47.5 MB - The Whole Building Design Guide

4.3.8 Utility SystemsEducational facilities are typically not equipped with emergencyback-up systems, but are mostly dependent on municipal waterand sanitary systems. The breakdown of municipal water andsewer services, caused by power outages which shut down watertreatment plants and pumping stations, adversely affected most ofthe facilities. Although a few of the facilities affected by HurricaneKatrina were served by onsite wells and some had septic systems,lack of power prevented their full use. The sanitary sewer systembacked up under pressure from floodwaters and, together withthe loss of water service, created great difficulties inside facilitiesused as shelters.The sanitation problems, especially the unpleasant odors that permeatedthe facilities, combined with high humidity and heat,posed a serious health risk. At the D’Iberville High School, theloss of water prompted volunteers to haul buckets of water from anearby ditch to be used for flushing the toilets. After the storm hadpassed, portable toilets and showers were brought in by the ARC.4.3.9 Mechanical and ElectricalSystemsMost mechanical systems depend on the exterior equipmentmounted on the roof or attached to the exterior walls. The exposedequipment is the most vulnerable element in the system,because it is commonly damaged by floodwaters, strong wind,and wind-borne debris. Rooftop equipment, such as air-handlingunits and exhaust fans, typically were not adequately anchoredto meet the hurricane-force winds and were frequently damagedor toppled. Through-wall fan coil units installed below classroomwindows at the Charles P. Murphy Elementary School in Pearlingtonwere ruined by rising floodwaters (see Figure 4-28).As a result of HVAC failures, conditions in shelters became veryunpleasant because of the heat build-up and the lack of ventilation.The interior temperatures and humidity rose to unbearablelevels because of the hot weather that followed Hurricane Katrina.Without the advantage of sufficient natural ventilation, theatmosphere quickly became stuffy. Undamaged mechanical equip-OBSERVATIONS ON THE PERFORMANCE OF CRITICAL FACILITIES4-39