Facility Focus Spring 2021

FACILITY FOCUS The Official Publication of the Alberta Educational Facilities Administrators’ Association

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spring 2021

Evergreen Elementary School: Better than before Three schools are better than one: Calgary Board of Education receives three new elementary schools Spring workshop agenda: Sessions, trade show and more

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table of Published by: DEL Communications Inc. Suite 300, 6 Roslyn Road Winnipeg, MB R3L 0G5 www.delcommunications.com President & CEO David Langstaff Managing Editor Cindy Chan cindy@delcommunications.com Sales Manager Dayna Oulion dayna@delcommunications.com Advertising Sales Gary Barrington Jennifer Hebert Dan Roberts Production services provided by S.G. Bennett Marketing Services Creative Director / Design Kathleen Cable Cover Photo Courtesy of

contents 6 Message from the AEFAA president, Tammy Parry 8 Evergreen Elementary School: Better than before 1 0 Three schools are better than one 13 Alberta Roofing Contractors Association celebrates 60th anniversary

16 AEFAA Spring Workshop 2021 agenda 17 School safety: Lock, don’t block 20 Vipco Visual Boards: Providing schools with ‘remarkable products’

2 2 Restoring peace of mind throughout COVID-19 25 Propane school buses will reduce GHGs by 624 metric tonnes in the Halifax area

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4

Printed in Canada 03/2021

FACILITY FOCUS • Spring 2021

Message from the AEFAA president

Tammy Parry

W

ith a long-

2020 sure gave us more than its

costs, saving pennies and cutting

awaited end

share of challenges: school’s in

corners; 2020 brought the

to 2020,

then school’s out, one month’s

challenge of extra money thrown

we start

notice on how we will start the

at us and a deadline to spend

2021 with

school year, enhanced cleaning,

it by. I am sure each one of us

students back in our schools, a

a fight for PPE and disinfectants,

rose to the challenge and didn’t

vaccine being distributed and a

loss or personal connections and

leave too much on the table for

hope for some sense of normalcy

more money to spend. Facilities

fear of never seeing it again. We

to soon return.

departments are pros at cutting

persevered like always.

2021 membership has opened

For over 50 years

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with renewed hope for in-person gatherings. The missed October PD session was rescheduled for January 14. Mental toughness training couldn’t be more fitting at this time. The executive has been working hard checking out all of our options for a spring

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BEFORE

AFTER

Calgary • Camrose • Cold Lake • Edmonton McMurray Chilliwack / Fraser Valley • Cranbrook / Kootenay • Kamloops• •Fort Kelowna / Okanagan Valley Nanaimo • North Vancouver • Powell River • Prince George • Hat Vancouver • Victoria Grande Prairie • Lethbridge • Lloydminster • Medicine • Red Deer

Evergreen Elementary School: Better than before

By Cindy Chan

E

vergreen Elementary School officially opened its doors to K-3 students in Drayton Valley last fall.

The school is a completely new build approved and funded by the Alberta government to replace the previously existing Evergreen Elementary School. According to Trent Franson, associate for START Architecture (formerly ONPA Architects), the old school had several issues with the building infrastructure, so it was time for a replacement. Construction began February 2019 and wrapped up October 2020.

“This is such an important project to the community. I’m pleased that we were able to complete this school, and create jobs at a time when too many Albertans are out of work. Alberta’s government is committed to building the vital public infrastructure on which

8

FACILITY FOCUS • Spring 2021

PHOTO BY PLAIN INTERactive.

Alberta’s students rely,” says Prasad Panda, Minister of Alberta Infrastructure.

From there, they completed the

According to Jason Callihoo, project manager for Alberta Infrastructure, Learning Facilities Branch, the project included site and pad preparation, building envelope, concrete floors, interior partitions, MPE roughin and interior finishes. The site improvements included parking lots, sidewalks and landscaping, which were completed concurrently with building construction during the summer months of 2020.

slab and putting up interior walls.

Don Morrison, project manager for Chandos Construction, says they began drilling piles, which was a bit challenging considering they started in the winter.

spaces are on the main floor,

“It was -30 degrees and below,” he recalls. “We continued with structural steel, then began to close the building as fast as we could.”

exterior finishes, then started interior finishes such as pouring Evergreen Elementary School is a K-4 school for a capacity of 250 students. The 2,904-squaremetre school features classrooms with partitions that open to common spaces for integrated learning, as well as a centralized library. There are 10 classrooms; however, the school is designed for up to 6 modular classrooms for a maximum capacity of 400 students.

