1. Is the HVAC system:
a) Simple to operate? ____ ____ ____
b) Easy to maintain? ____ ____ ____
c) Efficient to run? ____ ____ ____
Comments:______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________ 2. Does the system, including ductwork, make efficient
use of space? ____ ____ ____
Comments:______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________ 3. Can temperature and humidity be zone-controlled
room by room, either centrally or from lockable
thermostats? ____ ____ ____
Comments:______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________ 4. Is the building properly insulated to help maintain
temperature efficiently? ____ ____ ____ Comments:______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________
Building
Systems
YES NO N/A5. If the building has large windows or skylights, is there provision for maintaining temperature through window
coverings or special glazing? ____ ____ ____
Comments:______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________ 6. Is there adequate ventilation using:
a) A mechanical air-exchange system? ____ ____ ____
b) Natural ventilation? ____ ____ ____
Comments:______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________ 7. Is there provision for ventilation if the climate control
fails? ____ ____ ____
Comments:______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
8. Do the windows open? ____ ____ ____
Comments:______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________ 9. Can environmental pollution be filtered out of the air? ____ ____ ____
Comments:______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________ 10. Can humidity be controlled within a 5 percent
variance? ____ ____ ____
Comments:______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________ 11. Are temperature/humidity conditions appropriate for:
a) Rare materials? ____ ____ ____
b) Special collections? ____ ____ ____
c) Archives? ____ ____ ____
d) Computer stations, computer labs, and telecom-
munication rooms? ____ ____ ____
e) Public areas? ____ ____ ____
f) Staff work areas? ____ ____ ____
g) Closed stacks? ____ ____ ____
Comments:______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
12. Are there emergency backup generators that can be used if the electricity goes off and the air conditioning
shuts down? ____ ____ ____
Comments:______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
B. Lighting
1. Is lighting energy- and cost-efficient? ____ ____ ____
Comments:______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________ 2. Can all interior lights be turned on/off from one
location? ____ ____ ____
Comments:______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________ 3. Can staff operate a light control at staff entrances,
allowing adequate illumination before arriving at the
main control point for interior lighting? ____ ____ ____
Comments:______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________ 4. Is the building’s night lighting adequate to allow obser-
vation of the library’s interior through outside windows? ____ ____ ____
Comments:______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________ 5. Is lighting in all areas adequate and glare free? ____ ____ ____
Comments:______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________ 6. Are rheostat (dimmer) controls available at individual
workstations to permit local adjustment to user need? ____ ____ ____
Comments:______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________ 7. Are the following lighting levels maintained (generally
based on the 1993 Lighting Handbook of the Illuminating
Engineering Society of North America):
a) Reading areas: 30 to 40 foot-candles (300–400 lux) average, measured horizontally at desktop, and augmented with task lighting carrels and at tables
where appropriate? ____ ____ ____
■ Building Systems ■
b) Stacks: 6 foot-candles (60 lux) minimum mea- sured vertically at a height of 12 inches, and 30 foot candles (300 lux) maximum measured vertically at any height to achieve approximately 5:1 maximum-to-minimum ratio across the entire
stack face? ____ ____ ____
c) Small conference or group study rooms: 30 to 40 foot-candles (300–400 lux) average, measured
horizontally at desktop? ____ ____ ____ d) Staff areas: 50 foot-candles (500 lux) average on
desks or work tables measured horizontally at
desktop? ____ ____ ____
e) Large meeting or community rooms: 40 foot-candles (400 lux) average with all lights on, and with
separately controlled lighting for the podium or
front of the room? ____ ____ ____
f) Parking lot: 0.6 foot-candles (6 lux) minimum, measured horizontally on pavement, to achieve a 4:1 average-to-minimum ratio, and with no
spill light on adjacent properties? ____ ____ ____
Comments:______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________ 8. Are light switches located where they can be easily
and logically accessed, not behind door swings or
large pieces of equipment? ____ ____ ____
Comments:______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________ 9. Are ambient and task lights on timers or motion
detectors in closed stacks, offices, and/or public areas? ____ ____ ____
