Building Maintenance Checklist
This checklist
discusses
seven major
topics areas:
Maintenance Supplies
Oust Control
:loor Cleaning
Drain Traps
Moisture, Leaks, and Spills
Combustion Appliances
'ast Control
Instructions:
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, Return this checklist to
the IAQ Coordinator and
keep a copy for future
v reference.
Name:
- t
Room or Area:
School
Date Completed:
v
Signature^;
MAINTENANCE SUPPLIES
Maintenance supplies may emit air
contaminants during use and storage.
Products low in emissions are prefer-
able. However, a product that is low in
emissions is not necessarily better if it
is more hazardous, despite the lower
emissions, if it has to be used more
often or at a higher strength. Examples
of maintenance supplies that may
contribute to indoor air quality (IAQ)
problems include: .
Caulks
Solvents
Paints
Adhesives
Sealants
Cleaning Agents
Learn about your maintenance
Review and become familiar with
your maintenance supplies
Read labels and identify precau-
tions regarding effects on indoor
air or ventilation rate and require-
ments
O Supplies reviewed and okay
O Need help determining
impact of supplies
If you make purchase decisions, or
recommend products for purchase,
confirm that supplies are safe to use
Ask vendors and manufacturers to
help select the safest products
available that can accomplish the
job effectively
O Supplies are safe to use
O Need help determining if
supplies are safe
Follow good safety, handling, dis-
posal, and storage practices
Develop appropriate procedures
and have supplies available for
spill control
Exhaust air from chemical and
trash storage areas to the outdoors
Store chemical products and
supplies in scalable, clearly labeled
containers
Follow manufacturers' instructions
for use of maintenance supplies
Follow manufacturers' instructions
for disposal of chemicals,
chemical-containing wastes,
and containers
O Following good safety,
handling, disposal, and storage
practices
O Safety, handling, storage,
and disposal practices are
being revised
O Need help with good safety,
handling, disposal, and storage
practices
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Establish maintenance practices
that minimize occupant exposure
to hazardous materials
Substitute less- or noa-hazardous
materials where possible
Schedule work involving odorous
or hazardous chemicals for periods
when the school is unoccupied
Ventilate during and after use of
odorous or hazardous chemicals
O Procedures established and
followed to minimize occupant
exposure
O Need help to develop and
implement procedures to
minimize occupant exposure
DUST CONTROL
By reducing the amount of dust and
dirt that enters the school, and by
reducing the amount of dust that leaves
vacuum bags and dust cloths, it will be
possible to maintain a clean school
with less effort. A cleaner school can
also have positive physical and
psychological effects on the students
and staff. Complaints of illness and
discomfort have been associated with
buildings having high dust levels. In
addition to dust, other particles such as
pollens-which can cause allergic
reactions will also be reduced.
Purchase and maintain barrier floor
mats for all school entrances
Barrier mats need to be long
enough to allow five full steps for
people entering the school (this
allows dirt to be cleaned from the
mats rather than from all over the
school, saving cleaning costs)
Vacuum each barrier mat daily
using a beater brush or beater bar
vacuum, vacuuming in two
directions (in-line and side-to-side)
O Barrier mats purchased and
maintained
O Need help with barrier mats
Use higher efficiency vacuum bags
Standard paper or cloth bags allow
lots of dust to pass completely
through the vacuum and back into
the air and onto surfaces. Use
micro-filtration bags which retain
dust and particles in the 3 micron
size range, or smaller. Although the
bags cost more, labor costs are
reduced
O High efficiency bags in use
O Need help with obtaining
proper bags
Use proper dust wiping techniques
Ensure that dust that has been
collected remains on the wipe by.
using a wiping motion with, a
folded wipe, rather than' a flicking
motion with a crumpled-up wipe
Wrap hand-held feather-type
dusters with a dust cloth. Use a
wiping rather than a flicking or
sweeping motion
O Proper dusting techniques
in use
O Need help with dust wiping
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Vacuum dust from heating, cooling,
and ventilation air return grilles and
air supply vents periodically
In addition to vacuuming the
grilles and vents using a soft
bristle attachment, vacuum the
ceiling and wall surfaces adjacent
to the grilles and vents to remove
visible dust
O Dusting is performed
periodically
O Need help with dusting
grilles and vents
FLOOR CLEANING
All flooring, including vinyl, wood,
terrazzo, tile, and carpet, requires daily
attention to ensure cleanliness. In
addition to the prevention technique of
barrier mats as noted in previous
activities, apply the following activi-
ties. Contact floor suppliers or manu-
facturers for recommended mainte-
nance techniques. Follow specific
guidelines of the Carpet and Rug
Institute (CRI) for properly maintain-
ing carpets (to obtain these guidelines,
see information in Appendix I,
Resources, in the Coordinator's
. Guide). .'.-'
Vacuum daily as. needed for soil
removal. Use a vacuum with
brushes, beater bars, strong
suction, and a high efficiency filter
bag that will filter particles down
to the 3 micron or smaller range
Remove spots and stains immedi-
ately, using the flooring
manufacturer's recommended
techniques. Use care to prevent
excess moisture or accumulation
of cleaning residue, and ensure
that cleaned areas will dry quickly
O Floors are cleaned daily as
needed and moisture has been
removed
O Need help with daily floor
maintenance
Perform restorative maintenance
Apply the manufacturer's recom-
mended guidelines when cleaning
to remove accumulated contami-
nants. For carpets, CRI recom-
mends periodic extraction cleaning,
wet or dry, and complete removal
of the moisture and cleaning agents
O Restorative maintenance is
properly performed as needed
O Need help with restorative
floor maintenance
DRAIN TRAPS
Drain traps can cause IAQ problems
when water in the drain trap evaporates
due to infrequent use. If the building
interior is under negative pressure, soil
gas or sewer gas can be drawn indoors
through a dry drain trap.
