How did let it rip work out for us? How has it been 4 full years since then and we still have a healthcare system denying airborne transmission. Municipalities display no new knowledge of how disease spreads. Have heard of no entity improving IAQ, except schools which we have pushed so hard for.
We must also fight for our children’s opportunities to the same education and growth and success that our current leaders once had. Those leaders will some day be replaced, and as they already know, a New Brunswick education can provide an excellent foundation on which to build a future.
We must remind them of the lessons and experiences - inside those classrooms, and within those post-secondary communities - that helped get them to where they are today, with power over our budgets and our policies and our planning committees.
The Executive Council has benefitted from the excellent post-secondary education available within our province.
Group photo of 13 Ministers of the New Brunswick provincial government wearing pink shirts in support of Pink Shirt Day. The caption reads "Pink shirt day with the team" in both English and French.
Today, Premier @susanholtnb.bsky.social shared this photo of 13 Ministers sporting their Pink Shirt Day attire.
It includes the following:
BAM (UNB)
BA (STU)
BBA (UNB)
LLB (UNB)
LLB (UdeM)
BPE (UdeM)
BSc (UdeM)
DBA (NBCC)
EdD (UdeM)
MEd (UdeM)
MBA (UNB)
MPA (UdeM)
...and two faculty from UdeM.
NBCC campuses could be closed or merged. UNB could absorb STU. GNB suggested capping property tax bill assistance, and requiring municipalities to contribute to campus recreation facilities.
Earlier this week, we learned of Government proposals to cut $35M to $50M in post-secondary funding. The document proposed ending government funding for @mountallison.bsky.social to have it become “an independent Canadian premiere university” (press release for “private”).
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
We wouldn’t have this in NB right now without our fall 2024 election. For us the key was getting clean air in schools into election promises. Very very glad that the opposition took this seriously and then won, forming @govnb.bsky.social 🔥🔥
It’s been a pretty good week-or-so. ☺️
ASHRAE 241 for all new GNB buildings, including schools.
Then-current ASHRAE 62.1 for retrofits.
CO2 monitoring in all schools by June.
I am just going to paste here what Bill Bahnfleth wrote on a LinkedIn post today about this awesome development by @govnb.bsky.social, @susanholtnb.bsky.social 💕 Bahnfleth is the chair of ASHRAE’s Epidemic Task Force. He lead development of ASHRAE 241. Read on: /1
#Z94.4
The Canadian Aerosol Transmission Coalition put out a statement supporting CSA’s revisions to Z94.4. Over 1,700 individuals and organizations signed on to the statement - including unions representing over 3 million workers in 🇨🇦. www.globenewswire.com/news-release...
Hi everyone. Very time-sensitive ask here from your friend in NB. Two parts, relating to the CSA standard #Z94.4. The Canadian Aerosol Transmission Coalition has written a statement in support of the revisions to Z94.4. You or your organization are welcome to sign on in support, deadline tom. /1
The latest Canadian standards association guidance for universal use of respirators for preventing respiratory infection in healthcare is based on actual science (rather than dogma) and has generated a predictable response from predictable quarters
1/ Respiratory protection (including respirators)
The Canadian Standards Association (CSA) has released CSA Z94.4, a draft revision of its standard on respirators and respiratory protection.
For the first time they are including healthcare settings in the new draft standard.
V2 of my Aranet CO2 values for Apple Watch and iPhone Lockscreen!
V2 brings:
- New complications, including a 3hr history graph.
- A 3hr history graph on the iPhone app + as an iPhone widget
- Various UI improvements & bug fixes.
You won't need to open Aranet's app anymore!
CO2 on Watch & Lockscreen app gives:
✅ Current and past 3hrs readings of you Aranet on the Apple Watch
✅ Current and past 3hrs readings reading of you Aranet on your iPhone
✅ Custom alerts when levels spike
Screen capture of a title page from a presentation titled "Crash Course on School Air Quality in New Brunswick" by Ryan Murphy
Screen capture of a contents page from a presentation titled "Crash Course on School Air Quality in New Brunswick" by Ryan Murphy
Screen capture of a slide from a presentation titled "Crash Course on School Air Quality in New Brunswick" by Ryan Murphy
My (recently-updated) presentation, "Crash Course on School Air Quality in NB" includes some background information on indoor air quality and the testing program in New Brunswick schools. If you are interested, you can view that document here (PDF on OneDrive): buff.ly/IBtCHs1
Screenshot of the Members Directory for the 61st Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick.
These charts and recommendations have been shared with all MLAs, as well as the Superintendents, Directors of Schools, and Facility Managers for the 4 Anglophone School Districts. I also shared the collated data.
Please follow-up with those who influence purchasing & policy.
buff.ly/hrzWjyu
Chipman Elementary School tested out of the program with a peak score of 1450 PPM in 2021 - 2022. When testing was expanded in 2023 - 2024, a peak value of 2384 PPM was reported. This closely matches the school's initial testing.
