Category
Air Quality
Category
Air Quality
State law requires districts to address indoor air quality in schools.
New Mexico Administrative Code 6.27.30.12 Occupable space
All occupiable space within the building(s) shall meet or exceed the general requirements listed below:
-
A. Classroom space. Classroom space shall be sufficient for appropriate educational programs for the class level needs.
-
B. Fixtures and equipment.
-
(1) Each general and specialty classroom shall contain a work surface and seat for each student in the classroom. The work surface and seat shall be appropriate for the normal activity of the class conducted in the room.
-
(2) Each general and specialty classroom shall have an erasable surface and a surface suitable for projection purposes, appropriate for group classroom instruction, and a display surface. A single surface may meet one or more of these purposes.
-
(3) Each general and specialty classroom shall have storage for classroom materials or access to conveniently located storage.
-
(4) Each general and specialty classroom shall have a work surface and seat for the teacher and for the aide assigned to the classroom, and it shall have secure storage for student records that is located in the classroom or is convenient to access from the classroom.
-
(5) Occupiable administrative and facility support spaces shall meet or exceed requirements for the minimum fixtures and equipment necessary for functions performed within.
-
C. Lighting.
-
(1) All occupiable space within the building(s) shall have a light system capable of maintaining at least 50 foot-candles of well-distributed light. Provide appropriate task lighting in specialty classrooms and other occupiable spaces where enhanced visibility is required.
-
(2) The light level shall be measured at a work surface located in the approximate center of the classroom, between clean light fixtures.
-
D. Temperature.
-
(1) Each general and specialty classroom shall have a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system capable of maintaining a temperature between sixty-eight and seventy-five degrees fahrenheit with full occupancy.
-
(2) The temperature shall be measured at a work surface in the approximate center of the classroom.
-
E. Acoustics.
-
(1) All occupiable space within the building(s) shall be maintainable at a sustained background sound level of less than 55 decibels.
-
(2) The sound level shall be measured at a work surface in the approximate center of the classroom.
-
(3) All occupiable space within the building(s) shall be acoustically-separated from adjoining spaces when necessary to meet privacy or confidentiality requirements.
-
F. Air quality.
-
(1) All occupiable space within the building(s) shall have an HVAC system that continually moves air and is capable of maintaining a CO2 level of not more than 1,000 parts per million.
-
(2) The air quality shall be measured at a work surface in the approximate center of the classroom.
-
G. Technology. All occupiable spaces within the building(s) shall have technology and connectivity that will appropriately support educational activities conducted in the room. Safe and adequate access to power to recharge and operate technology devices by all students and staff simultaneously shall be provided.
-
H. Security. All occupiable spaces within the building(s) shall have the ability to control access to the extent required for confidentiality and security.
New Mexico Administrative Code 6.27.31.12 Academic Classroom Space
All classroom space shall meet or exceed the requirements listed below:
-
A. Classroom space. Classroom space shall be sufficient for appropriate educational programs for the class level needs.
-
B. Classroom fixtures and equipment
-
(1) Each general and specialty classroom shall contain a work surface and seat for each student in the classroom. The work surface and seat shall be appropriate for the normal activity of the class conducted in the room.
-
(2) Each general and specialty classroom shall have an erasable surface and a surface suitable for projection purposes, appropriate for group classroom instruction, and a display surface. A single surface may meet one or more of these purposes.
-
(3) Each general and specialty classroom shall have storage for classroom materials or access to conveniently located storage.
-
(4) Each general and specialty classroom shall have a work surface and seat for the teacher and for the aide assigned to the classroom, and it shall have secure storage for student records that is located in the classroom or is convenient to access from the classroom.
-
C. Classroom lighting
-
(1) Each general and specialty classroom shall have a light system capable of maintaining at least 50 foot-candles of well-distributed light. Provide appropriate task lighting in specialty classrooms where enhanced visibility is required.
-
(2) The light level shall be measured at a work surface located in the approximate center of the classroom, between clean light fixtures.
-
D. Classroom temperature
-
(1) Each general and specialty classroom shall have a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system capable of maintaining a temperature between 68 and 75 degrees fahrenheit with full occupancy.
-
(2) The temperature shall be measured at a work surface in the approximate center of the classroom.
-
E. Classroom acoustics
-
(1) Each general and specialty classroom shall be maintainable at a sustained background sound level of less than 55 decibels.
-
(2) The sound level shall be measured at a work surface in the approximate center of the classroom.
-
F. Classroom air quality
-
(1) Each general, science and arts classroom shall have an HVAC system that continually moves air and is capable of maintaining a CO[2] level of not more than 1,200 parts per million.
-
(2) The air quality shall be measured at a work surface in the approximate center of the classroom.
New Mexico Administrative Code 7.30.12.11 Prevention
A. A vital part of the emergency medication in schools programs is preventing respiratory distress and severe allergic reactions.
B. Recommendations will be developed by the department for school districts to use in the development of policies and procedures addressing both the use of the medications and prevention of respiratory distress and severe allergic reactions. The recommendations document will be issued upon request to interested school districts and governing bodies. The document will be available online through the office of school and adolescent health's website at http://nmhealth.org/about/phd/hsb/osah/.
C. The following resources are available for school districts to use in developing prevention strategies, and can be obtained from the office of school and adolescent health's website at http://nmhealth.org/about/phd/hsb/osah/ or by contacting the office at 300 San Mateo Blvd. NE, Suite 902, Albuquerque, NM 87108:
- (1) the environmental protection agency's "indoor air quality: tools for schools;"
- (2) the centers for disease control and prevention's "voluntary guidelines for managing food allergies in schools and early care and education programs;" or
- (3) the centers for disease control and prevention's toolkit "initiating change: creating an asthma-friendly school."
D. Other resources are available through the department's asthma control program as well as the office of school and adolescent health.