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Autumn Wind

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Fontaines

Water fountains enhance campus outdoor settings by creating serene, inviting spaces that promote relaxation and social interaction. Their gentle sounds of flowing water reduce stress, mask noise, and foster a calming atmosphere conducive to study or reflection.

Aesthetically, fountains serve as focal points, adding elegance and visual appeal to courtyards or green spaces. They attract students, faculty, and visitors, encouraging gatherings and community engagement. Environmentally, fountains can support local ecosystems by providing water for birds or plants.

Well-maintained, they symbolize a campus’s commitment to beauty and sustainability, enriching the outdoor experience and enhancing the overall campus ambiance.

“At the Water Trough” 1876 J. Alden Weir

Indiana State University

Ithaca College

Harvard University

Lunds Universitet

University of Louisville Kentucky

Florida Southern College

University of Massachusetts Amherst

Michigan State University

University of Albany

Florida State University

Eastern Kentucky University

University of Texas Austin

Mineral Area College Missouri

Henry Ford College

California Institute of Technology

Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München

University of New Mexico

Regent University

Iowa State University

Berry College

Indiana University

University of Southern California

Furman University

University of Washington

Western Michigan University

Missouri State University

University of Michigan

Water 100

We forget that the water cycle and the life cycle are one. - Jacques Yves Cousteau

Landscaping and Grounds

Best Practice Guidelines | Western Michigan

MIOSHA Fact Sheet: Youth Worker Safety Landscape and Horticulture Services Industry

Gingerbread Latte

Landscape & Horticulture Services

“Century Tree Texas A&M University” Haley Herrera

Federal regulations that apply to the landscaping of education communities are fairly stable; though land use issues tend to be capricious.  Some federal regulations deal with fair trade in the purchase of landscaping materials; others deal with chemical safety; still others deal with personal protective equipment for works.

The federal government recognizes three major segments of this industry:

Landscape Design and Consultation

Landscape Installation and Maintenance

Tree Pruning and Arboriculture

For worker safety we consult the Occupational Safety and Health Administration home page:

Landscaping and Horticultural Services

From time to time we find Notices and Proposed Regulations — or notices of state-level adaptations of federal regulations —  whistling across our radar.  When they are meaningful and contribute to lower cost we will post the commenting opportunity.

The following voluntary American National Standards Institute (ANSI) titles may be applicable to the landscaping and horticultural units in education communities. Compliance with ANSI standards does not ensure compliance with OSHA policy, although the requirements of some ANSI standards have been adopted within OSHA standards. This list is provided for reference use only.

  • A10.14, Requirements for Safety belts, Harnesses, Lanyards, Lifelines, and Drop Lines for Constructional and Industrial Use
  • A14.1, Ladders – Portable Wood – Safety Requirements
  • A14.2, Ladders – Portable Metal – Safety Requirements
  • A14.5, Stepladders and Platform Ladders, Aluminum Magnesium, Fiberglass Ladders
  • A92.2, Vehicle-Mounted Elevating and Rotating Aerial Devices
  • A300, Tree Care Operations – Tree, Shrub and Other Woody Plant Maintenance – Standard Practices
  • B30.5, Mobile and Locomotive Truck Cranes
  • B71.1, Powered Lawn Mowers and Garden Tractors
  • B71.3, Snow Throwers
  • B71.4, Commercial Turf Type Equipment
  • B71.6, Shredders and Grinders
  • B71.8, Tillers
  • B175.1, Gasoline Powered Chain Saws, Safety Requirements
  • B175.2, Blowers
  • B175.3, Trimmers and Brushcutters
  • Z41, Protective Footgear Requirements
  • Z87.1, Occupational and Educational Eye and Face Protection Devices
  • Z89.1, Personnel Protection – Protective Headgear for Industrial Workers – Requirements
  • Z133.1, Arboricultural Operations Safety
  • Z308.1, Minimum Requirements for Workplace First Aid Kits
  • Z359.1, Safety Requirements for Personal Fall Arrest Systems, Subsystems, and Components

"Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment, until it becomes a memory" - Dr. Seuss"Wherever you go becomes a part of you somehow" - Anita Desai“It is spring again. The earth is like a child that knows poems by heart” ― Rainer Maria Rilke

We maintain all related best practice literature on the standing agenda of our periodic Bucolia teleconferences during which time we sort through proposed regulations, organize a response to them.  War stories always welcomed.  Stories about successes even more welcomed.  See our CALENDAR for the next online meeting.

