Office of Facilities Planning
Newsletter #43 – September 2003

Changes at Facilities Planning:

Is it "congratulations" or "it can’t be happening"? Maureen Lavare has officially transferred to a permanent position with the SED Office of Management Services. As many of you are aware she has been slowly making her way into the future, it looks like Maureen’s future has arrived. In addition, Engineer Mike Kinal retired on August 29, 2003.

We hope you will join us in wishing both of them the best in their future endeavors.

On a brighter note, Liz Freund has returned from her extended tour with the U.S. Coast Guard.

Four New Positions:

Fortunately, after losing a number of employees, Facilities Planning has received approval for hiring four new employees in the following positions. We are interested in applicants.

Three Senior Mechanical Engineers - Starting Salary $55,972

One Senior Architect - Starting Salary $55,972

Applicants must be currently licensed in New York State. If this is of interest to anyone, please e-mail your resume to Barbara Castracani ASAP at bcastrac@mail.nysed.gov. Interviews are commencing and selections must be made by September 30, 2003.

Five-Year Capital Facilities Plan
:

The Five-Year Capital Facilities Plan has been released. Please visit our website at https://www.p12.nysed.gov/facplan/five_year_plan/five_year_plan.html for the information. The report card format will follow shortly.

Use of Indoors Pyrotechnics (Fireworks)
:

Use of indoor pyrotechnics requires the authority having jurisdiction to issue the appropriate use permit. In New York State, the authority having jurisdiction for public schools is the State Education Department. The State Education Department will not issue permits for indoors pyrotechnic displays in public school buildings. Stage and other productions may continue to use fog machines or dry ice, as long as the use does not interfere with exiting from the building.

The code section that applies for this is Section F3308.1 of the new Fire Code of New York State which states that the display of fireworks for indoor use must comply with National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Chapter 1126, Standard for the Use of Pyrotechnics before a Proximate Audience. NFPA Chapter 1126 Section 4.1.2 states that the authority having jurisdiction shall approve the use of all pyrotechnics.

If you have any questions regarding this new policy, please contact Dave Clapp, Fire Safety Coordinator at 518 474-3906 or by email at: http://dclapp@mail.nysed.gov.

Fill for Athletic Fields
:

Please check this out. This is a link to a letter written by Carl Thurnau to Superintendents School Districts regarding the use of free "fill" from construction sites placed over their athletic fields in order to receive "free" improvements for the same athletic fields. We are concerned about proper design, drainage/runoff, the possibility of contaminated fill, and compliance with various regulatory agency requirements.

https://www.p12.nysed.gov/facplan/policy/fill_for_fields_072903.html

Effective immediately, these projects will require a full review by Facilities Planning Staff. Permits and oversight from other regulatory agencies such as New York State Department of Environmental Conservation may also apply. A full environmental review of these projects may help to mitigate many of these concerns.

Asbestos Designer’s Qualifications
:

It has been a long standing Policy of the State Education Department to require asbestos designers to have a current Department of Labor Certificate AND be a R.A or P.E. licensed in New York State. When asbestos work is involved in a project both of these items must be provided to Facilities Planning with a project submission. When the project design firm does not have this qualified individual within their firm it is common for them to hire a sub-consulting firm to provide the asbestos design service.

The completed documents should have the seal of the R.A or P.E. asbestos designer on the specification cover with the other professional seals or on the fist page of the asbestos specification.

An Index of our Newsletters is available on our web site at https://www.p12.nysed.gov/facplan/NewsLetters.htm.

If you would like to have this Newsletter sent directly to you by e-mail, please send your e-mail address to Joe Levy at jlevy@mail.nysed.gov

Please continue to send in your comments and requests. If you have a subject you would like addressed, feedback on the material you read, input or general comments we are happy to hear from you.