Energy Management - The cost of energy is a major item in any school budget. Thus, school planners should embrace ideas that can lead to reduced energy costs. Energy Management Systems are computer-controlled systems. They can automatically turn on and off air conditioning, lights, and boilers according to pre-programmed instructions entered by facilities staff. Investment in Energy Management Systems will generally be recouped within a few years.
Two-Pipe and Four-Pipe HVAC Systems: HVAC water systems heat and cool buildings by transferring hot or cold water through a system of pipes. One method of moving the water through a building uses a " two-pipe" system, in which one pipe is used to supply the water to the point of use and the other is used to return the water to its source. Because only two pipes need to be installed, it is initially less expensive than a "four-pipe" system. The drawback is that chilled and hot water can't both be supplied at the same time. In other words, a building is either being heated or being cooled in its entirety at any given time. If, for example, the south face of a building heats up faster than the shaded north face, there is no way to heat one part of the building while another part is being cooled.
Electrical Systems - Electrical equipment must be maintained like any other piece of equipment, whether it is a distribution pole with transformers or a breaker box for controlling a classroom's electrical power. Professional engineers and electricians should help to determine preventive maintenance tasks and schedules for electrical components. Thermographic scanning, which identifies overheating in connections, motors, bearings, and other electrical switchgear, can be an important tool for determining the condition of electrical gear (the principle behind the test is that a loose connection, bad bearing, or bad breaker bars will produce more heat than a proper connection). Thermographic scanning devices are not expensive and should be part of every district's standard maintenance toolkit.
Boilers - Boilers, which can be used to generate hot water for school use (e.g., kitchens, showers,oftices and bathrooms) should definitely be included in an school's preventive maintenance program. Most large boilers are subject to state or local inspection laws, which typically require that the boiler be maintained on a regular basis (at least annually) and that maintenance records be kept on-site. Records of hours of operation and fuel use must also be maintained on-site and made available to inspectors. Moreover, permits may be required for boilers that generate more than 10,000,000 btu/hour. Energy-saving techniques include equipping boilers with hot-water temperature resets (which adjust the temperature of the hot water being produced based on the outside temperature) and using boiler economizers to capture and recycle heat that would otherwise be lost in the stacks.
Fire Alarms - Fire drills should be held on a monthly basis both to test fire alarms and practice occupant response to fire emergencies. During school breaks when buildings are not occupied, detailed inspections of all fire alarms should be performed. This includes testing all pull stations, smoke detectors, and heat detectors located in building ductwork. (Note that the installation of smoke and heat detectors in HVAC ducts is a recent, but important, revision to many building codes.) Some states require that a licensed contractor perform fire alarm inspections.
Experienced facilities managers recommend that all grout be in earth tones (or on the dark side of the color spectrum) because light-colored grout tends to stain and discolor over time, often
to the point that it is difficult to restore or repair.
Floor Coverings - Selecting appropriate floor coverings for a school is an important issue that planners must address during renovation and new construction. Often lunchrooms, main halls, and secondary halls are covered in terrazzo, vinyl composition tile (VCT), or quarry tile. These coverings have hard surfaces that are easily cleaned and do not collect dirt. In classrooms where noise control is important, carpets with an impermeable backing, which prevents the passage of water or dirt and are easily cleaned, may be used. Carpets can also be purchased with adhesives already attached to the backing, which helps to ensure complete adhesion without the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Some primary schools use area rugs rather than carpets because they can be easily removed and cleaned at the end of the school year or as needed. Periodic cleaning of both carpets and rugs is necessary to minimize the likelihood of dirt and other contaminants causing indoor air quality problems. Ceramic floor tile is an excellent surface material for bathrooms or other areas with high exposure to water.
Kyalofred94 answered the question on August 6, 2019 at 05:44