Outside Air is the #1 Answer

Brian K. Kasher, CETManager, Environmental Health and Safety

Charlotte Mecklenburg Schoolsbrian.kasher@cms.k12.nc.us

Indoor Air Quality and Student Performance: How To Create Healthy School Environments

1. New London School Disaster

2. Select Modern Environmental Aspects

3. Ventilation’s Key Role in Health

4. Portable Classroom Impacts

5. IAQ Tools for Schools Program

6. Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools in Action

New London School Disaster of 1937

Prepared by:

Brian Kasher, CET

Manager, Environmental Health & Safety

Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools

What Happened to Our School and Children?

Mr. Byrom told me several times that the day before the explosion, Owen came home

complaining about a headache and sick stomach

The next morning, Owen got up to go to school but told his parents he was still feeling bad. Since he had done this before, they got him up and forced him to go to school

where he died. Mr. Byrom blamed himself for Owen's death

Mr. Byrom said several of the students had complained the day before about headaches.

Others left for school but didn't get there or played hooky

Mother always said that it would have been even worse for the community if the mothers had been

in the auditorium that day

Our Angel Sammie Lee-There's nothing I can say,

except a loving prayerThat God will bless you dearest one,

and keep you safe in his care.And in my solemn sorrow,there is nothing I can do,

except to live a better life.In memory of you

-Daddy

This handwritten poem was found amongst Papaw's (Doris and Sammie's Father) keepsakes

•

This slide represents approximately 1/20th of the students and faculty lost

March 18, 1937

The day after, this worst school disaster in American history, Texas proposed the first comprehensive U.S. law

regulating natural gas odorization. Let schools not wait for disaster, to take action! It is impossible to know how

many lives will be saved!

Permission to use media for non-profit use granted to Brian Kasher, EHS Manager, Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools, Charlotte NC by New London Museum

http://www.nlse.org/

Why are Asthma/IAQ/Health Issues on the Increase?

• Buildings used to be made of brick, stone, mortar, metal and wood

• Today thousands of compounds are used in our buildings that did not exist in the past

• Buildings are much tighter and offer less natural breath ability and fresh air

• People are spending more time indoors

• Outdoor air has many and much more contaminants today than historically

Bernardino Rammazzini

Asthma is the #1 cause of school absenteeism in the US

Lead• Drinking Water• Plumbing• Painted Windows and other

components• Learning Aids/Toys• Lighting Systems • Body Powders• Folk Medicines• Reduces mental abilites in

youthHippocrates

Documented Lead Toxicity

4th Century BC

Environmental Health Aspects

Environmental Health AspectsASBESTOS• Most Uses Not

Banned Today• Used in over 3000

Products Historically• AHERA School

Regulations• Carcinogen

Inhalation

Ingestion

General Chemical Exposure• Over 500,000 Compounds in use • Inventories w/MSDS Library• VOC, mVOC, Formaldehydes • Amines, isocyanates.........

• Child Exposure vs. Adult Exposure– Children breath more air by weight– Children's bodies, organs, and minds

still developing– Adult Exposure limits determined for

healthy adult labor force exposure– Adult workers in workplace voluntarily;

Children compelled to attend school

Pliny the Elder Crafted first Recorded

Respirator out of Animal Bladders

Environmental Health Aspects

OSHA Exposure Limits not Intended for Children

Radon• The Surgeon General has

determined Radon to be the number two (2) cause of Lung Cancer in the United States second only to cigarettes.

• Schools may be a significant source of radon exposure for children and staff according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA).

• Carcinogen

Environmental Health Aspects

Zone 1 counties have a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L (pico curies per liter) (red zones)

Highest Potential

Zone 2 counties have a predicted average indoor radon screening level between 2 and 4 pCi/L (orange zones)

Moderate Potential

Zone 3 counties have a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L (yellow zones)

Low Potential

Mold Impacts

Wall and Cover Should Be White as Shown Here

Plume Indicates Moisture Path

Sample 100X Sample 400X

•Public, Staff Fears

•Media Darling

•Sample Interpretation

•National Standards

•Allergen

•Respiratory Irritant

•mVOC

•Micotoxins

Environmental Health Aspects

Hidden Growth

OutsourcedRemediation

Multiple Species

CCA Treated Woods• CCA 22% Arsenic by Weight• Used through 2003• Play area, walk ways, portable decking• Bleachers, Dug outs• Remove or Seal every 2 years• Treat Soils• Carcinogen• Toxic

Environmental Health Aspects

Methamphetamine Lab Residues• Tweekers and Cookers lose sense of

reality and responsiblity• Multiple Industrial Chemicals Used• Surveillance often focused on

determining when children will be away from raid.