Confirm that all drains have drain
traps ; .
9 Install traps on any untrapped
drains ,/'..-
O All drains have drain traps
O Need help with traps
Confirm that all drain traps in areas
to which only you have access are
Pour water down floor drains once
per week (about one quart)
-------
Run water in sinks at least once
per week (about one pint)
Check water in seldom used toilets
once each week. If low, flush
O Traps are filled at least once
per week
O Need help filling traps
regularly
MOISTURE, LEAKS,
\ AND SPILLS
Many people have allergic reactions to
mold and mildew. Mold and mildew
can grow almost anywhere that offers a
food source and a small amount of
moisture, whether from leaks and spills
or condensation. Mold and mildew do
not require standing water in order to
grow. The higher the relative humidity,
the higher the probability of fungal
growth.
Assemble the following tools before
starting the activities:
a small floor plan for taking notes
an instrument to measure relative
humidity (e.g., sling psychrometer)
Inspect th« building for signs of
moistura, teaks, or spitl*
Check for moldy odors
Look for stains or discoloration on
the ceiling, walls, or floor
Check cold surfaces (e.g., loca-
tions under windows and in
corners formed by exterior walls,
uninsulated cold water piping)
Check areas where moisture is
generated (e.g., locker rooms,
bathrooms)
Look for signs of water damage in:
indoor areas in the vicinity of
known roof or wall leaks
walls around leaky or broken
windows
floors and ceilings under
plumbing
duct interiors near humidifiers,
cooling coils, and outdoor air
intakes
If you discover active leaks during
your inspection, note their
locations) on your floor plan and
repair them as quickly as possible
O There are no signs of
moisture, leaks, or spills
O Found signs of moisture,
leaks, or spills, or need help
inspecting
Respond promptly when you;
signs of moisture, or whan leaks or
spills occur
Clean and dry damp or wet
building materials and furnishings
Work with manufacturers of
furnishings and building materials
to learn recommended cleaning
procedures and/or identify compe-
tent contractors who can clean
damp materials
Porous, absorbent building
materials or furnishings, such as
ceiling tiles, wall boards, floor
coverings, etc., must be thoroughly
dried and cleaned as soon as
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possible. In some cases these
materials might have to be disin-
fected. If these materials can't be
dried and cleaned within 24 hours,
they may have to be replaced after
the cause of the moisture problem
has been corrected
O Moisture, leaks, or spills
fixed
O Need help fixing damage
from moisture, leaks, or spills
Prevent moisture condensation
There are several methods to prevent
condensation:
Reduce the potential for condensa-
tion on cold surfaces (piping,
exterior walls, roof, or floor) by
adding insulation. (Note: When
installing insulation that has a
vapor barrier, put the vapor barrier
on the warm side of the insula-
tion.)
Raise the temperature of the air
Improve air circulation in the
problem location
Decrease the amount of water
vapor in the air
In drier climates or winter, supply
more outdoor ventilation air
In humid climates or during humid
times of the year, use a dehumidi-
fier or desiccants to dry the air (for
more information, obtain Appen-
dix H from the IAQ Coordinator)
Increase the capacity or operating
schedule of existing exhaust
fan(s); or add a local exhaust fan
near the source of the water vapor
O Moisture prevention activi-
ties completed
O Moisture prevention activi-
ties underway
O Need help with moisture
prevention activities
COMBUSTION APPLIANCES
Combustion appliances are potential
sources of carbon monoxide and other
combustion gases. Carbon monoxide is
odorless yet toxic, so it is important
that appliances are properly vented to
remove combustion gases. If inad-
equate combustion air is available to an
appliance, air may be pulled, or
backdrafted, down the flue, bringing
combustion gases back into the indoors
instead of exhausting them outside.
Note odors when first entering a
location containing combustion
appiancet
Q One's nose quickly becomes
accustomed to odors, but upon first
entering a room the smell of
combustion gas odors may indicate
a leak or backdrafting problem
O No combustion odors
O Need help resolving combus-
tion gas problem
Visually inspect exhaust components
Q Inspect flue components for leaks,
disconnections, and deterioration
Q Inspect flue components for
corrosion and soot
O No apparent problems
O Need help repairing exhaust
components
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Chtck for backdrafting of combus-
tion appliance*
When the combustion appliances
are operating, and the building
ventilation systems are in normal
operating mode, use chemical
smoke to determine whether air is
flowing up the flue by puffing
smoke near any vent openings or
joints
O No backdrafting
O Need help resolving
backdrafting problem'
PEST CONTROL
Uao Integrated Part Management (FM)
irathotfe of DM* control
Q Do not rely on widespread,
indiscriminate use of pesticides to
control pests
Q If you are in charge of pest control,
obtain information about IPM
from the IAQ Coordinator (infor-
mation available in the
Coordinator's Guide)
If pesticides are used outdoors, do
not apply near outdoor air intakes
for the ventilation system. If
unavoidable, shut down the
affected ventilation system(s) and
remove occupants until application
has been completed and ventilation
has been restored. Similarly, avoid
application near doors and open
windows
O No pest problems
O Already using Integrated
Pest Management
O Need information or assis-
tance with IPM
NO PROBLEMS TO
REPO&T. I have
completed all activi-
ties on this Checklist,
and I do not need
help in any areas.
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