|
(II)A science laboratory shall have a minimum of 800
square feet at the elementary school level. The minimum laboratory
size is adequate for 22 students; 36 square feet per student shall
be added to the minimum square footage for each student in excess
of 22.
(III)A science laboratory shall have a minimum of
900 square feet at the middle school level. The minimum laboratory
size is adequate for 24 students; 38 square feet per student shall
be added to the minimum square footage for each student in excess
of 24.
(IV)A science laboratory shall have a minimum of 1,000
square feet at the high school level. The minimum laboratory size
is adequate for 24 students; 42 square feet per student shall be added
to the minimum square footage for each student in excess of 24.
(V)Science classrooms shall be provided at a ratio
not to exceed 2:1 of science classrooms to science laboratories at
the middle school and high school levels. The science laboratories
shall be located convenient to the science classrooms they serve.
(VI)School districts with small class sizes may have
science classrooms that provide a minimum of 32 square feet per student,
and they may have science laboratories that provide a minimum of 36
square feet per student but not less than 600 square feet total at
the elementary school level, a minimum of 38 square feet per student
but not less than 700 square feet total at the middle school level,
and a minimum of 42 square feet per student but not less than 800
square feet total at the high school level.
(v)If hazardous or vaporous chemicals are to be used
in the science laboratories or science laboratories/classrooms, a
separate chemical storage room shall be provided. The chemical storage
room shall be separate from, and shall not be combined as part of,
a preparation room or an equipment storage room; however, the chemical
storage room may be located so that access is through a preparation
room or equipment storage room. The chemical storage room shall be
secure to prevent access to chemicals by students. One chemical storage
room may be shared among multiple laboratories or laboratories/classrooms.
(vi)Each school science laboratory, science classroom,
science laboratory/classroom, science preparatory room, and chemical
storage room shall include the following provisions.
(I)A built-in fume hood shall be provided in each
high school level chemistry or advanced placement chemistry laboratory
or laboratory/classroom. A built-in fume hood should also be provided
in each high school level integrated physics and chemistry laboratory
or laboratory/classroom. The exhaust shall be vented to the outside
above the roof and away from air vents.
(II)A built-in eye/face wash that can wash both eyes
simultaneously shall be provided in each room where hazardous chemicals
are used by instructors and/or students. The eye/face wash shall comply
with the ANSI Standards for Shower and Eyewash Equipment (Z358.1).
The tepid water required by ANSI Z358.1 is not required to come from
a heated source; however, school districts that commonly experience
lengthy periods of extremely cold temperatures during the winter season
should consider a tepid water system with a heated source.
(III)A built-in safety shower shall be provided in
each high school level chemistry or advanced placement chemistry laboratory
or laboratory/classroom. A built-in safety shower should also be provided
in each high school level integrated physics and chemistry laboratory
or laboratory/classroom. The safety shower shall comply with the ANSI
Standards for Shower and Eyewash Equipment (Z358.1). The tepid water
required by ANSI Z358.1 is not required to come from a heated source;
however, school districts that commonly experience lengthy periods
of extremely cold temperatures during the winter season should consider
a tepid water system with a heated source.
(IV)Ventilation systems serving science rooms shall
be designed and constructed so that under normal operation the return
air from the science rooms is not recirculated into non-science areas.
In the chemical storage rooms, a ventilation system shall exhaust
the air to the outside, and shall not be recirculated back into the
space.
(V)An exhaust fan that is controlled by the instructor
shall be provided in all rooms where hazardous or vaporous chemicals
are to be used or stored. The exhaust fan shall be of sufficient size
to exhaust the total volume of air in the room within 15 minutes.
The exhaust shall be vented to the outside above the roof and away
from air vents.
(VI)A minimum of 6 linear feet of total horizontal
workspace, such as lab stations, lab tables, countertops, desktops,
or some combination of these, shall be provided for each student in
each middle school and high school science laboratory and science
laboratory/classroom.
(VII)If electricity, gas, and/or water are provided
in student areas, emergency shut-off controls shall be provided for
each in a location accessible to the instructor but not easily accessible
to students.
(vii)Special education classrooms shall have a minimum
of 400 square feet per room. School districts with small class sizes
may have rooms that provide a minimum of 40 square feet per student.
(viii)Specialized classrooms not otherwise identified
within these standards shall at a minimum comply with the requirements
specified in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph.
(ix)Compliance with the standards specified in clauses
(iii) and (iv) of this subparagraph will be evaluated based on the
average class size in those classrooms.
(D)Major support areas.
(i)Primary gymnasiums or physical education space,
if required by the district's educational program, shall have a minimum
of 3,000 square feet at the elementary school level; 4,800 square
feet at the middle school level; and 7,500 square feet at the high
school level.
