SD38 Facilities Services

The home of the Facilities Services Division and Richmond Project Team

Current Ventilation Systems Overviews

The Richmond School District is paying special attention to air quality in our schools. The district is taking concrete steps to ensure that our students and staff come to school and work each day in a clean, healthy and safe work environment. Over $5.6 million has been spent or committed to HVAC system improvements in Richmond schools in 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 - these projects have either been completed or are under construction. In addition, in Spring 2022 the Richmond Board of Education approved $12 Million in district funding to ensure all classrooms, libraries, multipurpose rooms, school offices and staff rooms have mechanical ventilation systems where currently absent. The Classroom Ventilation Program was completed September 2023.    

The Richmond School District is fully compliant with all school ventilation requirements. The district works closely with, and takes direction from, public health officials to ensure that heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems are designed, operated and maintained as per Provincial guidelines:

  • Mechanical ventilation systems are in excellent working order through scheduled filter changes and equipment maintenance.
  • Extended operating hours for ventilation systems – initiating ventilation systems well before school starts each day to flush the air in all rooms prior to occupancy.
  • Increased fresh air exchange in accordance with Provincial guidelines.

Classrooms, offices, libraries, multipurpose or other rooms that do not currently have mechanical ventilation systems will keep windows open as much as possible to ensure outdoor air is naturally exchanged with inside air. Maintenance staff will monitor and adjust heating settings as necessary.

Below are links to overviews of the ventilation systems at each of our schools and district buildings (updated September 2024).

Elementary Schools

Secondary Schools

District Buildings

For more information on the Richmond School District response to the COVID-19 pandemic, visit https://sd38.bc.ca/covid-19-updates. In an attempt to provide clarity to questions that impact the whole school district, parents are welcome to submit system-level questions regarding COVID-19 to covid19@sd38.bc.ca. The district will collate all system-level questions and provide responses as soon as possible.