State Government acts to air condition BER school buildings

The State Government will allow school buildings built under the Building the Education Revolution (BER) program to have air-conditioning installed.

Education Minister Liz Constable said all schools with new buildings as part of the BER program outside of the Department of Education's air-cooling zone were given the option of having evaporative air-conditioning systems installed as part of the construction - covered by the builder's warranty - at the school's expense.

However issues have arisen in relation to BER buildings constructed for schools outside the air-cooling zone, where those schools have been unable to install their own air-conditioning because the works could void the 12-month warranty period on the building.  The State will assume this risk.

Dr Constable said she shared the concerns of parents and staff about the wellbeing of students and teachers trying to learn and teach in hot classrooms, and had acted to help schools that wanted to install their own air-conditioning to do so.

"Advice recently received from the State Solicitor's Office says provided the equipment and installation is in accordance with Building Management and Works standards, it is envisaged that the risk to buildings, and therefore warranties, will be mitigated," she said.

"It is prudent the State Government have these warranty periods on new buildings, to protect the taxpayer if anything goes wrong during the building process or faults are found while the building is new.

"With 671 schools receiving BER buildings - 368 of those fall outside the air-cooling zone - it was important to protect taxpayers from any liability through the application of warranty periods.

"Notwithstanding this and with serious consideration together with legal advice, we have now found a way to help these schools to get their air-conditioning installed within these warranty periods."

The State Government is currently reviewing the air-cooling policy, with a view to expanding the zone within which schools are provided with air-conditioning.

The results of this review are expected to be released before the middle of this year.

The Minister advised schools to be mindful that following the review of the air-cooling policy, their school may fall within the revised cooling zone and become eligible for State-funded air-cooling.
Schools deciding to proceed with self-funded installation should contact the Department of Education, which will work with Building Management and Works, the department also responsible for the building contracts that have been drawn up for BER schools.  Together they will ensure schools receive appropriate advice about equipment and help source contractors.

"This is one of the hottest summers we have experienced in 15 years," Dr Constable said.

"I acknowledge and share the concerns of staff, parents and, of course, the students who have had to endure this discomfort at school.

"However these decisions cannot be made lightly without prudent consideration of relevant matters."

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