Skip to content

Design Guidance for Education Facilities
Version 4.0 — Draft Table of Contents
ASHRAE Technical Committee 9.7, Educational Facilities

ASHRAE Technical Committee 9.7, Educational Facilities, is developing Version 4 of the Design Guidance for Educational Facilities. To ensure we are starting on the right foot, the Chair has asked TC 9.7 members to review and provide suggestions for improving the proposed Table of Contents.

Please review each section of the Table of Contents and either approve it “as is” or provide recommended improvements.
1.Name (First and Last)
2.Email
3.TC 9.7 Role
Part I: Framework and Philosophy
4.Intent and Scope
  • Evolution from Version 2.0
  • Expanded Scope: From IAQ to Comprehensive Facility Performance
  • How to Use This Document
5.The Purpose of the Educational Facility
  • The Learner-Centered Facility
  • The Community-Centered Facility: Schools as Shared Infrastructure
  • Workforce Development and Trade Curriculum: Implications for Building Systems
  • Reconciling Dual Missions in Facility Design and Operations
6.Prioritization Framework
  • Prioritization Checklists (Updated)
  • Budgetary Guidelines (Updated with Escalation from 2023 Baseline)
  • Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) as a Decision Tool
    • First Cost vs. Life-Cycle Cost
    • TCO Modeling for HVAC, Electrical, and Envelope Investments
    • Communicating TCO to Non-Technical Stakeholders
Part II: Prerequisites
7.Funding Strategies: Doing More with Less
  • Federal, State, and Local Funding Mechanisms
  • Phased Implementation Strategies
  • Leveraging Energy Savings for Capital Reinvestment
  • Public-Private Partnerships and Community Bond Structures
  • Grant Alignment: ESSER, EPA, DOE, USDA, and FEMA Programs
  • Prioritization Matrices for Resource-Constrained Districts
8.Standardized MEP Condition Assessment
  • Overview and Purpose of Standardization
  • Assessment Protocol for HVAC Systems
  • Assessment Protocol for Electrical Systems
  • Assessment Protocol for Plumbing and Fire Protection Systems
  • Scoring and Grading Methodology
  • Facility Condition Index (FCI) for Educational Facilities
  • Data Collection Templates and Reporting Standards
  • Integration with Capital Planning and Deferred Maintenance Backlog
9.Enrollment Planning and Facility Right-Sizing
  • Overcrowding: Identification, Metrics, and HVAC Implications
  • Under-Enrollment: Identification, Metrics, and Consolidation Strategies
  • Mothballing Procedures for Underutilized Facilities
    • HVAC System Preservation During Dormancy
    • Electrical System Safeguarding
    • Recommissioning Upon Reactivation
  • Temporary and Modular Facilities (Trailers/Relocatables)
    • HVAC Requirements for Temporary Classrooms
    • IAQ Considerations for Modular Units
    • Electrical and Data Connectivity
    • Integration with Permanent Building Systems
10.Ventilation Verification of HVAC Airside Components (Existing Facilities Only)
  • Overview
  • Involved Parties
  • Procedure
  • Base Minimum
  • Advanced IAQ
  • Additional Guidance
11.Budgeting and Planning
  • Facility-Based Approach
  • Need-Based Approach
  • Student-Based Approach
  • Reduction of the Probability of Transmission
  • TCO Integration in Budget Modeling
Part III: HVAC System Priorities
Very High Priority Tasks
12.HVAC Deferred Maintenance
  • Identifying and Quantifying the Deferred Maintenance Backlog
  • Criticality Ranking for Deferred Items
  • Impact of Deferred Maintenance on IAQ, Energy, and Safety
  • Remediation Planning and Phased Execution
  • Documenting Deferred Maintenance for Funding Justification
13.HVAC Preventative Maintenance Programs
  • Establishing a Preventative Maintenance Program
  • Minimum Maintenance Schedules per ASHRAE Standards 62.1 and 180
  • Filter Management Programs
  • Belt, Bearing, and Motor Maintenance
  • Coil Cleaning and Condensate Management
  • Controls Calibration and Verification
  • Staff Training and Certification Requirements
  • Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS) for Schools
  • Measuring Maintenance Program Effectiveness
14.HVAC Equipment Filtration Upgrades
  • Overview
  • Base Minimum (MERV 13 Recommended Minimum)
  • Advanced IAQ (MERV 14, HEPA, Electrostatic Devices)
  • Additional Guidance
15.HVAC for Wellness/Nurse Suites for Pre-K–12
  • Overview
  • Base Minimum
  • Improved IAQ
  • Advanced IAQ
  • Additional Guidance
16.Classroom and Assembly Space Air Distribution and Dilution Effectiveness
  • Overview
  • Base Minimum
  • Advanced IAQ
  • Additional Guidance
Part III: HVAC System Priorities
High Priority Tasks
17.IAQ Sensors with Data Aggregation Platform
  • Overview
  • Base Minimum
  • Advanced IAQ
  • Integration with BMS and Facility Dashboards
  • Additional Guidance
18.New HVAC Equipment to Achieve ASHRAE-Recommended Air Change Rates
  • Overview
  • Base Minimum
  • Advanced IAQ
  • Additional Guidance
19.Classroom-Level Air Cleaning
  • Overview
  • Base Minimum
  • Advanced IAQ
  • Portable Unit Specifications
  • Installation and Operations Guidance