Comments:______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________ 10. Can ambient lighting be dimmed or brightened
according to need? ____ ____ ____
Comments:______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________ 11. Is lighting zoned so various areas can be dimmed or
brightened independently? ____ ____ ____
Comments:______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
12. Is flexible, timed programming available for each
lighting zone? ____ ____ ____
Comments:______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________ 13. Are light zones identified by switch labels? ____ ____ ____
Comments:______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________ 14. Can daylight be used as a source of lighting? ____ ____ ____
Comments:______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________ 15. If daylight is used, can it be controlled by window
coverings, tinted glass, or other special glazing? ____ ____ ____
Comments:______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________ 16. When natural lighting is used, is it designed to elimi-
nate glare and “hot spots” of intense light and/or heat? ____ ____ ____
Comments:______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________ 17. Are seasonal light changes taken into account? ____ ____ ____
Comments:______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________ 18. Will ultraviolet light be filtered from fluorescent and
natural light sources? ____ ____ ____
Comments:______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________ 19. Are computer monitors and other video screens
shielded from direct sunlight or glare? ____ ____ ____
Comments:______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________ 20. Can lighting be easily moved if furniture, shelving,
or equipment is moved? ____ ____ ____
Comments:______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________ 21. Is the lighting system easily replaced and maintained? ____ ____ ____
Comments:______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________ 22. Are exterior lighting fixtures of vandal-resistant
construction? ____ ____ ____
■ Building Systems ■
Comments:______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________ 23. Do exterior lighting fixtures have durable finishes
to protect them from weather? ____ ____ ____
Comments:______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________ 24. Has the number of different lamp types been minimized
to simplify maintenance and lamp stocking? ____ ____ ____
Comments:______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________ 25. Are replacement lamps:
a) Easily accessible? ____ ____ ____
b) Reasonably priced? ____ ____ ____
Comments:______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
C. Noise
1. Are circulation, information, and reference service points located and designed so noise will not disrupt
other areas? ____ ____ ____
Comments:______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________ 2. Have rest rooms, conference rooms, lounges, photo-
copiers, and public telephones been located where
the noise will be the least distracting? ____ ____ ____
Comments:______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________ 3. Are traffic patterns throughout the building designed
to keep noise and confusion away from readers? ____ ____ ____
Comments:______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________ 4. Are there acoustically controlled quiet areas and are
they accessible from widely distributed entrance points? ____ ____ ____
Comments:______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
5. Are soundproof rooms available? ____ ____ ____
Comments:______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________ 6. Is there acoustical separation between public and
staff areas? ____ ____ ____
Comments:______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________ 7. Are mechanical systems (elevators, heating, and air
conditioning equipment) located away from quiet
areas and/or acoustically shielded? ____ ____ ____
Comments:______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________ 8. Are there areas where furniture is arranged so as to
discourage conversation? ____ ____ ____
Comments:______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________ 9. Has equipment in public areas (computer printers,
photocopiers, etc.) been chosen for quiet operation? ____ ____ ____
Comments:______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________ 10. Is there background sound, such as the ventilating
system or other “white noise” sources, to mask minor
distracting sounds? ____ ____ ____
Comments:______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________ 11. Have the following elements been chosen to contribute
to noise reduction:
a) Carpeting? ____ ____ ____
b) Floor surfaces that do not generate and/or
transfer noise? ____ ____ ____ c) Wall coverings? ____ ____ ____ d) Window coverings? ____ ____ ____ e) Ceiling surfaces? ____ ____ ____ f) Furniture? ____ ____ ____ g) Shelving? ____ ____ ____ ■ Building Systems ■ YES NO N/A
h) Equipment? ____ ____ ____
Comments:______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________