Facilities Planning

Checklist of items required by 155.5 to appear in contract documents

  1. Statement:

    "The occupied portion of any school building shall always comply with the minimum requirements necessary to maintain a certificate of occupancy."

  2. Indication that all school areas to be disturbed during renovation or demolition have been or will be tested for lead and asbestos. Note, the project folder should contain a letter regarding the presence of asbestos.
  3. Statement:

    "General safety and security standards for construction projects.

    1. All construction materials shall be stored in a safe and secure manner.
    2. Fences around construction supplies or debris shall be maintained.
    3. Gates shall always be locked unless a worker is in attendance to prevent unauthorized entry.
    4. During exterior renovation work, overhead protection shall be provided for any sidewalks or areas immediately beneath the work site or such areas shall be fenced off and provided with warning signs to prevent entry.
    5. Workers shall be required to wear photo-identification badges at all times for identification and security purposes while working at occupied sites."
  4. Statement:

    "Separation of construction areas from occupied spaces. Construction areas which are under the control of a contractor and therefore not occupied by district staff or students shall be separated from occupied areas. Provisions shall be made to prevent the passage of dust and contaminants into occupied parts of the building. Periodic inspection and repairs of the containment barriers must be made to prevent exposure to dust or contaminants. Gypsum board must be used in exit ways or other areas that require fire rated separation. Heavy duty plastic sheeting may be used only for a vapor, fine dust or air infiltration barrier, and shall not be used to separate occupied spaces from construction areas.

    1. A specific stairwell and/or elevator should be assigned for construction worker use during work hours. In general, workers may not use corridors, stairs or elevators designated for students or school staff.
    2. Large amounts of debris must be removed by using enclosed chutes or a similar sealed system. There shall be no movement of debris through halls of occupied spaces of the building. No material shall be dropped or thrown outside the walls of the building.
    3. All occupied parts of the building affected by renovation activity shall be cleaned at the close of each workday. School buildings occupied during a construction project shall maintain required health, safety and educational capabilities at all times that classes are in session."
    4. A plan detailing how exiting required by the applicable building code will be maintained.
    5. A plan detailing how adequate ventilation will be maintained during construction.
  5. Statement:

    "Construction and maintenance operations shall not produce noise in excess of 60 dba in occupied spaces or shall be scheduled for times when the building or affected building spaces are not occupied or acoustical abatement measures shall be taken."

  6. Statement:

    "The contractor shall be responsible for the control of chemical fumes, gases, and other contaminates produced by welding, gasoline or diesel engines, roofing, paving, painting, etc. to ensure they do not enter occupied portions of the building or air intakes."

  7. Statement:

    "The contractor shall be responsible to ensure that activities and materials which result in "off-gassing" of volatile organic compounds such as glues, paints, furniture, carpeting, wall covering, drapery, etc. are scheduled, cured or ventilated in accordance with manufacturers recommendations before a space can be occupied."

  8. Statement:

    "Large and small asbestos abatement projects as defined by 12NYCRR56 shall not be performed while the building is occupied". Note, It is our interpretation that the term "building", as referenced in this section, means a wing or major section of a building that can be completely isolated from the rest of the building with sealed non combustible construction. The isolated portion of the building must contain exits that do not pass through the occupied portion and ventilation systems must be physically separated and sealed at the isolation barrier.

    Exterior work such as roofing, flashing, siding, or soffit work may be performed on occupied buildings provided proper variances are in place as required, and complete isolation of ventilation systems and at windows is provided. Care must be taken to schedule work so that classes are not disrupted by noise or visual distraction.

  9. Surfaces that will be disturbed by reconstruction must have a determination made as to the presence of lead. Projects which disturb surfaces that contain lead shall have in the specifications a plan prepared by a certified Lead Risk Assessor or Supervisor which details provisions for occupant protection, worksite preparation, work methods, cleaning and clearance testing which are in general accordance with the HUD Guidelines.
Last Updated: June 16, 2009