowledge and skills and are strengthened by our relationships.

Editor’s Note

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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE STEVE JACKSON, ASCT, RPA, CEFM

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Member Profile JOHN VANTOL

John Vantol: 16 years and counting

BY MELANIE FRANNER

John and his family on vacation. Left to right: John Vantol with wife Rita, Austin, Sheldon and Jackson.

Not everyone gets to go to work every day and do something that he likes. But that’s exactly the case when it comes to John Vantol, manager, maintenance services, School District No. 37 (Delta). Vantol moved to Delta, B.C. in 1993, after spending about 20 years in the healthcare industry.

“There were more opportunities in the education sector than healthcare at the time,” he explains. “There was a lot of amalgamation going on in healthcare. I was aware of the shrinkage in the industry, and knew that there was a need for people like me in education.”

Vantol applied to Delta School District, got the job and then moved the family from Richmond to Delta, where he remains to this day with his wife and family.

ALL IN A DAY’S WORK As manager of maintenance services – a position that Vantol has held for two years now – Vantol’s responsibilities include overseeing all of the maintenance functions for the school district, which includes 31 schools, a board office, and a handful of auxiliary sites. He currently has 52 people working under him, seven of whom are foremen.

“A typical day is like any other job,” says Vantol. “You have good days with lots of rewards and then other days where the challenges seem to be unending.”

One of the challenges, in particular, Vantol says is the ability to get “face time” with the people out in the field.

“Based on the daily correspondence that’s involved with this job, there’s enough to do to keep a guy behind the desk,” he explains.

That being said, Vantol has fewer people to oversee today than he did when he first started in maintenance services.

That’s because there was a major reorganization back then when the government decreed that any construction projects with a value of a $250,000 or more had to be put to a public ten-

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Ops Talk Fall 2009

dering process. Prior to that, the school district was doing these capital projects in-house. Although there were significant layoffs, most of the long-term employees stayed on.

“We have many long-time staff in the maintenance group,” says Vantol. “Some have been here for 25 or 35 years. They are very helpful; they’ve got the history and form the backbone of the group.”

Vantol was chosen to lead the maintenance services team after 14 years of serving as manager, custodial services.

“The jobs are very similar,” he explains. “I work out of the same location. The opportunity came up and I had some previous experience in the area.”

Vantol adds that the fact that he has always been able to stick to a budget may have also played a role in his recent promotion.

PROUD TO PLAY A ROLE Having worked for the school district for 16+ years now, Vantol admits that he and his group have made many contributions. One of the more recent examples was creating an inhouse vehicle and equipment services program to perform work that had been contracted out previously.

“There are 75 vehicles in the fleet,” he explains. “And our service profile includes everything from weed wackers to dump trucks. This approach gives us better asset control and saves money.”

Of course, Vantol is also quick to credit the people and organizations with whom he has had the pleasure of working over the years.

“The people I have worked with have been great,” he says.

“They are the source of any success that I have had. They are the ones who bring the joy to my job. My association with SPOA has also been very fruitful. I think that they are one of the best mentoring groups around.”

Vantol joined SPOA in 1993, when he first accepted the position with the Delta school district.

“I got involved with their mentoring programs right off the bat,” he concludes. “And I believe that they continue to provide a valuable and key service to their members.” ❏

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Duchess Park Secondary School goes for (LEED®) Gold

BY COLLEEN BIONDI

ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF WESTERN INDUSTRIAL CONTRACTORS LTD.

Darcy Bryant, co-owner of Prince George’s Bryant Electric is not new to “design-build” construction models. In fact, the company has done five of these fully-integrated, teamwork projects to date (where the client, general contractor, architect and sub-contractors are intimately involved in the planning and execution from Day One).

What is unique about the design-build on the new Duchess Park Secondary School (which will replace the old, outdated one located on the other side of the lot) is the fact that this project is going for the gold – LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold, that is.

This was a directive from the ministry of education office, one which Bryant and the rest of the project fully embrace, and is a “huge environmental step forward,” says Bryant.

Bonus: Duchess Park will be the first secondary school in the province to meet LEED® Gold standards.

Many of the LEED® gold points will be associated with site improvements, the building structure and the mechanics, but there are several electrical contributions, says Bryant.

Automated controls, for example, will ensure that lights go off

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Ops Talk Fall 2009

Front entrance of school.

when rooms are not being used; as well, longer-lasting and more energy-efficient LED-lighting has replaced the incandescent variety.

Fellow trade-contractor and foreman Shawn Madu of Christman Plumbing and Heating in Kelowna has been getting the hot water system up and running at Duchess.

Christman’s nod to the environment involves heating the building via a geothermal system (with boilers as back-up).

“It’s not cheap but it is a long-term investment,” says Madu, who credits Geoutility Systems for this work. Because you are drawing water from the ground – where the temperature is more moderate than traditional systems – it is quicker and more cost-effective to both heat and cool. Madu also points to low-flow water fixtures and boiler pumps with high-energy efficiency motors as “green” contributions to the sustainability factor of this 154,000-square-foot project.

Trade contractors agree that doing complex technical work in conjunction with a design-build model has its challenges.

“We make changes as we go; it is tough to keep on track,” says Bryant. Fixtures in the mechanical room often need to be moved or re-adjusted, says Madu. “It looks good on the drawings but once you get the equipment onsite it never seems to fit as planned.” Both concur that constant communication – site meetings and conference calls among team members – is critical for keeping parties and paperwork organized.

Dean Friend, construction manager with general contractor Western Industrial Contractors in Prince George, says two key reasons why their design-build team got hired was due to their unique design, and because they “listened to what the client wanted.” As a result, look for a three-court gym in a school community where athletics is highly valued, tons of glazing and natural light, a multi-purpose student meeting space

Front entrance, August 2009.

Crane view, May 2009.

with two big roof skylights and two unique staircases – one a solid wall and one with a more perforated look. “They call this (area) the “WOW” feature,” says Friend.

The building process even involved going to the existing school and talking to students about what they wanted in the new space. “That (inclusivity) is one of the joys of the design build,” Friend adds.

The team is gunning for 41 LEED® points (gold status is incurred at 39 to 51 points) at Duchess Park, he explains.

This is not easy, given the remoteness of Prince George. For example, points are awarded for using local materials and disposing of waste responsibly. Bricks purchased from Medicine Hat were barely within acceptable range. And disposing of construction waste has been difficult, given there is no such recycling facility in the community.

Bryan Mix, secretary treasurer of School District No. 57, says that the team respected additional significant specifications of the build, such as the school’s history and traditions, while moving it functionally into the future. The communi-

ty is also a player here; plans are afoot for a neighborhood park adjacent to the school. “We were impressed with the team at the outset and continue to be impressed,” adds Mix. Karen Marler, team architect with Vancouver-based Hughes Condon Marler, is excited about the feature wood wall in the multi-purpose area, the student lounge above the main entrance and the “axial” relationship of the building to City Hall down 7th Avenue. “The view is really quite beautiful from the student lounge space,” she says.

“We had people (on the team) who have never been involved at the front end; it took them a while to understand that they were free to speak about issues outside of their expertise,” she adds. But once they did, it was full-steam ahead with confidence and a joint commitment to excellence.

Students will be transferred from the old school to the new one in the spring of 2010; what a fine way to return from spring break. ❏

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School Plant Officials Association of B.C. www.spoabc.org

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Supporting the educational mission with effective capital planning BEST PRACTICES IN DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS The Ontario University System (OUS) is comprised of 19 universities across the province, including schools such as Carleton University, Queen’s University and the University of Toronto, with a total of 357,000 full-time students.

Programs in arts and science are offered at the undergraduate level system-wide, while a number of universities offer doctoral law, education, engineering or medicine/nursing programs. The entire system encompasses over 70 million square feet of facilities, with a current replacement value of approximately $20 billion. Forty-nine per cent of the system’s funding comes from the provincial government.

According to two major studies commissioned by the Council of Ontario Universities in 1999, “the demand for university education in Ontario could grow by as much as 40 per cent by 2010,” due to population growth and increasing rates of participation in university education. Rising enrollment strains resources for capital improvement; and with an aging infrastructure and a growing deferred maintenance backlog, the Ontario University System needed to develop long-term facility capital plans for each of the universities, as well as for the system as a whole.

Each university in the OUS had its own method for compiling data about facility condition. Some of the organizations conducted their own condition audits, others hired third-party firms, and several used a combination of inhouse staff and consultants. Each university also had different techniques for prioritizing maintenance projects and estimating costs. Neither deferred maintenance nor renewal needs were planned on a system-wide basis. The disparate data from each school made it difficult for school officials to conduct long-term capital planning across the system.

Changes in the Ontario education system increased the urgency of having reliable facility data for system-wide planning. The province was planning to transition its high school education system from a 13-year to a 12-year program in the next few years, doubling the number of incoming freshmen that the Ontario University System would need to educate and house. When the provincial government called for better quality data about system facilities, school officials realized changes were needed to meet the request.

“We needed to be able to build a persuasive argument to the provincial government for more funding. Irrefutable data on our existing facility conditions and deferred maintenance was a necessary component to achieving this goal,” says Darryl Boyce, assistant vice-president, Facilities Management and Planning at Carleton University.

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THE SOLUTION: FACILITY CONDITION ASSESSMENT PROGRAM Ensuring the accuracy and consistency of facility assessments system-wide was the initial challenge facing the Ontario University System. The solution was the Facility Condition Assessment Program (FCAP), which had two primary goals. The first was to provide consistent and comprehensive facilities data to the Ontario university presidents, governing boards and the provincial government. The second goal was to deliver best practice facility management tools to the universities’ physical plant departments.

The key factors in FCAP, agreed to by the 19 participating institutions, were a common facility database, and a common audit methodology with an annual audit of a minimum 20 per cent of each institution’s physical plant infrastructure. It would also include an annual Facility Condition Assessment Report submitted to the university presidents and the Ontario government.

When selecting a common facility database, the Ontario University System looked for a software solution that would provide a web-based repository for all capital data. It also needed to be used to predict capital investment needs for facilities, identify budget impact on portfolio condition, and to allocate budgets more effectively and efficiently. The software would be used to quantify, prioritize, and validate data, as well as to create a business case for additional funding.