(ii)A school district shall consider the School Library
Standards and Guidelines as adopted under Texas Education Code, §33.021,
when developing, implementing, or expanding library services. Libraries
for campuses with a planned student capacity of 100 or less shall
be a minimum of 1,400 square feet. Libraries for campuses with a planned
student capacity of 101 to 500 shall be a minimum of 1,400 square
feet plus an additional 4.0 square feet for each student in excess
of 100. Libraries for campuses with a planned student capacity of
501 to 2,000 shall be a minimum of 3,000 square feet plus an additional
3.0 square feet for each student in excess of 500. Libraries for campuses
with a planned student capacity of 2,001 or more shall be a minimum
of 7,500 square feet plus an additional 2.0 square feet for each student
in excess of 2,000. A school district that plans to locate more than
12 student computers in the library shall add 25 square feet of space
for each additional computer anticipated. The space allotments within
the library shall be based on a formula of 30% for the reading/instructional
area and reference/independent study area; 45% for the stack area,
circulation desk/area, and computer/online reference areas; and 25%
for the necessary ancillary areas. Windows shall be placed so that
adequate wall and floor space remains to accommodate the shelving
necessary for the library collection size established by the School
Library Standards and Guidelines.
(6)It is not the intent of these standards to limit
the use of nontraditional, alternative, sustainable, and/or innovative
school designs. A nontraditional design model is one that works to
break down the scale of the school and to improve the connection of
the student to the resources available within the school environment.
If a school district chooses to use a nontraditional model, the following
provisions shall apply.
(A)The instructional spaces where teachers will instruct
groups of students in specialized coursework shall meet the standard,
as appropriate based on group size, for square feet per room or for
the minimum square feet per student specified in paragraph (5)(C)
of this subsection.
(B)Large group lecture spaces that do not use tables
or desks for the students shall have a minimum of 15 square feet per
student. Large group lecture spaces that do use tables or desks for
the students shall meet the standard, as appropriate based on group
size, for square feet per room or for the minimum square feet per
student specified in paragraph (5)(B) of this subsection. A minimum
of 150 square feet shall be provided for each small group, conference,
or office space area or room.
(C)An individual student learning area that is assigned
to a specific student shall have a minimum of 35 square feet. An individual
student learning area that is not assigned to a specific student shall
have a minimum of 25 square feet.
(D)If necessary under the design model, up to half
of the reading/reference area function of the library may be dispersed
throughout the facility outside the normal library boundaries. The
sum total square footage of all library-related areas shall meet the
minimum square feet specified for libraries in paragraph (5)(D)(ii)
of this subsection.
(7)Other space requirements should be developed from
school district design criteria as required to meet educational program
needs.
(e)Educational adequacy. A proposed new school facility
or major space renovation of an existing school facility meets the
conditions of educational adequacy if the design of the proposed project
is based on the requirements of the school district's educational
program, the educational specifications, and the student population
that it serves.
(f)Construction quality.
(1)Districts with existing building codes.
(A)A school district located in an area that has adopted
local construction codes shall comply with those codes (including
building, fire, plumbing, mechanical, fuel gas, energy conservation,
and electrical codes). The school district is not required to seek
additional plan review of school facilities projects other than what
is required by the local building authority. If the local building
authority does not require a plan review, then a qualified, independent
third party, not employed by the design architect or engineer, shall
review the plans and specifications for compliance with the requirements
of the adopted building code. The plan review shall examine compliance
conditions for emergency egress, fire protection, structural integrity,
life safety, plumbing, energy conservation, and mechanical and electrical
design. The review shall be conducted prior to the commencement of
construction and must be conducted by a qualified building code consultant
or a third party architect or engineer. A qualified building code
consultant is a person who maintains, as a minimum, a current certification
from the ICC. Associated fees shall be the responsibility of the school
district. The reviewer shall prepare a summary list of any conditions
not in conformance with the provisions of the adopted building code
and is required to send a copy to the school district, design architect,
or engineer. The design architect or engineer shall revise the plans
and specifications as necessary and certify code compliance to the
district. The reviewer, in his or her reasonable judgment and with
the approval of the local building authority, may allow a limited
number of variances from the codes if such variances do not negatively
affect the quality or safety of the facility. Any disputes shall be
a matter for contract resolution.
(B)For school facilities projects subject to these
standards, and where not otherwise required by local code, fire alarm
systems shall be provided. Fire alarm systems shall be designed and
installed in accordance with applicable portions of the latest edition
of the International Building Code (IBC) and International Fire Code
(IFC).
