[Michlib-l] HVAC Rant

Fri Feb 24 09:47:01 EST 2017

Wow Marty--you really had a problem far worse than what I've experienced.

Where I used to work, we too had no windows you could open.  I would keep a
thermometer near my desk and whenever we approached 80° I could phone
"facilities" and they would come over and turn up the air conditioning.
Sometimes it really helped, sometimes not.  We in the library weren't
allowed access to that room.  Then they changed the policy, and we had to
notify them via a computer program.  Not only did it take three times as
long as the old phone call--passwords, selecting our complaint from a list
of about 100 possible problems, etc., then typing in the specific message,
but I remember one time when I was directed by my boss to send in a
"trouble ticket" about the heat.

It was a Tuesday morning.  We all agreed that it stayed hot all day.
Thursday morning they sent me a response saying they will send someone over
later that day.  Boy--that's sure helpful to all the people sweltering two
days earlier!

On Thu, Feb 23, 2017 at 12:50 PM, Nannette Miller <erlib.director at gmail.com>
wrote:

> Bear in mind, opening windows presents an opportunity for mold to develop.
> We had that happen here. My predecessor did not like air conditioning so
> didn't turn it on and opened the windows. They ended up with a black mold
> issue that resulted in costly mold abatement, and some health issues for
> staff. Just my two cents...
>
> Nannette Miller
> Elk Rapids District Library
>
> On Thu, Feb 23, 2017 at 11:33 AM, Donald E. Worrell, Jr. <
> worrelld at libcoop.net> wrote:
>
>> The response to Dave Ewick sounds like an article
>>
>> from the Onion...
>>
>> Donald E. Worrell, Jr., Director
>> Mount Clemens Public Library
>> 150 Cass Avenue
>> Mount Clemens,  MI  48043586.469.6662 <(586)%20469-6662>worrelld at libcoop.net
>>
>>
>>  On 02.23.2017 11:02 AM, Marty Ferriby wrote:
>>
>> 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 <(231)%20722-8003>
>>
>>
>> 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 <(248)%20796-4300>
>> dewick at southfieldlibrary.org
>> P Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail.
>>
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>
>
> --
>
> Nannette Miller | Director
> Elk Rapids District Library
> 231.264.9979 <(231)%20264-9979> | erlib.director at gmail.com |
> elkrapidslibrary.org
>
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