The Ontario system implemented FCAP as part of an integrated Capital Planning and Management Solution (CPMS) from VFA. The CPMS combines facility assessment services with VFA.facility® web-based software for asset management and capital planning. Each university in the Ontario University System assessed 15 per cent of its respective building portfolio each year using the VFA assessment methodology. Assessment information related to condition and maintenance requirements was captured in VFA.facility®, which serves as a central source for managing and analyzing facility information.

“Having this information on the World Wide Web has given us invaluable advantages,” says Kevin Gallinger, manager of maintenance services at Carleton University. “The same information is shared by everyone, from facilities people to the steering committee. We now have consistent cost models, benchmarks and reporting capabilities,” Gallinger says.

Physical plant directors use the software’s built-in cost data from RSMeans to realistically estimate the cost of facility projects. The “What-if” funding scenario tools allow users to see how a particular investment will affect a facility’s condition and additional funding requirements over time. With these capabilities, for example, the Ontario University System can now model how varying funding levels will impact future deferred maintenance spending.

THE RESULTS With accurate information at their fingertips and sophisticated analytic tools to assist in making optimal planning decisions, the universities have promoted a better understanding of the impact of investment decisions, and can more readily make the case for long-term facility planning initiatives.

Facility management and planning have become a compelling topic, attracting the attention of key funding sources – both internally in the universities, and externally in the provincial government.

Less than two years after the creation of the FCAP, the Ontario government awarded the OUS $93 million in deferred maintenance funding – an increase of $40 million from previous years. This funding level was based on requirements from only 20 per cent of the universities’ physical structures. One-

hundred per cent of facilities had been audited by June 2005.

Funding for the universities’ Facility Renewal Program has increased by an average of $80 million over the nine-year period since FCAP was implemented.

“High-quality, reliable data has enabled us to raise the profile of facility management and planning among university presidents, governing boards and government agencies,” Boyce says.

“Before our implementation of CPMS, deferred maintenance was an unknown term outside the facilities’ departments. Now, our provincial minister is talking about it and more importantly, understands the value of it,” he says.

LOOKING AHEAD: GOALS FOR THE FUTURE The Ontario University System has set specific goals for the future, including continuing to report the problems, possible solutions and success stories to the funding agencies. The OUS will report on the status of deferred maintenance and recommend solutions to senior management, the governing boards and the province. Using VFA.facility®, it will effectively manage the OUS’s existing funding. And it will improve the updating of the data to reflect current conditions, thus facilitating accurate reporting in the future. ❏

SPOA’s Mentoring Program We have been promoting a Mentoring Program for a number of years now and have formalized the Spring Directors Workshop as being part of that Mentoring Program.

Recognizing the fact that a number of our members are approaching retirement and the fact some have moved on already, we saw people who were new, moving into positions that were new to them. Many were hired without the necessary experience that would assist them to adjust quickly enough to fulfill their roles as expected.

For a number of years we have spoken about sharing information between districts, between individuals, in an effort to encourage a forward movement. Why should someone in a neighbouring district have to re-invent the wheel when it was already thought of and being used?

Wishing all to succeed and become valuable not only to the district they worked in but also to our association, we decided some type of program needed to

be initiated to provide that assistance.

Mentoring does work and we saw a number of examples in use within other organizations. The School Superintendents Association was approached and we entered into discussions with them to explore how their program worked. We looked at others as well. From that investigation we developed what is now an easy and simple-to-use format.

There is one form to fill out whether or not you want the services of a mentor or are offering to be a mentor. That form is available online on our website at http://www.spoabc.org/.

There is no cost to you as a mentee or as the mentor. We like to have both located within a geographical region as that cuts down on potential cost to the association. However, we have not restricted criteria to a geographical region as we want this program to succeed. Our association has hundreds of years of specialized experience in our members. That is so valuable, not only to SPOA but to the

BY CHUCK MORRIS

districts throughout the province that we serve.

We do have folks who have expressed interest and have filed the requisite forms with us so we are now on the move.

We do not publicize who has applied for assistance or who is offering that assistance simply because success depends on quietly moving forward and learning. We all yearn to know more, to do better at our jobs. Most of us have seen a shift over time and now do more than ever before.

We can work smarter. We can offer guidance and coaching to those who are new at the job or those who may not be so new but have had different duties added to their scope of work.

I would like to thank Ernie Lambert of Nechako Lakes School District for the amount of work he has put into this program. Without his help it would have taken much, much longer to get to the point we are at today.

Thank you Ernie! ❏

School Plant Officials Association of B.C. www.spoabc.org

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The science of drying

BY TROY FEHR

Drying a structure is a science that has been developed over a number of years, but it’s only been perfected in the last ten or so years. The Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) has been promoting this science, and has accordingly developed a graduated training and certifying body that teaches this exact science to businesses and professional restorers around the globe. Approved schools teach advanced drying designations by using prop houses in their compounds and flooding them similar to real loss situations; the flooded prop houses are then dried by the students being trained (this information is further published by the IICRC in the S-500 standards).

The science of drying structures takes years of training, educating, and hands-on work experience to fully comprehend and understand the knowledge to its full potential; however, once the professional restorer absorbs the knowledge, he or she then becomes an asset in any loss, large or small. The restorer will be able to attend a loss and after a short investigation, will be able to determine the appropriate drying solution, including equipment requirements and possible removals.

A thorough understanding of the science of drying is essential to dry the structure within the critical time period of 72 hours. Drying within a 72-hour period will ensure microbial growth is averted, and further ensure people staying within the structure remain healthy by avoiding any exposure to mould. Mould can cause a variety of health issues for all people; however children, the elderly, and individuals with compromised immune systems are at greater risk. Due to the potential health issues, a trained professional restorer should attend all losses.

When we as professional restorers attend a loss, we first take humidity and temperature readings. These readings are used to calculate specific humidity or GPP (grains of moisture per pound of air). The GPP is used as a starting point for our dry down.

Losses are categorized in three ways. Category 1 is clean water; category 2 is grey water; and category 3 is black water.

If this is a category 1 loss, more emphasis is put into drying the structure and less on removing hygroscopic materials.

Category 2 or 3 losses will require removing some or all hygroscopic materials. Further, category 3 losses should all be tested using a swab tester or hygienic sampler, which measures the amount of present bacteria to ensure sanitization is completed efficiently.

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Ops Talk Fall 2009

LOSSES ARE FURTHER PLACED INTO 4 CLASSES: Class 1: Slow rate of evaporation - minimum moisture.

Class 2: Fast rate of evaporation - some wet flooring and walls wet less than 24 inches.

Class 3: The fastest rate of evaporation - ceiling, walls and insulation wet.

Class 4: Specialty dry items - hardwood floors, stone, and plaster.

Regardless of the type of loss, mitigation work such as

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N_XkËj k_\ :ffc\jk K_`e^ `e <[lZXk`feXc =cffi`e^6 @kËj @ek\i]XZ\=CFIËj :c`dXk\ E\lkiXc ZXig\k k`c\% N\ ZXe _\cg pfl i\[lZ\ pfli ZXiYfe ]ffkgi`ek Ç n`k_ fli Z\ik`Ô\[ :ffc :Xig\k gif^iXd# ^i\\e_flj\ ^Xj >?> \d`jj`fe f]]j\kj# Xe[ k_\ dfjk \Xik_$]i`\e[cp Õffi`e^ gif[lZkj XmX`cXYc\% Jf n_\k_\i pfl e\\[ ZXig\k ]fi ZcXjjiffdj# _Xccj fi pfli c`YiXip2 il^j ]fi gfikXYc\ ZcXjjiffdj fi Õffi`e^ ]fi pfli \ek`i\ ]XZ`c`kp# aljk ZXcc (%/''%)-.%)(+0# \ok% )()/# fi m`j`k nnn%`ek\i]XZ\Õfi%ZX% C\kËj dXb\ pfli \[lZXk`feXc \em`ifed\ek Zffc kf^\k_\i% To view more products or order samples, visit us online at www.interfaceflor.ca. Call us to make your next purchase at 1.800.267.2149, ext. 2128. Carpet Shown: Entropy® - 7204 Metamorphosis; Cubic Colours™ - 6393 Height, 7262 Orange.

16

Ops Talk Fall 2009

Monitoring the daily progress of the structure is another important factor in the successfully drying of the structure.

Daily temperature and humidity readings are vital, as these tell us how the structure is drying and confirm that the drying solution is working efficiently. To monitor the drying progress, the restorer uses a variety of sensors, such as penetrating and non-penetrating moisture meters. The meters tell us the moisture content of hygroscopic materials. Flir and Fluke thermal imaging cameras, hygrometers, and remote sensor hygrometers are also used. Remote sensor hygrometers can be left on a loss site by the restorer; viewing the readings live and documented from our office, we can then calculate what is required before the restorer even arrives on site to manipulate the equipment during the daily monitor.

After the critical dry time, the restorer performs a thorough inspection of the structure using their meters and a final specific humidity reading or GPP is taken. This inevitably will be lower than our starting point, and will further provide proof that the structure is dry. Reconstruction can now commence.

If you would like more information about Stutters Disaster Kleenup, or would like to contact us, please go to www.stutters.com.

About the Author: Troy Fehr is a IICRC-certified Master Water Restorer, a Master Fire and Smoke Restorer, and a Master Textile Cleaner. ❏

© 2008 InterfaceFLOR Canada, Inc. Mission Zero, Cool Carpet and the Mission Zero mark are trademarks of Interface, Inc.

extraction, flushing and/or removals must be commenced.

The next crucial step is setting up the equipment. The structure is measured to find the exact cubic footage. Using the cubic footage, the category and class of loss, we now have a scientific formula that will calculate for us how many pints of water must be removed per day to ensure the structure is dry within 72 hours. Once this is calculated, dehumidification becomes simple, as each machine has a rating for how many pints of water a day it will remove (cfm if using desiccant dehumidifiers).

Evaporation is also essential. The number of blowers must also be calculated and correctly placed to ensure the balance is kept between evaporation and dehumidification.

Coldstream Elementary School replacement meets the green challenge

BY DEB SMITH

In July 2009, work began on the new Coldstream Elementary School replacement – a $9.5 million project funded through the government of B.C.’s commitment of $405 million to build and upgrade schools across the province. Under the mandate to reduce B.C.’s carbon footprint, the project will adhere to the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Gold standards.