(C)As part of their school facilities projects and
where not otherwise required by local code, school districts should
consider providing automatic sprinkler systems for fire protection,
fire suppression, and life safety. In absence of a local code, each
automatic sprinkler system shall be installed in accordance with the
latest edition of the IBC and IFC.
(D)If the local building authority does not conduct
reviews and inspections during the course of construction of the facility,
then a qualified, independent third party, not employed by the design
architect or engineer or contractor, should perform a reasonable number
of reviews and inspections during the course of construction for compliance
with the requirements of the adopted building code. The reviews and
inspections should examine compliance conditions for emergency egress,
fire protection, structural integrity, life safety, plumbing, energy
conservation, and mechanical and electrical design. A qualified code
inspector is a person who maintains, as a minimum, a current certification
from the ICC as a combination commercial inspector and commercial
energy inspector.
(2)Districts without existing building codes.
(A)A school district located in an area that has not
adopted local building codes shall adopt and use the building code
and related fire, plumbing, mechanical, fuel gas, and energy conservation
codes from the latest edition of the family of International Codes
as published by the ICC; and the National Electric Code as published
by the NFPA. As an alternative, a school district may adopt the building
code and related fire, plumbing, mechanical, fuel gas, and energy
conservation codes as adopted by a nearby municipality or county.
A qualified, independent third party, not employed by the design architect
or engineer, shall review the plans and specifications for compliance
with the requirements of the adopted building code. The plan review
shall examine compliance conditions for emergency egress, fire protection,
structural integrity, life safety, plumbing, energy conservation,
and mechanical and electrical design. The review shall be conducted
prior to the commencement of construction and must be conducted by
a qualified building code consultant or a third party architect or
engineer. A qualified building code consultant is a person who maintains,
as a minimum, a current certification from the ICC. Associated fees
shall be the responsibility of the school district. The reviewer shall
prepare a summary list of any conditions not in conformance with the
provisions of the adopted building code and is required to send a
copy to the school district, design architect, or engineer. The design
architect or engineer shall revise the plans and specifications as
necessary and certify code compliance to the district. The reviewer,
in his or her reasonable judgment, may allow a limited number of variances
from the codes if such variances do not negatively affect the quality
or safety of the facility. Any disputes shall be a matter for contract
resolution.
(B)For school facilities projects subject to these
standards, fire alarm systems shall be provided. Fire alarm systems
shall be designed and installed in accordance with applicable portions
of the latest edition of the IBC and IFC.
(C)As part of their school facilities projects, school
districts should consider providing automatic sprinkler systems for
fire protection, fire suppression, and life safety. Each automatic
sprinkler system shall be installed in accordance with the latest
edition of the IBC and IFC.
(D)A qualified, independent third party, not employed
by the design architect or engineer or contractor, should perform
a reasonable number of reviews and inspections during the course of
construction of the facility for compliance with the requirements
of the adopted building code. The reviews and inspections should examine
compliance conditions for emergency egress, fire protection, structural
integrity, life safety, plumbing, energy conservation, and mechanical
and electrical design. A qualified code inspector is a person who
maintains, as a minimum, a current certification from the ICC as a
combination commercial inspector and commercial energy inspector.
(3)Special provisions for portable, modular buildings.
Any portable, modular building capable of being relocated that is
purchased or leased for use as a school facility by a school district,
whether that building is manufactured off-site or constructed on-site,
must comply with all provisions of this section. Effective September
1, 2007, the following additional provisions shall apply to any portable,
modular building that is purchased or leased for use as a school facility
by a school district.
(A)A school district located in an area that has adopted
local construction codes shall have the portable, modular building,
including the construction of the foundation system and the erection
and installation of the building on the foundation, inspected by the
local building authority for compliance with the mandatory building
codes or approved designs, plans, and specifications. The school district
is not required to seek additional inspection of the portable, modular
building other than what is required by the local building authority.
If the local building authority does not perform inspections, then
a qualified, independent third party, not employed by the design architect,
engineer, contractor, or manufacturer, shall inspect the facility,
including the construction of the foundation system and the erection
and installation of the facility on the foundation, for compliance
with the mandatory building codes or approved designs, plans, and
specifications. The inspections shall be performed within 30 days
of the completion of the construction, erection, and installation
of the facility on the site, and the school district shall not occupy
or use the facility until the independent third party makes a final
determination that the facility is in compliance with all provisions
of this section. For a manufactured portable, modular building that
is an industrialized building as defined by the Texas Occupations
Code, §1202.003, the factory inspection performed under the oversight
of the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation shall suffice
to determine compliance of the building envelope with the mandatory
building codes or approved designs, plans, and Cont'd...
|
