Ops Talk Magazine Spring 2014

Covering all aspects of educational facilities and operations.

Ops Talk

PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT #40934510

Spring 2014

ww a w.efmabc.c

EFMA celebrates 50 successful years of leadership

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Ops Talk Covering all aspects of educational facilities and operations.

In this issue

Published by: DEL Communications Inc. Suite 300, 6 Roslyn Road Winnipeg, Manitoba R3L 0G5 www.delcommunications.com

A message from the Honourable Christy Clark, Premier of B.C............................. 8 EFMA President’s Message – Peter A. Orjala........................................................... 9

President David Langstaff

Portrait of a presidency: EFMA celebrates 50 successful years of leadership.............................................. 10

Publisher Jason Stefanik

In the mood for adventure: School District No. 61’s Glenn Miller....................... 14 The improved efficiency of modulating condensing boilers................................ 16

Managing Editor Katrina Senyk katrina@delcommunications.com

Thoughts on: Work................................................................................................... 18 Commercial boiler retrofits...................................................................................... 20

Advertising Sales Manager Dayna Oulion

Thinking out of the envelope about your envelope.............................................. 22

Advertising Sales Gary Barrington Donna Burner Jennifer Hebert

The legacy continues: Progressive Services Ltd. successfully serving B.C. school districts since 1957............................................................................... 24 Rocky Point Engineering and EFMA: A mutually beneficial partnership............ 26

Production Services Provided by: S.G. Bennett Marketing Services www.sgbennett.com

EFMA introduces new Leadership Development Program.................................. 29 2014 EFMA Conference agenda, registration form, accommodations info, Partners’ Program, and golf tournament registration form................ 32

Art Director Kathy Cable

- 41

Layout & Design Joel Gunter

When educators help guide facility renewal and modernization investments, enormous financial and educational value can be created.................................. 42

Advertising Art Caitlyn Haier Dana Jensen

Pull out a seat: Royal Stewart Ltd. provides high-quality bleachers, and gym equipment that stands the test of time.................................................. 46 ©

TRANSPORTATION SECTION Funding services when there are no funds............................................................. 48 Save the date: ASTSBC 2014 Annual Conference – July 7-9, 2014...................... 50

Getting off to a clean start with PlaniprepTM Surface Preparation products.................................................................................. 52 Modular school classrooms: A new era.................................................................. 54 Choosing the right air filter and filter media.......................................................... 58 It takes two: KVC Industries Corp. well-complements the educational sector............................................................................................. 60 The power of polymers............................................................................................ 64 Index to advertisers.................................................................................................. 66

Copyright 2014. EFMA B.C. All rights reserved.

The contents of this publication may not be reproduced by any means, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of the publisher.

While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein and the reliability of the source, the publisher in no way guarantees nor warrants the information and is not responsible for errors, omissions or statements made by advertisers. Opinions and recommendations made by contributors or advertisers are not necessarily those of the publisher, its directors, officers or employees.

Publications mail agreement #40934510 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: DEL Communications Inc. Suite 300, 6 Roslyn Road Winnipeg, MB R3L 0G5 Email: david@delcommunications.com PRINTED IN CANADA 04/2014

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Ops Talk • Spring 2014

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Ops Talk • Spring 2014

EFMA PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Peter A. Orjala First of all, I would like to thank everyone for the support I have received, both from the executive and the members; it has been an honour and a pleasure serving you as your president this year.

The executive committee has worked tirelessly over the past 12 months, planning this year’s 50th conference. The planning has been a real team effort of which I’m proud to be a part. Special thanks go to Doug Gorcak and Russ Sales in the EFMA Conference Committee; they had a real challenge putting in place the “golden” program for this year, and did an outstanding job.

Thanks, Heather Simm and Allan Van Tassel, for streamlining the EFMA certification process and making it a professional certification that all members are encouraged to obtain. Thanks to Harold Shock, our secretary treasurer, for keeping our books balanced while budgeting for this year’s conference.

Tom Louie, our past president, is appreciated for all his efforts making the Pro D sessions a reality; and also for heading the 50th-year subcommittee that included John Vantol, Jim Garfield and Glenn Miller – thanks, guys, all of your input is much-appreciated. And thanks

go to vice-president Steve Smoroden for his support, valuable input and culinary skills in choosing the food.

Thanks also go to Molly Shipowich, our executive secretary, and to Bob Hardy, EFMA executive director, for all the behind-the-scenes work they do to keep the association going, and thanks as well to all the respective zone chairs for work they do putting on and organizing the various sessions throughout the province.

Last but not least, many thanks to our exhibitor representatives, Chelsea Leonard and Sanya Taralova, who also worked hard in organizing this year 50th conference. Please show your support to the exhibitors by visiting them at their booths; they`re a large reason why EFMA conferences are always so successful!

Let’s get as many members out as possible to attend the EFMA 50th Conference and celebrate the success of EFMA – past, present and forward into the future. See you all in Penticton!

Best regards, Peter Orjala

Educational Facility Managers Association of B.C. | www.efmabc.com 9

Portrait of a presidency

EFMA celebrates 50 successful years of leadership

By Jillian Mitchell

For Art Whistler, 197273 association president, relationships encompass the essence of the group.

Wilf Pelly, who joined the association in 1970 under his boss’s encouragement, was president in ’74 and confirms that high emphasis was given to fun and fellowship, among traditional association goals.

Camaraderie was a draw for Alan Scott to join the association in 1966, and he proudly adopted the role of the association’s 13th president in 1975.

Past-president Art Vanidour became involved in SPOA long before it became an official association, thanks to the encouragement of colleague Jim Thorpe, who became association treasurer.

The ‘80s proved eventful for the association, as past-president of ‘81 Ron Mason confirms, particularly in that the professionalism of the association had strengthened.

An association is built by people, and

essence of the group. A formative mem-

people are built by their memories. Here

ber of the then School Plant Officials

Following Whistler as the ‘74 presi-

to celebrate the Educational Facility

Association (SPOA), Whistler attended

dent was Wilf Pelly of School District 24

Managers Association of B.C.’s (EFMA)

the inaugural association meeting at

(Kamloops), who joined the association

Vancouver’s Blue Boy Hotel in 1964, and

in 1970 under his boss’s encouragement.

from that very first meeting until his re-

As Pelly confirms, high emphasis was

tirement from the Coquitlam School

given to fun and fellowship, among tra-

Board in 1988, he was consistently met

ditional association goals.

50th anniversary are the past presidents with the story of the association, as they tell it.

For Art Whistler, 1972-73 association president, relationships encompass the

10

Ops Talk • Spring 2014

with good fun and fellowship.

ministries."

“It’s always great fun,” he says of his

Proof-positive, the executive and fel-

SPOA involvement. “I always consid-

low members enjoyed a tranquil evening

ered fun as a major part of the program.

boat cruise in Burrard Inlet and Indian

People liked to go to our conferences

Arm during the ‘73 SPOA conference.

to learn and have fun. That seemed to

As Whistler shares, this was back when

round-out the conference for me.”

the annual conference travelled around

Throughout the years, the associa-

the province – a means he found valu-

tion has continually remained abreast

able: “There are advantages in having

of industry changes, and member input

annual conferences in different cities,”

was always welcome, particularly in the

says Whistler, "especially in Victoria,

planning stages of each annual confer-

where the delegates would have an op-

ence. As Pelly adds, the questionnaire

portunity to lobby departments in the

distributed to each conference attendee

1994’s president John Merriott thoroughly enjoyed being on a first-name basis with everybody, especially when concerning a work problem.

Bob Hardy, an association member since 1977, took over the role as association president in 1997, flying back and forth every five weeks for association meetings for the next two years.

Ernie Lambert confirms that the values and essence of the early association had been well-maintained when he took over as president.

In 2005, Lisa Johnston of Mission Public School District No. 75 was elected as the association’s first female president.

In 2007, Chuck Morris took his place as president at the helm of SPOA. A member since 1999, Morris joined the executive in 2003 as a director and soon took over publishing the association’s newsletter.

in preparation for the following year’s

on by bad weather. The year's barbeque

before its official formation – was al-

event was very proactive.

was cancelled and upon the sugges-

ways apparent to Vanidour, and that

As Pelly’s presidential successor, Alan

tion of a hotel maintenance worker,

was, again, the opportunity to build

Scott proudly adopted the role of the

the group proceeded with a wine and

long-standing relationships: “You get to

association's 13th president in 1975. Dur-

cheese function.

know people at these conferences and

ing his tenure, Scott and the executive

“It was the very first wine and cheese

the particular area they were involved in.

continued on the proactive path set

party and evidently it's worked out well,

And if you had a problem, you could call

forth at the inaugural meeting, with no

because they have it every year," Scott

them. They were a friend."

issues to report.

adds.

The ‘80s proved eventful for the as-

"It stayed pretty much the same in

Past-president Art Vanidour became

sociation, as past-president of ‘81 Ron

those days, for a long time,” Scott says,

involved in SPOA long before it became

Mason confirms, particularly in that the

“but it has changed so much since the

an official association. Thanks to the en-

professionalism of the association had

days I was in there. I don't think we

couragement of colleague Jim Thorpe,

strengthened.

dreamed that it would ever grow this

Vanidour joined the group in the mid-

"Over the years the school districts,

large.”

‘60s and remained an active member

through our members, have become a

until his retirement from the Nanaimo

lot more involved, and the organization

School District in 1990.

has become progressively more profes-

Once again, camaraderie was a draw for Scott to join the association in 1966: “It didn't matter whom you talked to,

“I had it pretty easy. Jim Thorpe was a

sional and has given people even more

they were quite willing to talk to you.

pretty generous person, and he always

value,” says Mason, who worked at

Everyone was open," says Scott, who

included me in whatever was going on,”

School District No. 67 (Okanagan Skaha)

worked with the Greater Victoria School

says Vanidour, 1976-1977 association

at the time of his tenure. “And the minis-

Board at the time of his presidency.

president. “When I became president,

try has recognized our association."

Interestingly, 1975 was the inaugural year of the association’s annual wine and cheese party – a happenstance brought

he became treasurer and we were in the

Though Mason retired from the educational sector in 1999, he continues to

same office.”

The value of the association – even

attend the annual conferences (and has

Educational Facility Managers Association of B.C. | www.efmabc.com 11

SPOA Executive members, 1972. Left to right: Wilf Pelly, Bill Marr, Bill Barnes, Allan Scott, Frank Harris, and Arthur Whistler.

June 1976 SPOA banquet head table (left to right): Rhoda Scott, Art Vanidour, Joan Dyson, and Rob Minter.

since the association’s ninth year) and re-

living in Hope, B.C., Hardy pulled dou-

professional and be seen as professional

mains involved in new member orienta-

ble-duty, flying back and forth every five

throughout the industry,” says Lambert,

tion and the bursary program. "My heart

weeks for association meetings for the

who joined the association in 1980 while

is in seeing the organization stay strong,”

next two years.

working at Selkirk College. “I have noth-

SPOA past presidents, circa 1987. Top row: Ron Minter, G. Routley, Bill Whyte, Ed Bodner, Ralph Grabenhorst, Mac Christen, and Tom Browning. Centre row: Art Vanidour, Jack Hannan, Ken Warner, and Arthur Whistler.

Bottom row: Ron Mason and Bob Dyson.

he says. “You can get buried in ideas at a

"That's the kind of passion I have for

ing but support and appreciation for the

conference. If you do nothing else other

the association," Hardy recalls of his ten-

association. I’d like to see its continued

than tick off two items, you have gained

ure, noting that there were a lot of amal-

evolution.”

from coming to this conference.”

gamations in the districts at that time.

By the time you work up the executive ladder, you're on a first-name basis with

"Just working with so many people, so diverse, it really was enjoyable."

everybody, and that is one thing 1994's

Though Hardy retired from the indus-

president John Merriott thoroughly

try in 2001, he still remains active in the

enjoyed, especially when concerning a

association. The upcoming conference

work problem. Rather than reinventing

will be his 37th consecutive conference.

the wheel, he was able to contact fellow

Regarding the future of the association,

members.

Hardy comments, "I hope it goes for an-

As Merriott recalls, the ‘90s proved

other 50 years in the way we've operated

equally pertinent for the association,

for the past 50 years. It's in good hands

as interest in the annual conference

and looks like it's going to progress."

reached an all-time high. “I think that

Perhaps it was the new millennium

our biggest problem that year was that

that brought about the most change for

we had to turn exhibitors away from the

SPOA, soon to be EFMA. Five years after

conference because we didn’t have the

the conclusion of Hardy's tenure, Ernie

room,” says Merriott, a member since

Lambert took his hand at the association

1978 who worked in the Campbell River

presidency, and as Lambert confirms, the

For Lambert, one of the biggest steps

School District at the time of his presi-

values and essence of the early associa-

in the right direction occurred in 2011

dency. “We sat down at the end of the

tion had been well-maintained.

with the rebranding of SPOA to the Edu-

conference to decide on a better venue.

