Maintenance Services is responsible for the maintenance of campus buildings including heating, cooling, electricity, water, elevators, keys and locks, roofs, windows, floors and doors, minor furniture repair, plumbing, lighting, ceiling tiles, carpets, painting, and carpentry.
Zone Model
The Keele Campus operates on a zone model and is divided up into quadrants.
Each zone has a base zone team consisting of:
- Zone Supervisor
- Carpenters
- Control Mechanics
- Electricians
- Millwrights
- Painters
- Plumbers
Standards that inform the University’s approach to ventilation
York follows the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers’ Epidemic Task Force guidelines. The guide focuses on following the latest public health guidelines on protective health and safety measures, improving filtration, and using HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems to ensure a clean air supply.
The University also follows Public Health Ontario’s guidance on Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Systems in Buildings and COVID-19, which focuses on specific measures for minimizing the risk of infectious aerosols, such as increasing outdoor air ventilation and increasing the efficiency of air filters.
How ventilation is monitored on York’s campuses
All 397 air handling units that exist on both campuses are being monitored electronically by a state-of-the-art Building Automation System and visually by expert technicians. Classrooms have centralized ventilation systems that enable remote monitoring and rapid response to identified issues.
York’s Building Automation System has been programmed to send out alerts via email if an air handler should stop functioning properly. These alerts go out 24/7 to on-call personnel and the University’s Supervisory and Technical staff, and any issues encountered are treated as “Priority 1,” which leads to a Facilities response.
Maintaining and repairing ventilation systems
Preventative maintenance is performed on air handling units on both campuses. These units are examined on a regular schedule through the Building Automation System, and technicians handle any necessary repairs as required.
York is maximizing air quality in classrooms, office spaces, research areas, fitness sites, and common areas:
- Running HVAC fans before classes start and after they end for the day.
- Filters have been updated in all buildings to MERV 13, and HEPA filters are used in buildings such as Glendon Hall, where central HVAC systems do not exist.
- Maintaining a minimum of 30 percent fresh air supply (where possible based on building ventilation design), with many spaces using primarily fresh air.
- Classrooms equipped with centralized ventilation systems enable remote monitoring and adjustments.
- Remote monitoring alarms indicate if and when air handling systems are not running correctly.
- Most buildings are equipped with ventilation systems that allow fresh air circulation; if not, they have been equipped with HEPA filter systems
Laboratory Space – 100% Fresh Air
Laboratory areas were designed to ensure the containment and exhaust of airborne particulate by operating in negative pressure to surrounding areas and allow no air recirculation. The labs are designed to a higher standard of Air Changes per Hour (typically labs are 6 to 12 ACH) to purge the laboratories of any harmful airborne vapours, contaminants, and particulates.
Office, Classroom Mixed Use Spaces – Recirculated Air
Classrooms, offices, and mixed-use space are designed with a portion of fresh air, and a portion of recirculated air. The amount of fresh versus recirculated air can vary, but with peak heating or cooling seasons, the equipment is not designed to accommodate full fresh air. A central Air Handling Unit typically serves multiple floors (10,000 sq. Ft. to 60,000 sq. Ft.).
Levels of CO2, which is released into the air when we exhale, can increase with the number of people in a room, if there is not enough fresh air coming into the space.
Poorly ventilated spaces increase your risk of COVID-19, but according to the National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health the reading on a CO2 monitor is not a direct indicator of risk.
Public Health Ontario says the relationship between CO2 levels indoors and COVID-19 transmission is weak. CO2 is not a direct indicator of COVID-19 transmission risk because various factors can influence each independently.
CO2 sensors are easy to misinterpret without expert knowledge.
Public Health Ontario says there have been no confirmed reports of COVID-19 spreading through centralized heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.
Ventilation and filtration are not sufficient on their own to control the risk of transmission, and particularly from close contact exposures. These interventions must be used in conjunction with other public health measures to minimize transmission risk. Such measures include masking indoors, not coming to campus if unwell, frequent hand hygiene, reducing the number of people in a room, opening a window, where possible.