  • Additional Guidance
20.Staff Training and Documentation Organizational Platform
  • Overview
  • Base Minimum
  • Advanced IAQ: Comprehensive IAQ and Risk Mitigation Program
  • Additional Guidance
21.Staff Training and Documentation Organizational Platform
  • Overview
  • Base Minimum
  • Advanced IAQ: Comprehensive IAQ and Risk Mitigation Program
  • Additional Guidance
22.UV-C/UVGI in Air Handling Equipment
  • Overview
  • Base Minimum
  • Advanced IAQ
  • Additional Guidance
Part III: HVAC System Priorities
Medium Priority Tasks
23.Humidification and Dehumidification Systems
  • Overview
  • Base Minimum
  • Advanced IAQ
  • Additional Guidance
24.Energy Efficiency Offset Control Schemes for Advanced IAQ
  • Overview
  • Base Minimum
  • Advanced IAQ
  • Additional Guidance
25.Operable Windows
  • Overview
  • Base Minimum
  • Advanced IAQ
  • Additional Guidance
Part IV: Electrical and Technology Infrastructure
26.Electrical Systems for 21st Century Learning and Electrification
  • Overview: Why Electrical Infrastructure Must Be Addressed in This Guide
  • Assessment of Existing Electrical Distribution Capacity
  • Power Density Requirements for Modern Classrooms
    • Device Charging and 1:1 Programs
    • Maker Spaces, STEM Labs, and Trade Shops
    • Commercial Kitchen and Culinary Programs
  • Building Electrification Considerations
    • Heat Pump Conversions and Electrical Service Upgrades
    • Panel Capacity and Circuit Availability
    • Coordination with Utility Infrastructure
  • Backup Power and Resilience (see also Chapter 25)
  • Base Minimum
  • Advanced Recommendations
27.Wireless and Data Connectivity
  • Overview: Dead Zones and Their Impact on Learning
  • Wireless Coverage Assessment Methodology
  • Minimum Connectivity Standards for Educational Spaces
  • Coordination of WAP Placement with HVAC and Ceiling Systems
  • Structured Cabling Infrastructure
  • Base Minimum
  • Advanced Recommendations
Part V: Climate Resilience and Community Use
28.Schools as Climate-Resilient Hubs and Community Shelters
  • Overview: The Evolving Role of the School Facility
  • Resilience Design Criteria
  • Extreme Heat Events: Cooling Capacity and Envelope Performance
    • Extreme Cold Events: Heating Redundancy and Freeze Protection
    • Flooding and Stormwater: MEP Equipment Elevation and Protection
    • Power Outages: Generator, Battery, and Microgrid Strategies
    • Wildfire Smoke and Air Quality Events: Enhanced Filtration Modes
  • Shelter-in-Place and Emergency Operations
    • HVAC Zoning for Partial Building Operation
    • Emergency Power Loads and Duration Sizing
    • Potable Water and Sanitation for Extended Occupancy
    • Indoor Air Quality During High-Occupancy Shelter Events
  • Community Use After Hours
    • HVAC Scheduling for Extended and Dual-Use Operation
    • Energy and Maintenance Cost Implications
    • Security and Access Control Integration
  • Coordination with FEMA, State, and Local Emergency Management
  • Base Minimum
  • Advanced Recommendations
29.Designing for Trade and Vocational Curriculum
  • Overview: Building Systems Implications of Expanded Programming
  • Ventilation Requirements for Shops, Labs, and Fabrication Spaces
  • Exhaust Systems for Welding, Woodworking, and Automotive Programs
  • Electrical Load Requirements for Industrial Equipment
  • Plumbing and Gas Infrastructure for Culinary and Technical Programs
  • Noise and Vibration Isolation
  • Base Minimum
  • Advanced Recommendations
Part VI: Total Cost of Ownership and Long-Term Planning
30.Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) for Educational Facility MEP Systems
  • TCO Methodology and Calculation Framework
  • Energy Cost Projections and Utility Rate Modeling
  • Maintenance and Replacement Cost Forecasting
  • Avoided Cost Analysis: Health, Absenteeism, and Productivity
  • TCO Comparison Templates for Common System Alternatives
  • Presenting TCO to School Boards and Decision Makers
31.Capital Planning Integration
  • Aligning MEP Improvements with District Capital Improvement Plans
  • Sequencing Investments for Maximum Impact
  • Leveraging Assessment Data for Bond and Levy Support
  • Long-Range Facility Master Planning
Appendices
32.Appendix A: Standardized MEP Condition Assessment Templates
Appendix B: Ventilation Verification Assessment Test Sheets (Updated)
Appendix C: TCO Calculation Worksheets
Appendix D: Funding Source Directory and Eligibility Matrix
Appendix E: Mothballing and Reactivation Checklists
Appendix F: Modular Facility MEP Requirements Checklist
Appendix G: Climate Resilience Scorecard for Schools
Appendix H: Risk Analysis Tools and Calculators
Appendix I: Sample Prioritization Matrix with Weighted Scoring
Appendix J: Glossary of Terms
Appendix K: References and Additional Guidance
33.ASHRAE Technical Committee 9.7, Educational Facilities, appreciates your taking the time to review and help improve the Design Guidance for Educational Facilities, Version 4.0 — Draft Table of Contents.

Do you have any further suggestions regarding the Table of Contents?