Grand Bay Primary School tested out of the program with a peak score of 1322 PPM in 2020 - 2021. When testing was expanded in 2023 - 2024, a peak value of 2143 PPM was reported.
Loch Lomond School tested out of the program with a peak score of 1266 PPM in 2021 - 2022. When testing was expanded in 2023 - 2024, a peak value of 2343 PPM was reported.
Upper Miramichi Elementary School tested out of the program with a peak score of 1415 PPM in 2021 - 2022. When testing was expanded in 2023 - 2024, a peak value of 2155 PPM was reported. This is worse than the school's initial testing.
Other schools with significant increases this past year, compared to the year they tested out of the program, include:
Chipman Elementary School (+934 PPM)
Grand Bay Primary School (+821 PPM)
Loch Lomond School (+1077 PPM)
Upper Miramichi Elementary School (+740 PPM)
After extremely high peak values in 2020 – 2021, subsequent testing showed values better than outdoor air. Those results were calculated, submitted, approved, and published. Princess Elizabeth School was deemed safe and no longer tested, and likely also less of a priority for system installation. When testing was expanded in 2023 – 2024, results were even worse than the initial poor testing. Mechanical ventilation system installation is scheduled to be completed by March 31, 2027.
Princess Elizabeth School tested out in 2021 – 2022 with an average score of 371.4 PPM and a peak score of 392 PPM. This wasn't caught, so no tests were completed in 2022 – 2023.
When the school was tested again, the peak score was 1902 PPM – even higher than their initial testing of 1830 PPM.
After extremely high peak values in 2020 – 2021, subsequent testing showed values better than outdoor air. Those results were calculated, submitted, approved, and published. Beaconsfield was deemed safe and no longer tested, and likely also less of a priority for system installation. When testing was expanded in 2023 – 2024, results were similar to initial poor testing. Mechanical ventilation system installation is scheduled to be completed by March 31, 2026.
After a single test result under 1500 PPM, the school was deemed safe and no longer tested. When testing was expanded in 2023 - 2024, results were significantly worse. Results show 1.8x the levels of the EECD guideline for unventilated schools.
At least 19 schools that had previously met the 1500 PPM guideline (and therefore would not have received further testing) showed higher levels when the program was expanded back to its original scope.
That includes two schools with reported results better than outdoor air.
A screen capture of a list of schools showing their peak and average carbon dioxide values for the 2023 - 2024 school year. The following schools had peaks above the Province's 1500 PPM guideline: Petitcodiac Regional School (3520 PPM), Riverview Middle School (3389 PPM), Bessborough School (3319 PPM), West Riverview School (2761 PPM), Florenceville Middle School (2429 PPM), Chipman Elementary School (2384 PPM), Nackawic Senior High School (2373 PPM), Loch Lomond School (2343 PPM), Birchmount School (2282 PPM), Forest Hill Elementary (2278 PPM), Florenceville Elementary School (2247 PPM), Harcourt Elementary School (2199 PPM), Upper Miramichi Elementary School (2155 PPM), Harold Peterson Middle School (2144 PPM), Grand Bay Primary School (2143 PPM), Mountain View School (2143 PPM), Donald Fraser Memorial School (2086 PPM), Hazen White-St. Francis School (1930 PPM), Nashwaaksis Memorial School (1922 PPM), Gesner Street Elementary School (1921 PPM), St Rose School (1904 PPM), Princess Elizabeth School (1902 PPM), Bristol Elementary School (1885 PPM), St. John the Baptist/King Edward School (1814 PPM), Hillcrest School (1799 PPM), Centennial School (1789 PPM), Dorchester Consolidated School (1768 PPM), Harvey Elementary School (1755 PPM), Beaconsfield Middle School (1750 PPM), Marshview Middle School (1749 PPM), Keswick Ridge School (1743 PPM), École Calixte-F.-Savoie (1720 PPM), École Calixte-F.-Savoie (1720 PPM), Garden Creek Elementary (1699 PPM), Bath Community School (1625 PPM), Bayview School (1604 PPM), Frank L. Bowser School (1554 PPM)
Some noteworthy results from the 2023 - 2024 data (buff.ly/2fEeTTu ):
Thirty-seven schools had peak carbon dioxide values above the 1500 PPM guideline. That's more than half.
The highest peak value was recorded at Petitcodiac Regional School - a building with mechanical ventilation.
Bayview School in Saint John was tested in 2020 - 2021, and scored a peak result that met the 1500 PPM guideline EECD uses. The school no longer qualified for testing in future years. When all schools were again tested, results were much worse. No data exists to determine if either of those results is an outlier, or what the air quality was like during the nearly three years of school days between tests.
Hillsborough Elementary School had a mechanical ventilation system installation completed on January 9, 2023. They were not tested that year, as they had previously scored a single results that met the Province's 1500 PPM guideline. When testing was resumed (after installation), average carbon dioxide levels were higher than the previous test.
