Water Safety & Sustainability

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Water Safety & Sustainability

November 7, 2024
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Harvard University Art Museum | In the Sierras, Lake Tahoe | Albert Bierstadt

The American Water Works Association is one of the first names in accredited standards developers that administer leading practice discovery in backflow prevention consensus documents; usually referenced in local and state building codes; and also in education facility design guidelines and construction specifications.

The original University of Michigan standards enterprise gave highest priority to backflow standards because of their central importance of backflow management to education communities; especially large research universities nested within a municipal water system.  Backflow prevention; an unseen technology that assures a safe drinking water supply by keeping water running in one direction by maintaining pressure differences.  Analogous to the way we want electrical current to run in one direction, failure of backflow prevention technology poses a near-instantaneous health risk for the contamination of potable water supplies with foul water.  In the most obvious case, a toilet flush cistern and its water supply must be isolated from the toilet bowl.  In a less obvious case, but at greater scale, a damaged backflow prevention technology at a university research building can contaminate an host-community potable water supply.

There are other ANSI accredited standards developers in the backflow prevention technology space — the International Code Council, the IAPMO Group and ASSE International — for example.

Backflow Preventer

At the moment no AWWA redlines relevant to our objective are open for consultation.  Several relatively stabilized product standards are marked up but none dealing specifically with interoperability issues.  When they are uploaded you may access them at the link below:

AWWA Standards Public Comment Home Page

Students and Young Professionals

AWWA is the first name in US-based water standards so we maintain the AWWA catalog on our Plumbing & Water colloquia.   See our CALENDAR for the next online meeting; open to everyone.

Issue: [11-57]

Category: Water Safety, Plumbing, Mechanical

Colleagues: Mike Anthony, Richard Robben, Steve Snyder, Larry Spielvogel

 

LEARN MORE

Workspace / AWWA

 

Gallery: Great Lakes

November 7, 2024
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The Great Lakes contain enough fresh water to cover the land area of the entire United States under 3 meters of water.

We collect 15 video presentations about Great Lake water safety and sustainability prepared by the 8 Great Lake border state colleges and universities and their national and international partners in Canada.

 

Water 100

When the wicked problems of peace and economic inequality cannot be solved, political leaders, and the battalions of servile administrative muckety-mucks who report to them, resort to fear-mongering about an imagined problem to be solved centuries hence assuming every other nation agrees on remedies of its anthropogenic origin.  We would not draw attention to it were it not that large tranches of the global academic community are in on the grift costing hundreds of billions in square-footage for research and teaching hopelessness to our children and hatred of climate change deniers.

Before the internet is scrubbed of information contrary to climate change mania, we recommend a few titles:

“Gulliver’s Travels” Jonathan Swift | Start at Chapter 5, PDF page 235

The Mad, Mad, Mad World of Climatism: Mankind and Climate Change Mania

Climate Change Craziness Exposed: Twenty-One Climate Change Denials of Environmentalists

Climate Psychosis

Gallery: Other Ways of Knowing Climate Change

 

Backflow

November 7, 2024
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The University has a strong reputation for research and innovation in many fields related to the prevention of backflow incidents:

Viterbi School of Engineering has a dedicated Environmental Engineering program that focuses on water quality and management. This program has faculty members who are experts in water treatment and distribution systems, including backflow prevention technologies. The school also offers research opportunities for graduate students to work on water-related projects, including those related to backflow prevention.

Keck School of Medicine has a Department of Preventive Medicine that conducts research on environmental health, including waterborne diseases and contamination. This department has published research on the prevention of waterborne disease outbreaks and the importance of backflow prevention measures in protecting public health.

The USC Environmental Health and Safety department is responsible for overseeing the safety and compliance of the university’s facilities, including its water systems. EH&S works closely with the university’s Facilities Management Services to ensure that backflow prevention measures are in place and maintained.

The USC Foundation drafts definitions and specifications covering cross-connection control and the assemblies required for the prevention of backflow.

 

Student Medical Centers

November 6, 2024
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This facility class has many names but is similar in our approach to them: the settings that provide primary care in a visible, central service.  After the chapel, the library, the kitchen and the classroom, the on-campus medical center is a central fixture.  These clinics typically provide basic medical services primarily aimed at addressing the immediate health needs of students and sometimes staff.   These clinics are often staffed by a nurse or a small team of healthcare professionals such as nurse practitioners or physician assistants.

