Administrative Staff Checklist
This checklist
seven major topic
areas:
General Cleanliness
Drain Traps
Excess Moisture
Thermal Comfort
Local Exhaust Fans
Ventilation
Printing and Duplicating
Equipment
1. Read the IAQ
Backgrounder.
2. Read each item on this
Checklist
3. Check the diamond(s) as
appropriate at check the
circle if you need
additional help with an
activity
4. Returnlhis checklist to the
IAQ Coordinator and keep
a copy for future
reference..
Name:
Room or Area:
School:
Date Completed:
Signature:
GENERALCLEANLINESS
Regular and thorough cleaning is
important to ensure good indoor air
quality. Unsanitary conditions attract
insects and vermin, leading to possible
indoor air quality (IAQ) problems from
animal or insect allergens or pesticide
use. The presence of dirt, moisture,
and warmth also stimulates the growth
of molds and other microbiological
contaminants. While janitors or
custodians typically clean administra-
tive offices, you can also play an
important role in promoting and
maintaining office cleanliness.
Confirm that the office area is
cleaned properly
Make sure that the office is dusted/
vacuumed thoroughly and regu-
larly
Make sure that trash is removed
daily
Make sure that food is not kept in
offices overnight
Look for signs of pests ;"
O Office is cleaned thor-
oughly and properly
O Need help with office
cleaning or pest control
dean spills promptly
For spills on carpets involving
more than a quart of liquid,
contact custodial staff immediately
(carpets need to be cleaned, dried,
and disinfected within 24 hours).
Request that unit ventilator filter be
replaced if spilled liquid goes into
unit (see drawing in IAQ
Backgrounder)
Report previous spills on carpets or
in unit ventilators because they can
affect current indoor air quality
O No significant spills
O Need help with cleaning spill
DRA1NIRAPS
Drain traps, if present, can become a
problem when the water in the drain
trap evaporates due to infrequent use,
allowing sewer gases to enter the room.
Fill drain traps in your area each
Pour water down floor drains
(approx. 1 quart of water)
Run water in sinks (approx. 2' cups
ofwater)
If not regularly used, flush toilets at
least once each week
O Drain traps are filled
regularly
O Need help filling drain traps
regularly
EXCESS MOISTURE
Excess moisture contributes to the
growth of mold and mildew which
causes odors and other IAQ problems.
Excess moisture is the result of conden-
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sation on cold surfaces, leaking or
spilled liquid, or excess humidity.
Chock for condensata (condensed
water, or "fog") on cold surfaces
Window glass, frames or sills
Plumbing (pipes and fixtures)
Inside surfaces of exterior walls
O No condensate
O Excess condensate found
Check for leaks (or signs of wet-
ness) from plumbing or roof
On ceiling tiles and walls (discol-
ored patches may indicate periodic
leaks)
Around and under sinks
In lavatories
O No leaks or signs of mois-
ture
O Found leaks or signs of
moisture
THERMALODMFORT
Temperature and relative humidity can
affect comfort and indoor air quality. .
Changing thermostat settings or
opening windows to try to control
temporary fluctuations in temperature
can worsen comfort problems and also
have an adverse effect on other parts
of the school. Comfort for all occu-
pants is a worthy objective, but due to
various comfort requirements and
clothing levels among occupants, a
more practical goal is assuring that
at least 80% of the occupants are
comfortable.
Check comfort factors
Temperature
(generally 72°F to 76° F)
' Draftiness
Sunlight shining directly on
occupants
Humidity is too high (typically if
higher than 60% relative humidity
[R.H.] or too low (typically if
lower than 30% R.H.-)
O Room typically
comfortable
O Need help, room frequently
uncomfortable
LOCAL EXHAUSTFANS
Local exhaust fans can be used to
prevent air pollutants from accumulat-
ing in, or spreading beyond, the local
area or room where pollutants are
generated. A local exhaust fan can be
linked to the operation of a particular
piece of equipment (such as a duplica-
tor) or used to treat an entire room
(such as a smoking room or custodial
closet).