Maple Reinders Inc. is running the project out of its Kelowna office, working with the design consultant MQN Architects in Vernon. “There’s a lot of coordination and sharing of information to fulfill with a LEED® project,” says Jason Moulton, project manager with Maple Reinders.

The LEED® Gold considerations involve building sustainability, innovation in design, energy, materials and resources, water efficiency and indoor environmental quality. From the low-flow water fixtures inside the school to the geothermal field for heating and cooling, to the use of interior finishes with recycled content wherever possible, the new Coldstream school will more than make the grade.

It was the challenge of the architect to design a school that not only fulfills the LEED® requirements, but also belongs in the community, a beautiful area surrounding the north end of Kalamalka Lake and extending through the Coldstream Valley.

“The colouring of the building – moss green and rustic red – is a reflectance of the natural background of the park and mountains to the south during the different seasons of the Okanagan,” explains Vicki Topping of MQN. The one-storey daylight basement design will offer views in all directions, as well as allow in sunlight.

Additionally, the new school will fit into the modern-day community plan with its proposed paved sidewalks, tree wells,

benches, lights and bike lane out front. School bus and parent drop-off zones will be on the school site to keep traffic off the busy Kalamalka Road. And the school playground has been designed to later become a park area for the entire community – all done within the vision of recycling, of making resources count in many different applications.

The new 35,000-square-foot building will be built with wood and concrete block veneer, using regional materials from within 800 km of the project. It is being constructed right beside the original Coldstream School, established in 1908, a virtual maze of corridors after ten additions and renovations over the past 100 years.

With young children attending school next door to the job site, Maple Reinders has added a few extra safety provisions.

“The site is all fenced, with eight feet of chain link,” explains Moulton. “As well, we’ve done a criminal record check for all on-site personnel, and everyone wears their photo ID.” And once construction begins, careful attention will be given to recycling materials, as well as during the demolition of the existing school.

Geotility Geothermal Installation Corporation, out of Kelowna, is taking on the design and supply of the horizontal geothermal field, while Kal-West Building Systems Inc. will be the mechanical contractor to tie in the heat pumps/exchangers and complete the heating and cooling loop.

The work will continue throughout the year, whether or not school is in session next door, so that the new, open-plan facility will be ready to open its doors to the community and its some 400 students by the fall of 2010. ❏ School Plant Officials Association of B.C. www.spoabc.org

17

Black – or white?

Dark roofs vs. cool roofs irrelevant for an energy-efficient roofing solution

BY TERRY O’CONNOR, CANADIAN BUSINESS MANAGER, FIRESTONE BUILDING PRODUCTS

Light-coloured roofing systems that deliver high solar reflectance and high thermal emittance are categorized today as “cool roofs.” The growth in highly reflective roof systems in the last decade has been principally driven by EnergyStar, the Cool Roof Rating Council, U.S. and Canadian building councils and LEED® requirements. However, the misconception that reflective roofing is optimal for a building’s energy savings – regardless of the geographical position – can be costly.

Reflective roof systems have grown consistently and rapidly in temperate areas, like the southern U.S., where overall building energy consumption is driven predominantly by air conditioning costs.

In Canada, the growth in white roofs can be attributed to other reasons, including: 1. A mechanically-attached white roof may be the more cost-effective roof solution; 2. Specifications for U.S. owners that are simply transferred to Canadian operations;

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Ops Talk Fall 2009

Roof contractors laying out a cost-effective Firestone RubbersGard R.M.A EPDM System.

3. The need for LEED® points; and 4. The perception that white roofs are environmentally-friendly everywhere.

Despite the perception that white reflective roofs are the most energy-efficient roofing solution, numerous professional studies have proven this to be incorrect. In cooler, northern climates, the energy required to heat a building is often a more significant factor in overall

energy usage. For example, Table 7.4 of the 2007 Buildings Energy Data Book, published by The Building Technologies Program within the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, outlines energy use intensity in various commercial building types, comparing heating and cooling as a percentage of total energy consumed. The average results show that heating accounts for 29 per cent of the energy consumed within a building nationally, while cooling totals a mere six per cent. For educational facilities, the heating-to-cooling ratio is 33 per cent to five per cent, respectively.

In Canada, where Heating Degree Days (HDD) largely outnumber Cooling Degree Days (CDD), black membranes like EPDM continue to outperform their light-coloured counterparts for energy efficiency. Dark-coloured roof membranes absorb solar radiation and transfer it into the building, where it heats the interior and places less demand on the heating system. This is especially beneficial in educational facilities that are usually closed during the peak cooling sea-

sons, when reflective membranes perform best.

The colour of the membrane, however, plays a miniscule role when it comes to energy efficiency on a building insulated with at least two layers of staggered polyiso insulation. The numberone way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is to increase the levels of insulation; this offers the greatest return on investment, regardless of the building’s physical location.

“COOL” BALLASTED EPDM ROOFS When seeking cool roofing options, many building professionals do not realize that EPDM provides similar energy savings as its white counterparts. An extensive analysis of roofing system energy performance by the Single Ply Roofing Industry and Oak Ridge National Laboratory indicated ballasted and paver EPDM roofing systems can save as much energy as a reflective or cool roof in southern climates.

In the study, ballasted EPDM profiles delayed the temperature rise for up to three hours, effectively moving about 20 per cent of the cooling load into off-peak hours when energy costs are lowest. As such, the California Energy Commission (CEC) and the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Con-

T O TA L O F F I C E S O L U T I O N S

First Nations University of Canada – the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College with a 45,000 sq. ft. Ballasted EPDM.

ditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) have updated their cool roofing standards to recognize ballasted roof systems as an acceptable alternative.

Also, even though it has fewer HDDs than Toronto, Montreal, Calgary and most other Canadian cities, the City of Chicago added ballasted EPDM as a cool roof alternative in its municipal code earlier this year, as well. So, it is increasingly apparent that although reflective roofing materials have inherent value in the fight to gain energy efficiencies, the issue is not simply black versus white.

Energy-efficient roofing system de-

sign is ideally comprised of a quality vapour barrier, two layers of staggered insulation, and an optional high Rvalue coverboard where there is appreciable traffic on the roof.

The solution of choice above this may be any fully-adhered system, such as a multi-ply asphalt, 2-ply SBS Modified Bitumen or single-ply EPDM, TPO or PVC. If and when white roofs are mandated for a building, use of a properly designed insulation assembly will mitigate the overall energy consumption through the roof system, making the roof membrane colour irrelevant. ❏

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Ops Talk Fall 2009

BC’s Largest Lift and Elevator Showroom Paul Bryan Nav Chahal

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LEED® Gold House of Learning joins Thompson Rivers University

BY LISA FATTORI

At Thompson Rivers University (TRU) in Kamloops, construction is underway for the school’s first LEED® Gold building on campus. The new House of Learning is a showcase of innovative design, energy efficiency, and the use of materials and aesthetics that incorporate First Nations traditions and values. With classrooms, learning lounges, a library and the largest lecture theatre on campus, the House of Learning is a multi-use, multi-discipline facility that is open to TRU’s entire student body.

“TRU needed more library and learning space, and this building will fill that need,” says Christopher Seguin, VP of advancement at TRU. “The House of Learning also has offices and meeting rooms for our First Nations programs.”

The $32 million, 63,000 sq. ft. building is four stories, and includes a tiered assembly hall that can accommodate close to 300 students. As a LEED® Gold building, every detail of the House of Learning is purposefully orchestrated to meet the stringent requirements of the standard. Even more challenging, the building is a fast-track project that is scheduled for completion in the fall of 2010. The project is currently on track to meet next year’s deadline; the third floor slab and the floor of the assembly hall will be complete this fall.

The pouring of concrete includes the installation of cans throughout the floor to accommodate radiant floor heating.

“One of the mechanical systems is a geothermal heating and cooling system,” says Chris Owen, co-owner of Interior Plumbing and Heating Ltd., the firm contracted to perform the initial services and mechanical sleeves of the first phase of the project. “Geothermal will be used to generate the heat that will travel throughout the floor pipes.”

The use of materials, construction practices, mechanical and electrical designs and the optimization of energy use is just a sampling of the criteria that earns a project LEED® credits. TRU’s House of Learning is located close to public transportation, and the majority of contractors, suppliers and the workforce are local. There is an extensive use of sustainable B.C. timber and glazing, for plenty of natural light. Water conservation features include the use of indigenous drought resistant plants for landscaping, and the building’s air conditioning system is assisted by breezes that become cooler as they pass over a stone water retention pond.

“We’re aiming for 42 points,” says Prashant Pandit, project manager with Stantec Inc. “The common footprint of the building gets reduced over time. With greater energy efficiency, you have lower long-term operating costs, and the superior indoor air quality provides a healthier working environment.”

A self-contained worksite that doesn’t infringe on the surrounding environment is also a consideration for LEED® Gold certification. “We have to keep in mind that this is a LEED® Gold project, so there are a few things that we have to do differently,” says Guy Mercier, president of Acres Enterprises Ltd. “There are certain procedures for disposing materials, and the equipment has to be washed down, so that dirt doesn’t get tracked outside of the site, where it will get washed down storm water drains.”

Typically, a glazing company wouldn’t be part of the design process, but because of the building’s extensive use of windows, material specifications were determined at the outset.

“The envelope and performance of the building is critical to the project, so we got the glazing company on board early on, to assist in finalizing the design,” says Steve Craig, project manager with Vanbots. All windows at the House of Learning are glazed Low-E thermal windows with UV protection, to maximize heat and cooling retention.

Interior finishes in the House of Learning reflect the unique golden hues of the local landscape and incorporate elements of First Nations heritage, such as basket weave patterns that are etched in various surfaces throughout the building. A living wall in the atrium is aesthetically pleasing, but it also helps in keeping the indoor air quality clean. From the building’s design to its final finishes and display cases of Aboriginal artifacts, the House of Learning pays homage to the cultural importance of local First Nations peoples.

