Trustees received and read in advance Report 7.1) BD-04-2021 from Allen Morrison, Controller of Planning and Facilities.
Controller Morrison provided some introductory comments.
Clarification in Board Report 7.1 Item 2 was provided in bold and italics. COVID has not been confirmed to be air borne to the extent that it is scientifically shown to transmit through ventilation systems, but can travel through aerosol droplets. HVAC is considered……
Item 3 refers to the level of service to schools to provide assurance of what we are doing and to ensure we are getting value for our HVAC adjustments.
Controller Morrison then invited Mr. Nigel D’Souza, Manager of Facilities Services, to make the slide presentation.
The HVAC overview and updates will include how the HVAC system is measured in the context of COVID, and how we are attempting to maintain good indoor air quality through temperature and humidity settings. All air circulation through a building is filtered and all schools are mechanically ventilated.
Mr. D’Souza responded to questions and comments from trustees.
- Do MERV 13 filters have to be changed or are they permanent filters? What is the shelf life?
- There is no defined shelf life but the filters are inspected monthly and changed as needed.
- Do you or your staff look after the HVAC work or do you use external companies?
- It is a combination. Repairs and all preventive maintenance have been done in house and inspections as well, but it is a combination of external and internal service providers.
- This was a very detailed presentation. Not clear about the HEPA filters and the air distribution in buildings. The air quality feels different in some rooms of the building.
- HEPA filters are used for emergency response. If we don’t have ventilation or air exchanges in place, the filters are meant to treat the space in an emergency situation and, therefore, the filters are kept in the trucks.
- How is emergency air treatment conducted where health concerns are involved?
- The air has to be measured with special tools. After a new system is installed, air balancing does ensure that every diffuser is distributing the designed air volume. It is important to rebalance the system.
- Does the system filter out small particles like the COVID virus?
- The MERV 13 filters do capture smaller particles and may capture COVID particles. There is no evidence that COVID travels through HVAC air circulation.
- Have the guidelines been updated since COVID started?
- Yes, the guidelines presented were updated in response to COVID.
- How effective is the HVAC system in schools? If there is a concern re the level of filtration or air quality, do we have data that shows results of our schools vs our standards?
- If there are specific measure points, like humidity, then yes, we can look at the data.
- Were engineering controls studied since schools were assessed to ensure they were meeting certain controls?
- The designs were evaluated for system capability through an engineering review. We will be following the recommendations for retro-commissioning of damper systems to verify controls.
- If staff have concerns, what should they do?
- The building automation system would be accessed and can help to resolve situations, eg, check dampers and confirm changes to occur.
- How do we reassure parents and staff?
- The HVAC systems are functioning well. We are continuously monitoring and we are equipped to respond should there be a need.