All administrative and learning while a mezzanine adjacent to the gymnasium houses mechanical equipment. Construction materials included concrete floors, structural steel, exposed block walls, framed walls with panel systems and membrane roofing. The process for LEED Silver certification has just started as well.

“This school has solar panels that are interactive and educational.

The panels are linked to a monitoring dashboard that provides data on the amount of power generated,” Franson says.

There are high clerestory windows that look over an open, central learning commons and gathering spaces, flooding the interior areas with natural light. Teachers at the school wanted fun and engaging

elements within the school that focus on providing visual and tactile interest, such as patterns on the floors and walls.

“The Evergreen Elementary School will enable Wild Rose schools in the Town of Drayton Valley to meet student enrolment growth and revitalize existing student spaces by building and maintaining high-quality and well-designed schools,” Callihoo says, adding

that the location of the new school will allow the community to utilize the existing bus-hub and existing playground.

The subcontractors that worked on this project include Cdn. Power Pac (electrical), Total Plumbing and Heating (mechanical), Steeltech Structures Inc. (structural steel) and Parkway Enterprises (site services and civil contractor). n

Alberta Educational Facilities Administrators’ Association

9

Northern Lights School gym.

Northern Lights library.

Three schools are

better than one

By Cindy Chan

Calgary Board of Education receives three new elementary schools

T

hree new elementary schools have been

the province continues to recover from the COVID-19

built as a bundle project for the Calgary

pandemic projects like these will ensure Alberta’s

Board of Education.

students continue to have access to world class

The three schools, approved and funded

educational facilities,” says Prasad Panda, Minister of

by the Alberta government, are located in

Alberta Infrastructure.

different communities in Calgary, according to Stewart

According to John Boldt, project manager with Bird

de Paiva, project manager for Alberta Infrastructure,

Construction, who was the general contractor on the

Learning Facilities. They are Northern Lights School

$40-million project, the three K-4 schools are 50,000

in Coventry Hills, Dr. Freda Miller School in Evergreen

square feet each, for a total of 150,000 square feet.

and Sibylla Kiddle School in Cranston. All schools are

Construction began on the three schools in January

identical in design.

2019 and completed in August 2020, with students

“I’m thrilled to see these new school projects

occupying the schools in September 2020. Boldt says

completed in these growing Calgary communities. As

Sibylla Kiddle School front.

10

FACILITY FOCUS • Spring 2021

it was a requirement to turn all three schools over at the same time.

Sibylla Kiddle School main flex space.

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Sibylla Kiddle School music room.

Sibylla Kiddle School roof.

Boldt says the construction began with getting into the

commons and gathering space are central areas with

ground with site services and concrete foundations,

clerestory windows from above and glulam columns.

followed by structural steel and masonry, as well as

“The exterior of the building features sloped roof

slab-on-grade and slab-on-deck pours.

sections and some nice brick veneer to give it a more

“From there, the push is to get the building enclosed

residential feel,” Boldt says.

and watertight,” Boldt says. “Interior steel studs start

Each of the three schools are two stories in height,

right away, then you can begin drywalling.” These

designed for a capacity of 600 students each, says de

activities are followed by interior finishes such as

Paiva. They were constructed to achieve LEED Silver

flooring, gym wood floors and equipment, millwork,

and are awaiting certification. The building exterior

doors and paint, with mechanical and electrical

consists of concrete block/brick, corrugated metal

flowing throughout the process. The exterior site work

siding and aluminum longboard siding accents.

included sidewalks, parking lots, benches, light poles

“The schools will benefit their respective communities

and landscaping.

by offering both educational spaces for the children

“Each school has a two-story learning commons and

of the communities, as well as after-hour uses by the

gathering space with lots of natural light,” de Paiva

community at large,” de Paiva says.

says. “All schools have a solar power system on the

“Communities are growing and schools are always

roof.”

in need,” Boldt adds. “Calgary is one of those places

While all the schools were designed to be identical,

where there always more and more kids.”

they each have their own unique colours, finishes and

The subcontractors that worked on the schools are

exterior site layouts. Each school also includes 24

Trimen Electric (electrical), Rollinson Mechanical

classrooms, an art room, music room, administration

(mechanical), CCS (roofing), Danmar (drywall), KBM

area, gym and staff room, says Boldt. The learning

Flooring (flooring) and ESC Automation (controls). n

Sibylla kiddle School exterior.

Dr. Freda Miller School men’s room.

Dr. Freda Miller School classroom.