“The building will incorporate themes of First Nations art and colour schemes to give a sense of history, making it not only a centre of learning, but also a centre of culture,” Seguin says. “Approximately ten per cent of TRU’s student body is Aboriginal, and we want to continue to be the university of choice for First Nations students.” ❏

School Plant Officials Association of B.C. www.spoabc.org

21

Sustainable schools: Achieving efficient and environmentallyfriendly HVAC, plumbing and mechanical systems with grooved piping systems

BY TIM MEADOWS

Sustainable school plants require more than just ideal site orientation and energy-saving construction techniques. What actually goes into a building as infrastructure is equally important. Well-planned HVAC, plumbing and other mechanical engineering systems are essential to making a building sustainable during installation and throughout its life cycle.

GROOVED MECHANICAL PIPING SYSTEMS ARE ROOTED IN SUSTAINABILITY The sustainability of a system starts with the products themselves. Grooved piping is a method of joining pipe that was invented by Victaulic more than 80 years ago as an alternative to methods such as welding, flanging or threading of pipes.

The technology was used during World War I to rapidly deploy essential resources like fuel and water to the Allies. Over the years, grooved piping systems have become widely used on HVAC, plumbing and fire protection applications, including potable water distribution, equipment connections on pumps, water softeners, filters, and drain, waste and vent piping.

Using a simple two-bolt coupling design, pipe fitters can make rugged, secure joints quickly and easily using only basic hand tools. With a union at every joint, contractors have maximum field flexibility for on-site decision making. Couplings are sealed with a durable elastomeric gasket designed to withstand years of sustained high compressive and cyclical loads.

Over time, versatile grooved piping systems have proven to be the most effective way of piping water systems. Since no welding is required, engineers can specify lighter wall steel pipe that can provide up to 10 per cent more cross-sectional flow than welded pipe. In addition, pipe couplings and fittings are designed to minimize frictional factors, improving throughput and reducing power requirements at the pump head, all direct sustainable benefits.

And thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more: Victaulic products are made of 90 per cent recycled steel using lean, responsible manufacturing processes.

Products are painted using a dip coating application which, unlike spray painting, does not atomize the paint to form harmful emissions. Dip coating also eliminates the need for volatile solvents that are used to thin paints in the spray painting process. Additionally, manufacturers like Victaulic that have a sand reclamation program can eliminate as much as 3,640 tons of sand from landfills annually through recycling efforts.

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Ops Talk Fall 2009

SUSTAINABLE JOBSITES Compared to other piping methods, mechanical grooved piping systems also reduce waste, emissions and noise pollution on the jobsite, providing a safer and healthier work environment.

Reducing the need for welding, soldering or brazing means better air quality, less particulate matter released into the atmosphere and decreased fire risk. There also is less material waste, reducing site impact. And indoor and outdoor air quality is preserved because there are no fumes to endanger workers or the environment.

In 2007 alone, the use of Victaulic grooved mechanical couplings in lieu of welding on HVAC piping systems throughout North America reduced airborne weld emissions by 145 metric tons of particulate matter â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the equivalent to eliminating the airborne pollution of one million cars on the road for a month.

Moreover, a grooved mechanical pipe joint installed using a wrench does not require the use of electricity during installaGrooved products make for sustainable tion. This reduces the installations by reducing or eliminating draw on burdened power the emissions and waste that weldin resources. Pipes that are and similar methods produce. joined by welding or soldering require significant amounts of electricity, consuming up to 4,000 watts of energy per hour to weld an 8-inch joint.

The installation of a grooved mechanical joint is cleaner than soldered joints, reducing on-site job waste. Unlike soldering and brazing methods, grooved mechanical joints do not require flux to seal the joint, which must be flushed and cleaned from the system prior to operation. Additionally, soldered systems often require as much as 35 per cent re-work for failures discovered while pressurizing and testing the completed system, which requires additional resources. Grooved mechanical pipe joints can be visually inspected for proper installation so re-work is minimal, saving energy, resources and time on the job.

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Grooved couplings, valves, and fittings join a geothermal hot water heating system at a technology campus in British Columbia. Grooved connections allow for easy access to systems in the mechanical room with less deferred maintenance and increased energy efficiency.

SUSTAINABILITY FOR THE LIFE OF THE BUILDING A study at the Energy Systems Lab at Texas A&M University demonstrated that energy use in buildings can be reduced by as much as 40 per cent simply by improving operational strategies in buildings, including maintenance strategies. In a plumbing system, for example, booster pumps and strainers need routine maintenance to operate efficiently, and less deferred maintenance means a higher level of energy efficiency.

With weld, soldered and brazed piping systems, accessing valves, strainers, pumps and water softeners can be timeconsuming and inconvenient. Scheduled and unscheduled maintenance means shutting down plants for lengthy periods just to access piping systems or to re-weld joints. But for access to a series grooved piping system, a maintenance person simply loosens the two coupling bolts and removes the coupling. Wet or dry maintenance is possible, and grooved systems present no fire hazard during maintenance – a big plus in facilities where open flames could create a hazard for occupants.

For retrofit projects, a grooved system is easily updated because every joint functions as a union. Operating efficiency can be maintained, and systems can remain live because properly placed butterfly valves provide “dead-end” shutoff service for isolation. Owners do not have to vacate the space because 2 mechanical grooved piping re-work does not negatively affect indoor air quality or introduce a fire hazard.

Given the busy agendas and budget constraints affecting all school plant officials, it is easy to see that grooved systems have both immediate and future economic and sustainability Blue Imp offers a new formula for fun combined with a proven returns.

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Ops Talk Fall 2009

About the Author: Tim Meadows is vice president of sales for Victaulic Company in Canada. Tim has 22 years of industry and pipe joining expertise with Victaulic, and is actively involved in various industry associations including MCAC, CIPH, CASA, and CIM. ❏

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TRANSPORTATION SECTION

The 2010 Canadian Pupil Transportation Conference:

A ‘Cross Country Showcase’ of student transportation Mark your calendar and set your budget early to be part of CPTC 2010, a bi-annual event which brings together all facets of the school bus industry!

May 16-19, 2010 will see Ottawa, Ontario hosting the sixth national Canadian Pupil Transportation Conference (CPTC). This North American event welcomes school bus operators, school board officials, federal and provincial government officials and industry manufacturers and suppliers.

It provides valuable business contacts, networking and connections, powerful educational workshops, plenary sessions, and keynote speakers. Attendees will get realistic and practical “tools”

that can be immediately used in the workplace, as well as an opportunity to share information and best practices in unique and innovative ways. Another highlight is the trade show with the industry’s top suppliers and manufacturers.

“This event connects stakeholders in student transportation from all over North America to share information, do business and exchange the latest ideas and solutions,” says Jim Talbot, co-Chair, CPTC 2010.

There is the fantastic location – the capital city of Canada – a myriad of attractions, fine dining and much, much more. Ottawa has something for everyone!

The “Cross Country Showcase” begins on Sunday, May 16 with local tours exploring Ottawa’s finest tourist destinations, and a golf tournament followed by a welcome reception.

Following the opening ceremonies on Monday, enjoy a special keynote speaker and workshop sessions offering insight into the latest developments in the school bus industry.

Monday night offsite excursions invite guests to explore the best that Ottawa

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has to offer. Mix it up on Tuesday with our exciting plenary session and a trade show which provides unique opportunities to all investors! And the Gala Banquet and entertainment on Tuesday night is a must!

Wednesday, the famous Canadian commentator and host of CBC Radio’s Cross Country Checkup, Rex Murphy, will be the keynote speaker for the morning, offering his quick wit and professional insight. Enjoy the rest of the day in special information-sharing rooms and taking an industry-related tour to a nearby facility.

To learn more about CPTC 2010, please visit www.cptc2010.ca ❏

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Ops Talk Fall 2009

No news, slow news for TILMA British Columbia and Alberta weigh in on ground-breaking agreement

BY JOHN HURST AND COLLEEN BIONDI

These days, two TILMAs are kept in secure surroundings: one, a famous 16th-century Aztec men’s outer garment in Mexico on which appeared an image of the Virgin Mary according to tradition, and which attracts millions of pilgrims annually; and the other - TILMA, the Trade, Investment, and Labour Mobility Agreement between Alberta and British Columbia. This agreement, which was signed on April 28, 2006 and came into effect on April 1, 2007, provides a virtual economic union between the two provinces.

While the Aztec TILMA continues to attract the reverence of millions, the Canadian TILMA is the subject of continued analysis, and is an object of caution. During the two-year warm-up period that followed its creation, virtually nothing occurred. Few press releases were issued, and even those from left-wing think tanks opposed to TILMA petered out two years ago.

TILMA was hailed as a ground-breaking accord, between the governments of British Columbia and Alberta, which created Canada's second-largest economy. Prior to the agreement, differences in the rules of each province had hindered the free movement of goods, services and accredited tradespeople, thereby increasing costs.

Under TILMA, British Columbia and Alberta have mutually recognized or reconciled the rules that hinder the free movement of goods, services and people. The agreement has created a more open, competitive economy where goods, services, workers and investments can move more freely between the two provinces.

In fact, the agreement has been viewed as so progressive that effective April 1, 2009, major portions have been imbedded into the Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT), explains Brian Bickley, chair of the Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training Board. If you have a trade qualification certificate from any legitimate jurisdiction, it will now be recognized across the country. “Anything that improves labour mobility is a good thing,” he says.

As positive as this new development is for workers and employers, Bickley also hopes that the integrity of the country’s long-standing and well-respected Red Seal program – which is supported by both TILMA and AIT, but is no longer the sole mobility instrument for workers – will not be compromised. The Red Seal program continues to mark a highlyrecognized national standard in the trade system, and may still provide a leg-up for a job seeker. “I like national standards,” says Bickley. “We (the Board) have always been a strong supporter of the Red Seal program and we always will be.”

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Ops Talk Fall 2009

Mark Douglas, a director with Apprenticeship and Industry Training, Advanced Education and Technology, is also a fan of the Red Seal program. But at the same time – and in line with these new developments – he and his team have developed a tool (log onto http//www.tradesecrets.gov.ab.ca, click on Working in Alberta on the left-hand side, then click on the Recognized Trade Certificates hot link) to help employers navigate this new world of trade certificates beyond borders.

This easy-to-use web mechanism will help Alberta employers determine what trades are called in other provinces, as well as what kinds of certificates workers have and who has issued them, says Douglas. In turn, this will help them make better hiring decisions for Alberta workplaces.

