Guidance for
Protecting Building Environments
from Airborne Chemical, Biological, or Radiological Attacks

May, 2002


DHHS (NIOSH) Pub No.
2002-139


T
his document identifies actions that a building owner or manager can implement without undue delay to enhance occupant protection from an airborne chemical, biological, or radiological attack.

This document includes information about:

  • What you can do
  • Specific recommendations
  • Things not to do
  • Physical security
  • Ventilation and filtration
  • Maintenance, administration, and training

This document is also available in PDF format
2002-139.pdf 40 pages, 841kb

 

Related Resources:

Guidance for Filtration and Air-Cleaning Systems to Protect Building Environments

NIOSH Emergency Response Resources

Emergency Preparedness for Business

 

Contents

Foreword
Abbreviations
Acknowledgments
Ordering Information
Scope
Background
Preparatory Recommendation—Know your building
Specific Recommendations

Things not to do
Physical security
Ventilation and filtration
Maintenance, administration, and training

Conclusions
For Additional Information
Appendix A
Appendix B

 

 

Foreword

The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 [Public Law 91-596] assures so far as possible every working man and woman in the Nation safe and healthful working conditions. The Act charges the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) with conducting research and making science based recommendations to prevent work-related illness, injury, disability, and death.

On October 8, 2001, the President of the United States established by executive order the Office of Homeland Security (OHS), which is mandated "to develop and coordinate the implementation of a comprehensive national strategy to secure the United States from terrorist threats or attacks." In January 2002, the OHS formed the Interagency Workgroup on Building Air Protection under the Medical and Public Health Preparedness Policy Coordinating Committee of the OHS. The Workgroup includes representatives from agencies throughout the Federal government, including NIOSH, which is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

With U.S. workers facing potential hazards associated with chemical, biological, or radiological terrorism, the missions of the OHS and NIOSH overlap. As with most hazards, there are preventive steps that can reduce the likelihood and mitigate the impact of terrorist threats. Tried and proven principles in the control of airborne contaminants can be joined with similarly focused safety and security principles to provide guidance on how we design and operate our building environments. This document is the result of recent building vulnerability assessments conducted by NIOSH, as well as significant content and review recommendations provided by Workgroup members.

Prevention is the cornerstone of public and occupational health. This document provides preventive measures that building owners and managers can implement promptly to protect building air environments from a terrorist release of chemical, biological, or radiological contaminants. These recommendations, focusing on short term actions, are only the beginning of a process to develop more comprehensive guidance. Working with the Building Air Protection Workgroup, as well as partners in the public and private sectors, NIOSH will continue to build on this effort. This document is a useful first step in the process.


Kathleen M. Rest, Ph.D., M.P.A. Acting Director
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

 

 

 

 

 

 

Abbreviations

ATSDR

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry CBR chemical, biological, or radiological

HVAC

heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning

VAV

variable air volume

CCTV

closed-circuit television

HEPA

high efficiency particulate air

NIOSH

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

OHS

Office of Homeland Security

PCC

 

Policy Coordinating Committee

 

 
 

Acknowledgments

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) developed this document in cooperation with the Interagency Workgroup on Building Air Protection. NIOSH engineers Kenneth R. Mead, M.S., P.E. and Michael G. Gressel, Ph.D., C.S.P. are the principal authors. The Interagency Workgroup on Building Air Protection was formed under the Medical and Public Health Preparedness Policy Coordinating Committee (PCC) of the Office of Homeland Security (OHS). The Workgroup’s purpose is to focus on building air protection issues associated with an airborne chemical, biological, or radiological (CBR) attack. Workgroup participants provided guidance and direction at several points during this document’s development. Their diverse expertise and perspectives resulted in a set of real-world recommendations intended to increase protection of building environments from a terrorist’s chemical, biological, or radiological attack. Participants on the Workgroup and their agency affiliations may be found in Appendix A.

In addition to the efforts of the Workgroup, the contributions of the NIOSH Research Team on Building Vulnerabilities are greatly appreciated. This team was augmented by representatives from Sandia National Laboratories and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). Many of the recommendations found in this document originated from the numerous vulnerability assessments conducted by this team. Members of the team are listed in Appendix B.

Anne Votaw, Pauline Elliott, Anne Stirnkorb, and Dick Carlson (NIOSH) provided editorial support, produced the camera ready copy, and prepared the graphics.

 

 

Ordering Information

To receive documents or other information about occupational safety and health topics, contact the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) at

NIOSH Publications Dissemination
4676 Columbia Parkway
Cincinnati, OH 45226-1998

Telephone: 1-800-35-NIOSH (1-800-356-4674)
Fax: 1-513-533-8573
E-mail: pubstaft@cdc.gov

or visit the NIOSH Web site at www.cdc.gov/niosh

This document is in the public domain and may be freely copied or reprinted.

Disclaimer: Mention of any company, product, policy, or the inclusion of any reference does not constitute endorsement by NIOSH.

DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2002-139

 

 

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