[Michlib-l] HVAC Rant

[Marty Ferriby]

Hi Dave --

I surely understand.  Architects sure do dumb stuff.  Listening is 
not among their skills.

I think it would be worth it to install replacement windows in some 
spots, now that your architect is out of the way.  I'm sure it could 
be done without looking too bad.

We have just gotten AC for the first time, and we got a 4-pipe system 
so that we can make quick changes to solve exactly the problem you 
describe.  This is likely not doable for you.  It was a huge, huge, 
huge mess and very expensive.  We also are replacing all our windows, 
and we made sure to have one window in each area that will open.

Here are some handy hints for managing high temps inside the building 
when it's OK outside.  We got to 95 degrees inside several days or a 
week each summer.  It would be 72 outside at 8:00 am but 85 degrees 
inside, and the temp just soared from there.  Like working in a 
freakin' pizza oven.  We never closed due to the heat, and so here's 
a ton of sympathy from HPL.  We feel your pain like few others can.

--  IBM and others say you can run PCs continuously as long as the 
temp and humidity are below 90 or 95.  The people won't like it, but 
don't believe your staff when they piously indicate that they should 
go home because that's what's best for the computers.  We did turn 
them off in banks and only ran them for 2 hours when it was really bad.

--  Some very dramatic staff will indicate that their health is 
suffering from being in a hot building.  They may be right. 
Everybody's body is different.  I let staff take sick time and go if 
they felt they needed to, as long as we could cover the public 
service desks.  "You have to do what you feel is best for your health".

--  We relaxed dress codes, and we allowed water bottles at the 
service desks, and we allowed those wraps around the neck that 
welders use in the summer.  You can get them at any welding supply 
store, and probably elsewhere for about $2.50 each.  They look like 
bandanas.  Wet them and put them in the freezer, then wear around the 
neck.  They last a couple of hours and they really help.  Some staff 
have several, and keep the refreezing ones in labeled plastic bags in 
the staff freezer.

-- We relaxed or amended some job expectations -- i.e. the pages 
didn't have to shelve on the upper floors where it was really bad in 
the afternoon or evening, only in the mornings.

-- Get a lot of fans.  It's not actually cooler, but the air moving 
makes staff and customers feel like you're doing something and it 
does feel better.  There are big industrial fans on poles that are 
used in machine shops and other industries that really move a lot of air.

-- Turn out some of the lights.  It feels better.

--  When it was really awful, I allowed extra cooling breaks in our 
staff room, which had a winder air conditioner.  It helps if people 
can eat lunch someplace cool.

--  Have a plan for cooling over heated customers (to prevent heat 
stroke) and make sure the staff know the signs and know what to 
do.  (Cool cloths, lie them down or sit them down, call 911 if 
they're dry and panting because they're already in trouble, cool 
water to drink, call for a ride home )  (There is an awful story 
about an old man who walked into the Fremont, MI library with a coat 
on in the summer, approached the reference desk, and then just 
dropped like a rock.  A woman who works here now was on reference 
when he died right there in the Fremont library.  This is not a story 
we want to repeat.)

-- Acknowledge the situation to the customers -- signs, humor, 
possibly have fans printed.  Agree with them that it's awful.

--  Sometimes I bought popsicles or ice cream bars and walked around 
the whole building passing them out to staff and customers.

-- Figure out something to do to fix it.  It took us 10 years to 
figure it out and raise the money, but somehow the situation needs to 
be addressed.  Bring in those HVAC guys and have them figure something out.

Good Luck Dave!

And I'd seriously look into replacing a few windows.

Marty Ferriby, Director
Hackley Public Library
316 W. Webster Ave.
Muskegon, MI 49440
231-722-8003


At 09:46 AM 2/23/2017, Dave Ewick wrote:
>Hi All - just need to vent (pun intended)
>
>What's up with architects refusing to put functional windows in 
>large buildings???
>
>We suffer for about a month each spring & fall when the seasons are 
>changing and we cannot switch quickly from heat to cooling (and vice 
>versa).  It was 80 degrees at 8:00 am this morning on our 3rd floor; 
>and once the lights, computers & people add their heat it goes up, up, up!
>
>Changing to cooling for us is a week long process, and we cannot 
>even begin it if there's a chance of another freeze or we could lose 
>pipes, etc.
>Every fall is the opposite problem - switch too soon and it's hot 
>again.  If we could open some windows things would level out.
>I worry about the health of both staff members and patrons. Argh!
>
>OK - end of rant - thanks for reading.  Now to drink some ice water 
>and maybe talk a walk outside to cool off!
>
>David L. Ewick, MLS, MS
>City Librarian
>Southfield Public Library
>26300 Evergreen
>Southfield, Michigan 48076
>248 796-4300
><mailto:dewick at southfieldlibrary.org>dewick at southfieldlibrary.org
>P Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail.
>
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>Michlib-l at mcls.org
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