The executive had a number of initia-

cational Facility Managers Association

The next year, we started in Penticton

tives on-the-go that year, including the

(EFMA) in June 2011, at the 47th Annual

and we’ve been going there ever since.

development of strategic plans for the

General Meeting, held at the Penticton

It’s more central in the province.”

future of the organization and a certifica-

Trade and Convention Centre.

Bob Hardy, an association member

tion process for members, in addition to

“The conversion with EFMA is a step

since 1977, took over the role as asso-

relationship-building with other associa-

in the right direction,” he says. “And

ciation president in 1997, a role he con-

tions and ministries.

I’d like to see more new people get in-

tinued for two years. Working in Haida

“We made sure we had our ‘ducks in

Gwaii in School District No. 50 while

a row’ and it enhanced our ability to be

12

Ops Talk • Spring 2014

volved.”

In 2005, Lisa Johnston of Mission Pub-

lic School District No. 75 was elected as the association's first female president.

Under the encouragement of Bob Hardy, Johnston became involved with the association executive, and the rest, as they say, is history.

"I was very nervous to become president, but the support provided to me by fellow members was incredible. My hat's off to every person who assisted me during that time," says Johnston, who joined the association in 1996 and remained a member until her move to international education in 2012. "The knowledge and skills I gained as a member of the association have helped me in all aspects of my life. It was an experience I will never forget."

That year, the association held their inaugural joint conference with three

general manager of Aurora Cascade Ent. Ltd., took his place at the helm of SPOA. A member since 1999, Morris joined the executive in 2003 as a director and soon took over publishing the association’s newsletter.

“There is an awesome level of responsibility involved,” Morris reflects of his time as president. “The annual conference is a major impetus to do well, as it attracts a lot of membership and vendors who support the association.”

Morris is also a proud advocate of the Ops Talk magazine, which the group initiated in 2004: “Today, Ops Talk looks and feels every bit as good as it did back then,” he says.

Other fond memories for Morris include teaming up with Lambert in 2008 to develop a mentoring program for

the association. That same year, the two gentlemen were successful in promoting and hosting a professional development day in Richmond that was attended by ministry people and a variety of industry experts.

With 50 successful years of leadership, EFMA has a firm foundation to move forward. Collectively, each of the aforementioned past presidents believe the association to be a strong and valuable asset to industry, and hope that the future only serves to further cement the intentions of the association.

In conclusion, Pelly shares words of encouragement echoed by his fellow presidents: “Just keep up the good work.

And keep the communication between each other going strong. That’s the crux of the whole thing, in my opinion.” b

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Educational Facility Managers Association of B.C. | www.efmabc.com 13

In the mood for adventure:

School District No. 61’s Glenn Miller

By Jillian Mitchell

There are no typical or routine days in Victoria School District, with about 450 acres of property, nearly three million square feet of building space, and over 18,000 students and staff. And Glenn Miller likes it that way.

Add to that a name akin to an infa-

14

Ops Talk • Spring 2014

mous Big Band legend and daily life becomes anything but commonplace.

“Having the name Glenn Miller is an interesting study,” he chuckles. “In my early years, lots of people commented or smiled and said, ‘I liked his music.’

Now it seems that most people who

comment are either over 40 years old or took band in high school.”

For School District No. 61’s supervisor of operations, adventure lives in the unknown. Miller started with the district in 1981 as part of the operations department with the hopes of becoming a painter (he served as an automotive painter in the late '70s). In 1988, however, the fourth-class power engineer uncovered a real desire for mechanical systems. It was then that Miller knew facilities management was his true calling.

In 1989, with the enthusiastic support of his family, Miller moved to Power River and spent the next two years working for School District No. 47 while completing management courses at the Open College in Vancouver. By 1991, he accepted his first management post in Quesnel at School District No. 28.

“I recall heading to Quesnel alone in a truck and camper in early March 1991 with temperatures hovering in the -10

degree range, wondering what the heck [had] I done,” he says of the move. “It was this moment that changed and defined my work and family life forever. Following six years of really enjoyable life in the Cariboo, the family and I were ready to take on the next challenge.”

On that fateful March day, Miller learned the importance of adaptability. “I have learned to love change,” he says. “I know that might sound strange to some people, but there is no more spice in life than change. If you do not embrace change, then you will not learn to adapt to change and you will miss out on meeting the finest people and seeing the most beautiful scenery around.

My advice is to make change happen in whatever form you can.”

In 1996 amalgamation discussions around the province materialized, and by early '97, Miller and his wife Brenda, son Neil and daughter Kate headed off for the East Kootenays where Miller joined School District No. 6 (Rocky Mountain), settling in Kimberley, B.C. With Steve Jackson at the helm, Miller

and colleagues in the facilities department banned together to support 4,200 students in 26 schools over 270 kilometres in the first three-district amalgamation.

By 2000, Miller joined School District No. 19 (Revelstoke) as the director of facilities. “I thought I knew all about snow removal by now – until I hit the Rockies.

My life growing up in Victoria never prepared me to shovel three feet of snow to get into the office in the morning and then shovel three feet of snow to get out of the office at the end of the day, all in the dark of night,” he says.

Three years later, Miller returned to School District No. 61 (Victoria) as the supervisor of operations. As he explains, "Returning to Victoria in 2004 was the voyage home for me and my family."

“I have been so very fortunate to meet and work with very talented and committed people who serve our students, staff and general public within the K-12 program throughout British Columbia,” Miller says. “Being a part of that is remarkable and very rewarding. I have a

great deal of respect for the people who work and live in rural school districts.

Their challenges are so unique that most of us living in the city can only imagine when watching TV updates or weather forecasts.”

Of course, there have been many constants in Miller's life – one he regards highly is his involvement in the Educational Facility Managers Association of B.C. (EFMA). Miller celebrated 10 enjoyable years on the EFMA executive before becoming president in 2003-2004.

“I enjoyed every moment,” he recalls of his time as association president.

“Now as a past president, I hope that I can continue to help assist new colleagues joining the association and perhaps help in whatever capacity that the association needs.”

So, what does the future look like for Glenn Miller? One thing is for certain; he’s on the hunt for that next adventure.

“My only piece of advice is to keep a positive attitude and a sense of humour," he adds. "Nobody can take that away from you, not even your doctor.” b

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Educational Facility Managers Association of B.C. | www.efmabc.com 15

The improved efficiency of

modulating condensing boilers

By Brad Poulsen

Condensing boiler heat-exchanger.

In the final year of my apprenticeship, I was in a classroom of fourth-year plumbers who were also preparing for their gas certification. Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth had just come out and the instructor expressed that the film left him feeling a sense of helplessness about global warming. I remember this because (although many of us have felt that way) it still was fairly ironic, for in that class we were learning about how to properly size, commission and troubleshoot gas-fired equipment.

We had the privilege of saying that every day we would be improving the efficiency of the equipment we work on, and reducing its carbon footprint. The heating profession can make a very real contribution to turning the tide against energy waste.

Since the energy crisis of the late 1970s, the public has been aware that there are environmental limitations to our energy consumption: this awareness has been continuous in Europe, while in North America it has come in waves (closely linked to the cost of fuels). Probably the largest single response from the heating industry has been the widespread adoption of modulating-condensing (mod-con) boilers and furnaces.

The two innovations of modulating-condensing boilers are, not surprisingly, modulation and condensation. Modulation refers to a mod-con boiler’s ability to adjust its firing rate according to the changing needs of the system. Ideally, this flexible firing rate matches the system input to the building’s heat loss.

16

Ops Talk • Spring 2014

When multiple modulating boilers are networked together, the range of operation becomes even more impressive: taking six boilers, each with a modulating range of 80,000 to 399,000 Btu/hour (23.4 to 117 kW), we have a “virtual boiler” capable of inputs from 80,000 to 2.4 million Btu/hr. This gives the network great flexibility in matching a load that changes over the course of a day or a year. Furthermore, “resizing” the boiler to match the heat loss of the building results in less room temperature over- and under-shoot, which will be more comfortable to the occupants. Finally, lower heating outputs with longer cycles are easier on the equipment and promise longer appliance life.

The main reason mod-con boilers are more efficient is that they condense the water vapour in the flue gases. The water is created during ignition as hydrogen atoms from the natural gas combine with oxygen atoms, and of course this water is in the steam phase until the heat exchanger can drop its temperature to the point where the vapour condenses into liquid water. Sustained flue gas condensation is a phase change releasing significant amounts of energy. (Note that this is also exactly what conventional boiler design must prevent from happening.) Condensing boilers will operate at higher efficiencies than conventional boilers, but the most significant improvements occur when the return water temperature is low enough to promote full condensation. This means that efficiencies are best with radiant floor and cast-iron radiator loads. As we will see, even higher-temperature loads such as finned-tube baseboard and some air handlers can benefit from condensing technology.

It’s very easy to get a sense of the improved efficiencies with condensing boilers if you’ve ever had the misfortune to touch the exhaust venting of a conventional boiler or water heater – it is hot. Those flue gases have to be around 400°F to be buoyant enough to draft properly, and that’s a lot of heat into the sky. By contrast, the flue-gas temperature from a condensing boiler may be as low as 100°F (it will be between 10° to 40° of the return water temperature). Heating applications for relatively low water temperatures, such as serving a radiant floor, will produce the lowest flue temperatures. Even for the highest temperature load, the flue gases can still be expected to be

Combustion cycle.

piping required a very labour-intensive craftsmanship that has long ceased to be economical.)

Modulating-condensing boilers are significantly, often dramatically reducing consumption rates of conventional fuel boilers whenever they replace natural draft boilers. No doubt further innovations in efficiency are in store for us, but for the time being we can be glad when we walk into a boiler room and see part of the solution right there in front of us.

An efficient, modern modulating-condensing boiler system.

below 220°. This is a tangible measure of how much more heat is being transferred from the ignited fuel than is possible with conventional draft equipment.

Fortunately, modern condensing boiler controls are capable of exploiting opportunities for efficiency that were previously possible only in sophisticated industrial controls. With the availability of outdoor reset, mod-con boilers can use software to regulate the supply water temperature in reference to the actual outdoor temperature. The idea behind outdoor reset is that building-heat loss is proportional to the temperature difference between indoors and outdoors. In practical terms, it allows a heating system that demands high-temperature water during the coldest weather to move into the lower-temperature, condensing range during milder weather. This can result in a major improvement in gas consumption.

The electrical consumption of key components has also dropped significantly. This factor is often ignored, but it is rewarding to do the math on the lifetime operating costs of various circulators. For example, if a small 90-watt wet rotor circulator with a PSC motor runs 4,000 hours a year at the B.C. rate of 9.28¢ per kWh, it has an annual operating cost just over $33 a year. Equivalent ECM motor-pumps operate with approximately half that power consumption. When we factor operation over an expected 20-year life, with a five per cent annual increase in energy costs, we see that one ECM pump saves over $550 in electricity. Remember that the savings of either kind of wet rotor circulator over a conventional Ÿ-hp pump will be significantly greater. (As a side-note, I acknowledge that some of the old-time gravity-circulating hydronic systems operated without any electrical draw of circulators and combustion blowers. However, their generously sized distribution

About the Author: Brad Poulsen is a certified hydronics systems designer based in Vancouver. Poulsen draws upon 10 years of experience in the field in his capacity as a technical support professional. He hopes that his degree in philosophy from the University of Toronto is somehow being put to use, as well. b

Educational Facility Managers Association of B.C. | www.efmabc.com 17

Thoughts on:

Work

By Chuck Morris

“Work is a mysterious thing; many of us claim to hate it, but it takes a grip on us that is so fierce that it captures emotions and loyalties we never knew were there.” ~Bob Greene How do you feel about the work you are doing right now? I don’t mean the current task, working outside in pouring rain and cold wind or suffering through political melodrama with the board of education. What about your overall position, the work you drive to in the morning and leave at quitting time or after?

How do you feel about that?

We all have had the experience of being stuck somewhere, wishing we could move on; wishing we could put this behind us and start another task, get into something that was a little more exciting or challenging. It’s all a mindset, my friend. By far most of us strive to do a good job in whatever it is our job is. Remember, EVERY job is an important job otherwise it would not exist. The thing to remember is you will move on, you will move forward and put that nasty bit behind you. However, it behooves all of us to remember that another nasty bit of work lingers around the corner. They never completely go away and when you least expect it, Wham! How you deal with that will determine your success.

Getting right to it is the best way to

The feeling you get upon completion

start. Do not procrastinate because all

of a large job – gathering all the infor-

that does is hide the work that is waiting

mation you needed, speaking to others

for you and allows your mind to develop

involved and seeing it produced into

further excuses why you hate it and who-

something tangible – is a good feeling,

ever gave it to you. Deal with the task

one of satisfaction and certainly being

at hand. Get all the facts together. Play

proud of what you have accomplished.

it out; what is the next step, what is a

One secret to keep these feelings of sat-

potential remedy? Or, is it one of those

isfaction is to continually challenge yourself. If you are uncertain about what lies

“Work is like tennis; if you play with someone better than you, the challenge and stimulation will stretch your game.” ~Franz Metcalf and BJ Hateley

ahead of you, ask someone for guidance or assistance. If you cannot get that from your immediate peers, go outside of the environs you work in and ask again.