12

FACILITY FOCUS • Spring 2021

Alberta Roofing Contractors Association celebrates 60th anniversary Wall of fame.

T

o serve the Alberta roofing industry by consistently working to improve the image and quality of roofing – this is the foundation of our association established in 1961.

The cornerstones of our association have always been education of our members, application standards that serve not only Alberta but also Canada, the rigorous prequalification of our members and a successful warranty program.

What started as an amalgamation between the Calgary BuiltUp Roofing Association and the Master Bonded Roofers Association of Edmonton back in 1961 has now become one of the most respected organizations in the roofing industry.

A long and storied history that would see numerous milestones helps make this anniversary one worth celebrating. Whether it be the implementation of our training fund which allows for the ongoing training of our member employees at no cost right through to our best-in-class warranty program which provides peace of mind for building owners and contractors alike, we take pride in all these initiatives.

Education Maintaining relevance for over 60 years is an ongoing challenge, but with the vision that was stated by the association forefathers, this is

a challenge that is being met head on to this day. Our support of the provincial apprenticeship program, along with the introduction of our own in-house education initiatives, has given us the ability to continue moving forward in an ever-changing world. Our continuing education program, which consists of the Accredited Roofer of Alberta (ARA) and Certified Roofing Professional (CRP), is considered a benchmark in the industry and allows for continuing opportunities above and beyond the traditional apprenticeship route. With a strong focus on safety, technical skills and ultimately a management component for those that continue towards that path, we are pleased that this program is sought-after by our member employees. With a clearly defined path that gives

students the ability to move forward from hands-on work right through to managementlevel careers, we take pride in the amount of buy-in we have had from our membership group.

These educational and training opportunities are provided at no cost to our contractor members.

In addition to our career education path, we continue to offer the traditional education courses that are considered paramount to the skillset and development of members. Standalone courses, such as torch safety, fire extinguisher training, first aid for roofers, fall protection and leadership for safety excellence, are all offered.

With a strong focus on education, our robust training programs continue to be utilized by our

Alberta Educational Facilities Administrators’ Association

13

members on an ongoing basis.

Sustainability, estimating and financial literacy are just some of the courses that we offer.

Additionally, the ARCA has also contributed our programs to the national association (CRCA) for use across the country.

These contributions are all in the name of moving the roofing industry forward and keeping the workforce engaged.

Our educational offerings are not limited to our membership group.

A quick spin around our website will show you that architects, engineers and specifiers can take advantage of these benefits.

Whether you need information on wind uplift, accepted products or approved roof systems, these can all be found with the click of your mouse. If for some reason you cannot find what you need on our website, our staff is more than happy to walk you through any inquiries you may have regarding your project.

Our building is also available for groups that may need training space for their employees. As the former home of the Southern Alberta Roofer Apprenticeship program for many years, our building in Calgary is available for use by members and nonmembers alike. We encourage our members, manufacturers and associates to take advantage of our modern facility. It is available for use at no cost to our members and for a nominal fee for other organizations.

Strong support from our members, which include contractors, manufacturers and associates, has given us the freedom to continually evolve and bring ongoing development to the roofing world, whether that is through our ongoing 14

FACILITY FOCUS • Spring 2021

educational opportunities such as Rooferama, Advanced Education Day or the continual technical contributions that we make locally and nationally. These include ongoing research into photovoltaic roof assemblies (PVRA), as well as numerous other initiatives.

We continue to set the bar high to attract people and members that will continue to help keep our mission statement relevant for another 60 years.

Membership A very clearly defined mandate 60 years ago continues to serve us well. We look back proudly at those who helped shape where we are today and look forward to continually making the roofing industry a better place for years to come. Hard to imagine that those who started this organization back then could have seen what it has evolved into today: a cutting-edge association that continues to push the envelope. Our membership is carefully vetted and, as a result, the building owners who seek out an ARCA member know that they will be working with contractors with a proven and tested track record. All ARCA members unanimously agreed to a constant review by a third-party consultant to ensure all members meet the rigorous standards of the ARCA. One-hundred per cent of our members maintain COR, an achievement not shared by any other trade association.

Standards Like many other trades will agree, building and maintaining buildings in Alberta’s diverse climate can be extremely challenging. As we live in an area which can experience very strong winds, drastic daily temperature swings and extreme cold, the building

materials and application techniques need to be robust and able to handle these extreme stresses. Building professionals rely on ARCA’s accepted products to ensure that materials have been thoroughly reviewed to meet their high expectations.