Environmental Health Aspects

Ventilation• ASHRAE CODE 15 CFM/per Occupant• Reduces Indoor Air Pollutants• Research studies are showing conclusively

that increased ventilation improves performance within limits

• NIOSH, USEPA, OSHA and WHO identify inadequate ventilation the #1 adverse IAQ trend in occupied buildings.

Environmental Health Aspects

Masking Agents Are a Sign of Inadequate Ventilation

Communicable Disease

• MRSA• VRSA• Avian/Pandemic Flu• Hepatitis• Whooping Cough• Others

Florence NightengaleCoined Ventilation

The First Cannon of Nursing

Environmental Health Aspects

Environmental Aspects Problem SourcesBuilding Systems

– HVAC– Plumbing– Roofing– Interior Design – Windows– Building Seal

Fresh Air Intake Loaded with Vegetation

Building Materials– Carpets– Sheet Rock– Surface coatings– Adhesives– Insulation

Building Operations– Custodial/Maintenance– Cafe, Toilet Exhausts– Classroom Supplies– Lawn Mowing, Watering– Aquariums/Fountains– Classroom Pets

Human Factors– Open Windows/Doors– Perfumes/Masking Agents– Individual Susceptibility– Carbon Dioxide Levels– Inconsistent Environments

Modern HVAC Systems and IAQ

Pollutants are Exhausted and or Diluted by Cycle of Outside Air Intake and Return Air Exhaust

Significantly Increased Pollutant Levels Result From Re-circulated Air and No Fresh Air to the Mix

HVAC System Outside Air Intake Blocked - Increases Trigger Levels

Ventilation

• Brick and Mortar Shut Air Supply

• Sheet Metal Shut Air Supply

• Closed Mechanical System Dampers Preventing Outside Air From Getting In

• Clogged Systems

• Note: Ground Level Air Intakes Highly Susceptible to attack

Classroom Air Delivery

Squirrel Cage Fan Coil System

Cleaning HVAC systems increases efficiency, reduces energy consumption and improves air quality

Carbon Dioxide MeasurementCarbon Dioxide As Surragate Gas

0500

1000150020002500

8:00

10:0

011

:00

12:0

0

2:00

4:00

6:00

Time

PPM

OutsideCeilingInside

Key Factors•Fresh Air Supply•Mix Ratio IA/OA•Population•Time

Adverse Trend

Desired Trend

Portable ClassroomsMythPortable Classrooms are temporary and will

not be in use for an extended duration

– Portable Classrooms should be considered at minimum semi-permanent for procurement and maintenance budget allocation. It is not uncommon for Portables to be in use for 10, 20, 30 years or more once procured.

Portable Classroom Health

Custodial and Maintenance Concerns– Cleaning requires more effort than traditional classroom

(getting cleaning water to the portable)– Issues such as foot traffic bring water into building

envelope increasing moisture load and damage– HVAC Filter Changes and System Noise Issues– Classroom Lighting Issues – Ceiling appearance deteriorates with time– Drainage systems fail with time

Supply Air Drawn From Damp Area Supporting Microbial

Growth

Portable Classrooms

Condensate Discharges Into Drain Line, Newer Unit Elevated Air Intake

Portable Classrooms

Water accumulation resulting from blocked drain path

Simple drainage pathway blockage may lead to flooding

Portable Classroom Health“Regular maintenance by a skilled crew

was found to be far more important to the useful life of a portable

classroom than age.”“The Use of Relocatable Classrooms in the Public School Districts of Florida.“ -

University of South Florida Master of Architecture Program, Florida Department of Education, Office of Educational Facilities 1993

Portable Classrooms

What is Outside, Gets inside!

Use of Portable Classrooms requires responsible program Leadership, Stewardship and Care.