Others in your trade or peer groups will readily respond.

Hand-in-hand with this is your POSITIVE mindset. We all know that being positive about things in life, and work

jobs that you need to put your mind in

will enable you to see opportunities.

a place that allows you to complete the

Think about this: being positive creates

work, such as standing in a large septic

endless opportunities for you. A nega-

tank after it was pumped out, so you

tive mindset, depending on how severe,

could disconnect a sewage pump? Not

causes you to focus solely on the prob-

the most pleasant job, but someone has

lem at hand, blocking everything else.

to do it. Right?

Years ago when asking a successful brother of mine how he was doing (at work), his response caused me to pause.

“Chuck, every day when I’m at work it’s

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Ops Talk • Spring 2014

like I’m playing this big Nintendo game!

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Which would you rather deal with?

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Commercial boiler retrofits

By Rob Marchiori, President of Ram Mechanical Ltd.

One of two recent boiler installations that Ram Mechanical has recently completed. The boilers at Landmark Belvedere Apartments in Vancouver are three Viessmann Vitoden 200s with a total plant capacity of 1,110 MBH.

There are a number of reasons to consider retrofitting an existing commercial boiler. The equipment may be at the end of its service life, the maintenance costs may be getting too high, or the potential savings in fuel with a more modern sys-

tem are all good reasons. Regardless of the reason you have decided to retrofit your boiler, you will want to source out mechanical contractors who specialize in commercial boiler retrofits.

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Ops Talk • Spring 2014

chanical contractors are certified and experienced in this type of installation, however. In British Columbia, commercial installations require companies to be certified by the B.C. Safety Authority to carry out these installations. As well, there is likely to be more than one inspection agency to deal with; that is to say that most installations require not only a boiler or pressure vessel permit, but also a gas permit, or plumbing permit and an electrical permit. You may also be required to obtain a seismic engineer’s report, a chemical engineer’s report, and a commissioning report. When looking for an appropriate contractor, ask for proof of their experience, as well as references. Contractor associations, such as the Mechanical Contractors’ Association, are a good place to find the right companies. The local or provincial authorities can provide information on which companies are certified to carry out commercial boiler retrofits.

Once you have identified qualified contractors, you will want to get proposals from them. However, there are a number of different types of boilers, as well as heating systems, in today’s market and proposals can be vastly different.

As with most retail items, purchasing the cheapest product is not necessarily the best option. What you are looking for is to get the best value from your heating system. To get the best value, you will want to be asking some key questions – specifically, you will want to analyze the payback from a new system.

It is assumed that older heating equipment is not as efficient as new heating equipment. Therefore, there should be savings to be realized in fuel consumption. The variable is in how many years

The recently installed boilers at Walter Moberly Elementary School in Vancouver are three Viessmann Vitocrossal 200s with a total plant capacity of 2,634 MBH.

it will take before the savings in fuel use will equal the cost of the installation. A few other key questions to be asked are: • What are the anticipated maintenance costs of the new system? Even new equipment requires preventative maintenance.

• Are there any incentives available? Almost everywhere in Canada now, there are incentives available. A good heating contractor will know what incentives are available and should either include them in the proposal or, at the very least, be able to walk you through the processes.

• What is the life expectancy of the new equipment? The life expectancy of a

piece of equipment is very dependent on the conditions of the installation. In some cases, “top of the line” equipment has failed in a relatively short period of time because of an improper installation condition. The manufacturer likely won’t replace it under warranty.

• What is the warranty on the new equipment from the manufacturer, and what kind of warranty is the contractor providing on the installation?

• What type of relationship do the manufacturer and the contractor have? Most manufacturers offer contractor training for their products and, therefore, certify certain contractors in the installations of their products. Look for a contractor

that has a good local relationship with the equipment manufacturer.

• What type of contract will be used for the project, and who will provide the contract documents? Often, if a contractor provides an “in-house” contract document, there is a perception by the customer that the contract benefits the contractor more than the customer. The same is true if the customer provides the contractor with the documents. The Canadian Construction Association has developed a series of construction contracts that are designed to provide mutual protection for the contractor and the customer. These contract documents are purchased and therefore registered through the Canadian Construction Association.

The outcome or success of a commercial boiler retrofit project will depend largely on the contractor who does the installation. Taking the time and putting in the effort to source a good contractor will be worthwhile in the end.

About Ram Mechanical: Established in 1994, Ram Mechanical Ltd. has built a solid reputation for quality workmanship, fair pricing, and reliable service in the mechanical contracting industry. Ram’s commitment is to provide optimum energy-efficiency and reliability in the systems we install. We do this through constant upgrading of our services and technical expertise, and by applying the latest technology to the systems we install and maintain. For more information, please visit www.rammechanical.ca. b

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Educational Facility Managers Association of B.C. | www.efmabc.com 21

Thinking out of the envelope about your envelope

With the increasing demands of building-code officials and the expanding scope of limitations placed on the building community by government environmental agencies, the work of product developers and formulators continues to become more difficult.

Innovation through Regulation One specific limitation is related to the allowable level of volatile organic compounds (VOC) in architectural coatings.

This product classification includes many of the common roof coatings that are available in the Canadian market today.

The following chart describes the current limitations as described by the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. In many cases, the concentration limits are derived from limits developed in the U.S. Current changes are underway in the U.S. to further reduce the allowable VOC in architectural products. If history is an indicator, the new VOC limits will soon 22

Ops Talk • Spring 2014

become part of the Canadian standards.

(Depending on which side of parliament you are on, this could be a good thing or a bad thing.) Regrettably, this can make formulating useful products more difficult.

Description1 Thermoplastic Rubber coating and mastic, incorporating no less than 40% by weight of thermoplastic rubbers in its total resin solids, for application to roofing or other structural surfaces.

Metallic pigmented coating, containing at least 48 g of elemental metallic pigment per litre of coating as applied Bituminous roof primer Any other bituminous roof coating Non-­‐bituminous roof coating, for application to roofs to prevent penetration of the substrate by water or to reflect heat and ultraviolet radiation

reduce the viscosity of the applied product and allow for ease of application; and in some cases, the leveling properties of coatings. As the levels continue to become more restrictive, it becomes more and more difficult to produce an effective product. Simply “taking more solvent out” becomes an unviable option.

Many formulators over the past several years have explored and implemented the use of “exempt solvents”. Exempt VOC Concentration Limit (g/L) 550

500

350 300 250

VOC, although not completely accurate, is synonymous with solvent. Solvent is the carrying media for the proper application of each of the described architectural products. The solvents work to

solvents are considered to be lower ozone “depleters” than alternative solvents. There are few exempt solvents that are a proper fit for use with roofing products. The more common choices include TBAC (tert-butyl acetate), DMC

embracing, seeking, and utilizing new and novel technology can be the launch pad for advanced facility performance and safety.

Staying in touch and informed leads to ultimate success.

GreenLock application.

GreenLock odourless polyether adhesive application by Garland.

(dimethyl carbonate), and PCBTF (parachlorobenzotrifluoride). Each of these candidates, while somewhat effective at producing an acceptable finished product, has its own shortcomings, be it strong and undesirable odour (PCBTF), low flash point (DMC), or potential cancer risk (DMC). With proper usage, much of this can be overcome, but ultimately formulators could seek more environmentally compliant solutions. For example, ultra-high solids or zero-VOC chemistry is available.

By utilizing reactive polymer chemistries, such as moisture-cure polyurethanes or waterborne coatings, formulators can provide effective solutions that both comply with VOC limits and meet the demands of rooftop performance.

Many of these solutions are quite common, such as acrylic-based reflective coatings, while others are less common, such as low-solvent urethane coatings or moisture-cured polyether adhesive.

Seek out the alternative solution and work with quality manufacturers to get the best solution available.

can be applied to exterior walls to reduce algae and mould growth. More recently, formulators have turned their focus to the rooftop as a potential pathway for unwanted biological activity to enter buildings. Through proper formulation, one U.S. manufacturer has introduced the first application solution for rooftop control of biological growth.2 The annually applied treatment works to eliminate mould, algae, and microbial growth on the rooftop surface and can be applied to smooth, polymeric, metal, granule or aggregate surfaces.

Expect More As facility managers and owners, staying in tune with codes and regulations is critical to compliance. Understanding the downstream implication of code and regulation changes can be critical to long-term sustainable performance. And

About the Author: Joe Mellott holds several patents for roof-related innovations and received the 2006 Industry Statesman Award from the Roof Coatings Manufacturers’ Association (RCMA) for his work in advancing roof-coatings industry technology. A graduate of Case Western Reserve University, Mellott holds a B.Sc. in engineering, is a frequent contributor of technical articles to industrial publications, and is also a participant in numerous roofing-related organizations. He has served as the technical chair and president of the Roof Coatings Manufacturers’ Association, on the board of the Cool Roofs Rating Council (CRRC), and has held memberships in the Roof Consultant Institute (RCI), the National Roof Contractors’ Association (NRCA), and the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers’ Association (ARMA).

References: http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/ SOR-2009-264/20091028/P1TT3xt3.html 2 The Garland Company, Cleveland, OH, U.S.A.; Clear-Shield Rx™ introduced in 2013. b 1

Innovation through Need While some of the demand for change comes from regulation and code, others may come from innovation and need.

Recognizing that air quality in enclosed structures is becoming more and more critical, and with the proliferation of MRSA and airborne pathogens, innovators have begun exploring means by which coatings can be used to assist in bio-mitigation. There are many solutions that have been formulated to coat interior walls for bio-resistance; there are also several different products available that Educational Facility Managers Association of B.C. | www.efmabc.com 23

The legacy continues: Progressive Services Ltd. successfully serving B.C. school districts since 1957

By Jillian Mitchell

Neil Charnley poses in front of the Progressive Services Ltd. booth at the 2013 EFMA Conference in Penticton.

John Charnley mans the Progressive Services booth at the 2005 EFMA Conference.

For Neil Charnley, every day is a good

sive Service legacy initiated by Norman

private and public; however, the compa-

day. Working at Coquitlam’s 815 Tupper

Ouelette in 1957.

ny has also earned a reputation for their

Avenue is enjoyable, thanks to his dedi-

“It’s somewhat of a family business,”

industrial coatings in the food industry.

cated colleagues at Progressive Service:

says Charnley, who succeeded his father,

In addition to application services, the

Marcia Douglas (reception) and Gary

John, as the business’s third owner in

team also offers consultations and train-

Sword (shipping).

2012.

ing for their clientele.

Together, the team of three diligently

Primarily, Progressive Services pro-

“We can come out to any [location] in

meets the flooring needs of British Co-

vides gymnasium floor finishes to many

the province and do the work right from

lumbia, as they continue the Progres-

of the province’s school districts, both

sanding, sealing, lining and finishing,”

Ń:HVWHUQ &DQDGDłV &DVWHU 6SHFLDOLVWVń

Congratulations to the EFMA on their 50th anniversary.

Sammy Tong

Western Region Sales Manager Mississauga Office Tel: 866-805-7089 Sparks, NV Office Tel: 800-987-9042

24

Ops Talk • Spring 2014

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Progressive Services joined the Educational Facility Managers Association of B.C. (EFMA) back in 1972 and has been a proud member ever since.

adds Charnley. “And we will ship to, travel to anywhere in the province.”

Much of their work consists of 100-percent solid epoxy systems and waterborne urethane, though traditional-style varnishes are also offered. A proud accomplishment, Progressive Services was one of the first companies offering water-borne urethane locally and has done so for over 25 years.

“We do a lot with the water-borne urethane, which are low-VOC and environmentally friendly,” he says. “We bring in raw material and we blend our own water-borne urethane; have done so for a long time. We’re probably one of the only ones locally who do small batches to ensure we’ve got fresh materials. We don’t blend until we start to get orders.”

PROGRESSIVE SERVICES

The flooring company joined the Educational Facility Managers Association of B.C. (EFMA) back in 1972 and has been a proud member ever since. As Charnley shares, the draw for him is the many networking opportunities provided by the association.

“It’s not just about sales, the bottom line; it’s about building relationships with the delegates, being someone whom they could call upon where they run into situations where they need guidance or advice,” he says. “We’ve built some tremendous relationships.”

As for plans for the future, Charnley assures that Progressive Services will, of course, continue their EFMA involvement while maintaining the top-of-theline service for which they are known.

A high school gymnasium in Burnaby, B.C.

Also on the books is keeping ahead of the curve with new products and new avenues to explore.