As our manufacturing partners are continually innovating to meet consumer demands, this is even more crucial as the building envelope and roof assembly need to perform at an increasingly high level to protect the comforts and finishes of the interior of the building. The ARCA continually engages with national stakeholders to participate in research and development to ensure we can provide a high level of technical expertise to Alberta’s construction community.

Our vision was established back in 1961. It is imperative that we continue to strive for these goals daily to keep the Association and our industry viewed in the most positive light. A strong focus on the educational aspect of our vision has allowed us to continually put forth the best and brightest our industry has to offer. A vibrant, educated workforce helps to ensure that the industry is in solid hands as we move towards our next 60 years.

Without the clearly defined statement that guides us, none of this would have been possible.

We owe a tip of the cap to the visionaries who laid out the groundwork for what we have become today.

In these difficult times, taking the time to celebrate a milestone is a nice distraction from the world outside. Raise a glass to the ARCA for an amazing 60 years helping make the roofing industry a better place to be. n

ALBERTA ROOFING CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION

INDUSTRY SOURCE Standards built for Alberta 50+years of warranty satisfaction Journeymen qualified crews Accepted third party inspectors Continuous training programs Support for safe work practices www.arcaonline.ca

AEFAA Spring Workshop 2021 agenda Delta Hotels by Marriott Edmonton South Conference Centre • Edmonton, Alberta May 18, 19 and 20, 2021

Date

Time

Event

Location

May 18

5 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Trade Fair & Social Evening

Grand Ballroom

May 19

7 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.

Breakfast With Exhibitors

Inn at the Top

8:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Session: SAIT – Thriving with Resilience

Grand Ballroom

12 p.m. – 1 p.m.

Lunch

Inn at the Top

1:15 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Session: SAIT – Inclusive Cultures

Grand Ballroom

7 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.

Breakfast

Inn at the Top

9 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.

Session: Insurance ARMIC/USIC Update

Grand Ballroom

10:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Break

10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Session: Alberta Ed – IMR/CMR Update

Grand Ballroom

12 p.m.

Bagged lunch to go

Grand Ballroom

May 20

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Photo Credit: GEC Architecture

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School safety: Lock, don’t block

7

7

W

7

hen you hear

The intention for these barricade

lockdown situations. Simply stated,

the word

devices is good. The idea is simple:

these barricade devices that are

“lockdown”,

a quick and easy product that can

designed to keep people out are

what are

be added to a door (inside of a

also locking people in.

the first

classroom or office) that would

things you think of? In the context

prevent this outside threat to enter

of educational facilities, the first

and cause harm. This seems to be

thoughts go to outside threats and

a good way to protect staff and

specifically school shootings.

students, so where is the problem?

In 2018, there were 94 acts of

The problem that arises is many

school gun violence in the United

or most of these barricade

States, the highest since 1970

devices do not meet life safety

when these incidents were first recorded. The previous record of 59 incidents was recorded in 2006.

This growing threat in the United States put pressure on authorities and school boards to keep staff and students safe.

and egress codes. In some U.S. states, concessions to egress and fire codes were passed in order to allow schools and facilities to use some of these products. This happens from outside influences

“Lock Don’t Block” is a catch phrase from the Door Security and Safety Foundation that launched in 2016 to bring awareness to decision-makers on the importance of locking openings, and not blocking paths of egress.

The Door and Hardware Institute and the Door Security and Safety Foundation both continue to advocate for code-compliant solutions and industry expertise and guidance.

who lobby government and school

Yes, school shootings are very

authorities to make changes to the

terrible and real things; authorities

With rising cases in the United

building codes to allow the use

and school boards have the

States, pressure from outside

of barricade devices in case on

responsibility to keep staff and

influences was put on these authorities and school boards to find solutions and additional security measures to stop or prevent these school shootings.

Many new barricade-type devices flooded the market as a quick and inexpensive fix to provide extra security against these types of school shooting attacks.

Alberta Educational Facilities Administrators’ Association

17

students safe and are turning to

– so they often turn to quick fixes

these barricade devices as a quick

such as barricade devices that they

fix solution. School shootings,

mistakenly think are better than

although widely publicized, are

nothing,” said Jerry S. Heppes,

rare – and even more rare in

Sr., CAE, CEO, DHI and DSSF.

