Design, Construction, Renovation,
Commissioning of School Facilities

All construction, demolition, and renovation work, by its very nature, is disruptive, dusty, noisy, and potentially dangerous. School construction in or near occupied buildings requires strong protective measures to keep students and staff from getting sick or hurt -- or having their learning environments disrupted. These resources describe the protective measures that can be taken.

Healthy indoor air quality and other features that contribute to comfort, health, safety, productivity, and well-being can be designed into new or renovated schools. These resources describe the measures that can be incorporated in school design.

KEY RESOURCES FOR:

• Parents and Students
• School Staff
• School Administrators
• Architects and Engineers
• Other Resources

Parents and Students

• EPA, IAQ Design Tools for Schools Home Page, a tool to help school districts and facility planners design the next generation of learning environments. Provides both detailed guidance as well as links to other information resources to help design new schools as well as repair, renovate and maintain existing facilities with its primary focus is on indoor air quality.
  
  
• DHSS PEOSH Information Bulletin, Renovation and Construction in Schools; Controlling Health and Safety Hazards, 2004. Provides information on potential health and safety hazards associated with school renovation and construction and what precautions to take in order to prevent and control them.

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School Staff

• Clear the air during roofing projects; Good indoor air quality should be maintained, 2007, NJEA
  
  
• Association protects staff and students; Princeton Regional EA takes action during renovation and construction.
  
  
• EPA, IAQ Design Tools for Schools Home Page, EPA, IAQ Design Tools for Schools Home Page, a tool to help school districts and facility planners design the next generation of learning environments. Provides both detailed guidance as well as links to other information resources to help design new schools as well as repair, renovate and maintain existing facilities with its primary focus is on indoor air quality.
  
  
• DHSS PEOSH Information Bulletin, Renovation and Construction in Schools; Controlling Health and Safety Hazards, 2004. Provides information on potential health and safety hazards associated with school renovation and construction and what precautions to take in order to prevent and control them.

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School Administrators

• USEPA NJDEP K-12 Schools Energy Efficiency/PCBs Training Webinars
  
  
• PCBs in School Fluorescent Lights [pdf 111k]
  
  
• PCBs in School Fluorescent Lights: NJ Department of Education memorandum [pdf 76k]
  
  
• PCBs in Schools – Web Links
  
  
• EPA, IAQ Design Tools for Schools Home Page, EPA, IAQ Design Tools for Schools Home Page, a tool to help school districts and facility planners design the next generation of learning environments. Provides both detailed guidance as well as links to other information resources to help design new schools as well as repair, renovate and maintain existing facilities with its primary focus is on indoor air quality.
  
  
• Model School District Policies for Protection of Staff and Students During School Construction, 2007, A report prepared by the New Jersey Work Environment Council with input from the Healthy Schools Ad Hoc Committee containing recommendations for school districts on maintenance of good indoor air quality and a safe learning environment during school construction.
  
  
• DHSS PEOSH Information Bulletin, Renovation and Construction in Schools; Controlling Health and Safety Hazards, 2004. Provides information on potential health and safety hazards associated with school renovation and construction and what precautions to take in order to prevent and control them.
  
  
• CA Department of Education School Site Selection and Approval Guide, 2004. Designed to help school districts select school sites that provide both a safe and a supportive environment for the instructional program and the learning process.

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Architects and Engineers

• USEPA NJDEP K-12 Schools Energy Efficiency/PCBs Training Webinars
  
  
• High Performance Schools NJ Home Page
  
  
• High Performance Schools Resource Gateway
  
  
• NJSDA 21st Century Schools Design Manual, 2007, Guidance for the design of healthful and environmentally sustainable pre-K through 12 public school facility projects.
  
  
• NJSDA Project Safety Manual, 2007, Establishes uniform policies and procedures for all contractors with the goal of reducing accident frequency and severity on public school construction projects.
  
  
• National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities, Resource List on Site Selection
  
  
• National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities, Resource Guide on Commissioning

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Other Resources

1. Healthy School Design
1. Beware Temporary Classrooms, 2009, NJEA
2. California Collaborative for High Performance Schools Home Page
3. California Department of Health Services Electromagnetic Frequency Radiation Program, School Design Guide Checklist
4. U.S. Green Building Council Home Page
2. Site Selection for Schools
1. Abbott District School Construction Program
2. NJDEP Environmental Reviews of Proposed School Sites
3. Reforming the Site Remediation Program
3. Roofing
1. Clear the Air During Roofing Projects, 2007, NJEA

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