Determine if activities generate air
pollutants and whether the room or
area is equipped with local exhaust
fans
Typical office activities that
generate air pollutants include:
smoking, operation of some office
equipment and food preparation
and eating
If there are no activities that
generate air pollutants, then you do
not need a local exhaust fan
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Local exhaust fans should be
considered for the school nurse's
office to help prevent the spread of
germs throughout the school
O No major pollutant gener-
ating activities
O Have local exhaust fan(s)
O Need local exhaust fan(s)
Confirm that local exhaust fans (if
any) function properly
Check for air flowing in the proper
direction when fans are switched
on (use chemical smoke obtained
from the IAQ coordinator, or
pieces of tissue)
Odorous pollutants seem to be
properly removed
Fan is too noisy to use
O Local exhaust fans func-
tion
O Need help evaluating or
fixing fan(s)
Confirm that fans are used when-
ever activities that generate air
pollutants take place
Conduct pollutant generating
activities only when the exhaust'
fan(s)ison
O Fans are used properly
O Fans are not used properly
VENTILATION
Ventilation is the process by which
stale indoor air is exhausted to the
outside and outside air is drawn into
the building. Your building may have
mechanical and/or natural ventilation
(i.e., windows). Improperly operated or
poorly maintained ventilation systems
may cause IAQ problems. Odors may
indicate a ventilation problem. The
ventilation system can carry air pollut-
ants from another location in the school
to your area.
Determine how your office is venti-
lated
Locate unit ventilators (if any)
Locate air supply and return vents
(if any)
Determine whether your windows
(if any) are operable
O Located the unit ventilator
O Located air supply and
return vents
O Windows are operable
O Need help determining type
of ventilation
If you have mechanical ventilation,
confirm that air is flowing into the
room from the air supply ventis)
Check for airflow by holding a
tissue or strip of lightweight plastic
near the air supply vent(s); if air is
flowing, the plastic or tissue will
flutter away from the supply vent
Make sure that the airflow is not
diverted or obstructed by books,
papers, furniture, curtains, or other
obstacles. Never place anything on
top of unit ventilators
O No problem, air is flowing
without obstruction
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O No supply air or need help
removing obstruction
tf you have mechanical ventilation,
confirm that air is flowing from the
room into the air return grilles
Check for airflow at air return
grilles in the same manner as the
previous activity. If air is flowing,
the plastic or tissue will be pulled
toward the air return grilles.
Alternatively, apiece of plastic or
tissue that nearly covers the grille
will stick to the face of the grilles
if air is flowing
Make sure that the airflow is not
diverted or obstructed by books,
papers, furniture, curtains, etc.
O No problem, air is flowing
without obstruction
O No exhaust air or need help
removing obstruction
Chack for unexplained odors
Vehicle exhaust
* Kitchen/food
"Chemical" smell
Mold or mildew , .
O N6 problem, never, detect
* any odors-
O Need help, sometimes smell
odors
PRINT1NQ/DUPUCAT1NG
EQUIPMENT
Printing and duplicating equipment can
generate indoor air pollutants. Com-
mon types of duplicating and printing
equipment include: photocopiers, spirit
duplicating machines, mimeograph
machines, diazo dyeline (blueprint)
machines, electronic stencil makers and
computer (laser) printers. Spirit
duplicating machines and diazo dyeline
(blueprint) machines present particular
IAQ problems due to the presence of
methyl alcohol and ammonia, respec-
tively. Local exhaust and ventilation is
important (see the previous activities).
Confirm that the equipment func-
tions properly
Equipment does not leak
* No odors detected
Equipment is regularly maintained
No complaints from individuals
who are exposed to the equipment
O Equipment functions
properly
O Need help determining
whether equipment functions
properly
Minimize staff and student exposure
to equipment
Equipment is located in a well
ventilated area with sufficient
outdoor air - - .
Spirit duplicating equipment and
diazo dyeline copiers should be
located in separate room with a fan
to exhaust air to the outside
O Equipment is located hi
well ventilated area or separate
room with appropriate local
exhaust
O Need help moving equip-
ment or minimizing exposure
Q NO PROBLEMS
TO REPORT. I
have completed all
activities on this
Checklist, and I do
not need help in any
areas.
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