Over on the procurement side, Caroline Bogner, director with Alberta Infrastructure, notes huge ramifications from the springtime changes to TILMA. Architectural and engineering consulting services now fall under the agreement and the threshold for public procurement has been reduced significantly to contract values of $75,000. This is all good, says Bogner. It means more work for firms to bid on, and more competitive and value-added proposals for government. “I haven’t seen anything negative (from TILMA); there have been no negative ripple effects at all from our perspective,” she adds.

In fact, due to this latest development, a new process needed to be developed – which was efficient, cost-effective and practical – to accommodate the anticipated growth in proposal submissions. Bogner and her team worked with professional associations like the Consulting Engineers of Alberta and the Alberta Association of Architects to construct a short-list process via an online vendor registry called VRAES (Vendor Registry for Architectural and Engineering Services).

Essentially, firms can easily register their interest in a particular project; three of them will then be asked for full-blown proposals.

“It has been an incredible experience to work with the associations to come up with this new process,” says Bogner. “It was great for us – developing something very new, very different and something that works well for industry as well as for government. I would suggest that anybody faced with the implementation of TILMA should work with industry because they have amazing ideas.”

In British Columbia, the response to TILMA has been slightly more muted.

Abigail Fulton, vice-president/government relations for the B.C. Construction Association (BCCA), says, “The truth is, we

“The issue of how we reconcile the differences between the provinces is of primary concern to us.” really haven’t heard very much from anybody on possible impacts to the construction industry.”

Perhaps the most recent, detailed examination of TILMA was the association’s 2008 document, Report on the Impact of TILMA on the B.C. Construction Industry, which is 81 pages long (located at: www.bccassn.com/documents/ImpactofTILMA ontheBCConstructionIndustryFinalReportFeb08.pdf).

“We outlined a number of areas that we thought could impact the construction industry,” she says, “but as to whether it actually has impacted the industry or not, right now it’s pretty much business as usual.”

Industry observers had expected some heated discussion to arise over the Red Seal certification of workers, but apparently, little has been noticed. Manley McLachlan, president of the BCCA affirms that “To date, we have not encountered any issues with the agreement that we have been asked to react to.”

“The building trades and our affiliates are certainly all in favour of mobility; there’s no doubt about that,” comments Wayne Peppard, Executive Director of the B.C. and Yukon Territory Building and Construction Trades Council, an umbrella organization for construction unions in the province of B.C. Peppard’s organization has been active in keeping its stakeholders up-to-date on TILMA and constantly refining its own records, recognizing that the schools it runs and the apprentices graduating from its system represent a large number of the people that are being put through the trades.

“I think in the trades, we already had fairly established mobility, primarily through the Red Seal program and, other than a few routine enquiries we’ve had, I haven’t seen that a lot has changed since TILMA was ratified,” says Jeff Nugent, executive lead, strategy and policy, at the Industry Training Authority in B.C. ITA is the provincial crown agency responsible for overseeing B.C.'s industry training and apprenticeship system.

“The concerns that we have regarding the application of the AIT and TILMA are actually not much different than some of the other concerns that have been expressed by engineers or nurses or other occupations,” says Peppard.

“However, the issue of how we reconcile the differences between the provinces is of primary concern to us. In the other provinces, the people who have been affected by these changes have been rigorously involved with the issues around reconciliation.”

“Nevertheless, we hold fast that the Red Seal national standard is the vehicle by which we can ensure that there is mobility which is east-west and north-south; that goes for all of the National Occupational Listings. We believe that the changes should not be made individually in any jurisdiction, which in some instances is here in B.C. because we don’t have require-

ments in our legislation or in our policy for mandatory Red Seal standard or compulsory certification.”

Peppard says another of his organization’s concerns is that in Manitoba, there is a move to recognize tradespeople from Iceland to come to Manitoba to work.

“The terms of the agreement on international trade stipulate that anybody who’s recognized to have a credential or qualification for a trade or occupation in one province must be recognized in any other.” He feels this is a loophole through which a province could make a deal with another country to reciprocate on credential recognition.

And Fulton says that TILMA may, in fact, be tested if unions decide to use the challenge portion of the agreement.

Fulton recommends that persons active in the construction industry try to stay abreast of any developments affecting TILMA, “especially in the regulated trades like electrical, gas fitting and so forth, because things may change.”

“The regulations that people have been operating under aren’t necessarily going to stay the same, because they do have to get harmonized with Alberta. Chances are there are going to be some reasonably significant changes to the way the trades are regulated,” she says.

“I guess the only advice is, ‘Pay attention’,” says Fulton. ❏

School Plant Officials Association of B.C. www.spoabc.org

29

Making the grade with geoexchange School teachers have the “three Rs”; administrators, responsible for heating and air conditioning B.C. schools, have the “three Es” – energy, environment and expenditures – all of which need to be conserved like never before. Fortunately, Terasen offers alternative energy options that can help conserve all three Es.

ROOFING CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

One of the most attractive energy options for school boards is geoexchange, a system that uses the Earth to help heat and cool buildings. In winter, heat stored in the ground is extracted and used to heat buildings. In summer, heat is transferred back into the ground to help keep buildings cool. The result is clean, renewable energy, increased oper-

ating efficiency, and a dramatically reduced carbon footprint.

Schoolyards, with their large areas of open playing fields, are ideally suited for installing exchange loops, as the piping is called in a geoexchange system.

School buildings are also ideal for geoexchange, as such systems are most economical and efficient where there is a large volume of space, or multiple buildings, to be heated or cooled.

Terasen is a leader in developing geoexchange and other sustainable energy systems. In keeping with its provincial government mandate to encourage energy and environmental conservation, the company builds, owns and operates geoexchange and other energy systems for both private and public sector entities.

There are many benefits of outsourcing responsibility for operating a school’s heating and cooling plant. As a pure bottom-line consideration, capital expenditures and energy consumption are reduced, and overall utility costs can be better managed.

The environmental benefits are significant as well. Municipalities, including school districts, play a role in B.C.’s Climate Action Plan, a roadmap to reducing provincial greenhouse gas emissions by 33 per cent by 2020. Two of the plan’s key recommendations are to use only the minimum amount of energy needed for operation, and to use renewable energy sources for heating, cooling and power. Geoexchange meets both these recommendations.

But perhaps the greatest benefit is one that is unique to schools. Schools set an excellent example for the next generation about responsibility, sustainability and the goals that can be achieved by human ingenuity.

Join the growing list of school districts doing their homework to help secure B.C.’s energy future.

Learn more about geoexchange by visiting: terasenenergyservices.com. ❏

30

Ops Talk Fall 2009

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San Francisco Waldorf High School’s new home, the product of an extensive renovation of a 1970s call center, is a national model not only for learning, but also energy efficiency and green design practices. The two-story 23,000-sq.ft. building, packed with sustainable design features provided by 450 Architects, has applied for the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Gold Certification.

“Cerra outperformed other luminaires that were similar in style; the light distribution was better and the efficiency was higher for this demanding application,” says Xanders.

“Aesthetically, we preferred Cerra for its clean lines, its simple and contemporary style, and the fact that it wouldn’t compete with the architecture.”

The importance of lighting the classroom spaces was quickly recognized by 450 Architects, which collaborated with Xanders Design Group to provide a lighting design that would minimize energy consumption, maximize flexibility, be simple and stylish in design, and blend well with the architecture.

The conflicting demands of high visual comfort and extreme efficiency posed by the LEED rating system required extraordinary creativity and integration with both daylight and lighting controls. Each space would have to be precisely illuminated with no excess watts, resulting in a complex lighting design featuring a variety of lamps, ballasts and circuiting.

The classrooms proved particularly challenging.

The design team wanted to use two rows of luminaires—the typical approach for lighting the common 30-ft. classroom size—but the Waldorf’s classrooms are as wide as 42 ft. with 13.5-ft. ceilings.

“Three rows of luminaires would typically be used in such large rooms, but the high ceilings allowed for an increase in the number of lamps per luminaire and increased suspension length,” says Angi Xanders, principal of Xanders Design Group.

The designers chose Peerless Lighting’s Cerra luminaire for its combination of high performance, minimalist styling and cost effectiveness. The number of lamps in each luminaire was increased from two to three and the luminaires were mounted 10 ft. from the floor, enabling row spacing of 20 ft. on center.

Because of the viewing angle into the bottom of the luminaires, the luminaires were specified with semi-specular baffles to reduce luminaire brightness and eliminate glare.

Avoiding the addition of a third row of luminaires dramatically reduced energy consumption and capital costs. The overall design achieved a lighting power density of less than 1W/sq.ft. while meeting the demanding visual needs of a Waldorf classroom.

Daylight and luminaire control also played important roles in the design. Fortunately, the existing building already had large windows to admit daylight, but with a dark film that obstructed daylight penetration; new operable casements with clear glass windows were installed in existing and some new locations.

While studies have demonstrated that daylight improves learning and can increase light levels, daylight does not by itself save energy. For this to occur, a daylight control system was installed, combined with automatic shutoff controls intended for energy code compliance to produce high total energy savings that were critical to the project.

In the classrooms, the Peerless Cerra luminaires were placed parallel to the windows, with the row closest to the window controlled by a photosensor installed between the window and first row of luminaires. When light levels rise or fall above a target light level, continuousdimming ballasts modulate light output to maintain the target. These controls work with an occupancy sensor which shuts off the lighting when the space is unoccupied; the combined result is ongoing high energy savings.

Thanks to highly efficient luminaires, advanced lighting control and plenty of daylight, San Francisco Waldorf High School is now one of the greenest schools in the country where students benefit from high visual comfort, glare and eyestrain reduction, and optimal ceiling and workplane uniformity.

Find the energy-saving “sweet spot” with condensing boilers

BY ROY COLLVER

The spring 2009 issue of Ops Talk had a very good article by Art McDonald on boiler system design to save energy. I urge you to dig out your old copy and give it a good read. Recent research and innovation in system and boiler design fully support this article, and in addition, have further identified some especially fertile ground for using condensing boilers in both retrofit and new installations.