Guidelines have been established on acceptable exposure to CO2 indoors. Health Canada recommends CO2 levels generally be kept below 1000 ppm, averaged over a 24-hour period, or as close to outdoor levels as possible.
It is normal for CO2 levels to fluctuate and serious health effects are not expected below 5,000 ppm.
Should you have any questions or concerns about HVAC on campus, please contact:
Work Control Centre
4700 Keele Street, 10 Rideau Road,
Room 1066 Physical Resources Bldg
Toronto, ON M3J1P3
416 736 2100 ext. 22401
416 650 8218
Hours of Operation
Office:
Monday to Friday
7:00 AM - 4:00 PM
For After-Hour Emergencies Contact Security Services:
416 650 8000 or ext. 58000
| BUILDING NAME | NOTE |
| 10 Passy | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| 12 Passy | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| 14 Passy | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| 16 Passy | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| 18 Passy | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| 190 Albany Road | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| 2 Assiniboine | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| 2 Passy | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| 4 Assiniboine | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| 4 Passy | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| 6 Assiniboine | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| 6 Passy | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| 8 Assiniboine | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| 8 Passy | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| Accolade East | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| Accolade West | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| Alumni Stadium (old) | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| Arboretum Parking PS2 | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| Atkinson College | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| Atkinson Residence | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| Behavioural Science Building | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| Bennett Centre | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| Bergeron | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| Bethune College | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| Bethune Residence | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| Burton Auditorium | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| Calumet College | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| Calumet Residence | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| Central Square | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| Central Utilities Building | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| Centre for Film and Theatre | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| Chemistry Building | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| Computer Methods | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| Curtis | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| Executive Learning Centre | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| Farquharson | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| Field House | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| Founders Annex North | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| Founders Annex South | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| Founders College | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| Founders Residence | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| Glendon Hall | HEPA filters provided in rooms where 2+ people meet |
| Goldfarb Centre for Fine Arts | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| Health Nursing Enviro. Studies | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| Hilliard | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| Honour Court | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| Hoover House | Not available for use |
| Kaneff Tower | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| Kinsmen | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| Lassonde | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| Leslie Frost Library | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| Life Sciences | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| Lumbers | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| McEwan SSB Expansion | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| McLaughlin College | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| Metro Track & Field | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| New Student Centre | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| Osgoode Hall | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| Petrie | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| Physical Resources Building | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| Pond Road Residence | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| Proctor Field House | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| Ross | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| Schulich School of Business | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| Scott Library | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| Scott Religious Centre | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| Seneca - TEL | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| Sherman Health Sci | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| Skennen'ko:wa Gamig | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| Steacie Library | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| Stedman | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| Stong Barn | Natural ventilation, building available for use. |
| Stong College | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| Stong House | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| Stong Residence | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| Student Centre | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| Tait McKenzie | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| Tatham Hall | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| Vanier College | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| Vanier Residence | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| Vari Hall | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| Victor Dahdaleh (TEL) | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| West Office Building | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| William Small Centre | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| Winters College | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| Winters Residence | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| Wood Res | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| York Bookstore | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| York Hall | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| York Lanes Offices | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| York Lanes Parking PS1 | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| York Lanes Retail | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
| York Lions Stadium | Mechanical ventilation, building available for use. |
York does not have CO2 monitors available for community use. At York, air quality testing is conducted by trained professionals, with specialized knowledge regarding safe exposure limits, IAQ standards and factors that impact CO2 levels. The use of C02 monitors also requires prior training and expertise to ensure the instrument is functional, operates within acceptable parameters, and that the information obtained represents an accurate measurement.
- Installing LED lighting for all exterior lights.
- Retrofitting interior lighting with LED lights.
- Scheduling all fans on campus to save energy during non-use times of day.
- Scheduling lighting levels throughout the campus during non-use times of day.
- Upgrading to high efficiency mechanical equipment when equipment becomes obsolete.