  • Services may include first aid, basic medical care (such as treating minor injuries and illnesses), immunizations, health screenings, and sometimes mental health counseling.
  • These clinics are often staffed by a nurse or a small team of healthcare professionals such as nurse practitioners or physician assistants. In some cases, a physician may be available on a part-time basis.
  • These clinics are usually small and may be located within or near the school premises. They typically have limited space and equipment compared to hospitals.

Access to school-based clinics is often limited to students and staff during school hours. They may not be open during weekends, holidays, or outside of regular school hours.

University of Michigan Health Service: Reproductive Health

University of Vermont: Primary Care at Student Health Services

University of North Dakota Student Health Services

University of Chicago Student Sexual Health

University of California System Abortion Services

During today’s open door session we examine the literature relevant to making this facility class safer, simpler, lower-cost and longer-lasting in the links below, including open public consultation close dates:

Health 400 | OB-GYN

Healthcare Occupancies

Healthcare Facilities Code

Design & Operation of Health Care Facilities

Gallery: University-Affiliated Healthcare Enterprises

Smart Medical Campus Power

 

Student Health and Wellness Center

November 6, 2024
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Standards Utah

MHTN Architects

The Center provides comprehensive healthcare services to students. Located on the Logan campus, the clinic offers a range of medical services including general health check-ups, vaccinations, mental health support, and chronic disease management. Staffed by experienced physicians, nurse practitioners, and support staff, the clinic aims to address both physical and mental health needs. Students can access acute care for illnesses and injuries, preventive care, women’s health services, and counseling.

The clinic also provides lab services, prescriptions, and referrals to specialists when needed. With a focus on promoting wellness and healthy lifestyles, the USU Student Health Clinic ensures that students receive quality care in a supportive environment, contributing to their overall well-being and academic success. The clinic operates on an appointment basis, with some walk-in availability, and is committed to maintaining confidentiality and respect for all students.

Old Main 1890 | C.A. Randall Architect

Maternity Metrix

November 6, 2024
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Design & Operation of Health Care Facilities

November 6, 2024
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The pandemic provides background for the importance of ventilation systems in healthcare settings and reminder that there is plenty of work to do.  The scope of ASHRAE 189.3 – Design, Construction and Operation of Sustainable High Performance Health Care Facilities — lies in this domain:

Purpose.  The purpose of this standard is to prescribe the procedures, methods and documentation requirements for the design, construction and operation of high-performance sustainable health care facilities.

Scope.This standard applies to patient care areas and related support areas within health care facilities, including hospitals, nursing facilities, outpatient facilities, and their site.  It applies to new buildings, additions to existing buildings, and those alterations to existing buildings that are identified within the standard.  It provides procedures for the integration of sustainable principles into the health care facility design, construction and operation process including:

    1. integrated design
    2. conservation of water
    3. conservation of energy
    4. indoor environmental quality
    5. construction practices
    6. commissioning
    7. operations and maintenance

Noteworthy: Related title ASHRAE/ASHE Standard 170 Ventilation of Healthcare Facilities

No redlines have been released for public consultation at this time.

 

Public consultation on Standard 189.3-2021, Design, Construction, and Operation of Sustainable High-Performance Health Care Facilities closes November 11.

 

We maintain this title on the standing agenda of our periodic Health, Energy and Mechanical colloquia.  See our CALENDAR for the online meeting; open to everyone.

October 9 Update

As of the date of this post, two redlines have been released for public consultation

Proposed Addendum L to Standard 170-2021, Ventilation of Health Care Facilities

Proposed Addendum i to Standard 170-2021, Ventilation of Health Care Facilities

The consultation closes October 29th.

Other redlines are released and posted at the link below:

Public Review Draft Standards / Online Comment Database

Because this title is administered on ASHRAE’s continuous maintenance platform, public consultations run 30 to 45 days.   You may also submit an original idea to the ASHRAE standards development enterprise.  CLICK HERE to get started.

We maintain this title on the standing agenda of our periodic Health, Energy and Mechanical colloquia.  See our CALENDAR for the online meeting; open to everyone.

