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A
School Checklist
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School
CheckIist for Healthy Indoor Air
- Does your school take occupant complaints seriously?
- Do you hear complaints from students or teachers about
air quality, odors, and building related symptoms?
- Have there been any increased absences that can be linked
with renovations or chemical treatment applications?
- Are there renovations in progress? If possible schedule
them during the summer recess. Otherwise, they should be
conducted in such a way as to isolate the space under construction
from children and teachers, preventing commingling of air
and spread of toxic fumes.
- Has the school's water supply been tested for lead contamination
by a certified lab?
- What, kind of art supplies are used? Children should not
be using solvent-based supplies, especially in grade schools.
- Are rooms with laminators, printing or copying equipment
properly ventilated so that fumes are not circulated throughout
the school?
- Is there evidence of mold or mildew? Are any of the ceiling
tiles stained, indicating leaks or moisture? How high is
the humidity? The American Society of Heating, Refrigeration,
and Air-Conditioning (ASHRAE) recommends a general humidity
level of 50 percent during sedentary and light activity
with a room temperature of 68 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit (ANSI/ASHRAE
55-1992). This is only a general recommendation.
- Are laboratory chemicals clearly labeled in science classes
and stored properly in cabinets away from sources of heat
and direct sunlight? Are drains clear and working? Is there
adequate exhaust ventilation?
- Does the school maintain a file of Material Safety Data
Sheets for all hazardous substances used in the schoolóincluding
art supplies, cleaning products, and pesticides?
- What kind of cleaning products are used? Where are they
stored? Are they stored in sealed containers? Are aerosols,
solvents, heavily scented products, petroleum distillates,
and pesticides used by the maintenance staff?
- What kind of deodorizers are used in the bathroom? Typical
bathroom deodorizers contain the toxins naphthalene and
paradlchlorobenzene. 'NonScents.' a nontoxic mineral air
freshener that does not offgas any harmful VOCs and works
by electrical charge, attracting chemical molecules to it,
is available.
- What kind of pest management program does your school
have? Do its custodians spray with pesticides? When and
where and how often? Do they post notification? If the school
doesn' t already have one, encourage them to develop and
implement an IMP (integrated pest management program using
least toxic and organic means.
- Check out your school's HVAC (heating, ventilation, and
air-conditioning) system.
- fresh air intake
- standards for air-conditioning
- carbon dioxide levels
- radon levels
- drip pans cleared frequently
- vents clear to allow smooth flow
- high efficiency particle air(HEPA) filter (should
be 99% effective
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Page CREATED by
John H Boutilier, Lorenzo Dellorusso, Shaun
Syms, Shaun McNamara, Peter Casagrande, and Leo Mackey
14-Jul-99
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