“Part of the coatings industry is that it’s constantly changing, particularly with the changes in environmental regulations and standards,” he says. “We’re always looking for new, innovative product – you know, to be able to provide reliable service and a knowledge base and innovative ways of approaching coating situations.” b

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Educational Facility Managers Association of B.C. | www.efmabc.com 25

Rocky Point Engineering and EFMA:

A mutually beneficial partnership fessionals. Of our 11 principals, eight worked together at Keen Engineering Co. Ltd. between the 1970s and 1990s, so our leadership group goes back a long way together and shares common core values about how to successfully operate our business.

RPE has completed a significant number of complex school projects, from small additions and full-size elementary, middle and secondary schools to HVAC upgrades, boiler upgrades, dustcollection system upgrades, solar-wall installations and DDC system upgrades.

We have always striven to ensure the The RPE team at our booth for the Star Wars theme night at EFMA’s 2013 Conference and Trade Show. From left to right: Cory Langevin, Sarah Goddard, Richard Corra, Bobbie Green, Emmanuel Lavoie, Barb McNicholls, and Stephen McNicholls.

2014 will be the 13th consecutive year that Rocky Point Engineering Ltd. (RPE) has been an exhibitor at the annual EFMA Conference and Trade Show in Penticton. That’s almost as long as our company has been operating! Since establishing the company in 1997, our mechanical engineering firm has been providing quality design and services to diversified clients in the public and private sectors, including the education, healthcare, civic/government, commercial, data centre, senior/social housing, hospitality and recreation markets.

All along, the K-12 education sector has been a core part of RPE’s business and our involvement with EFMA is a big reason why this is so. Prior to our first year at EFMA in 2002, our school district client list consisted of eight districts. At the time, we had provided services to the Nanaimo, Alberni, Comox Valley, 26

Ops Talk • Spring 2014

Vancouver Island West, Howe Sound (now Sea-to-Sky), West Vancouver, Haida Gwaii and Coast Mountain school districts.

Fast-forward to 2014 and we have now worked with 51 districts across the province, including 45 districts in the past two years alone. British Columbia’s K-12 school districts have, to a large degree, fostered the growth of our firm. At the end of 2009, Rocky Point consisted of two offices, in Nanaimo and Langley, with a combined total of 15 employees.

Today, we have added offices in Vancouver, Victoria, Kelowna, Kamloops and Nelson—a total of seven offices in B.C., with 64 employees.

We employ 11 professional engineers, six engineers-in-training (EITs) and 14 technology graduates from B.C. Technology schools, with 16 of our senior staff being LEED®-accredited pro-

mechanical and plumbing systems associated with these designs include current best practices and we are constantly

Project: Ballanes Secondary School, Parksville.

Client: SD #69 (Qualicum).

Description: Condensing boilers.

updating our standards and finding ways to improve our designs. Our design philosophy has always been: “If the designs are simple, they will be easy-to-maintain, easy-to-operate and will have a better

floors, solar walls, heat recovery strategies and instantaneous domestic hot water heaters.

RPE has engineered and overseen installation of more than 250 school heating plant upgrades

Project: Merritt Central Elementary, Merritt.

Client: SD #58 (Nicola-Similkameen).

Description: Solar wall.

Challenge: Indoor air quality issues Solution: Most older schools do not provide fresh air ventilation that is compliant to current code requirements.

While never initially ruling out any po-

chance of operating at a high level of efficiency.”

A large proportion of our recent work has been strongly focused on sustainable design, utilizing energy- and resource-reduction strategies. We have been involved with a number of LEED education-sector projects, including: • Acadia Elementary, Vancouver (LEED Gold pending) • Sunnyside Elementary, Surrey (LEED Gold pending) • South East Yorkson Elementary, Langley (LEED Gold pending) • James Park Elementary, Coquitlam (LEED Gold pending) • Lynn Fripps Elementary, Langley (LEED Gold pending) • Westview Elementary, Powell River (LEED Gold pending) • Centennial Secondary, Coquitlam (LEED Gold pending) • Royal Bay Secondary School (currently under design; targeted for LEED Gold) In working with our school district clients, we have identified some of the core challenges currently facing school districts and developed solutions to these issues.

THERE’S A TIME TO COMPARE

ROOF GUARANTEES & THE COVERAGE THEY OFFER

THERE’S ALSO A TIME WHEN

IT’S TOO LATE TO DO SO

There are consequences to choosing badly. Saying yes to the RoofStar Guarantee means peace of mind knowing your investment is backed by the best in the industry. You’ll access the best materials, the most reliable contractors & installers—and you’ll have an independent, 3rd party inspector on your team: someone who will monitor the installation process and work on your behalf to ensure things are done right from square one. And that means one less thing to worry about when the storm hits.

Roofing: It’s what we do.

Challenge: Reducing Operational Costs Solution: Improving equipment and operating efficiency to reduce energy consumption, utility bills and the carbon footprint can be achieved with installation of condensing boiler plants, air source heat pumps, ground source heat pumps, active chilled beams, radiant

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Project: Rock City Elementary HVAC Upgrade, Nanaimo.

Client: SD #68 (Nanaimo-Ladysmith).

Description: Unit ventilator with oval duct.

tential solution, we have found modular ventilation equipment is often best suited to retrofit in an existing school, where space for large ductwork associated with central-air handling units often cannot be coordinated with building structure. Unit ventilators and package heat pumps, for example, eliminate the need for large trunk ducts. Also, in conjunction with carbon dioxide and occupancy sensors and a digital controls interface, modular equipment can be operated to minimize introduction of outdoor air, slow down fan speed or even shut off entirely on a classroom-by-classroom basis where occupancy is sporadic.

RPE has engineered and overseen installation of over 200 school ventilation upgrades.

Challenge: Reducing maintenance efforts Solution: Simply upgrading to any new HVAC or plumbing equipment will, by definition, reduce maintenance requirements by replacing older or wornout equipment.

Challenge: HVAC equipment complaints, such as poor temperature control, drafty conditions or noise Solution: There can be low-cost improvements made by following BC Hydro’s Continuous Optimization Program (or a program of similar standards), 28

Ops Talk • Spring 2014

where a review of the control’s device functionality and programming often turns up unintended or improper operation of HVAC equipment. Unnecessary wear-and-tear and use of energy can be remediated in many instances using very low-cost measures requiring only DDC reprogramming and/or replacement of a few faulty control devices.

Solution: Providing rebalancing, recommissioning and verification that equipment is actually operating as intended and that controls are providing the temperature control required. Simply put, if the systems aren’t properly calibrated, they won’t work properly.

RPE has in-house balancing and commissioning staff to offer the value-added service of ensuring mechanical systems we have designed, or those that have been in operation for years, are correctly “calibrated”.

Challenge: Procuring capital for mechanical upgrades Solution: Over the past few years, submission of reports by school districts in support of requests for capital has become a detailed and somewhat complex exercise. For mechanical upgrades as part of capital plan submissions, a MEUP report (Mechanical and Energy Upgrade Program) is required. Carbon Neutral Capital Plan (CNCP) reports and in the past, PSECA reports, have all focused

Project: Central Middle School, Victoria.

Client: SD #61 (Victoria).

Description: Recirculating wood dust extraction system.

on specific reporting requirements that include documentation of age and construction of the school; description of in-situ mechanical infrastructure and an explanation of why it should be considered for replacement; description of proposed remedial measures; capital cost estimate and projected energy; and carbon footprint reductions requiring some energy modelling.

RPE has authored more than 300 MEUP, CNCP and PSECA reports for British Columbia school districts since 2010.

In closing, we want to stress that involvement with EFMA has been of great benefit to Rocky Point Engineering, and we hope of similar benefit to EFMA and school districts across the province of B.C. Much of our growth from inception until present day can be accredited to our participation in the K-12 sector, which to a large degree is due to our participation in EFMA. Year after year, we set up camp in the southwest corner of the showroom (our “Rocky Point Corner”) and have the pleasure of catching up with our established friends and colleagues, as well as making new introductions to school district facilitators and maintenance operators. We are thrilled to be celebrating EFMA’s 50-year anniversary and look forward to many continued years of attendance at the annual EFMA Conference and Trade Show. b

EFMA introduces new Leadership Development Program

Today’s school districts are large, diverse and complex organizations. No longer can supervisors of district operations focus solely on the tasks at hand and the staff performing those tasks; now they must respond to the expectations of, and interact with, a wider audience in an era of ever-changing Dafco_ThridPg_Horizontal_Ad 7/18/12 technology and instant communica-

tion. No longer can they succeed simply by managing the day-to-day work of their departments; now they must become members of a management team providing strategic leadership in the district.

The Educational Facility Managers Association’s Leadership Develop9:08 Program AM Page is1 designed to assist ment

supervisors of operations to meet the changing challenges of their positions. Through the four-part program, participants will develop greater self-awareness, improve their ability to manage themselves, and enhance their capacity to lead others toward high performance in changing times. b

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Educational Facility Managers Association of B.C. | www.efmabc.com 29

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPTION A

“LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM INTRODUCTION” Monday, June 2, 2014, 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. and Tuesday, June 3, 2014, 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Penticton Trade and Convention Centre Instructor: Bob Johnstone, Johnstone & Associates Preregistration is required Session dates are as follows: Session One:

Monday, June 2 and Tuesday, June 3, 2014 Penticton Trade and Convention Centre

Session Three:

February 23 and 24, 2015 Richmond (tentative)

Session Two:

October 20 and 21, 2014 Kelowna (tentative)

Session Four:

June 1 and 2, 2015 Penticton Trade and Convention Centre

Course Fee:

$800.00 Member, full course (four sessions) $950.00 Non-member, full course (four sessions) (Registration includes one-year EFMA membership) $350.00 member or non-member (one session)

First Name: ____________________________

Surname: __________________________________________________________

Organization: ________________________________________________________________________________________________ Address: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Tel: ___________________________ Fax: _______________________ Email:______________________________________________________ Payment: Cheque: ______ Credit Card: ___ ___ ___ ___ / ___ ___ ___ ___ / ___ ___ ___ ___ / ___ ___ ___ ___ Expiry Date: ____ / ____

Code: __________

Cheques, MasterCard or Visa are accepted, also able to pay via EFMA website: www.efmabc.ca Educational Facility Managers Association of B.C. PO Box 19032, 1153 – 56th Street, Delta, B.C. V4L 2P8 For more information, please contact: Tom Louie @ 604-852-9494 ext 2320, email: tom_louie@sd34.bc.ca or Molly Shipowich @ 604-943-3314, email: society@telus.net

BCSSA

British Columbia School Safety Association

2014 CONFERENCE PROGRAM PENTICTON TRADE & CONVENTION CENTRE JUNE 2 – JUNE 6, 2014

“50 Years of Excellence – Continuing to Build” Corporate Sponsor: BC Hydro

MONDAY, JUNE 2

Professional Development (two days) 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

A. Leadership Development Program

Today’s school districts are large, diverse and complex organizations. No longer

can supervisors of district operations focus solely on the tasks at hand and the staff performing those tasks; now they must respond to the expectations of, and interact with, a wider audience in an era of ever-changing technology and instant communication. No longer can they succeed simply by managing the day-to-day work of their departments; now they must become members of a management team providing strategic leadership in the district.

The Education Facility Managers Association’s Leadership Development Program is designed to assist supervisors of operations meet the changing challenges of their positions. Through the four-part program, participants will develop greater selfawareness, improve their ability to manage themselves, and enhance their capacity to lead others toward high performance in changing times.

12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

B. B.C. Municipal Safety Association Supervisors Safety Certification Program

These two programs will put you well-on-your-way to obtaining your certificate.

Incident/Accident Investigations

The intent of this course is to provide participants with the knowledge and tools to conduct investigation interviews, analyze facts, determine causes, write reports and make effective recommendations to prevent a recurrence.

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Ops Talk • Spring 2014

TUESDAY, JUNE 3

Professional Development 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

A. Leadership Development Program (continued)

7:45 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

B. B.C. Municipal Safety Association Supervisors Safety Certification Program These two programs will put you well-on-your-way to obtaining your certificate.

Presentation Skills, Communication and Crew Talks The intent of this course is to provide managers and supervisors the skills to become confident presenters and first-class communicators. Participants will learn how to prepare and deliver excellent crew talks and presentations, all in the field of safety.

8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

C. E arly and Safe Return To Work Strategies with Your BCSSA and WorkSafeBC Teams – Presented in partnership with the BCSSA

Speaker: Judy Reilly, Key Account Performance Consultant, WorkSafeBC

School districts in B.C. tend to encounter similar issues associated with facilitating injured employees back to work. This session is aimed at identifying some strategies for managing return-to-work programs from which all school districts will benefit.

3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Registration – Members and Exhibitors

3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Exhibitors’ Set-up

4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

EFMA 18th Annual Nine-hole Golf Tournament

Skaha Meadows Golf & Country Club

Sponsored by: Western Canada IC Bus Inc.

7:00 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.

Presidents Reception Sponsored by: Fortis BC

10:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m. Hospitality Suite – Everyone welcome

Atrium at the Ramada Courtyard Inn

Sponsored by: Armstrong

BDS Industrial Solutions

Canstar Restorations

ESC Automation

Rocky Point Engineering Ltd.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4 7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.