"The trained nurse has become one of the great blessings of humanity, taking a place beside the physician and the priest" - William Osler"While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about" - Angela Schwindt "The true art of pediatrics lies not only in curing diseases but also in preventing them" - Abraham JacobiGermany

 

Issue: [Various]

Category: Mechanical, Electrical, Energy, Facility Asset Management

Colleagues:  David Conrad, Richard Robben, Larry Spielvogel

Workspace / ASHRAE

Healthcare Occupancies

November 6, 2024
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Safety and sustainability for any facility, not just university-affiliated healthcare facilities, usually begin with an understanding of who, and how, shall occupy the built environment.  University settings, with mixed-use occupancy arising spontaneously and temporarily, often present challenges and they are generally well managed.

First principles regarding occupancy classifications for healthcare facilities appear in Section 308 of the International Building Code, Institutional Group I; linked below:

2021 International Building Code Section 308 Institutional Group I

There are thousands of healthcare code compliance functionaries and instructors; most of them supported by trade associations and most of them authoritative.   Hewing to our market discipline to track only the concepts that will affect university-affiliated healthcare enterprises only.  There are a few noteworthy differences between corporate healthcare businesses and university affiliated healthcare enterprises (usually combined with teaching and research activity) that we identify on this collaboration platform.

We collaborate closely with the IEEE Education & Healthcare Facilities Committee which takes a far more global view of the healthcare industry.  That committee meets online 4 times monthly in European and American time zones.

Finally, we encourage our colleagues to participate directly in the ICC Code Development process.  Contact Kimberly Paarlberg ([email protected]) for more information about its healthcare committees and how to participate in the ICC code development process generally.  Tranches of ICC titles are developed according to the schedule below:

2024/2025/2026 ICC CODE DEVELOPMENT SCHEDULE

LIVE: I-Code Group B Public Comment Hearings

 

Issue: [18-166]

Category: Architectural, Healthcare Facilities, Facility Asset Management

Colleagues: Mike Anthony, Jim Harvey, Richard Robben

More

The ICC Code Development Process

K-TAG Matrix for Healthcare Facilities

American Society of Healthcare Engineers

Election Cake & Coffee

November 5, 2024
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Standards Michigan: Coffee

Voting Precincts

November 5, 2024
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Today we refresh our understanding of the standard of care for hosting elections in public spaces such as schools, colleges and universities.

In the United States, polling places can be located in a variety of public and private facilities, not just in public schools. While public schools are commonly used as polling places due to their widespread distribution and accessibility, they are not necessarily the largest proportion of polling places nationwide. The specific locations of polling places can vary by jurisdiction and are determined by local election officials. Other common polling place locations include community centers, churches, libraries, government buildings, and private residences.

The selection of polling places is based on factors like accessibility, convenience, and the need to accommodate a specific number of voters within a given precinct or district. The goal is to ensure that voters have reasonable access to cast their ballots on election day. The use of public schools as polling places is widespread but not universal, and the distribution of polling places across various types of facilities can vary from one region to another.

2024 International Building Code Appendix E: Supplementary Accessibility Requirements

NFPA 730 Guide to Premises Security: 2026 First Draft Report | Consultation closes January 3, 2025

“Election Day” 1944″ Norman Rockwell

The political party that claims that “democracy is at stake” today’s election is the same political party that seeks to federalize state election laws, pack the Supreme Court, remove the Electoral College, remove US national borders and abolish voter identification will be voting in today’s off-year elections.   In other words: it wants to abolish democracy.  Its partisans have long since metastasized in education communities where polling places for students, faculty, staff and nearby residents are hosted.

Join us in post-irony America today when we focus only on the safety and environmental condition of these polling places.   Where there is closer agreement.  Catalogs, titles, chapters, sections and passages that inform best practice on this topic:

Can Voters Detect Malicious Manipulation of Ballot Marking Devices?

 

International Code Council

International Building Code

A117 Accessible and Useable Buildings and Facilities

National Fire Protection Association

Life Safety Code

Premises Security

ASHRAE International

Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy

Illumination Engineering Society

Designing Lighting for People and Buildings

Security 100

Sacramento County: Polling Place and Vote Center Management

 

 

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