Canada. However, cases of bullying

“One of our goals is to educate

and harassment are not so rare.

stakeholders about the issues

Blocking or barricading doors

surrounding barricade devices.

with devices that do not allow free egress can also pose a risk to students or staff who may now

In fact, we are introducing a new effort designed to engage our members in more state and local

be trapped in a room with a bully

efforts.”

or a scenario that results in sexual

In Canada, the Door and Hardware

assault where the victim can not

Institute also provides a resource

escape. Shooters, in at least three

for more information regarding

recorded occurrences in the U.S.,

locking doors versus blocking

have barricaded themselves in a

(https://www.dhicanada.ca/news/

classroom with others to cause

barricade-devices).

harm or take hostages. It is important that a first responder is able to gain access into a classroom to evacuate students and staff in the case of emergency or fire; barricade devices would prevent this. The Door and Safety Foundation created this website to help bring awareness to the

Classroom function locks Classroom function locks are controlled by a key in outside cylinder, which locks or unlocks the outside lever. This lockset can be left in an unlocked or locked state by using the key. There is no means of locking or unlocking the outside of the lockset from the inside of the classroom. This function was originally designed for schools to prevent students from tampering with the lock (and locking the teacher out of the classroom). The obvious downside to traditional classroom locks is the teacher would need to leave the classroom in order to lock the door

The solution that helps prevent

in the event of a lockdown. Some

shootings is not quick-fix devices

schools have the procedure that

that block or barricade the door.

all classroom doors are to remain

The solution is the proper lockset

in a locked position so a teacher

function and followed procedures

or student only needs to shut the

for the facility. This provides

door in order to secure the room.

proven safety and security for staff

Egress is always permitted with

and students in shooting situations,

these locksets.

as well as situations regarding bullying or harassment. Ensuring

Office function locks

your facility has the proper lock

Office function locks may be

function is very important as new

controlled by a key in the outside

technologies have provided more

cylinder or by a thumb-turn or

A 2015 final report of the Sandy

options to end users. The good

pushbutton on the inside of the

Hook Advisory Commission states,

news is that there are several cost-

lock. The outside lever may be left

“The testimony and other evidence

effective ways to achieve safety

in a locked or unlocked state, and

presented to the Commission

and security for lockdowns without

the use of the thumb-turn or push

reveals that there has never been

compromising important life safety

an event where an active shooter

button provide a quick convenient

codes.

way to lock the outside cylinder.

The function of the lock that is

In a classroom scenario, although

currently installed in the facility

it might be a quick option for

may dictate the lockdown

teachers to lock the door in case

procedure. For example, a school

of a lockdown, it also would allow

that uses traditional classroom

students to tamper with locking or

function locksets will have a slightly

unlocking the door. Again, egress

different procedure than a facility

is always permitted with the use of

that decided to use storeroom

office function locks.

challenges of blocking devices and to provide resources and education on proper lock down procedures: www.lockdontblock.org.

breached a locked classroom door.

A holistic approach must be taken for classroom security including training, drills, key distribution, and impact resistance of glazing adjacent to the hardware, and there is no reason to sacrifice life safety in favor of security.”

“After a school shooting incident,

function locks on their classroom

parents, teachers, administrators

doors. Below is an explanation

Storeroom function locks

and elected officials believe that

of the more popular lock types

Storeroom locks are always in a

they must do something – anything

typically used on classroom doors.

locked state. A key will unlock the

18

FACILITY FOCUS • Spring 2021

door from the outside only, and the

proper procedures and key

liabilities outweigh the benefit of

lockset will stay in a locked position

distribution needs to be in place

blocking or barricading doors.

when the key is removed. This lock

for this to be effective.

function cannot be left unlocked.

Electronic options

lockset your facilities use or are

Electronic locks are available in the

interested in a security and life

above functions, and rather than

safety consultation, please contact

using a mechanical key to lock or

your local door and hardware

unlock the space, a credential or

consultant who can provide you

The benefit is that doors can be left in a locked position all the time.

Teachers cannot unlock doors for convenience and students cannot tamper with the lock as well. The downside is obvious. The lock is always locked and it can be an inconvenience for teachers or students who are returning to class. Egress is always permitted with the use of storeroom locks.

If you are unsure what type of

FOB would be presented to the lock for quick access or locking.