Registration – Members/Exhibitors

7:30 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.

New Member Orientation

8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.

Zone Meetings – Continental breakfast

Educational Facility Managers Association of B.C. | www.efmabc.com 33

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4

9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

(cont’d)

New Zone Chair and Executive Meeting

9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Visit Exhibitors’ Booths - Coffee Sponsored by: IBM

9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

BCSSA Meet & Greet

11:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Opening Ceremonies

Delegates, Exhibitors and Partners Luncheon

Keynote Speaker: Doug Keeley – The Mark of a Leader Sponsored by: Modern Purair

2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Visit Exhibitors’ Booths - Coffee Sponsored by: IBM

3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Concurrent Sessions:

1. Technology in the Classroom

Speaker: Shelley Wilcox, Director of IT, SD No.34, Abbotsford

Abbotsford School District has refreshed its entire infrastructure, including electrical, switching, servers, wireless throughout the district, local servers and a new core datacentre. This presentation describes classroom instruction that fosters personalized learning empowered by technology. Wilcox will describe how Abbotsford is moving toward paper-less approaches, as well as how to minimize energy requirements in classrooms, schools and district facilities.

2. Custodial Roundtable – Roundtable

3. Geoexchange Systems: Are They Suitable For Your School District?

Chair: Steve Smoroden, SD No.37, Delta

Speaker: BC Hydro School districts across B.C. are considering new geoexchange installations or have already installed the technology. This session will describe geoexchange system types, explain how they operate, and qualify a school’s suitability in terms of site, footprint and heating/cooling distribution systems. This session will report how existing systems are performing, the lessons learned and what school districts need to do to procure a successful project. BC Hydro’s geoexchange specialists and the chair of Geoexchange B.C. will profile successful projects and guide you to the information you need. EFMA delegates are encouraged to share their experiences and ask questions in this interactive session.

4. Play It Safe – Safety in School Theaters Speaker: Marty Clausen, ActSafeBC Consultant Collette O’Reilly, MSc, CRSP, CRM, Manager Health and Safety, SD No.39, Vancouver

School districts with theatres need to know the risks associated with this specialized facilities.

ActSafeBC and the Vancouver School Board partnered to create a resource for all B.C. schools on theatre safety. This session will provide you with practical take-away tools for site and risk assessment, as well as curriculum tools for teachers and students to plan safe productions.

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Ops Talk • Spring 2014

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4

(cont’d)

5:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Exhibitors’ Hosted Evening Costume: “Flashback to the 1960s”

9:30 p.m. – Midnight Hospitality Suite – Everyone welcome

Atrium at the Ramada Courtyard Inn

Sponsored by: Armstrong BDS Industrial Solutions Canstar Restorations ESC Automation Rocky Point Engineering Ltd.

THURSDAY, JUNE 5 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.

Buffet Breakfast – Everyone welcome Sponsored by: IRC Building Sciences Group

8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

EFMA 50th Annual General Meeting

8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

Health & Safety Roundtable

Chair: Terry Gomez, Health & Safety Officer, SD No.41 Burnaby; Collette O’Reilly, MSc, CRSP, CRM, Manager Health and Safety, SD No.39 Vancouver; and Sue Ferguson, Senior Labour Relations Consultant, BCPSEA

Bullying and Harassment; Mental Health Claims; Violence Risk Assessment; Curriculum Safety Issues; Emergency Procedures.

9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

Exhibitors’ Meeting – Appointing new EFMA Exhibitor Representative

10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Visit Exhibitors’ Booths/Exhibitors’ Hosted Luncheon Sponsored by: Canadian Energy Pipeline Association

1:00 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.

Concurrent Sessions:

5. Obtaining Facilities’ Value from Neighbourhood Learning Centres

Speaker: Hugh Skinner, CEFP, GHMA

This presentation will focus on the background of British Columbia’s Neighbourhood Learning Centres, the public consultation processes that have resulted in successful public engagements, and the design solutions that have resulted in innovative and relevant joint school community facilities that benefit the entire communities.

6. M anaging a Natural Grass Sports Field on a Shoe-string Budget

Speaker: Tab Buckner, Manager of Park Operations and Cemetery Services, Township of Langley

Maintaining safe and playable sport fields on very limited budgets… Tips and tricks in order to do so.

Educational Facility Managers Association of B.C. | www.efmabc.com 35

THURSDAY, JUNE 5

(cont’d)

7. Energy Roundtable Learn about the “real world” successes and challenges of implementing various energy-efficiency projects, processes and new technologies from insightful presentations by energy managers and other school district representatives. Then share your experience, ideas and questions about similar projects you’ve done, or are planning to do, by participating in multiple interactive and engaging roundtable topic discussions.

1. Getting Support to Remove “Energy Hogging Appliances” from Schools Poroshat Assadian, Energy Specialist, SD No.34, Coquitlam 2. Saving Energy and Money by Replacing a Fuel Oil Boiler with a Biomass Boiler Brian Branting, Energy Manager, SD No.79, Cowichan Valley School 3. Using Zone Cleaning to Increase Efficiency and Reduce Energy Costs Marc Tabet, Energy Specialist, SD No.36, Surrey 4. Installing Cost-effective, Real-time, Sub-meters to Monitor Energy Consumption Matthew Redekopp, Energy Manager, SD No.59, Peace River South

8. Pipeline 101 – Understanding Canada’s Energy Highways

Speaker: Ziad Saad, Vice-president, Safety and Sustainability, Canadian Energy Pipeline Association

CEPA is excited to provide a general overview of the transmission pipeline industry. The discussion will include topics such as pipeline design and standards, safety and the environment, monitoring and maintenance, the regulatory landscape, and the connection between the industry and the economic and community growth across the province and country. CEPA is committed to engaging in thoughtful dialogue with communities across B.C. regarding the transmission of natural gas and liquids through pipelines and welcomes opportunities to do so.

Sponsored by: Canadian Energy Pipeline Association

3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Concurrent Sessions:

9. ENERGY REBATES – How Do They Benefit You?

Speaker: Shelley Thomson, Energy Solutions Manager, Energy Efficiency & Conservation for FortisBC; and Julianne Barr, Energy Specialist, SD No.34, Abbotsford

Did you know that heating the average school makes up almost 50 per cent of your annual energy costs? Are you interested in learning the next steps to meet your energy efficiency goals and how it can help your bottom line? FortisBC will help you identify energy savings opportunities, reduce operational costs, use energy reduction strategies, and access available rebate programs.

10. Ministry Roundtable – Roundtable

11. IA Shop Safety and Science Lab Safety Speaker: Alan Kavanaugh, CRM, CCPI, Suncorp Valuations

In this presentation, we will discuss the standards and regulations, WorkSafeBC requirements, related provincial standards and guidelines with regard to how to set up and maintain a safe shop and safe science lab. We will also discuss the importance of safety audits, risk analysis in

36

Ops Talk • Spring 2014

THURSDAY, JUNE 5

(cont’d)

the process of mitigating injury, cutting down on losses and the importance of long- and shortterm planning to move toward full conformance to shop and science lab safety standards and regulations.

6:00 p.m. – 12:30 a.m.

Reception, Banquet and Dance Sponsored by: BMS Integrated Services

FRIDAY, JUNE 6 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Concurrent Sessions:

12. Maintenance Roundtable

Chair: Peter A. Orjala, Langley School District

13. Lead Paint Speaker: Geoff Clark, WorkSafeBC

Get the lead out! Learn about some of the new methods used to detect lead, how to control and prevent lead exposure and what WorkSafeBC officers expect to see on your sites. Workers worry about breathing lead dust and generally protect themselves; but, they often forget about the lead they leave behind. This lead can get on hands and clothing and accidently be ingested.

This session will show you how you can protect your workers, teachers and children from lead dust.

14. BCPSEA Roundtable Speaker: Renzo Del Negro, Director, Associate Executive Director, BCPSEA Deborah Stewart, Senior Human Resources Consultant, BCPSEA

An update on the status of support staff and teacher bargaining in K-12 including the operation of the economic stability mandate.

10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Ministry Update

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Educational Facility Managers Association of B.C. | www.efmabc.com 37

EFMA 2014 Conference and Trade Show Registration Form First Name:____________________________________ Surname:_________________________________________________________ Organization:____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Address:____________________________________________________________________________ Postal Code:_________________ Tel:_______________________ Fax:_______________________ Email:_____________________________________________________ Cheques, MasterCard or Visa are accepted, via the website www.efmabc.com. Forward form with payment:

Educational Facility Managers Association of B.C.

PO Box 19032, 1153 – 56th Street, Delta, B.C. V4L 2P8 Fax: 604-943-3541 Email: society@telus.net Name on the card:________________________________________________________________________________________________ Credit Card #:__ __ __ __ / __ __ __ __ / __ __ __ __ / __ __ __ __ Exp Date:____ / ____ Code: ______ Please indicate your jacket size: Men’s q X-small q

small q

medium q

large q

X-large q

Ladies q XX-large q

XXX-large q

Please note: If participating only in Professional Development no jacket is provided.

Conference Fees Members – Full Conference Package (includes banquet) $450 Non-Members – Full Conference Package (includes banquet) $600 Members – One-day Pass (does not include banquet) $200 Non-Members – One-day Pass (does not include banquet) $300 Professional Development A (one day q) $350 (Full q) $800/$950 Professional Development B (half-day q $150/one day q $250/both q $300) Professional Development C $200 Partners Program (includes banquet) $100 Additional Banquet Dinner ticket only $50 Golf Tournament (handi-cap ____) $55

_______ _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ _______

Total $ _________

Please indicate your selection of sessions and social events: Tuesday – June 3

President’s Reception q

Wednesday – June 4 Zone Meeting Breakfast q Luncheon q Exhibitors’ Hosted Evening q Concurrent Session 1 q Concurrent Session 2 q Concurrent Session 3 q Concurrent Session 4 q

Thursday – June 5

Friday – June 6

Buffet Breakfast Exhibitors’ Hosted Luncheon Concurrent Session 5 Concurrent Session 6 Concurrent Session 7 Concurrent Session 8 Concurrent Session 9 Concurrent Session 10 Concurrent Session 11 Banquet and Dance

q q q q q q q q q q

Concurrent Session 12 Concurrent Session 13 Concurrent Session 14 Ministry Update

q q q q

Cancellation Policy: Cancellation of registration must be received before May 15, 2014 for registration fees to be refunded. A processing fee of $50.00 will be charged on all refunds.

ACCOMMODATIONS The following hotels have been chosen with block reservations for your benefit.

Each hotel is located close to the Penticton Trade & Convention Centre and has issued special discount rates for those attending the conference. Please ensure you reserve prior to the scheduled deadline date, April 30, 2014, and be sure to quote EFMA Conference to receive the special discount rate.

RAMADA COURTYARD INN (Host Hotel) 1050 Eckhardt Avenue West, Penticton, B.C. V2A 2C3 Tel: 1-800-665-4966 | 250-492-8926 | Fax: 250-492-2778 Quote Group #4554 Room Rate: Single $117.00 - $127.00 | Business King $137.00 Kitchen/Fireplace $192.00 - $212.00

THE COAST PENTICTON HOTEL 950 Westminster Avenue, Penticton, B.C. V2A 1L2 Tel: 250-492-0225 | Fax: 250-493-8340 Quote Group #551 Room Rate: Single $99.00 - $109.00 | Premium Suite $129.00

PENTICTON LAKESIDE RESORT 21 Lakeshore Drive West, Penticton, B.C. V2A 7M5 Tel: 1-800-663-9400 | 250-493-8221 | Fax: 250-493-0607 Room Rate: Business Class $199.00

SANDMAN HOTEL PENTICTON 939 Burnaby Avenue West, Penticton, B.C. V2A 1G7 Tel: 250-493-7151 | Fax: 250-493-3767 Room Rate: Twin/Queen $102.00 to King $122.00

Please quote EFMA conference when making reservations. *** Reservations must be made by April 30, 2014 ***

2014 CONFERENCE PROGRAM PENTICTON TRADE & CONVENTION CENTRE JUNE 3 – JUNE 6, 2013 “50 Years of Excellence – Continuing to Build”

PARTNERS’ PROGRAM TUESDAY, JUNE 3 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Registration South Lobby

4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

EFMA 18th Annual Nine-hole Golf Tournament Skaha Meadows Golf & Country Club

7:00 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.

President’s Reception

10:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.

Hospitality Suite – Everyone Welcome Atrium at the Ramada Courtyard Inn

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4 7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.

Registration South Lobby

9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

Meet & Greet Breakfast

10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Craft

11:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Opening Ceremonies Delegates’, Exhibitors’ and Partners’ Luncheon – Doug Keeley

2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Movement and Motivation Movement: Mary Ann Chartrand

How Full is your Cookie Jar? Motivation: Lorrie Forde, Executive Coach 5:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Exhibitors’ Hosted Evening – Theme: “Flashback to the 1960s”

9:30 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.

