![[CREDIT: File Photo] Warwick Veterans Jr. High School at 2401 W Shore Road.](https://northamerica.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Warwick-Veterans-School.jpg)
![[CREDIT: File Photo] Warwick Veterans Jr. High School at 2401 W Shore Rd,](https://northamerica.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Warwick-Veterans-School-336x164.jpg)
Nathan Cornell, co-chair of the Community Outreach Educational Committee (COEC) posted the document to the Let’s Save Warwick Schools Facebook page Friday, and passed it on to Corley, who was named to the COEC at Monday night’s Warwick City Council meeting. Corley reviewed the findings for his fellow councillors.
“This is certainly not a clean bill of health for the entire school,” Corley said, noting that mold testing had yet to be conducted on the interior there.
According to the document (posted at the end of this story) ECM’s test of air quality at the school at 2401 West Shore Road between Feb. 28 and March 2 checked temperature, humidity, carbon monoxide and dioxide, volatile organic compounds (VOC) hydrogen sulfide and oxygen. But only the carbon dioxide levels were discovered to be a threat to health inside the school, according to the report.
Inside the building carbon dioxide levels ranged from 403 and 4,130 parts per million (PPM). American Society of Heating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHAE) guidelines set a safe limit at less than 700 ppm above the outside levels of carbon dioxide (424 PPM) according to the report. Usually indoor carbon dioxide levels will range between 500 to 1,000 PPM, and the expsure limit set by OSHA is 5,000 PPM.
The highest levels of CO2 were found in classrooms with large numbers of active students where the windows were closed or slightly open, the report states. Those classrooms were located in the 900 Wing, D Wing and B Wing, according to the report.
Carbon dioxide can cause drowsiness, headaches, and loss of concentration at the high-range levels of the gas.
The report concludes the high carbon dioxide levels stem from human metabolism of large numbers of students with inadequate ventilation.Even in classrooms where the windows were left open, carbon dioxide levels were still above 1,000 PPM. The report noted new HVAC systems scheduled to be installed between summer 2017 and summer 2018 should address the issue with better indoor air circulation.
“It does show that there are some significant problems,” regarding air circulation at the school, Corley said. He said he agreed with replacing the school’s HVAC system.
Author: Rob Borkowski
Rob has worked as reporter and editor for several publications, including The Kent County Daily Times and Coventry Courier, before working for Gatehouse in MA then moving home with Patch Media. Now he's publisher and editor of WarwickPost.com. Contact him at editor@warwickpost.com with tips, press releases, advertising inquiries, and concerns.
This is a test
This is crazy all these months I thought my son had the flu or just caught the stomach bug!! Redicilous!!
This was preventable. School leaders implied that they were working hard over the summer to resolve issues in the buildings. It was implied the money saved from closing schools was being spent on repairing the broken buildings. The various media outlets reported that the necessary improvements were being made and school buildings were in good condition. These implications led us to trust and believe children would be safe with the improvements being made to the school. Based on this report, it sounds like we were all misled by propoganda. We paid for chromebooks, a new gym and a fancy auditorium in exchange for our childrens health. The school department was informed about all of these issues on the report that was used in determining school closures. Improving the unhealthy conditions our children are being exposed to on a daily basis should have been the school department’s priority upon closing schools, not a shiny floor for the gym. I am outraged about being misled. I want answers and action to ensure our children’s health is not at risk. What is the school department’s plan for preventing further damage and exposure of children in this unhealthy environment?