Key control would be a huge upside in using electronic locks becomes a thing of the past. The

findprofessional).

downside is electronic locks would be a more expensive upgrade over

About

mechanical locks when a facility is

Richard Beebe, AHC, FDAI, is

looking to upgrade.

branch manager at CP Distributors

Regardless of what function a

with over 25 years’ experience in

facility decides they want to

the door and hardware industry.

use, educating teachers and

He is a certified Architectural

key distribution will help keep

locks allow control of the outside cylinder from either side of the

found on the Door and Hardware website (https://www.dhi.org/

procedure and ensuring proper

Intruder or security classroom

list of these individuals can be

as lost keys and lost key control

administrators on proper lockdown

Security classroom locks

with assistance. A complete

students and staff safe while still

Hardware Consultant and a certified Fire Door Assembly Inspector. Email him at richardb@

allowing proper exit routes in

cpdist.ca if you have any questions

case of emergency. It’s important

or require more information about

to understand that the risks and

this topic. n

door with a key. This will not affect the locking of the inside lever, egress at all times. Some security classroom locks will even be provided with a visual indicator to provide quick instruction to teachers on which direction to

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as that will remain unlocked for

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in case of a lockdown. These

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scenario, where teachers will not

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need to leave the classroom to secure room. From the Door and Hardware Institute’s perspective, this is one of the best options for security and safety. Of course,

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Alberta Educational Facilities Administrators’ Association

19

Vipco Visual Boards:

Providing schools with ‘remarkable products’

By Lorne W. Nelson, SCMP, CSCP – General Manager

O

to withstand the test of time.

are standard. Utilizing 50 years

That is why we only use ceramic-

of lamination experience, we

coated whiteboard steel that is

produce a balanced, straight

guaranteed not to stain, ghost

board that prevents bowing,

or fade. Ceramic steel is low-

allowing the whiteboard to double

be through a visual reference.

maintenance, bacterial-resistant,

as a projectable surface. All trims

Chalkboards, whiteboards and

easy to clean and provides a

that are shipped attached are

bulletin boards have always added

writing surface that is guaranteed

either screwed or riveted to the

value in an educational setting to

for the life of the building in which

backside of the board.

support this learning method. The

it is installed.

We also know there is nothing

Our creativity is what makes us

more frustrating than retrieving a

unique. Our manufacturing facility

visual board from “the bottom of

has the flexibility to provide

the pile” that was shipped to you.

custom products without the

That is why Vipco has developed a

ne of the simplest forms of conveying one’s thoughts, ideas and visions can

medium used by teachers and students alike should be reliable, durable to ensure longevity and provide a safe learning environment for everyone.

custom price. “Built better to

robust “stand-up” crating system

Vipco Visual Boards – a recent

last a lifetime” is what we strive

for shipping when appropriate,

addition to the Vipco Group –

for in every product. Built and

which also doubles as storage

understands this need for high-

assembled in Western Canada,

protection. It greatly increases

quality, safe, dependable products

we laminate a full sandwich

the ease of getting the board you

in the classroom. We understand

construction. Ceramic steel

need, with reduced handling. This

how important it is for boards

front and galvanized steel back

reduces the chance of damages

20

FACILITY FOCUS • Spring 2021

while unstacking and restacking product.

Your safety in utilizing our products is just as important to us as it is to you, which prompted us to develop protective end caps as standard protection on all pen trays. Gone are the exposed rounded ends that the market has typically experienced.

We now supply 3D printed end caps to protect people from that sharp edge. Not only are they safe and reliable, but they also look attractive and are available in colours that can match most decors.

Coming in April 2021, we will be releasing our new versions of horizontal and vertical slider units.

These units are easy to install (no cables, or counterweights); boards “click” into place, incorporate soft-slide technology, can have up to three sliding panels and multiple panels per track, optional fixed back panels for use over cubbies/cabinets, with virtually any length/height possible – all while complying with unexposed fastener requirements for a modern, clean look.

Most important of all is you – our customers! Visual boards are our core competency, and we take pride in listening and providing solutions to our customer’s needs and challenges. We work with you to provide the solutions.

Our friendly, dedicated and knowledgeable team is always available to help when needed.

We invite you to see for yourself.

Contact us to request a sample pack that showcases our materials and workmanship.

At Vipco Visual Boards, we are truly making ‘remarkable’ products you can rely on. n

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Alberta Educational Facilities Administrators’ Association

21

Restoring peace of mind throughout COVID-19

By Kimber-Lee Kuyvenhoven

S

erviceMASTER

recommendations from health

which positions were essential to

has been a leader

experts, sometimes daily. We

continue working within our office,

in the restoration

needed to educate ourselves on

and which positions we could

industry serving the

what we were dealing with. We

transition to working from home.

greater Edmonton

needed to protect and train our

This was no small task as each

area for over 18 years. Providing

staff to ensure we could continue

employee has individual needs

peace of mind to businesses and

providing emergency services to

and environments they work best

homeowners in the wake of a

our customers with minimal risk

in. We called upon our IT staff

natural disaster or catastrophic

for all parties involved. Our staff,

to assist their fellow employees

weather event is our top priority.

in turn, needed to adopt a more

in setting up their ‘home offices’.