Workspace / OSHA

Dawn Chorus: Bird Song

“Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn.”

— Psalm 108:2

Standards New York

Animal Welfare Act (AWA) Regulations for Birds (9 CFR Part 3, Subpart G)

University Policy 1.2: Research Integrity

Terrestrial Animal Health Code


Animal Safety

Cornell University’s status as a land-grant institution, coupled with its location in Ithaca, far from New York’s urban centers, fosters a campus atmosphere of grounded normalcy. As a land-grant university, Cornell emphasizes practical education, research, and outreach, rooted in its mission to serve the public good. This ethos cultivates a community focused on collaboration and accessibility rather than elitism.

Ithaca’s rural setting, surrounded by gorges and rolling hills, creates a tight-knit, insulated environment where students engage deeply with academics and each other without the distractions of a bustling city. The slower pace encourages a balanced lifestyle, with traditions like Slope Day and local eateries fostering camaraderie. The lack of urban pressures allows for a focus on intellectual curiosity and personal connections, while diverse student organizations and cooperative extension programs reinforce a sense of purpose and community, grounding Cornell’s atmosphere in authenticity and approachability.

 

 

Top Five Coffee Shops in Madison

Standards Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin System Financial Report | $6.4B (2023)

University of Wisconsin | Dane County


Democrat Wisconsin Secretary of State refuses to remove RFK from ballot

“Liberal woman WILL NOT date conservatives” – Bombshells

Coffee

Heather McDonald: The feminization of the American university is all but complete

Heather McDonald: Why have young women been so prominent in the recent campus chaos?

Facilities Planning & Management

 


The Breakdown of Higher Education: How It Happened, the Damage It Does, and What Can Be Done (John Ellis 2020)

 

Paint

Painting the Eiffel Tower

In any industry painting (and decorating) operations play a crucial role in facility management by enhancing the overall appearance, protecting surfaces, and maintaining a healthy and conducive environment.  In the education industry we find these operations in both the business and academic units; often co-mingled with sign-making shops.   

  • Aesthetics and Branding: Fresh coats of paint revitalize the appearance of walls, ceilings, doors, and other surfaces, creating a clean and inviting environment. Painting can also be used strategically to incorporate branding elements, such as company colors or logos, to reinforce brand identity throughout campus.  Bright, vibrant colors can stimulate creativity and engagement, while well-chosen color schemes can create a sense of calm and focus.
  • Surface Protection: Color coatings are a protective barrier for surfaces, shielding them from environmental factors like moisture, sunlight, dust, and regular wear and tear. It helps prevent structural damage, corrosion, and deterioration, extending the lifespan of various components in the facility, including walls, floors, metal structures, and equipment.
  • Maintenance and Preservation: Regular painting operations are part of preventive maintenance programs in facility management. By addressing minor issues like peeling, cracks, or stains on surfaces, painting helps maintain a well-maintained and professional appearance. It prevents further damage and the need for costlier repairs in the future.  Using environmentally conscious paints contributes to sustainable practices and healthier indoor air quality.
  • Functional Differentiation: Painted color variations are utilized to differentiate various spaces within a facility. By using different colors, patterns, or textures, specific areas can be designated for different purposes, such as work zones, storage areas, or recreational spaces. This assists with wayfinding and enhances overall functionality.

Today at 15:00 UTC we review best practice literature for large-scale painting operations — an exploration different than the one undertaken during our Fine Art and Signs, Signs, Signs colloquia — with attention to worker and chemical safety.  Among these considerations:

  • Falls from Heights: When painting large structures such as buildings or bridges, workers often need to work at elevated heights using ladders, scaffolding, or aerial lifts. Falls from heights are a significant hazard, and proper fall protection systems, such as guardrails, harnesses, and safety nets, should be in place to prevent accidents.  Large-scale painting operations may require workers to access or work on structures that have structural weaknesses, corroded surfaces, or unstable platforms. 
  • Inhalation of Hazardous Substances: Paints, coatings, solvents, and other chemicals used in large-scale painting operations can release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other harmful substances. Prolonged exposure to these chemicals, particularly in poorly ventilated areas, can lead to respiratory problems, dizziness, skin irritation, or other health issues. Proper personal protective equipment (PPE) like respirators, gloves, and protective clothing should be provided and used to minimize exposure risks.
  • Skin and Eye Irritation: Contact with paint, solvents, or other chemicals can cause skin irritation, dermatitis, or allergic reactions. Splashes or spills can also result in eye injuries. Workers should wear appropriate protective clothing, such as gloves, coveralls, and safety goggles, to protect their skin and eyes from direct contact with hazardous substances.
  • Fire and Explosion Risks: Some paints and solvents are flammable or combustible, posing fire and explosion risks, especially in enclosed spaces or areas with inadequate ventilation. Strict adherence to fire safety measures, including proper storage and handling of flammable materials, use of spark-proof tools, and implementing effective fire prevention protocols, is crucial.
  • Weather Conditions: Outdoor large-scale painting operations are often subject to weather conditions, such as extreme temperatures, high winds, or rain. Adverse weather conditions can pose risks to workers’ safety and affect the quality of paint application. Adequate weather monitoring and planning, along with appropriate safety measures and protective equipment, are necessary to mitigate these hazards.

Open to everyone.  Use the login credentials at the upper right of our home page.

Relevant standards:

Chemistry

ASTM D-series titles

EN 1504-2: Products and systems that are graffiti-resistant

ISO 12944: Paints and varnishes

Application and Fire Safety

Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers: Self-Operating Paint Bot

National Fire Protection Association

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Color Metrology

Color and Appearance

Range of colors chart used in NIST measurements

The National Institute of Standards and Technology measures color through a combination of sophisticated instrumentation and established standards:

1. Standards and Calibration

    • Primary Standards: NIST maintains primary color standards, such as spectral reflectance and transmittance standards, that are traceable to international measurement systems.
    • Calibration of Instruments: Instruments used for color measurement are calibrated using these standards to ensure accuracy and consistency.

2. Instrumentation

    • Spectrophotometers: These instruments measure the intensity of light at different wavelengths. They are used to obtain the spectral reflectance or transmittance of a sample.
    • Colorimeters: These are simpler instruments that measure color using a few broad wavelength bands. They are often used for less precise applications.

3. Measurement Process

    • Sample Preparation: The sample to be measured is prepared according to specific protocols to ensure uniformity and consistency.
    • Spectral Measurement: The spectrophotometer or colorimeter measures the light reflected or transmitted by the sample across the visible spectrum.
    • Data Collection: The data collected includes the spectral power distribution, which indicates how much light is reflected or transmitted at each wavelength.

4. Data Analysis

    • Color Spaces and Models: The raw spectral data is converted into color space coordinates (e.g., CIE XYZ, Lab) using mathematical models. These models account for human vision characteristics and provide a numerical representation of color.
    • Comparison and Reporting: The measured color can be compared to standard references or reported in various formats depending on the application (e.g., color difference ΔE).

5. Quality Control and Assurance

    • Repeatability and Reproducibility: NIST ensures the repeatability and reproducibility of color measurements by using rigorous quality control protocols.
    • Uncertainty Analysis: The uncertainty associated with the measurements is analyzed and reported to provide a clear understanding of the precision of the measurements.

Example Instruments and Techniques

    • Goniospectrophotometers: These measure the color of materials that change appearance with viewing angle.
    • Integrating Spheres: These are used with spectrophotometers to measure diffuse reflectance or transmittance.
    • Laser-based Systems: Advanced systems that use lasers for highly precise color measurements.

NIST’s methods are designed to provide highly accurate and reliable color measurements that can be used across a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, textiles, and digital imaging.

Standards Michigan: National Institute of Standards and Technology

 

Color Calculation Standard E3415

New Standard Will Aid in Color Calculation of Objects

ASTM Committee E12 on Color and Appearance


According to ASTM member Hugh Fairman, legacy standard E308 gathered data and pre-calculated weight sets for doing what is called “tristimulus integration,” which determines the actual color of a measured spectral reflectance or spectral power curve. While this standard is still useful in certain cases, a need has grown for the more updated practice described in E3415 to respond to interest in how illumination is perceived on painted surfaces.

Standards Michigan: ASTM International

Related:

A RAL number is part of a standardized color matching system developed by the RAL Deutsches Institut für Gütesicherung und Kennzeichnung (German Institute for Quality Assurance and Certification) used primarily in Europe. It is widely used for defining colors for paint, coatings, and plastics.

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