HB3713 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB103 29805 RJT 56212 b

103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB3713

Introduced 2/17/2023, by Rep. Camille Y. Lilly

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

105 ILCS 5/2-3.196 new

Amends the State Board of Education Article of the School Code. Provides that the State Board of Education shall require all school districts to undertake a ventilation verification assessment of all mechanical ventilation systems in the school district performed by a certified assessor or a mechanical engineer and shall be based on physical measurements made during the assessment. Provides that if an assessment is performed by a certified assessor, the assessment report shall be reviewed by a mechanical engineer. Provides that the ventilation verification assessment shall verify whether the existing mechanical ventilation system is operating in accordance with design parameters and meets the requirements of any applicable building codes. Provides that the ventilation verification assessment for a heating, ventilation and air conditioning system shall follow specified standards. Provides that the verification assessment report from the mechanical engineer shall include appropriate corrective actions needed for the mechanical ventilation system or the heating, ventilation and air conditioning infrastructure, including installation of appropriate filters, installation of carbon dioxide sensors and additional maintenance, repairs, upgrades or replacement. Provides that the State Board shall require all school districts to make the appropriate corrective actions identified in the ventilation verification assessment. Sets forth requirements for corrective actions, standards, and verification of work.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning education.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Section 2-3.196 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/2-3.196 new)

Sec. 2-3.196. School ventilation.

(a)As used in this Section

"certified assessor" means:

(1) a certified technician; or

(2) a person who is certified to perform ventilation verification assessments of heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems through a certification body accredited by the American national standards institute.

"Certified technician" means a person who is certified as a testing and balancing technician by an accredited organization; provided that the accreditor of the certification organization is approved by the construction industries commission.

"Mechanical engineer" means a professional engineer licensed as a mechanical engineer by the state board of licensure for professional engineers and professional surveyors and who has professional experience with heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems.

"Skilled and trained construction workforce" means a workforce in which at least forty percent of the workers are graduates of or registered in and attending an apprenticeship program registered with the workforce solutions department or an apprenticeship program to which the department has granted reciprocal approval for the applicable construction occupation.

(b) The State Board shall require all school districts to undertake a ventilation verification assessment of all mechanical ventilation systems in the school district performed by a certified assessor or a mechanical engineer and shall be based on physical measurements made during the assessment. If an assessment is performed by a certified assessor, the assessment report shall be reviewed by a mechanical engineer. The ventilation verification assessment shall verify whether the existing mechanical ventilation system is operating in accordance with design parameters and meets the requirements of any applicable building codes. The ventilation verification assessment for a heating, ventilation and air conditioning system shall include:

(1) testing for maximum filter efficiency;

(2) measurements of outside air rate;

(3) verification of operation of ventilation components;

(4) measurement of all air distribution inlets and outlets;

(5) verification of unit operation and that required maintenance has been performed;

(6) verification of control sequences;

(7) verification or installation of carbon dioxide sensors; and

(8) collection of field data for the installation of mechanical ventilation if none exists.

(c) The verification assessment report from the mechanical engineer shall include appropriate corrective actions needed for the mechanical ventilation system or the heating, ventilation and air conditioning infrastructure, including installation of appropriate filters, installation of carbon dioxide sensors and additional maintenance, repairs, upgrades or replacement.

(d) The State Board shall require all school districts to make the appropriate corrective actions identified in the ventilation verification assessment. These corrective actions shall include testing, adjusting and balancing the public school mechanical ventilation system and, if necessary or cost-effective, shall include repairs, upgrades or replacement of the existing heating, ventilation and air conditioning system or the installation of a stand-alone mechanical ventilation system. The corrective actions identified in the ventilation verification assessment may include general maintenance, reading and adjustment of ventilation rates, filter replacement to meet a minimum efficiency reporting value of at least thirteen, carbon dioxide monitor installation or whole-system installation or replacement. Portable filtration and air cleaners shall be used only if the existing heating, ventilation and air conditioning infrastructure cannot provide minimum filtration and ventilation requirements or, as recommended by a mechanical engineer, as a supplemental enhancement to the permanent heating, ventilation and air conditioning infrastructure when the desired indoor air quality cannot be achieved with the mechanical ventilation system or there are concerns with outdoor air contaminants such as those created by wildfires and pollution.

(e) School districts shall ensure that all work required by the ventilation verification assessment is performed using a skilled and trained construction workforce that is in compliance with the Construction Industries Licensing Act and rules promulgated in accordance with that act. The public school facilities authority shall work in consultation with the department and the construction industries division of the regulation and licensing department to ensure that the assessments and construction required by the Public School Ventilation Improvement Act meet all standards and requirements.

(f) Upon completion of work, the school district shall submit a ventilation verification report to the department. The report shall include:

(1) the name and address of the public school and the person preparing and certifying the report;

(2) the name and address of the certified assessors, certified technicians, mechanical engineers and contractors who performed verification assessments or construction and copies of certifications and licenses;

(3) a copy of the procurement documents; and

(4) documentation of:

(A) initial operating ventilation rate verifications;

(B) adjustments, repairs, upgrades or replacements;

(C) final operating conditions, including the minimum efficiency reporting value of the filtration system and verified ventilation and exhaust rates for classrooms, auditoriums, gymnasiums, restrooms, offices and other occupied spaces;

(D) verification of carbon dioxide monitors, including make and model of the monitors; and

(E) verification that all work has been tested and adjusted by certified technicians or mechanical engineers.

(f) The school district shall have a ventilation verification assessment performed on all mechanical ventilation systems in the school district at least every five years. The ventilation verification assessment and the ventilation verification reports are public documents and shall be available to the public upon request.