Our company’s involvement with

fluid mentality as the guidelines

Logistically, this presented a few

both the flooding in High River

were rolled out and new practices

challenges because not everyone

(2013) and the Fort McMurray

put into place. Practices included

is as tech-savvy as the next;

wildfires (2016) prepared us to

placing our field crews into cohort

however, our employees proved to

react immediately when the world

groups to help to limit potential

be quite resilient and patient while

was hit with a global pandemic we

exposures; reducing the amount

we worked out all the kinks.

now know as COVID-19.

of paperwork being passed within

Our first call to action was to

our office; and obtaining and

establish a team of advisors who could sift through information

distributing PPE for our field staff and project managers, just to

as it became available, and

highlight a few.

who were tasked to review the

We then needed to determine

22

FACILITY FOCUS • Spring 2021

Once we had a plan in place to protect our staff and continue our usual business, we were left to embrace the inevitable along with the rest of the world. As we watched the case numbers rise,

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we noticed, almost immediately, a

draw upon to provide a great

deactivate the virus, many of them

lack of options for businesses and

COVID remediation service. The

were being misused to the point of

homeowners to clean up after an

lack of information and the wealth

being ineffective. The traditional

infection or quarantine. We took

of misinformation at the start of

methods such as hand cleaning,

it upon ourselves to develop a

the pandemic proved to be our

applying the right disinfectant

cleaning process that had scientific

biggest hurdle in doing so. Many

backing. This, combined with our

companies began to advertise

and using HEPA technology have

existing resources of trained and

cutting-edge cleaning technologies

knowledgeable technicians and the

such as fogging or using hydroxyl

ability to dispatch teams on short

technology to disinfect properties.

notice, was already embedded in

While many of these technologies

our business from which we could

do show promise and do in fact

proven to be the most effective.

In the end, we can offer a few takeaways from our experience with this pandemic. Regarding prevention, start with the basics as outlined by health authorities. Their advice is truly the cornerstone of effective facility COVID protocols.

Ensuring you have a practical rapid response plan to detail the required steps to get the infection under control before it spreads is also

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FACILITY FOCUS • Spring 2021

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Propane school buses will reduce GHGs by 624 metric tonnes in the Halifax area

S

tudents in the Halifax area are now enjoying the environmental benefits of lowemission propane school buses.

SOUTHLAND Transportation, a leader in sustainable transportation solutions, began bringing Halifax students to school on 144 propane buses in September. This is the largest propane fleet in Atlantic Canada. Putting these propane buses into service means a total reduction of 624.22 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent combined per year compared to diesel-fuelled buses.

The healthier and affordable option of low-emission propane school buses compared to carbon intense fuels such as diesel is starting to catch on.

“We are seeing an upward trend in schools and government switching to propane buses across the country, the latest in the Halifax Regional Municipality,” says Canadian Propane Association president and CEO Nathalie St-Pierre. “The reason for this growth is clear: propane buses are significantly healthier for our young

people and the environment. They are cleaner, quieter and they are made for Canadian winters, starting in -50 below weather. Add to that the economic advantages such as fuel savings and lower maintenance costs, lowemission propane checks all the boxes.”

School buses equipped with auto propane fuel systems reduce tailpipe emissions not only in comparison to the older diesel buses they are replacing but against the latest and most stringent standards. In real-world testing conducted by West Virginia University in 2018, auto propane produced 96 per cent fewer NOx emissions compared with clean diesel buses. Using propane buses also reduced particulate matter, which can irritate asthma and other breathing-related issues.

By fuelling with auto propane, operators avoid the spills that result from diesel fuelling as well as the resulting diesel odour on their clothes and hands. Unlike gasoline or diesel, auto propane is part of a closed-loop system, meaning the fuel is never exposed to air and will not spill. Plus, fuelling is quick and safe, taking a similar amount of time as fuelling with gasoline or diesel.

Alberta Educational Facilities Administrators’ Association

25

While SOUTHLAND Transportation is new to Halifax it is not new to propane. They have been utilizing propane as an alternative fuel to diesel since the 1980s and currently own and operate the largest propane-fuelled fleet of school buses in Canada, with over 850 buses currently in operation. In 2019 alone, Southland reduced emissions by 3,229 metric tonnes of CO2E, the equivalent of 686 passenger vehicles being driven in a year.