Put simply, we need 100 per cent of the heating system’s capacity for only 10 per cent of the heating season. Sixty per cent of the season, we only need 40 per cent capacity; and for 30 per cent of the season, we run at 15 per cent. These results confirm that we have all been looking at the wrong side of the sizing spectrum in designing systems. We get the most from the LEAST. One result of the increased use of

Condensing boilers used in warmer weather with high temperature boiler.

The real low hanging fruit, as Art identified, is in using condensing boilers to look after the base load in an existing “high temperature” system.

One or more condensing boilers can be configured to heat the building in the spring and fall, with high temperature boilers reserved for the extreme weather. But it turns out, the numbers are even better than we thought. Recent research commissioned by Natural Resources Canada during development of the CSA P10.07 performance standard resulted in a simplified, threepiece approximation of the heat load versus system capacity for much of Canada (the purpose of this approximation is to evaluate efficiency of heating equipment).

32

Ops Talk Fall 2009

condensing boilers is that baseboard manufacturers are now rating their products at ever lower temperatures – one manufacturer is now publishing down to 110°F average water temperature – a little over 25 per cent of the rated 180°F output – and the ratings are encouraging us to re-think our previous minimum temperature requirements. We are adding more insulation to these older buildings, tightening them up and installing controlled mechanical ventilation. Better windows, better controls – all this stuff adds up to big reductions in required water temperatures to existing radiation, good news for condensing boilers.

In many cases, the high temperature “cold weather warrior” boiler is no

longer needed, and even if the water temperature occasionally has to creep above the condensing point (approximately 125°F return water for a natural gas boiler), 87 or 88 per cent combustion efficiency is still much better than what we have expected from boilers in the past. Most high quality condensing boilers now use pre-mix combustion systems that provide the precision needed for higher turn down ratios to meet minimal seasonal loads at maximum efficiencies. Larger systems take advantage of the deep modulation resulting from staging multiple boilers.

It all adds up to outstanding savings.

Some school boards in the Lower Mainland are getting paybacks in less than two years for boiler room retrofits using this technology.

New buildings, of course, can and should be designed from the outset for low enough temperatures so that boilers condense all year - which is all good – but if we really want to see some serious reduction in the carbon footprint, we have to dig deeper and squeeze a little harder. New buildings, new ideas – how low can you go?

Some designers are having great success putting condensing boilers at the other end of heating season – the high temperature cold weather side. How does this make sense? Well, if we add heat pumps to the mix and we look at the colder weather to bring the condensing boilers into play, we have some really exciting numbers to play with.

With current insulation standards, and properly designed terminal units (radiant floor or panel radiators), our building’s base load can be handled by geothermal or air to water heat pumps at water temperatures well below 110°F, and condensing boilers can be used to top things up (110 to 140°F supply water) by burning fossil fuels on those difficult winter days – oh yes, the back-up is nice too. Insufficient real estate for the geothermal field is no

systems in most school buildings these days, controlling these types of hybrid systems can be surprisingly easy. I believe a 33 per cent reduction in our carbon footprint is underachievement.

If we use all of the tools at our disposal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, we can easily exceed 33 per cent with our heating systems alone. Then we can go talk to the lighting people – see if we can get to 50 per cent GHG reduction.

Condensing boilers used in colder weather with low temperature heat pumps.

longer an excuse; we can make up the shortfall with the boilers.

Let me throw this into the mix, if we are starting to get serious about greenhouse gas reduction: How about solar?

We can use solar on the sunny days for domestic hot water and heating, and dump the heat into a geo field during the summer when we can’t use it (help keep the geo field from cooling off too

much by adding free heat to it – prevents the collectors from frying as well). So we have a solar base load, backed up by a heat pump secondary, backed up by a fuel-burning boiler – can you spell LEED® Platinum?

These are not radical ideas we are talking about here. All of the technology is proven, and readily available. Given the sophistication of building automation

About the Author: Roy Collver has installed, designed, serviced, taught and written about hydronic heating systems for over 30 years. He is contributing editor for Hydronics and a regular columnist for Plumbing & HVAC Magazine, Toronto.

He operates his own consulting company based in Peachland, B.C., and is director of sales and marketing for IBC Technologies, Vancouver, B.C. He can be reached at the following: Direct Phone: (250) 767-0278 Mobile: (250) 317-2283 Email: otbc@telus.net ❏

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School Plant Officials Association of B.C. www.spoabc.org

33

THOUGHTS ON: Co-operation

BY CHUCK MORRIS

Recently, a colleague of mine was lamenting the fact he once again needed to repair the drywall in his home office. “It happens about once every four or five months,” he cried! Not understanding what he was getting at, I encouraged him to elaborate a little; maybe I could help him out. I really don’t like doing drywall but if a friend could use my help, I was all for it.

He began by telling me about a building permit application he had submitted to the Building Department of the city he lived in, and the hoops he had to jump through to satisfy the inspector. He explained he had never seen the level of bureaucracy he has had to deal with when trying to take out a simple building permit for the small renovation he was doing.

First it had to go to the planning department; if all of their forms are not filled out correctly, the process stalls. Once completed (if approved), the application then needs go to the building department (a long five steps across the room to a different counter). My friend has to pick it up and submit it to the building department – they don’t automatically pass it over! The other catch is they don’t tell the applicant when it is ready to be picked up.

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34

Ops Talk Fall 2009

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I could see his frustration and had to admit that this process sounded bizarre. I wondered to myself how I might deal with it if I worked in that city. However, I still didn’t see how this explanation fit with my pal needing to do some drywall at home. I asked him how this process was responsible for a hole in his drywall at home; was someone careless? Did the inspector crash into the wall for some reason?

Buddy went on telling me that although the renovation was a simple job, the city has all these forms to fill out, some of them with required information that is not relevant to the project at all! He did say that after two months of stumbling around unfamiliar territory and really stressing out over the runaround from the planning and building departments, the work finally got underway and was nearly complete.

I asked him if the contractor was going to repair his drywall, or did he want me to come over and do it for him? The look I received from my friend made me feel like I had not understood a word he had said!

“I am really frustrated; it’s not just the permit application process and length of time it took, but nearly everything we are dealing with,” he panted. “People seem reluctant to do anything now because of fear of someone suing them. Cooperation seems nonexistent!”

I told him I concur with that thought, but that I did not think it was with everything we dealt with.

“Look around you,” he exclaimed, “everyone deals with a lack of co-operation. Maybe it’s not always because of bureaucracy; perhaps non-compliance with city bylaws drives some of it; maybe someone has had a bad hair day; maybe just because it’s Monday!” He looked miserable. “So then,” I gently asked him, “the damaged drywall at your home is not really damaged, is it?”

“You cleverly used a metaphor to try to get your point across, the old ‘banging your head against the wall’ scenario, you old dog!” He looked at me with that quirky smirk of his, and nodded.

We all face different levels of what we may perceive to be a lack of co-operation and most of us figure out how to deal with it. It could be we must develop a better relationship with the city to avoid costly delays with time sensitive projects. It could even be with your own staff; perhaps not enough information has been passed along and the unknown to them causes fear or distrust.

Co-operation is certainly nice to have and makes everyone’s job easier. If you are not receiving it, figure out what some of the reasons may be and attempt to correct them.

We all need less stress in our lives. Remember, I don’t enjoy repairing damaged drywall! ❏

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The choice of cleaning investments

BY BARRY COLPITTS, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER, WOOD WYANT

When it comes to investing, consistent contributions are well regarded as the best manner to ensure long-term financial strength. A regular, regimented plan (as opposed to an annual lump sum) takes advantage of periodic improvements, and provides building blocks for exponential growth.

In an educational setting, our key investments are twelve years in the making.

CLEANING WITH OUR “EDUCATIONAL INVESTMENTS” IN MIND Although most of the talk these days is focused on either pandemic preparedness or green cleaning, to ensure the highest return on our key investments, our cleaning dollars and procedures need to be focused on the student, the teachers and the persons who clean. This type of thinking starts with understanding how much these three groups are interconnected.

VISIBLE CLEANING I love to use the term “visible cleaning” because it leaves so much room for interpretation. The most fun place to demo a machine is in an elementary school because the students watch to see what is happening.

By bringing the cleaning of our facilities to the forefront of student education – from hand-washing to classroom cleaning, recycling to green cleaning – children learn from what they observe others doing.

Placement of signage, recycling bins, soap and sanitizer dispensers and custodial offices all influence the perceived importance students and staff give to their role in supporting proper cleaning for health initiatives. In most cases, this simply means changing locations, not significantly increased investments.

Cleaning our schools affects, and will continue to affect, our future generations, whether we are planning on it or not.

CROSS-CONTAMINATION In a healthcare facility, cleaning is focused on breaking the chain of infection, ensuring patients do not make other patients more ill. In schools, the chain links together children making other children ill and then on to others (teachers, staff, family members). The risks associated with contamination involve understanding that we cannot disinfect all areas and provide a germ-free environment, but we can better understand the traffic flow and risk areas based on controlling infections. There are countless studies showing how cleaning helps to reduce absenteeism rates for both students and teachers. The principal point is that the educational cost of lost learning days far outweighs the investment in the

36

Ops Talk Fall 2009

proper procedures and cleaning of utensils, cloths, mops and equipment that come in contact with common surfaces.

Eighty per cent of all common infections (colds, flu, and diarrhea) are spread through the environment (air, water, food, fomites [inanimate surfaces])1. The sharing of these common surfaces such as washrooms, desks, computers, pencils, cell phones and I-pods all play key roles in the spreading of pathogens.

CLASSROOMS AND LIBRARIES In a recent study, an elementary school teacher’s desk ranked number one as the “germiest” office space, while some of the most bacteria-contaminated classroom areas included pencil sharpener, desk top, computer and sink1.

The use of a colour-coded microfiber hand cloth system and water can provide effective cleaning of classroom surfaces throughout the day, and should especially be considered prior to and after eating lunches, along with periodic wiping of common teaching areas such as desks and computer tables.

Ensuring the classroom is “ready-to-clean” at the end of the day is an important time saver for custodial staff and will provide increased time to help augment the “level of clean” within the common classroom setting. Removal of shoes and items from the top and underneath of desks and main floor areas will provide efficiency to the cleaning staff and enable easier implementation of microfiber flat mop system for endof-day classroom cleaning.