Hospitality Suite – Everyone welcome Atrium at the Ramada Courtyard Inn

THURSDAY, JUNE 5 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Grape Escapes Wine Tours with Lunch

6:00 p.m. – 12:30 a.m.

Reception, Banquet and Dance

EFMA’s 18th Annual Golf Tournament SKAHA MEADOWS Golf Course Tuesday, June 3, 2014 4:00 p.m.

This year’s highlights and information:

• Nine-hole Texas scramble – shotgun start

• Evened-out teams for score and fun

• Wine Cellar

• Prizes for long drive, closest to the pin, hole-in-one, plus draw prizes

• Trophies for the winning team

• Golf tournament cost is $55.00; this includes dinner and transportation to and from the golf course

• Exhibitors who are golfing can set up early

• Limit to the first 60 people; please reserve now

• Golf carts: reserve on your own. Call: 250-492-7274

• Transportation is available to take participants to the golf course

• Check-in at 3:30 p.m. at the golf course in order to obtain team assignments and hole rules

• Shot-gun start is 4 p.m. sharp Golf Registration: Name: _____________________________________________________________________________________ Company/School District: ____________________________________________________________________ Handicap: Under 15 ________________

Between 15 to 25

________________

Rarely golf over 25

________________

Please try to place me on a team with: _________________________________________________________ Cheques, MasterCard or Visa are accepted, also able to pay via EFMA web site.

EFMA Fax: 604-943-3541 PO Box 19032 Email: society@telus.net 1153 – 56th Street Website: www.efmabc.com Delta, B.C. V4L 2P8 Name:___________________________________________________________________ Credit Card # ___ ___ ___ ___ / ___ ___ ___ ___ / ___ ___ ___ ___ / ___ ___ ___ ___ Expire date: ___ ___ / ___ ___

Code: _______

Are you interested in supplying us with a golf prize? ________________ Enter early so that proper teams, assigned holes, etc., can be established well-in-advance.

How would you like to have an instant Wine Cellar?

When educators help guide facility renewal and modernization investments, enormous financial and educational value can be created

By Lance Roberts, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Sociology, University of Manitoba, and Wayne C. Cole, Learning Environment Specialist, Johnson Controls Canada

As soon as school facilities are construct-

ment approaches are utilized to assess

establish some measure of facility con-

ed, they begin the unavoidable process

and track the physical deterioration of

dition index is appropriate to fulfill the

of physical deterioration. The stewards

building components, and to determine

purposes for which they were developed

of these building assets have a clear

the level of investment needed to re-

– to measure how degraded the physical

duty to manage the impact of this physi-

store these components to their original

components of a school facility are.

cal deterioration to optimize the useful

condition. With these common assess-

While property management and

lifespan of these assets, and to ensure

ment methodologies, an effort is made

engineering assessments may be use-

that building deterioration does not in-

to prioritize the timetable for making

ful for managing physical deterioration,

terfere with the educational mission for

such investments. There is no doubt that

research evidence about school facilities

which these buildings exist.

schools are physical structures and sys-

makes it clear that any assumption that

Across the nation, various property

tems and, like others, they deteriorate.

this assessment provides meaningful in-

management and engineering assess-

Therefore using such methodologies to

formation about the quality of the teach-

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Rogers Elementary School

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Ops Talk • Spring 2014

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ing and learning environment is unsupported. Specifically, the research shows that NO systematic relationship exists between these assessment methodologies and a school’s teaching and learning outcomes.1

Policy Implications The fact that standardized property management assessment of school facilities has no systematic connection to either the learning environments or student outcomes has an important policy implication.

In Canada, over a billion dollars is spent annually on school renewal and upgrading. The clear lack of a demonstrated connection between, on one hand, the facility condition indices generated by current property management and engineering assessments, and, on the other hand, learning environments and student outcomes, suggest that for the huge sums invested annually on school renewal, we should expect no systematic improvements in educational outcomes.

What justifies investing in school infrastructure when systematic effects on educational outcomes cannot be anticipated, at worst, or are merely coincidental, at best?

learning, and therefore of the school’s educational climate. In short, school principals and teachers are relevant groups from which information about the “educator’s perspective” on school facility conditions can be obtained. They must be strategically engaged in the process of informing the facility management team about what physical hindrances are impeding the teaching and learning process, and therefore what investments are needed to support the mission. While this ‘informing’ process (hindrance abatement) does not extend to planning, managing or executing the facility renewal process, its invaluable

assessment can be demonstrated by the research findings of Dr. Lance Roberts, in which teachers rated physical hindrances to learning in two distinct groups of learning spaces; those rated by educators to have high-hindrance rates and low-quality teaching and learning environments (poor classrooms), and those known to have low-hindrance rates and high-quality teaching and learning environments (good classrooms).3 The results indicate that ‘poor classrooms’ have more than three times the number of physical hindrances than were reported in ‘good classrooms’, as shown in the following chart:

guiding the deployment of facility renewal capital in support of the academic mission.

Research has demonstrated the value of this ‘informing’ process has, in various ways, demonstrated a clear connection between the physical condition of learning spaces and educational outcomes.2 The significance of this form of educator

This type of mission relevant information is NOT included in current property management and engineering assessment methodologies since their focus is primarily on measuring the facility condition index. It is the critical element that disconnects traditional facility condition assessments to the academic mission of school facilities.

The Value of an Educator’s Perspective School buildings exist for the primary purpose of teaching and learning. It follows that their physical components and the impact within the school should be assessed with respect to the educational mission.

Teaching and learning occurs in a physical context where interactions happen in classrooms or other learning spaces. Teachers conduct their work day-to-day in these same spaces and are direct observers of the impact that physical conditions have on the educational mission. While teachers have detailed knowledge of specific spaces, principals have an understanding of how the overall buildings and grounds impact effective teaching and

Educational Facility Managers Association of B.C. | www.efmabc.com 43

How much of an Effect do Physical Hindrances have on Student Outcomes?

There is a complex interplay between facility conditions and educational outcomes, with schools that have better facility conditions generating better school climate and student achievement.4 However, student performance is an outcome affected by many variables.

A recent review of the published research on academic achievement indicates that over 60 variables have significant effects.5 Multiple studies suggest that a reasonable estimate of missionrelevant school effects on students’ academic performance is about 10 per cent. Although school facility effects are not as large as social class and teacher behaviour, they are consequential enough to warrant serious investment attention.

While it is not uncommon to find students doing well in facilities that are in poor condition, such examples do not support the idea that facility conditions are unimportant. Good teachers can, and often do, mitigate many influences that impede learning. The important question to ask in these cases is, “How much better would students perform if facility hindrances were removed?”

The Convenient Truth about Energy-efficiency Investments Research has consistently demonstrated that the top four physical hindrances that effect student outcomes are (1) thermal comfort; (2) lighting; (3) ventilation; and (4) acoustics.6 Facility renewal investments that change these four factors, intentionally or coincidentally, are bound to have a corresponding effect on student outcomes.

In the normal course of planning and executing facility-renewal investments, most school facility departments will make changes that are intended to reduce energy costs where possible. This effort commonly occurs when projects are focused on upgrading lighting, heating and cooling equipment, ventilation 44

Ops Talk • Spring 2014

systems, and sound-absorption or amplification systems. This is a common investment practice that – with the benefit of the educator’s view – can reduce physical hindrances and improve the quality of the learning environment, and can also provide a convenient platform for driving learning-environment improvements.

The overlap between investing in energy-efficiency improvements and reducing physical hindrances can be illustrated as follows:

quality of the learning environment”; yet the evidence is clear that in the absence of a classroom-based ‘educator’s assessment’, these claims cannot be relied on as inevitable outcomes of facility-renewal investments.

In simple terms, to ensure that energyefficiency upgrades do not exacerbate physical hindrances in the learning environment,7 the planning and implementation processes must include a welldefined element that allows educators to ‘inform’ facility planners about the condition of the learning environment.

Clearly, energy-efficiency improvements can and should be done in lock-step with hindrance-abatement programs; every change in energy use potentially impacts hindrances, and most hindranceabatement activities will impact energy use.

The commercial landscape is populated by many organizations that claim their product or service will “improve the

student outcome; student grade-point performance, graduation rates, and post-secondary enrollment rates. By the age of 18, most students will have spent 24,000 hours (15 per cent of their time) in schools, and most teachers will spend close to twice that amount of time in a school building. In the course of this time, the stewards of Canada’s school organizations will have invested billions of dollars to produce educational outcomes that are intended to improve and sustain Canada’s ability to compete in global markets, and generate optimum benefits for the Canadian economy.

The common compelling justification for most investments is defined by the ‘return’ on the investment.

Multiplying the Financial Value of Investing in Better Learning Environments It is self-evident that the mission of K-12 organizations, and their success, is routinely measured by some form of

However, informed investments that are intended to improve the quality of the teaching and learning environment can produce high value in the form of many outcomes. These higher-value outcomes require a dedicated guidance, and strategic focus, from the senior education executives. The literature demonstrates that – when properly guided by educators – investments made in creating high-quality teaching and learning environments pay-off in the form of multiple returns.

The improvements in school climate that can be realized from carefully planned hindrance-abatement programs will manifest themselves in the form of improved student and teacher morale and commitment, student and teacher enthusiasm, cooperation and respect. Hindrance-abatement programs can also reduce the physical environment stress experienced by teachers and students and the benefits will manifest themselves in reduced student

and teacher absenteeism, lower staff turnover rates, increased enthusiasm for academic demandingness, and pride of place.

In real dollars, a five per cent reduction in absenteeism will produce higher financial returns than most energy-efficiency investments; as will a five per cent reduction in staff turnover rates. The financial benefits of higher graduation rates and increased post-secondary enrollments could easily produce the highest financial/economic return on investments made in creating and maintaining high-quality teaching and learning environments. In this regard, combining hindrance-abatement investment with energy-efficiency investment can create enormous financial and educational value.

Much is already being done to incorporate quality learning environment guidance when designing and building new schools, but the sobering fact remains that 80 per cent of all the schools

that will be occupied 20 years from now already exist. The stewards of Canada’s school facilities need to look more seriously at the significant and positive returns that can be realized today by investing in well-planned hindranceabatement programs. The focus needs to shift from creating better-looking school buildings for the future to creating high-quality learning environments for today.

References: Picus et al. (2005), Bowers and Urick (2011), and Horswill (2011)

E arthman et al. (1996), Hines (1996), Crook (2006) Uline and Tschannen-Moran (2008), Roberts (2009)

White Paper, Roberts and Cole (2012)

Uline, Tschannen-Moran and Wolsey (2009)

Zwaagstar, Clifton and Long (2010), Hattie (2009)

E arthman (2004)

R oberts, Unanticipated Consequences of Conventional School Renewal (2011) b

1

2

3 4 5

6 7

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Educational Facility Managers Association of B.C. | www.efmabc.com 45

Pull out a seat

Royal Stewart Ltd. provides high-quality bleachers and gym equipment that stands the test of time

Catholic Central High School – Lethbridge, Alta.

If you’ve been to a sporting event at a

pany, which has provided seating and

major Canadian university, college, or

athletic equipment for countless indoor

sports facility, you’ve probably sat on a

sports facilities ranging from elementary

Royal Stewart Ltd. product. The com-

and high schools to universities, includ-

ing Alberta’s Olds College, the University of Winnipeg, and the University of British Columbia just to name a few, is known as one of Canada’s oldest and most trusted sports contractors.

Founded in 1963 by partners Royal Stewart and Richard Wiese, the company’s mandate has remained the same for over 50 years – to offer the highest-quality product and service throughout the Canadian sports and recreation market.

The Manitoba-based company manufactures and supplies bleachers and gym equipment for sports such as volleyball, basketball, and badminton to customers across Canada, the U.S., and abroad.

Their installation division also works with reputable suppliers to provide complementary products such as scoreboards, gym-divider curtains, staging and protective padding for gymnasiums, auditoriums, and sport facilities in Western Canada.

Call Tricia Thomas - (604) 562-6650 Toll-Free: 866-962-6650 • www.schoolhouseproducts.com

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46

Ops Talk • Spring 2014

• Storage and File Cabinets • Teacher’s Desks

Syncrude Sport & Wellness Centre – Fort McMurray, Alta.

Unlike other companies that are the middle-man between fabricator and customer, Royal Stewart Ltd. is factorydirect, with an in-house manufacturing facility, giving their customers product right from scratch. While the design of the company’s seating systems and equipment has stayed the test of time, Royal Stewart Ltd. continues to use evolving technology that still ensures their signature product, but helps reduce the cost for the customer.

Having their own production facility also means consistent quality, strength,

jm

Garden City Collegiate – Winnipeg, Man.

and integrity no matter what or where the project is located, as well as the ability to make design changes faster, and more efficiently.

With a sales team that boasts countless years of experience, Royal Stewart Ltd. can guide clients through the consultation and design process, which sometimes can be daunting. Looking at a school’s population, whether the gym equipment and bleachers will be used by varying groups, and the building’s structural design are just some of the elements the company considers when

initially sitting down with an architect, general contractor, or the school directly.