“What better motivator to engage clean and sustainable transportation practices than the very children who will inherit the future? Each day, our fleet of school buses safely transports close to 100,000 students, which provides us with a constant reminder of what truly matters and what to keep at the forefront of our day-to-day operations,” says Murray Glass, Pacific Western Transportation’s vicepresident of student transportation. “The nature of bus transportation in itself reduces emissions compared to individual vehicles and utilizing propane as an alternative fuel type further reduces our environmental footprint.”

Superior Propane was awarded the contract to supply the propane for the buses. “Superior Propane makes the transition to propane-fuelled school buses simple and efficient,” says Superior Propane SVP sales and operations Rick Carron. “We provide a state-of-theart refuelling infrastructure that is convenient for bus operators, scalable for future growth, and equipped with wireless sensors that trigger automatic deliveries while giving school bus fleet managers online access to view tank levels and bus fuel consumption.”

Today, more than 1.3 million children in North America ride to and from school in buses fuelled by auto propane. In Canada, dozens of school districts and school bus contractors are adopting low-emission propane buses for proven safety, reduced emissions and better savings. School bus

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FACILITY FOCUS • Spring 2021

operators like the Regina Catholic School division in Saskatchewan, Brandon School Division in Manitoba, the Southland School District in Alberta and Hammond Transportation in Ontario have made propane their fuel of choice to transport students. In Atlantic Canada, New Brunswick began a pilot program with 18 propane buses last year, with positive results.

About the Canadian Propane Association With over 400 members, the Canadian Propane Association (CPA) is the national association for a growing, multi-billion-dollar industry that impacts the livelihood of tens of thousands of Canadians. Our mission is to promote a safe and thriving propane industry that plays a vital role in Canada’s energy sector. To achieve this, we champion propane and the propane industry in Canada and facilitate best practices, safety and a favourable business environment through advocacy, training and emergency response.

About SOUTHLAND Transportation SOUTHLAND Transportation is a part of the Pacific Western Group of Companies, a Canadian and family-owned business that was established in 1957. SOUTHLAND is committed to safety and service in the people transportation business. They operate school, charter, commuter, and specialized transportation buses in Alberta, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Saskatchewan. With over 60 years of experience in the student transportation industry, SOUTHLAND has a proven track record for student safety, customer service, and maintenance of a high-quality fleet. They were the first school bus company in Canada to have their training program nationally recognized and certified by the Motor Carrier Passenger Council of Canada.

About Superior Propane In business since 1951, Superior Propane is Canada’s largest supplier for propane and related equipment with approximately 200 service and distribution points to serve commercial, agricultural, industrial and residential customers virtually anywhere in the country. Superior Propane specializes in propane applications such as auto propane, offering custom solutions for scalable infrastructure, easy aftermarket conversions, accessible refuelling options, and fuel and budget management. Superior promises easy propane management by offering customers wireless tank monitoring and account access through its exclusive mobile app. n

the ART of Building Sustainability

HVAC

SECURE DATA

INTEGRATED FAULT DETECTION & DIAGNOSTICS

OWNERSHIP OF ANALYTICS

SINGLE-APP EXPERIENCE

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Ensure a strong level of interoperability by using open protocols which have third-party listing laboratories to verify adherence to your protocol’s form and function.

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Employ a single sign on (SSO) architecture with compliance to scalable credentialing architectures and secure tunneling methodologies such as BACnet virtual private networks (B/VPN).

Select lifecycle-centric manufacturers who minimize the negative impacts of waste with long-term warranty and repair services while adhering to WEEE, RoHS, R2, and LEED directives.

Specify integrated FDD (IFDD) that delivers real-time fault detection, step-by-step root-cause diagnostics while using all your existing cabling structures, including twisted-pair networks.

Enjoy the long-term benefits of suppliers who engineer a path forward to new technologies while remaining backward compatible without third-party gateways or hardware replacement.

Insist on timely analytics for all stakeholders with complete control of formatting and scheduling while retaining full ownership of your data and the reports generated.

Stay on top of regular advances in technology with supplier-certified, multi-lingual online educational videos, technical documentation, software updates, and advanced face-to-face classroom courses.

Create better-connected spaces with real-time access to occupancy, lighting, ventilation, and thermal comfort levels, using a holistic single app on the occupant’s mobile device.

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