Removal of furniture, such as couches, from the classroom should also take high consideration due to bacteria present and the high potential for contamination.

WASHROOM Studies have shown that bacteria and viruses are released into the air when toilets are flushed. The droplets settle out and contaminate the restroom with fecal microorganisms1.

With new technology comes adaptation. The use of latest microbial-based cleaning chemicals (such as Wood Wyant’s Vert-2-Go BIO line) attack problems at the source by outcompeting harmful bacteria for the organic soils (food).

Controlling sources of odours and bacteria replication by eliminating the food from harmful bacteria will lead to a cleaner, healthier washroom environment. More frequent damp/spot cleaning of key hot spots and flooring during the day will remove unwanted smells and organic soils. Cleaner, non-odour facilities promote improved student, staff and visitor hygiene perceptions.

PLANNING THE CLEAN The use of proper tools, microfibers and equipment are all

By bringing the cleaning of our facilities to the forefront of student education – from hand-washing to classroom cleaning, recycling to green cleaning – children learn from what they observe others doing. great steps in cleaning but will have little or no net gain on creating a healthier environment if surfaces are not cleaned properly. The cleaning and changing of vacuum filters and brushes on a regular basis will help reduce the movement of bacteria harbored in the vacuums from being spread from one area of the building to another. Dr. Gerba found E. coli on 50 per cent of the sampled vacuum cleaner brushes1, of which pose a hazard of unwittingly spreading airborne contaminants during the cleaning procedures. Airborne contaminants lead to asthma2, one of the highest causes of absenteeism in schools.

Proper washing of microfibers with a thermal disinfection process ensures that when the cloths are returned to the cleaning program, they are not causing contamination issues.

Preventing the transfer of organisms is as good as disinfecting/hand washing in reducing risks1. Improperly cleaned cloths and mops for highly congested areas such as classrooms and washrooms can lend to lower cleaning standards.

Proper procedures and following the chain of infection has been a constant in the healthcare field for a number of years.

Ensuring proper cleaning programs for the school environ-

ment requires knowledge of the locations, the soils, the hazards and the planning required to maintain a healthy school, all within a restricted budget.

With consistent, interconnected planning of procedures and investments, we can ensure that the school environment, employees, students and the community they impact will all live healthier lives.

For more information on Wood Wyant, including our programs such as “School of Sanitation” (SOS) and Vert-2-Go Bio, or to learn more about the quoted articles and evolving cleaning technologies, please feel free to drop me a line at barry.colpitts@woodwyant.com References: Dr. Charles P. Gerba, Infection Control at Work: Reducing the Risk, University of Arizona.

2 Carol Westinghouse, Strategies for a Better Environment: The Plain Facts, INFORM, Inc., New York. ❏ 1

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School Plant Officials Association of B.C. www.spoabc.org

37

Reroofing: When to retrofit and when to replace

BY JOHN L. PIERSON, PE

Eventually, even the best roof system will fail. So it is inevitable that, at some point in time, every building will require reroofing. This article will help you explore two metal roof retrofit alternatives, providing you with the information you need to determine when to retrofit over an existing roof, or, when to tear-off and replace it.

Metal roof retrofits and replacements are not limited to metal-roofed buildings. Many flat roofs (membranes over insulation) can be upgraded to accept a metal retrofit or replacement, to take advantage of the added slope that metal roofing provides. But regardless of the type of existing roof, the quality of its assembly must be thoroughly evaluated prior to determining whether retrofit, or tear-off and replacement, is your best option.

WHEN THE EXISTING ROOF IS METAL When the existing roof is a metal one, your first step is to visually evaluate the condition of the panels. Specifically, what you are looking for is obvious signs of rusting and deterioration and/or a profusion of popped-out fasteners. It is rare for metal roofs to require total replacement. But when the damage is severe, it may be advisable to entirely remove the existing roof prior to reroofing.

More often than not, metal roofs can be successfully retrofitted by installing a framing system between the existing roof and the new one. Such framing systems attach the new roof to the framing of the building, thereby transferring the load from the new roof to the building's structure. Design loads should always be checked when adding weight to any building structure, especially pre-engineered metal buildings which have limited weight capacity.

To summarize, when replacing metal with metal, there are two major concerns: â&#x20AC;˘ How serious is the existing damage to panels and the fastening system? â&#x20AC;˘ Does a second roof already exist?

WHEN THE EXISTING ROOF IS FLAT The ability to add slope to flat roofs is one of the most exciting capabilities of metal retrofitting. But before entertaining this option, there are several things to consider.

First, you'll want to consider your building's load restrictions. Typically, the framing and metals used in a metal retrofit will add three pounds of weight per square foot to the deck's structural load. It is imperative that a qualified engineer evaluate your building's ability to accept that additional

38

Ops Talk Fall 2009

weight.

Equally important is the issue of wet insulation. Trade organizations and design professionals uniformly agree that wet insulation should always be removed and replaced prior

CONCLUSION Retrofitting a new metal roof system over an existing roof assembly, whether metal or flat, offers cost-saving and timesaving benefits, in comparison with total tear-off, related disposal, and replacement. Retrofits also protect the building’s interior from inclement weather conditions and construction debris, while minimizing disruption to occupants.

However, a retrofit isn’t the panacea for all situations.

Attractive as this option is, the decision to retrofit should only be made after a thorough engineering analysis that takes into consideration all relevant factors, including the condition of the existing roof and specific building code to reroofing, regardless of the type of retrofit. The good news is that only the wet insulation requires replacement, so a total tear-off is not required. The further good news is that retrofit provides an ideal opportunity not only for adding slope, but also for increasing the R-value of your roof by installing additional insulation.

The framing system required to install a metal roof over a flat one is more elaborate than that which is used for metalto-metal retrofits, since it has the additional purpose of adding slope to the finished installation. It should be noted that, depending on its dimensions, such framing may constitute an enclosed space, according to building code requirements, thereby necessitating the installation of sprinkler systems. Ventilation requirements, too, may be affected by the installation of a framing system and retrofit metal roof. The engineering services of a roofing professional, acquainted with the nuances of your local building code, can help you determine what additional requirements might apply should you opt to retrofit a flat roof with a metal one.

Finally, since performance requirements for flat roofs and metal roofs may differ, you'll want to review specific building code requirements with an engineer, such as fire-resistance and wind-uplift requirements, in order to ensure compliance when upgrading from a flat to a metal roofing solution.

requirements.

About the Author: John L. Pierson, PE, is the engineering services manager and product manager for metal roofing systems for The Garland Company, Inc., a Cleveland-based manufacturer of high-performance roofing materials. He is a member of Garland’s Speaker’s Bureau and delivers seminars and AIAaccredited classes on installation techniques and roofing technology. Prior to his work with Garland, he was employed in the construction industry as a field engineer and consultant. ❏

School Plant Officials Association of B.C. www.spoabc.org

39

Chute Lake Elementary School reflects unique community attributes, a candidate for LEED® Silver certification Gregg Brown and Nick Bevanda know a thing or two about teamwork. The two architects, principals of KMBR Architects Planners Inc. and Bevanda Architecture Inc. respectively, have successfully collaborated on the recently constructed Chute Lake Elementary School, completed for School District No. 23 of Kelowna, B.C. The project is the seventh in a series of projects in the Okanagan Valley, following the replacement of Penticton Secondary School, an expansion to Mount Boucherie Secondary School, and the completion of the Central Okanagan Hospice House. The two firms are also working together on the renovation and expansion of the Southern Okanagan Secondary School, scheduled to begin construction in the spring of 2010.

The relationship between the two firms began in 2003 with the design of Penticton Secondary School. Led by Brown and Bevanda, the project was a multifaceted one, involving the preservation and incorporation of two nearby heritage buildings. It was this experience – with all its challenges and complexities – that laid the groundwork for a partnership based on collaborative innovation. Since then, the two men and their firms have combined their values in design and client service to create meaningful architecture that meets the unique requirements of their clients throughout the Okanagan Valley. This is exemplified with the recently completed Chute Lake Elementary.

Drawing largely from Brown and Bevanda’s educational facility planning expertise, work on Chute Lake began in 2007. The mandate was to meet the Ministry of Education’s challenging schedule, which included a two-phase feasibility study, Ministry approvals and detailed design over a course of only 14 months.

The school is designed for a student capacity of 350 students plus two kindergarten classes, with a construction budget of approximately $10.5 million.

The design team, consisting of the architects, consultants and school district representatives (including administrators, facility planners and capital project coordinators), was successful in providing a scheme and meeting the challenging schedule. Integral to this achievement was the firms’ common design philosophy, and particularly their shared use of integrated processes and Building Information Modeling (BIM) software, including Revit-Architecture by Autodesk. The project was tendered in the spring of 2008 and awarded to Greyback Construction Ltd., providing a bid of $9,180,000.

The building is located in a newly-constructed residential area in the upper Mission area of south Kelowna. The area borders the Kettle Valley subdivision, distinguished by its New Urbanism character. The concept was to create a compact twostorey school that reflected the unique attributes of this area, while maximizing the potential for the site. In addition to the building, playing fields, outdoor gathering spaces, play equipment and parking for staff and visitors were organized on the 5.4-acre site.

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Situated on the southwest corner of the property, the school overlooks the playing fields. It provides safe, easy access for parents dropping off their children as well as direct access to the kindergarten rooms located on the lower floor, adjacent to the play equipment. The site allows for families to access the property with a connection between two bordering streets.

The building axis follows the east-west contours to minimize earthworks and to achieve the optimal north-south orientation for the long sides of the building. This orientation is particularly important for sun control, and also happens to take advantage of the good views to the north over the park and playfields.

Bevanda’s role as a key community liaison informed the many community design elements incorporated into this project. Community/recreational spaces are clustered at the west end of the building, which is also the most public side of the site. The main entrance lobby creates a social heart to the school and serves to accommodate large numbers of occupants who may be using the gym and/or multi-purpose room for various community functions. Off the main entrance lobby is the administration area, library, gym, kitchen servery, and multi-purpose room which will all contribute to a sense of vitality and community at the central hub of the school. A single classroom is also located within the community-use end of the school so that community meetings and before/after school care can be accommodated outside of normal school hours.

