[Ken Wertz, MFAA Exec]

Thanks Mike,

Open communication certainly is what seems to be working best while everyone is so amped up. For most districts every building is different in both age and design. Your response plans also need to be different and by you explaining that to your union leaders helped so much get across what you can and can’t do while also reducing anxiety.

The MTA will be putting out better specific guidance on what they had intended their union members to carry to their districts which aligns with my earlier meeting overview points above as discussed at at last night’s on MTA Environmental Health and Saftey Task Force.

[Ken Wertz, MFAA Exec]

Hello,

We all know this is being pushed from the MTA to all unions across the state. MT union is asking same question. Although when I asked what they were looking for they absolutely had no clue as I told them Air Testing is extremely broad. My suggestion is to let them tell you what they want and go from there. Don’t give them any fuel to use.

I actually had the President and VP of the union into my office to show them and had a discussion with my Mechanical company about the workings of the system. One of the big pushes is to open windows, but when you have a system that pressurizes the bldg and relies on a power exhaust with static pressure in the ducts, that’s a NO NO.  After a little schooling and them understanding the internal workings of my HVAC, things got a little better.

Mike Gormley,

Monty Tech

[Ken Wertz, MFAA Exec]

Hi everyone,

Just off my call with MTA to clarify what they are looking for as far as air quality. They thought they knew, and thought they had explained to everyone, but, even during the call there was some confusion.

What I pulled from the meeting, which was actually very productive, is they want the following:

– Air Flow testing: checking equipment for Air Exchange per hour and CFM per person capacity of the equipment for filtration.

– Air Quality: at a minimum they want to see temperature, CO2 levels (both outside as a baseline and inside), and Relative Humidity; but wouldn’t be upset if you also captured items like CO levels and other items you would normally see in an “Air Quality” inspection (mold, dust particulate levels might be a bit much for their COVID concerns but good practice for everyone to have a baseline of their buildings to have something to compare when the sick building calls come rolling around)

If you talk with your union directly a newer building’s balancing report or commissioning report may meet what they are looking for.

Hope this all makes sense. I know it is a bit late getting to the bottom of this but we had to go through DESE, then MASS, then finally the MTA to better understand what they are looking for. They have also requested maintenance records for your HVAC equipment so if you are using a work order management system print them off a report showing all the cool stuff you have been doing while this wasn’t an issue….

Keep working at it. So many communication gaps on all sides that are causing you all unneeded work, stress and anxiety.

Take care everyone,

Ken

 

 

[Ken Wertz, MFAA Exec]

I could only find in ASHRAE COVID response that the nurses and isolation rooms set at no more than 10ACH. Looking around at other spots it looks like the typical classrooms can range anywhere from 6 to 20.

Much like anything depends on the size (cubic feet) of the space, type (standard, science, lecture hall) and the number of occupants intended to be in that space. You won’t find a one answer fits all.

Get as many as you can as it will help with air exchange.

Good luck,

Ken

[Ken Wertz, MFAA Exec]

Hello everyone,

Just off my call with MTA President and hopefully will be on a call with their Environmental Health and Safety Committee this Thursday. I’m trying to give them a basic understanding of what they are asking for and how ASHRAE and CDC provide more of a good better best concept that many aren’t reading the other options if equipment is older and can’t accommodate Merv.13

The call with Merrie went really well today and I explained to her that MFAA is working with everyone and not picking sides. We are trying to have everyone speak the same language and understand the concept of every building is different and not all MERV 13 and 100% fresh air are always the answer.

I’ll keep chasing to hopefully find some common ground with them and the Superintendents. You keep communicating with your communities on specifics of what you can, and can’t do, and how each plan does work with options as spelled out in ASHRAE. Some buildings will have heat on and windows, and that is ok if that is your plan, just explain to people as they are all anxious and can’t comprehend. Not really sure why the hell teachers are demanding temps must between 72 and 77 degress but hopefully I’ll understand more after my next call.

Keep at it and I’ll do what I can behind the scenes.

Ken

[Ken Wertz, MFAA Exec]

Hey Steve,

We do have a new sponsor to the MFAA that handles a ton of signage throughout New England and are based right out of Stoughton MA.

https://oldmfaa.avatar-development.com/sponsor/albert-basse-associates/

Good luck,

Ken

[Ken Wertz, MFAA Exec]

I would guess that ASHRAE’s intent was to have you to disconnect the operation control of the CO2 sensor and not lose the valuable information that comes from reading the sensor. Every other agency in America, teachers union included, wants you to track show show air exchange through CO2 readings.

 

[Ken Wertz, MFAA Exec]

Hey Chris,

TURI labs offers some great information and downloadable content for policies. This link is also up on our COVID page on the website.

https://www.turi.org/Our_Work/Cleaning_Laboratory/COVID-19_Safely_Clean_Disinfect/Safer_Cleaning_and_Disinfection_for_Schools

I’ve also posted a quick 5 pager from Minnesota DPH and I’ve emailed them if we can use this here in MA. They said absolutely as long as we don’t modify their wording to change intent and acknowledge them in our docs. I’ve asked MA DPH and DESE if they are going to be providing guidance and heard crickets. Go figure…..

https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/schools/clean.pdf

Hope this helps and Good luck out there.

Ken

[Ken Wertz, MFAA Exec]

Hi again,

Mike D’Angelo and I had a call with MASS Executive team this morning to talk HVAC and figure out how to best explain things to not only Superintendents but also the MTA.  We are working on a strategy to reach both.