Once a facility’s needs are determined, the installation crew takes over.

Even though the company is Manitobabased, the same trusted team travels across the west to ensure quality control on all projects.

The reliability of Royal Stewart Ltd.’s personnel and products mean facility maintenance staff don’t need to worry about the equipment – it will work when they need it to. b

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Educational Facility Managers Association of B.C. | www.efmabc.com 47

TRANSPORTATION

Funding services when there are no funds

By Tim Ammon

Transportation operations across British Columbia are facing significant challenges as a result of the recent change to the funding formula in the province.

A number of districts have experienced severe cuts to transportation funding that must be addressed through cuts to service, the identification of operational efficiencies or the expanded use of fees to support service. Figuring out how to build support for the new operational and financial models that will result from this change in funding is the biggest challenge transportation professionals across the province will face.

No Easy Choices; No Uncontroversial Decisions Efforts toward “efficiency” around structural funding problems or longterm funding reductions are both ineffective and unsustainable. Service levels will decline, fleets will get older, and paradoxically, costs are likely to increase as transportation managers continue to try to accommodate increasing educational demands with decreasing resources. Dramatic funding cuts will lead to dramatic changes in service models for some school districts. The most draconian – and in many places the only – option is to reduce service. Changing eligibility policies or eliminating services

completely for certain student groups will cause an almost unimaginable public outcry. Worse yet, it will limit the educational opportunities for students in certain communities. It is the severity of these consequences that requires transportation professionals to be certain about the efficiency and effectiveness of their service-delivery practices.

While the options are not great, there are certain things that transportation directors can do to prepare themselves for the inevitable discussion about choices.

These things include: • Communicating marginal costs. In this business, if you do not eliminate buses it is very difficult to save signifi-

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Ops Talk • Spring 2014

AURORA CASCADE The Smart Choice

While these options will likely result in short-term savings, they will absolutely result in longer-term costs.

Breakdowns will increase, unreliability will increase and service quality will suffer. Transportation directors should be prepared to estimate how much of a negative impact this would be.

• Appreciating unintended consequences. If the news reports are any indication, user fees are likely to be the first and immediate response to the change in funding model. While this is certainly reasonable, it does not come without challenges. The use of fees will result in some students having their access to education limited. Payment of a fee implies a set of expectations for service that may be more difficult to meet. It is much more difficult to explain late arrivals and buses to people who are paying than to people who are receiving the services for free. Payment for services also implies the need to develop policies around managing the transactions and tracking eligibility for services. All of these concerns complicate the decision to

use fees beyond just the financial implications.

Transportation management in the province of British Columbia will be more complicated in the coming years than it has been in the past. Developing the strategic and operating infrastructure necessary to accommodate the reductions in provincial funding will require an intense focus on the cost and efficiency of operations. Transportation directors should be prepared that an increasing component of their job will be to communicate the costs and consequences of the decisions made by legislators and school boards.

About the Author: Tim Ammon is a vice-president with School Bus Consultants, LLC (SBC). SBC provides consulting services to student transportation operations across Canada and the U.S. More information can be found at www.schoolbusconsultants.com.

Ammon can be reached at 888-506-3413 extension 702, or at tammon@schoolbusconsultants.com. b

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Educational Facility Managers Association of B.C. | www.efmabc.com 49

TRANSPORTATION

cant dollars. Therefore, when school boards are considering changes to eligibility requirements, you should know what savings might be achieved at varying levels. For example, assume that changing eligibility requirements for 1.5 to 2.0 kilometres will result in only five per cent fewer students being transported across an entire district.

This limited change across a broad service area is unlikely to yield a lot of savings, whereas changing from a single tier to multi-tier routing structure might allow all the students to remain eligible for service and reduce costs.

• Communicating short-term savings versus long-term costs. One likely response to this funding change is changes to maintenance practices in districts. While maintenance costs typically represent approximately 20 per cent of all operating costs, there will be a temptation to do things like extend preventive maintenance service intervals and not perform minor repairs. This will be particularly tempting since it appears that fleet replacement will continue to be available.

TRANSPORTATION

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50

Ops Talk • Spring 2014

Getting off to a clean start

Planiprep™ Surface Preparation products ensure a suitable surface for new floor-covering installations

By Jeff Johnson, Business Manager, MAPEI Floor Covering Installation Systems

Planiprep AR adhesive remover begins to work immediately when applied to the old adhesive.

Problem: A Very Messy Flooring Failure What if this happened at your school?

A previous resilient floor-covering installation has failed due to high moisture emission coming through the concrete subfloor. Moisture testing results show moisture vapour emission rates (MVERs) averaging somewhere between 10 to 12 pounds per 1,000 square feet (4,54-5,44 kg per 92,9 m2) per 24 hours. Relative humidity testing of the concrete slab also indicates the slab is still damp, with readings between 90 to 95 per cent.

It is necessary to remove the existing resilient material and successfully replace it with new vinyl flooring. Shot52

Ops Talk • Spring 2014

blasting is not a viable option for surface preparation due to noise, cost and dust containment issues, but the subfloor must be “clean” and free from any contaminants that might affect the new floor installation.

Solution: Getting to a Clean Base Virtually all flooring manufacturers require a concrete subfloor to be free from any dirt, debris, adhesive residues, curing or parting agents, and other contaminants that may interfere with the bond of any given installation method. On virtually all replacement flooring installation projects, some form of contaminant

remains on the subfloor.

Planiprep Surface Preparation Products offers a three-step process for adhesive removal, concrete cleaning and capping of the subfloor prior to installing new flooring.

1.

Planiprep AR is the first step in preparing a concrete subfloor to receive new floor covering. This adhesive remover is a powerful, waterbased adhesive remover designed to remove most latex-based adhesives quickly and easily from the surface of concrete subfloors, replacing the need for shot-blasting.

2.

Planiprep SA is a powerful, water-based stripping solution that

Planiprep SA being removed with a squeegee prior to rinsing the floor.

New floor covering installed over a well-prepared concrete substrate.

lifts out many common concrete contaminants such as oils, postabatement chemicals and adhesive removers, such as Planiprep AR adhesive remover. This product will chemically etch the surface of clean concrete, thus promoting excellent adhesion for the subsequent application of Planiprep ET. 3. Planiprep ET epoxy concrete subfloor treatment is an ultra-low-viscosity, two-component, penetrating, 100-per-cent-epoxy treatment designed to be used as part of

Combining the two-part Planiprep ET before using it to cap the clean, residue-free concrete.

new floor covering can be put in place.

Installers can bond directly to Planiprep ET using reactive and/or pressure-sensitive type adhesives; or they can treat the Planiprep ET with a primer suitable for use over epoxy membranes, and then either skim-coat with patching compounds or apply a self-leveling underlayment to provide a perfect surface for the new floor covering.

Planiprep Surface Preparation Products (SPP) produce great results while providing a quality environment, whether for students in schools or patients in hospitals. The products are low-odour and VOC-compliant for use in interior, occupied environments. When dust and noise present a problem, the Planiprep SPP system successfully addresses the issue. MAPEI works continuously to provide technology on which you can build.

including 63 plants in 31 countries, is

To Learn More about MAPEI Products

2008. Visit www.mapei.com for technical

MAPEI Group, with 68 subsidiaries,

today the world leader in the manufacturing of adhesives and complementary products for the installation of all types of floor and wall coverings. The company also specializes in manufacturing other chemical products for building, including waterproofing products, special mortars and admixtures for concrete, products for the restoration of ancient buildings, and special decorative and protective coatings for walls. Eighteen MAPEI manufacturing facilities are located in the Americas, with five production/ regional distribution facilities in Canada.

MAPEI is an environmentally conscious manufacturer – the company has been a member of the U.S. Green Building Council since 2001 and a member of the Canadian Green Building Council since data or call 1-800-42-MAPEI (1-800-4262734) for the nearest location. b

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Educational Facility Managers Association of B.C. | www.efmabc.com 53

Modular school classrooms: A new era

By Marianna Harley

The old, “cold, square box outside” that nobody wanted to be in.

Until recently, there has been a stigma

With advancements in design and

around the portable classroom. Per-

engineering, modular construction has

ceived as the “cold, square box outside”

moved to the forefront as a viable alter-

that nobody wanted to be in, today we

native to “site built” for new facilities.

know that a modern classroom can be

Whether permanent or temporary, there

designed to complement existing fa-

are major advantages for schools and

cilities and is a fast, flexible solution for

educational organizations to consider

schools and school districts working

modular.

within a tight timeline and budget.

South Burnaby (Head Office) 8028 North Fraser Way Burnaby, BC V5J 0E1

Phone: (604) 454-5075 Fax: (604) 454-5073 Email: sbursales@rsl.ca

North Burnaby 3958 Myrtle Street Burnaby, BC V5C 4G2

Phone: (604) 435-1313 Fax: (604) 435-7677 Email: bursales@rsl.ca

Increasing enrollments and govern-

Vancouver

Langley

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Phone: (604) 539-2290

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#102 – 6375 202nd Street Langley, BC V2Y 1N1 Fax: (604) 539-2295 Email: lansales@rsl.ca

Coquitlam

Victoria

Phone: (604) 944-0441

Phone: (250) 475-6055

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Kelowna

1885 Baron Road Kelowna, BC V1X 6W2

Phone: (250) 763-3114 Fax: (250) 861-1546 Email: kelsales@rsl.ca

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54

Ops Talk • Spring 2014

ment-imposed limits on class size often require school districts to add new or expand existing facilities. The flexibility of modular classrooms deliver valuable teaching space that grows with your school. Minimal site preparation also means your new modular classroom can also be added wherever you want them located. Modular, portable classrooms can also facilitate continued learning during new construction or extended building upgrades. With enrollment growing in some areas and declining in others, modular classrooms provide the flexibility to be moved or clustered should enrollment forecasts change.

Today’s modern school buildings should be comfortable, flexible and safe spaces. Leading modular builders now partner with architectural and engineering firms to collaborate on design and make sure all building-code requirements are strictly adhered to, with the added benefit that layouts that can be reconfigured for changing class sizes or uses in the future.

Modular buildings are constructed in a controlled factory environment, so you

Environmental advantages include maximizing natural daylight, ventilation for fresh air supply, utilizing recycled materials, solar power, and increased insulation and energy-efficiency to reduce utility bills and operational costs.

the standard rather than the exception.

It really is a new era for schools and school districts when it comes to expanding facilities. Modern modular construction has opened a way for a more cost-effective and adaptable system to grow for the future.

Modern modular construction has opened a way for a more cost-effective and adaptable system.

can expect minimal vehicle traffic on site,

produced at the same time.

Environmental

as well as a shorter building schedule, a

advantages

include

cleaner site and minimal disruption to

maximizing natural daylight, ventilation

your staff and pupils. Purpose-designed

for fresh air supply, utilizing recycled

educational facilities are usually up in

materials, solar power, and increased in-

half the time of traditional construction.

sulation and energy-efficiency to reduce

As the foundation and site work is being

utility bills and operational costs. New

performed, the modular units are being

“built green” classrooms are becoming

Marianna Harley is a senior account manager with Shelter Modular Inc., an award-winning, custom modular manufacturer located in Langley, B.C. Shelter has built full schools in rural areas, annexes in urban areas and in 2012, designed, built and installed 138 state-of the-art modular classrooms for the B.C. Ministry of Education full-day kindergarten program. For more information, visit www.sheltermodular.com. b

MODULAR CONSTRUCTION…

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Get creative. Let Shelter help you design an Educational building that rivals site-built in comfort, quality and beauty.

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Educational Facility Managers Association of B.C. | www.efmabc.com 55

DEMAND

MORE

from your building

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Choosing the right air filter and filter media

By Bob Jackson, CAFS Norspec Filtration Ltd. Poor indoor-air quality (IAQ) is more than just a nuisance; it is costly. Poor IAQ significantly influences the occurrence of communicable respiratory illnesses and allergies, asthma, and sick-building symptoms. Some of the airborne triggers for these illnesses include microorganisms, respirable particles such as dust and smoke, and volatile organic compounds and allergens.

In Canada, 5.7 million school children and close to one million teachers, administrators, other school staff and visitors walk into 15,000 school buildings every day – and at least 50 per cent of

these schools have been diagnosed with indoor-air quality problems.

Fortunately, many of these triggers can be eliminated or significantly reduced by the proper selection of air filters in a building’s HVAC system. Advances in air filtration have led to the development of systems that provide superior IAQ while reducing energy costs and helping commercial and institutional buildings achieve green-building milestones.

Air Filtration and IAQ In the past, the minimum recommended filter for most school board environ-

DGMAd_D.G. MacLachlan Ltd_ad.qxd 12-03-30 9:44 AM Page 1

ments was a MERV 8. The MERV 8-rated filter ensured an efficiency of 70 per cent to 85 per cent on all airborne particles in the three- to 10-micron size range.

