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You are here: APS Home → Maintenance & Operations → Service Departments → Mechanical

Mechanical

Includes: HVAC, locker repair, plumbing, and sheet metal.

Frank Maes, Manager (17 years with Department, 8 years as manager)
42 technicians and support personnel

Craft Shops include HVAC (heating, ventilating, and air conditioning); Sheet Metal (duct work, exhaust vents, venting hot water heaters, installing ceiling grills, and installing air conditioning units); Locker Repair; and Plumbing (domestic water, gas, and sewer maintenance).

The HVAC shop used to keep students cool in May and warm in January with 45 technicians. Today, with more heating and cooling systems to maintain due to APS expanding by 11 new schools in the last four years, the shop employs only 18 full-time technicians due to budget reductions. Outside contractors are used to supplement the growing mechanical needs of the District.

In spite of the radically shrinking staff, the Mechanical Department has consistently grown its PM programs in the HVAC and Plumbing shops. While emergency calls are not yet unheard of, they have been reduced by 43% due to expanding preventative maintenance work. Only the one-man Locker Repair Shop is not on a PM program as lockers don’t typically wear out, rather vandalism results in reactive work requests and repairs.

The Mechanical Department Shops have collectively increased PM work by 159.7% over the previous fiscal year and an astounding 415.4% since 2007.

Mechanical Totals

Highlights

“It has been my goal since I became manager of the Mechanical Department to
shift reactive work and planning to a preventative maintenance attitude and strategy in all shops. We work toward improving on that goal every day.”

-- FRANK MAES, MANAGER, MECHANICAL

Installation of refrigerated cooling systems (chillers) completed

Started in 2005, the project was completed in the 2009-10 fiscal year. The Direct Digital Controls (DDC) HVAC systems are computerized and automated through the Facilities Management Systems.

  • Cuts trouble shooting time by 50%.
  • Less labor intensive than evaporative cooling.
    • Provides better quality clean air.
    • Provides a more comfortable learning environment.
    • Electronic controls manage energy usage and are more energy efficient.

Developed a DDC Specialist in HVAC Shop

A former HVAC technician was trained to become the DDC expert and is responsible for all District DDC systems at 10 schools and the new Data Center.

  • Checks computer on-site to diagnose system failure.
  • Monitors all sites regularly.

Automated PM contractor work orders for kitchen hood fire protection systems

  • Scheduled inspection and testing of systems.
  • Tracks costs.
  • Easier and faster to manage / faster processing and greatly decreased paperwork.
  • Contractors now able to automate invoices and reports through SchoolDude.

Converted steam boilers to hot water boilers at five schools

  • Safer, as hot water doesn’t have to be heated to degree of steam.
  • More energy efficient.
  • More reliable / requires less maintenance.

Performing more HVAC and plumbing work faster

From 2007 to the 2009-10 fiscal year, the HVAC Shop increased the number of work orders performed by 42.5% while reducing the time to perform the work by 66.8%. During this same time period, the Plumbing Shop increased the number of work orders performed by 4.7% while reducing task time by 77.4%. In addition, the Plumbing Shop has increased its PM program by a dramatic 760% since 2007.

New PM programs

  • Plumbing Shop: Began annual (primarily summer) inspection, and if necessary repair, of plumbing systems.
  • Natural Gas Pipe Run: 25% of schools to be performed every summer (each school tested every four years).
    • Grease all gas stops (shut off).
    • Pressure-test all gas lines.
    • Inspect for leaks and repair if found.
  • Water softener treatment.
  • Chlorinate treatment.

PM programs (on-going) - Because HVAC and plumbing services inspections are state mandated the Mechanical Department is ahead in developing PM programs; however, many of the following PM programs are not required.

  • Fire sprinkler inspections.
  • Kitchen hood suppression system.
  • HVAC filter change-out.
  • AC inspection and fully serviced.
  • Heating start-up.
  • Boiler start-up and inspection.
  • Chemical treatment for boilers and chillers.
  • Grease trap pumping (automated schedule, every six weeks in 2009-10).
  • Backflow testing and inspection / backflow prevention.
  • Gas piping inspection (gas run).
  • Inspection and repair of air compressors.

Goals

Status of 2009-10 Fiscal Year Goals

  • When funding is available, have plumbers assigned on-site full-time at high schools: Not achievable due to budget limitations; unlikely in near future.
  • Develop and transition more PM work orders for more mandated services through the SchoolDude/FIMS Work Order system: Done and will increase in next fiscal year.
  • Upgrade obsolete and inefficient HVAC and plumbing systems: In progress; limited only by budgetary constraints.
  • Convert all steam boilers to higher efficiency hot water boilers: Five done; remainder in progress.

2010-11 Goals

  • Convert steam boilers to hot water boilers at 2-3 schools. (14 remaining. In light of budget cuts, 2-3 a year is an achievable goal.)
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