I’m sharing the webinar I did last week with MIIA with the Supers which explains, in easy terms, why we can’t just throw MERV 13 at everything. Additionally as an outcome from today’s meeting, I’ve arranged a call with the MTA President on Monday to see how we can get them to better understand that what they are demanding really isn’t a thing. “All schools are required to have 100% fresh air makeup?!”

Hoping to continue connecting dots and informing end users in the interest of making MFAA member’s work supported vs. being attacked.

MASS call today was a great example of opportunities to make people aware that historically cutting and reducing maintenance budgets has gotten us into this problem and clearly needs to change. It won’t change overnight but we need to put steps and plans in place to avoid these extreme reactionary scenarios in the future.

Ever forward everyone and will keep you all posted along the way,

Ken

[Ken Wertz, MFAA Exec]

Here is some guidance from Connecticut Dept. of Public Health for what it is worth. They do NOT recommend stand alone HEPA air cleaners for classrooms: (from page 3)

– In addition, we do not recommend separate, free-standing air cleaner or HEPA filter units for individual classrooms. These units are highly variable in their effectiveness in larger open spaces such as classrooms and in general, any effect on indoor air quality is likely insignificant and greatly outweighed by the additional costs to school systems.

https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/Coronavirus/20200622-DPH-Guidance-for-School-Systems-for-the-Operation-of-Central-and-nonCentral-Ventilation-Sys.pdf

I know this isn’t Mass but being we don’t have a DPH that is really providing much for guidance this may help with your decision. Also, pretty decent  guideline for HVAC.

Thanks

Ken

[Ken Wertz, MFAA Exec]

Hi everyone,

I have phoned a friend on this one and will let you know when I hear back. From what I have read, if the fan is running with intent to bring in fresh air then that is ok. If the intent is to just move air around, IE: gymnasium ceiling fans, then guidance seems to say no. CDC recommends ceiling fans if they are re-engineered to create an updraft and have UVC lighting at ceiling level but this was referencing cooling stations and shelters. No mention of day to day use.

I’ll get some answers for us and share with the group.

Thanks for the question,

Ken

[Ken Wertz, MFAA Exec]

Hi everyone,

You can pay with a PO for the training. Just email to either myself or Brian Lynch and we will handle invoicing from there.

Reminder, while you do need to register every person through our website you can chose to have them group together, with social distance being followed, and attend the series together. We will need a verified sign in list emailed to exec@massfacilities.com in order for us to confirm and issue certifications at the end of the training. Without this verification process we can not sign off on people having attended.

Any questions let me know. I’m away right now but checking in on emails as time allows.

Thanks

Ken

[Ken Wertz, MFAA Exec]

Thanks Joe,

While it is true that the stand alone COVID particle won’t be captured, the respired particle from an infected person is large enough to be captured. Likely why they can’t technically confirm that it helps catch the COVID particle.

Again, this is just another belt and suspenders approach to the larger problem. Place the air purifier nearest to the potentially infected individual and combined with masks, social distancing, proper cleaning and disinfecting it will, granted in a very small level, help add to our precautions to a targeted area.

Keep in mind the DRAFT guidance had one in every classroom! Luckily I lobbied to get it to just the nurses and quarantine rooms.

Keep up the good work everyone and do your best to stay positive, if that is a thing, as everyone is anxious about the Fall.

Ken

[Ken Wertz, MFAA Exec]

HS are going to be tricky. This has always been a problem. If your district is ok with students using the BETCO product you need to provide a simple 1 page training sheet to explain the 5 minute time. Give the students 2 minutes at end of every class, have them wipe down, bell rings which gives you about 3 to 4 minutes during classroom changes, likely more now with suggestion of staggered times will hopefully get you close to your 5 minute dwell time. If a student doesn’t feel comfortable when they come into the classroom they can wipe down again.

This situation is a laundry list of doing what we can with what we have. Better this than the contraband that Joyce mentioned and we all know are coming with teachers and students this fall.

Other option, which DPH didn’t love as it could cause skin irritation would be alcohol wipes for students in between classes. Quick, available, instant kill, evaporated off by time next student comes in. While not perfect, still better than the knock off brand disinfectants that people will have.

No easy answer but some possible solutions. Make sure if you are asking students to “Help” you explain it as just that. We need them to help! This is not a directive from an adult, this is us asking that they be part of our team to provide the safest options that we can. Human nature to do something if you believe you are part of the solution vs. given a directive.

Hope this helps,

Ken

[Ken Wertz, MFAA Exec]

Hey Jeff,

I reached out to our new sponsor from Albert Basse. Why not go right to the source? Here is Ed’s response:

 

Thanks for sending this feedback Ken,

there are 2 types of floor decals.   1 for interior and smooth floors only, and 1 for outdoor, indoor, and carpets –   Both are removable and not supposed to damage the floor or carpet in any way.   The only caveat is that the outdoor version, when placed on carpets – can potentially (but not supposed to) leave some minor adhesive residue after its peeled up over a long period of time – after 3-6 months –

I have not seen that here with the samples I put down on my carpets, but it has been known to leave a minor amount of adhesive.   But NOT on flooring.

Town of Acton asked me a similar question about carpets –

The simple answer is NO –  It will not damage the floors –

thanks

Ed

Edwin E. Basse | Vice President Sales and Marketing
Albert Basse Associates, Inc.
175 Campanelli Parkway • Stoughton, MA  02072
t: 781-344-3555 ext. 201  m: 781-718-7671