More recently, many school board facility managers have raised the minimum efficiency to a MERV 11. The MERV 11 filter ensures an efficiency of greater than 85 per cent on all airborne particles three to 10 microns in size and 65 to 80 per cent efficiency on all airborne particles one to three microns in size. This is still lower than required by CaGBC (Canadian Green Building Council) under their LEED program or by BOMA (Building

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58

Ops Talk • Spring 2014

In Canada, 5.7 million school children and close to one million teachers, administrators, other school staff and visitors walk into 15,000 school buildings every day – and at least 50 per cent of these schools have been diagnosed with indoor-air quality problems.

Owners and Managers Association) under their BOMA Best program. Each of these programs require a final filtration of at least MERV 13 for all occupants.

The low-efficiency disposable filter is no longer recommended in any case except when a higher-efficiency secondary filter is installed downstream, ensuring proper air filtration is achieved.

Recent developments in filter-media technology have now produced economical pleated filters with ratings of MERV 13, MERV 14 and higher while reducing energy use.

Cleaner Air is Greener Air In addition to offering filters with su-

perior IAQ, reducing energy consumption through HVAC filter selection has a direct effect on a number of green-building issues, including: • Greenhouse-gas emissions reduction: A 0.05-inch water gauge (wg) reduction in a filter’s initial airflow resistance can reduce carbon-dioxide (CO2) emissions by up to four per cent, or 120 pounds per filter. A 0.20-inc water gauge reduction in a filter’s initial airflow resistance can reduce CO2 emissions by up to nine per cent, or 480 pounds per filter.

• Raw-material use: Some filter media can be made with recycled polymer from manufacturing waste streams and

provide better performance using less media, compared to other filters.

• Waste output: High-capacity pleated filters can extend filter life and reduce change-outs. Extended filter life can reduce waste streams while minimizing resistance to airflow.

Careful selection of HVAC filters and filter media is required at all school boards. Not only can this improve IAQ, it will also help reduce waste and save money. School boards ought to be striving to improve indoor air quality whenever possible, and this means setting a minimum standard of MERV 13 or better. b

Educational Facility Managers Association of B.C. | www.efmabc.com 59

It takes two:

KVC Industries Corp. well-complements the educational sector

By Jillian Mitchell

It started with two. Now, 11 years later,

companies, one in Taiwan and one in

there are 15 – not to mention three lo-

China. The Taiwan company was making

cations and a global reach. Not bad for

the industrial stainless steel and carbon

entrepreneurs Bill Euverman and Gina

steel quarter-turn and the Chinese [com-

Peng of KVC Industries Corporation, a

pany was making] the brass and butterfly

Canadian manufacturer and master dis-

valves.

tribution company specializing in valves and heating equipment.

60

Ops Talk • Spring 2014

The partnership soon birthed the KVC (Kingtron Valve and Controls) Industries

“I met my partner 12 years ago. She

brand, which opened in Alberta in 2003.

was in the valve business,” says Euver-

Today, the KVC brand is trademarked

man, KVC Industries president. “In the

throughout North America with a world-

beginning, we were looking at being

wide reputation. Their own brand, KVC,

a rep for a valve line. Then when I met

proved to be a popular choice all over

Gina, we decided we wanted to have our

the world. Headquarters are located in

own brand, to have control of our own

both Surrey, B.C., and Edmonton, Alber-

destiny. And it coincided with the two

ta; a warehouse in Brantford, Ontario;

and a sister company in Salt Lake City,

valve products. As Euverman explains,

A few years later, Euverman was ap-

U.S.A.

what sets their business apart is their

proached to take on a heating line of

KVC offers a complete line of stainless,

approach; they work with end-users to

boilers and hence added a heating com-

carbon steel and brass valves, as well as

develop the right valves for their needs

ponent to its lineup, thus helping to di-

an array of butterfly and other ancillary

through research and development.

versify the company as well as even-out

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Ventek Energy Systems Inc. Kamloops, BC www.ventekenergy.com 62

Ops Talk • Spring 2014

As Euverman explains, what sets their business apart is their approach; they work with end-users to develop the right valves for their needs through research and development.

sales (as years were somewhat cyclical

our products for years,” says Euverman.

Today, KVC proudly services Western

with oilpatch dependence).

“I’ve been selling to Delta School Board

Canada and the United States. For more

for over 40 years. We’ve had great feed-

information, please visit the official web-

back.”

site: http://kvcindustries.com/ b

For over 40 years, Euverman has serviced British Columbia and Alberta school divisions. This year, however, proves especially fruitful. Due to FortisBC’s boiler rebate program, boiler sales in the province have increased by 30 per cent from 2012. The same is antic-

Introducing the Vitocrossal 200, CM2: a brand new face with familiar features

ipated for 2014. The FortisBC program offers rebates for replacement of highefficient, condensing hot-water-heating boilers and volume water-heaters.

L ar

Popular among the educational sec-

s ger

s! ize

tor is the HTP mod-con boilers. KVC typically replaces the HydroTherms

Meet the Vitocrossal 200, CM2 gas-fired condensing boiler – featuring the Viessmann technology you know and the performance and value you expect.

R300s he sold 30 to 40 years ago with HTP Mod-Con 500s due to their higher efficiency to recover latent heat. It is a

n Thermal efficiency of up to 97%† n Ideal for large residential or commercial applications with inputs up to 2245 MBH (single)/8980 MBH (cascade) n Generous heat transfer surface area/heat input ratio with 316Ti stainless steel heat exchanger to maximize heat extraction n Extremely low NOx emissions and quiet operation from fully-modulating Viessmann pre-mix cylinder burner n New! User-friendly operation with Vitotronic control - features graphical user interface n Wide modulation turndown ratio of 5:1 precisely matches load n Multiple venting possibilities with pre-installed air intake kit for direct or chimney venting (PP or stainless steel) up to 200 ft. n Gas fuel flexibility (NG/LPG/LNG) with simple electronic conversion n Low inlet gas pressure capability (NG) as low as 4 inches of water column n Large water content extends burner run time and reduces cycling n No dedicated boiler pump required due to extremely low pressure drop through heat exchanger n Seamless integration of powerful Viessmann control technology and building management systems

solution that offers both cost-efficienverman, whose company will remove old boilers and recycle them for parts.

“It’s a cleaner product,” says Euverman of the HTP Mod-Con 500s. “Carbon monoxide and dioxide is reduced substantially, giving it the eco-friendly benefits.” In addition to higher efficiencies, each boiler can turn down its firing rate for each module, up to 5-to-1 turndown ratio (depending upon how many modules the turndown ratio is, times the number of modules), thus resulting in substantial fuel savings.

One of KVC’s most recent (and longterm) clients is the Delta School Board that since 2010, has gradually been replacing their old 70-per-cent-efficient conventional hot-water heating and domestic hot-water boilers with new 97-per-cent-efficient condensing boil-

†Tested to AHRI Testing Standard Method to Determine Efficiency of Commercial cial Space Heating Boilers, BTS - 2000.

cies and eco-friendly benefits, says Eu-

Contact us to learn about our new Rent-to-Own program

www.viessmann.ca rent@viessmann.ca 1-800-387-7373

ers.

“Delta School Board [has] been using Educational Facility Managers Association of B.C. | www.efmabc.com 63

The power of polymers Differentially settled concrete walks causing trip hazards?

Settled gymnasium floors? Uneven office/classroom floors?

Entrance, foyer and hallway floor settlement?

Negatively sloped walks and concrete-paved parking lots?

Do you have any other slab-on-grade concrete settlement issue or void condition?

We have the solution!

Over the past 14 years, Poly-Mor Canada has been employing an array of expanding polymer resins to lift settled concrete slabs, fill voided areas, stabilize weak base soils strata and leak seal infrastructure challenges. The Poly-Mor process is fast, clean, precise, environmentally friendly, non-intrusive and cost-effective.

How is it done? Poly-Mor’s proprietary expanding polymer resin system, in its liquid state, is injected between the concrete slab and the base soils through drilled holes 5/8-inch in diameter (15 mm or the size of a penny). The material immediately (within seven to 14 seconds) fills any voids, and then accurately and controllably lifts the settled slab to its proper elevation. The expanding resin exerts a force of over 10,240 pounds/square foot (50 tons/square metre) and the lifting is monitored using zip-levels or laser levels.

The causes for concrete slab settlement and subsidence are many.

The following are the most frequently suited to the Poly-Mor remedial technology: 1) Inadequate compaction of base soils during initial construction, predominantly evident around perimeter foundations with resultant walk settlement and negative slope towards the building.

2) Drying out or desiccation of base soils where the moisture in the base soils evaporates and causes shrinkage of the base soils.

3) Leaking water pipes or broken 64

Ops Talk • Spring 2014

Poly-Mor Canada Inc. diligently strives to incorporate safety and environmental awareness into all aspects of work that Poly-Mor undertakes.

storm drainage and sewer pipes which are typically located under the floor slabs; this would also include washout of base soils from under concrete walks due to the down-spouts not carrying rain water far enough away from the building.

4) Compaction of existing base soils due to vibrations caused by heavy traffic patterns or machinery close to the school premises. These and other causes for settlement and weakening of base soils conditions can be treated with Poly-Mors technology and expertise.

Poly-Mor Canada Inc. has undertaken many slab-lifting projects on schools across Canada – schools as far east as the Gaspe of Quebec, to Vancouver Island and as far north as Dauphin, Manitoba and the larger southern cities of Toronto, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver. All the work is carried out

by qualified specialist technicians, operating from a totally self-contained and fully equipped mobile workshop.

Poly-Mor Canada Inc. diligently strives to incorporate safety and environmental awareness into all aspects of work that Poly-Mor undertakes. We at Poly-Mor are proud to advise that we are COR Certified when it comes to workplace safety for our staff and clients.

We also note that Poly-Mor’s expanding polymer resin systems have withstood rigorous environmental testing over time and have gained LEED certification. We understand clients’ concerns for environmental protection; independent studies have demonstrated that Poly-Mor’s resin systems are environmentally benign, causing no soil or water contamination due to leaching nor does the material off-gas, Inclusive of the many benefits of using Poly-Mor technology is our ability and

desire to put the client in control of their slab-lifting and soils stabilization challenges. In this regard, the majority of the work programs undertaken on behalf of schools have been undertaken during “off-school” hours. Work is done either during holiday periods, weekends or during the evening hours. This ensures there will be no inconvenience to staff and student body during teaching time.

Poly-Mor Canada Inc. is most pleased with the relationship it has developed with numerous school boards and school officials over the years, and looks forward to maintaining these relationships and increasing same with other companies and organizations requiring the services of Poly-Mor Canada Inc. For more information, call 1-866-887-3835 or visit www.Poly-Mor.ca. b

Educational Facility Managers Association of B.C. | www.efmabc.com 65

Index to Advertisers Alpha-Vico Inc............................................................ 14

Metal Supermarkets.................................................. 53

Aurora Cascade Ent. Ltd........................................... 48

Norspec Filtration Ltd............................................... 59

B.g.e. Service & Supply Ltd...................................... 20

Poly-Mor Canada Inc................................................. 65

Belimo Americas........................................................ 24

Progressive Services.................................................. 25

Busy Bee Sanitary Supplies....................................... 15

Ram Mechanical Ltd.................................................. 21

Canstar Restorations................................................... 3

Refrigerative Supply Ltd............................................ 54

Caster Town............................................................... 24 Craven Huston Powers Architects............................ 21 Crown Sports Floors.................................................. 49 D.g. MacLachlan Limited.......................................... 58 Dafco Filtration Group.............................................. 29 Erv Parent................................................................... 18 Esc Automation & Delta Controls....................... OBC Garaventa Lift B.c...................................................... 25 Garland Canada......................................................... 23 Grundfos Canada..............................................56 & 57 Ibc Technologies.................................................. 4, 17

Reliable Controls Corporation............................... IBC Rocky Point Engineering Ltd.................................... 42 Roofing Contractors Association of B.c.................. 27 Royal Stewart Ltd....................................................... 47 Schoolhouse Products............................................... 46 Shanahan’s................................................................. 58 Shelter Modular......................................................... 55 Spears Sales & Service Ltd........................................ 65 Ventek Energy Systems Inc....................................... 62 Viessmann Manufacturing Company Inc................. 63

Interior Turf Equipment Ltd...................................... 13

Watertiger.................................................................... 7

Irc Building Sciences Group Inc............................. 45

Wesclean Equipment & Cleaning Supplies Ltd...... 15

J.m. Bean & Co. Ltd.................................................. 47

Wesco Distribution/Philips Lighting.......................IFC

Kvc Industries Corp.................................................. 61

Western Bus Parts & Services Ltd............................ 51

Mapei Inc..................................................................... 5

Winmar....................................................................... 31

McGregor Hardware Distribution............................ 19

Zurn Industries Ltd..................................................... 42

Please support the advertisers who helped make this publication possible.

66

Ops Talk • Spring 2014

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