For the 2023 - 2024 school year, the testing program was expanded (maybe "un-contracted" is more accurate) to include all schools originally part of the School Ventilation Program - including those that had previously reported one day of good testing & schools that had ventilation systems installed.
Marshview Middle School had an good average score of 746 PPM - one of the best in the province. The peak value indicates the presence of one (or more) significant outliers.
Petitcodiac Regional School had an acceptable average score of 997 PPM.The peak value indicates the presence of one (or more) significant outliers.
Princess Elizabeth School had an good average score of 837 PPM. The peak value indicates the presence of one (or more) significant outliers.
St. Rose School had an acceptable average score of 933 PPM. The peak value indicates the presence of one (or more) significant outliers.
Recommendation 3:
The Province must increase testing to include all rooms.
Data includes 37 schools with peaks above 1500 PPM - including 8 with average values below 1000 PPM. Their peaks averaged 1975 PPM.
What if the outliers were not tested? How many other schools have similar untested rooms?
After a single test result under 1500 PPM, the school was deemed safe and no longer tested. When testing was expanded in 2023 - 2024, results were worse, and above the 1500 PPM guideline.
After a single test result under 1500 PPM, the school was deemed safe and no longer tested. When testing was expanded in 2023 - 2024, results were significantly worse. Results show 1.8x the levels of the EECD guideline for unventilated schools.
Boston Public School IAQ dashboard showing real-time data from one of over 4000 rooms. Included are measures of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, PM10 particulate, PM2.5 particulate, relative humidity, and temperature.
Recommendation 2:
The Province must increase the frequency of testing.
Twelve of 29 schools that had previously tested out of the program (a single day of meeting 1500 PPM) now produced results above 1500 PPM.
Boston Public School's IAQ dashboard shows real-time & historical data for 4000+ rooms.
Petitcodiac Regional School had a ventilation system installed previously, beyond the scope of the School Ventilation Program. No prior tests were reported, as schools outside of the program were deemed safe and not tested. This test result is the worst in the Province for 2023 – 2024, and is well beyond the limits of the 1500 PPM guidelines for unventilated schools used by the Province. Interestingly, the mechanical ventilation system at Petitcodiac Regional School turns on at 4:00 AM each weekday – hours before most other schools. At this concentration, over 8% of the air you breathe has already been in someone’s lungs.
Recommendation 1:
GNB must expand the Air Quality Testing program to include all schools – including those with mechanical ventilation.
Petitcodiac Regional School reported the worst peak value. It has a mechanical ventilation system - and it turns on at 4:00 AM, hours before most other schools.
A screenshot of a recommendation addressing the Province's lack of testing for schools with integrated mechanical ventilation systems.
A screenshot of a recommendation addressing the Province's lack of testing beyond a single day each year.
A screenshot of a recommendation addressing the Province's lack of testing in all rooms, instead choosing approximately 10% of a school's rooms for evaluation.
Based on my analysis, I provided three recommendations on the scope of the Province's testing.
Results for each school are recorded on 1 day each year & in approximately 10% of each school's rooms. Only schools without ventilation systems are tested & only until they score below 1500 PPM.
Cover page of Report on Air Quality Test Results in New Brunswick Schools, prepared by Ryan Murphy using EECD air quality data. The full report can be accessed at a link contained in the post.
A sample of the Report's charts showing four years of air quality data from Norton Elementary School. In 2020 - 2021, peak values were 2806 PPM of carbon dioxide; in 2021 - 2022, it was 2493 PPM. A mechanical ventilation system was completed in October 2022. Following the installation, the 2022 - 2023 results were significantly lower, peaking at 902 PPM. Levels rose again the next year, with a peak of 1419 PPM.
Bayview School in Saint John was tested in 2020 - 2021, and scored a peak result that met the 1500 PPM guideline EECD uses. The school no longer qualified for testing in future years. When all schools were again tested, results were much worse. No data exists to determine if either of those results is an outlier, or what the air quality was like during the nearly three years of school days between tests.
Screen capture of a Department of Education & Early Childhood Development PDF chart showing the Air Quality Test Results for New Brunswick schools in the 2023 - 2024 school year.
Last month, EECD released the results of air quality testing from the 2023 - 2024 school year. Data was again presented as a PDF chart, making analysis difficult.
I used their data to create visuals and a report, of sorts. You can read the full report here (PDF on OneDrive):
buff.ly/msa9XeV
As promised, I sought to find out why NB redefined Covid-19 deaths and how that redefinition impacted reporting, and the response is frightening.
They changed the definition based on vibes, resulting in 2 of every 3 covid-caused deaths not being reported.
#nbpoli #covid19
I want to write something for #LongCovidAwarenessDay about long covid and what it’s taken from me, but I always falter.
I can’t breathe.
I can’t move, or sit still, or sleep without pain.
My heart is a cinder block.
My mind is a radio that’s lost its antenna.