The entrances are designed to allow the non-community use spaces to be secured when school is not in session.

The multi-purpose room is designed to be usable for music and drama activities, and can open into the gym for performances, acting as the stage, or as a backstage area for a stage platform set up in the gym. The kitchen can serve the multi-

purpose room or to the hall outside of the gym.

Primary and kindergarten classrooms are located on the ground floor, where direct access to the outdoors is possible and most appropriate.

Kindergarten classrooms are designed to be interchangeable with general classrooms, adding longterm adaptability.

Intermediate classrooms occupy the second floor. An open work area shared by all classrooms is provided on the second floor overlooking the lobby for activities that cannot easily be accommodated in the classrooms, or where more than one classroom is collaborating in an activity. The second level also provides access to a mechanical corridor located above the second-floor classrooms in the ceiling space. This unique location provides easy access to the mechanical system by maintenance staff, as well as access to the roof.

A portion of the Special Education area allocation is used for small “quiet” rooms attached to classrooms and distributed around the school. These rooms will facilitate itinerant teachers working one-on-one with students and can accommodate multiple educational uses, including small group projects, quiet student activities, cooperative teacher planning, and counseling.

Infused into the design of each of these components was KMBR’s experience in LEED® design, particularly as it relates to schools. One such LEED® consideration was the use of natural light. Upon entering the school, the visitor is struck by the amount of natural light filtering into the large lobby.

This is the common denominator between both floors and minimizes the need for day lighting.

Other considerations feeding into our LEED® strategy included: • Reducing the development footprint including erosion and sediment control; • Management of storm water; • Inclusion of bicycle racks; • Reducing the Heat Island Effect for roof and non-roof elements; • Minimizing light pollution; • Reducing water use by 20 per cent; • Incorporating a commissioning agent on the consultant team; • Incorporating mechanical systems with minimum energy requirements that reduce CFCs, eliminate halons and provide ozone protection; • Incorporation of renewable energy systems (Photo Voltaic); • Incorporating a recycling program; • Managing construction waste; • Using regional materials; • Interior and exterior spaces incorporating durable materials;

• Incorporating materials that are low emitting, contributing to the indoor air quality; • Monitoring carbon dioxide levels; • Providing day lighting and views to 90 per cent of the spaces; • Incorporating a ‘green’ housekeeping strategy; • Creating an education program that provides information describing the energy created from photovoltaic cells to a website accessible by the public; • Drawing upon a LEED® accredited professional (Gregg Brown).

The school is a candidate for LEED® Silver certification.

The overall character of Chute Lake Elementary School is contemporary, while relating to the nearby New Urbanism neighbourhood through the use of materials and colours.

What’s more, the project is proof that when two firms combine their strengths and work together, the result is a sustainable, well-designed school that can serve as the centre of the community for years to come.

“The school, staff and students are thrilled with the new facility," states Judy Shoemaker, planning manager for School District No. 23. ❏

B E V A N D A R C H I T E C T U R E TM Email: studio@bevanda.ca #208 - 399 Main Street, Penticton, B.C. Canada V2A 5B7 Tel: 250 492 1005 Fax: 250 492 5999

School Plant Officials Association of B.C. www.spoabc.org

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Secure-Rite Mobile Storage offers solutions for all spaces and budgets In September 2007, Secure-Rite Mobile Storage Inc. was named as a finalist for the Okanagan Business Excellence Awards in the “Rising Star” category for businesses under three years old. The awards are co-sponsored by the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce, Business Development Bank of Canada, and Petraroia Langford LLP. The company was also featured in the fall 2007 edition of the Business Thompson Okanagan magazine.

Secure-Rite Mobile Storage has experience of working with BC school districts and private sector schools, as well as major construction and project management organizations.

We have also partnered with civic, event management companies, and not-for-profit organizations to provide storage solutions during festivals and sporting events.

In the busy and time-constrained world we live in today, many schools are under pressure in two key areas; space and budget! Secure-Rite Mobile Storage can provide a fast, easy solution to one without sacrificing the other.

Secure-Rite Mobile Storage provides a range of secure and weatherproof mobile storage units. Our new or used containers are available for purchase, lease or rental at competitive prices, and we can deliver anywhere, anytime.

Secure-Rite supply storage units in sizes ranging from 6ft to 40 feet in length, ideal for storing equipment, school supplies and playground gear. Units can be modified to provide solutions for mobile workshops, site offices, or temporary accommodation. Custom paint solutions to match your building exterior colours are also available.

Secure-Rite Mobile Storage supports all of their customers with first-rate delivery and service. In many cases, your storage container can be delivered within 48 hours without inconvenience and without waiting. Storage containers always arrive on-site clean and ready for immediate use. With our wide assortment of storage container products, you’ll get exactly the storage space you need for your school, jobsite, or business.

“Our values focus on excellent customer service, and our goal is to provide you with an exceptional product at a competitive price.”

Lucas Griffin, President Secure-Rite Mobile Storage Inc. ❏

School Plant Officials Association of B.C. www.spoabc.org

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Air filtration for schools THE PROBLEMS The statistics are a bit unnerving.

In Canada, 5.7 million school children and close to one million teachers, administrators and others walk into 15,000 school buildings every day – at least 50 per cent of these schools have been diagnosed with indoor air quality problems.1 The most precious natural resource of any country is found in their young people. However, school systems in Canada and the United States are placing too many youth in jeopardy by exposing them to buildings that are less-than-conducive to a positive, healthy learning environment.

Our nation’s K-12 schools are challenged to serve a growing student population and rising community expectations with aging buildings, constrained operating budgets, and everincreasing energy bills. Each year, Canadian taxpayers spend $750M on energy for these schools – about 25 per cent more than necessary. That $188M could be redirected to hire 3,500 new teachers or purchase five million new textbooks annually.2 Add to this energy bill another alarming statistic: The Asthma Society of Canada estimates over half a million school children miss some 800,000 days per year with asthma, making it is the leading cause of school absenteeism.3 The Canadian Lung Association states, “Proper indoor air

NORSPEC F I L T R A T I O N

quality in schools is necessary for a safe and healthy learning and work environment.”

While we know many of the problems of school indoor air quality problems can be solved with good engineering practice and proper maintenance, repair and operation (MRO), cleaner air can be provided by increased levels of air filtration and provide the solution to many of the IAQ problems.

IAQ CONCERNS IN SCHOOLS Schools represent a much denser population percentage than a typical commercial office building and as a result, the bio-burden becomes even greater. Viable and non-viable particulates are brought into the building on people’s clothing, and through open doors and windows. Furthermore, the activity level of most young people, which increases the shedding of skin cells and other particulates, makes school air some of the dirtiest air in any environment.

Many schools continue to utilize low efficiency (MERV 1-6) filters that remove minimal levels of all particulate matter. For any parent who has taken their child to school first thing in the morning and picked them up in the afternoon, the difference in the smell of the school at the end of the day is astonishing. For those in the school, most have become accustomed to the con-

Air Filtration Specialists

4704 - 91st Avenue Edmonton, AB T6B 2L1 Tel: 780-468-9296 Fax: 780-468-5806

School Plant Officials Association of B.C. www.spoabc.org

45

“... every child and school employee should have the right to an environmentally safe and healthy school that is clean and in good repair.“ – Health Canada dition and do not realize their air is full of particulates and odours.

H.E. “Barney” Burroughs, a consultant with Building Wellness Consultancy noted, “When the building’s air filters do not remove the particles from the air, the occupant’s lungs become the filter.”

With these tremendous problems come tremendous opportunities. The National Air Filtration Association (NAFA), in conjunction with its member companies, has stepped forward to help school boards become better educated on air filtration solutions and provide cleaner environments for their students.

Here is just one example: CASE STUDY Norspec Filtration Ltd. began working with the Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB) beginning in 2000.

TVDSB began to realize that their “low bid” contract for air filters was not working when parents, teachers and custodial staff began complaining of poor air quality. They revised their air filter requirements with the note that they were looking for solutions to their air quality problems.

Norspec made a presentation to TVDSB outlining an “Air Filter Management Program” that included replacement of all low MERV number filters with MERV 8 pleated filters, along

with MERV 8 synthetic ring and link panels. Next, Norspec assisted with development of a change-out schedule that involved a three-month survey of all 195 school locations to verify size, quantity, and existing status of the air handling system.

Finally, Norspec worked with the school district to assemble a “Filter Committee” with representatives from Norspec along with school officials and personnel from purchasing, maintenance and health and safety, who met on a quarterly basis to assess proposed solutions, along with addressing any filter issues brought to the committee.

Each school had its own filter change schedule and filter order sheet with specific times and dates for ordering and changing. The program was monitored by the Filter Committee. This monitoring revealed that the individuals involved in changing air filters knew very little about air filtration. With more than 400 people responsible for changing air filters, Norspec held five training sessions – one in each region of the district. Over the intervening years, this training has become a yearly event to accommodate new personnel and reacquaint existing employees with filtration concepts.

Finally, the Filter Committee made a commitment to meet regularly to discuss issues, troubleshoot problems and

look for better ways to improve overall air quality. As a result of this partnership between TVDSB and Norspec, the school board not only found significant improvements to indoor air quality, but also realized cost savings from reduced change-outs in many schools, along with reduction of storage and damage.

TVDSB also reported cost savings in other areas such as housekeeping and equipment maintenance, which was attributed to the improvement in air quality.

In 2005, Norspec Filtration Ltd. nominated Thames Valley District School Board for the NAFA Clean Air Award, which the school board subsequently received.

CAN UPGRADING AIR FILTRATION LOWER COSTS? The answer is yes. Most of the time, the lowest initial cost air filter is not the lowest overall cost air filter when energy, storage, change schedules and disposal costs are included. The National Air Filtration Association and its member companies have the skill and expertise, and are dedicated to providing training and certification for air filter technicians involved in providing clean air to building inhabitants.

For more information, please contact Norspec Filtration Ltd. toll free: 1-800-265-0247.

Footnotes: 1 Indoor Air Quality in Canadian Schools, Final Report, Dalhousie University, November 2003.

2 Energy Efficiency in Buildings, Natural Resources Canada 3 “Asthma at School” article, Asthma Canada, 2005.❏

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Ops Talk Fall 2009

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