Portable Classroom HealthPortable classrooms environments

may affect the education process– Inadequate ventilation– Wide heating/cooling temps– Inadequate lighting – Excessive moisture/humidity– Noise above background

threshold– Formaldehydes – VOC’s in adhesives and other– Molds – Supply air issues drawing in

adverse constituents from outside

– Asbestos in older stock

EPA TFS Framework in ActionCommittees, Task

Forces, IAQ Teams

Checklists, Surveys Site Inspections,

Visits

IAQ MGT Plan, Budget, Bonds, Maintenance

Training, Issue Response, Outreach

Benchmarks, Metrics, Tracking Nurse Visits, Absenteeism, Staff Surveys

Meetings, Articles Newsletters,

Reports

Knowledge is Power•IAQ Backgrounders

•Checklists

•Reference Guides

•Problem Solving Wheel

•Walk Through Video

•Ventilation Video

•Peer Mentors, EPA Staff

Using the IAQ Action Kit

Informative Guides

Videos

Problem Solving Wheel

CMS IN ACTION• Senior Management Buy-in• Instituted 2 and 24 Hour Response

Protocols• Joined Tools for Schools Program• Attend and Provide TFS Trainings• Created Written IAQ Management

Plan• District-wide Facility Audits w/

University of Tulsa • Formally Institutionalized IAQ

Program• Established the EHS Office & Staff

IAQ Management Plan

Routine Facility Audits

• Occupant concerns • Fresh air source location and

condition• Water marks on ceiling tiles • Musty odors • Damp carpets• HVAC discharge • Condensate line issues• Water accumulations

CMS Regional Property Managers conduct monthly inspections of all facilities.

O&M Training ProgramCMS provides mold, IAQ, asbestos, HAZCOM, and moretraining for custodial, maintenance, property management staff.

IAQ conferences, workshops, town hall meetings and other presentations add nurses, teachers, administrative staff as well as outside groups e.g. health department and peer districts

Mentoring through educational conferences and other forums allows others to build on CMS approach to creating healthy schools

Preventive/Predictive Maintenance

•Thermal Graphic Imaging

•Ventilation issues

•Exhaust Fan Issues

•HVAC Filter Changes

•Building Envelope Updates

•Roofing Maintenance

CMS maintenance shops, custodial services and engineering participate in the Mold O&M program including: paint, grounds, carpentry, roofing, sheet metal, plumbing, special projects, and HVAC

EHS BUILDING SURVEYS

Stabile classroom environment Carbon Dioxide Testing Instrument

Unstable classroom environment

Integrated Pest Management• Alternate to Pesticides as Primary• Reduces Chemical Load of Schools

CMS IAQ/Health Successes• Trained 700+ CMS custodians, 200+ shop employees• Trained 22 School District’s at DPI Conference• Worked for NC School Sanitation Code to include

Ventilation, HVAC Filters, Playgrounds and other • Reduced Summer/Fall Mold Response Calls by 57%• Respond to 98+% of IAQ calls within 24 hours• Responding to Operational Emergencies 99+% within

2 hours of notice• Changing CMS culture reducing recurring issues and

identifying long term adverse conditions • EPA Tools for School Sustained Excellence

Award Winner December 2007

CMS IN ACTION 07/08• Cleaned 20 School HVAC Systems• District-wide Exhaust Fan Initiative• Pilot Ventilation Project Updates • Bond IAQ Line Item• IAQ/CSH Training for Nurses, Shops,

Teachers, Parents, Administrators• Developed High Performance Design

Guidelines for New Construction

Community Outreach• North Carolina Environmental Stewardship Program Partner• North Carolina School Sanitation Rules Committee Member• Mecklenburg Environmental Leadership Team Member • City of Charlotte Environmental Cabinet Member• American School Board Association Urban Healthy Schools

Coalition Member • Council of Urban Boards of Education• Tools for Schools National Symposium• USEPA Region 4 IAQ Webinar• NC Department of Public Instruction• North Carolina Respiratory Forum• American Association of School Administrators

Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools

134,000 Students, 18,925 Staff

161 Schools (94 ES, 32 MS, 25 HS, 10 Special)

18.9 Million square feet occupied

630 Buildings; 1250 MCRs

Multiplex of Indoor Environments, Air Delivery Systems and Bldg Envelopes

One of 25 Largest K-12 US Districts

CMS Building Services MissionTo provide excellent educational facilities for all stakeholders that

are safe, clean, well maintained, and environmentally secure