Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
•
Is there obvious air infiltration? Is it localized?
outdoor air supply vents will adversely affect
the building occupants and likely result in a
decrease in indoor environmental quality and
an increase in indoor environmental quality
complaints.
∗
2.
Do not modify the HVAC system without
first understanding the effects on the building
systems or the occupants
. This caution
directly relates to the recommendation that
building owners and managers should under-
stand the operation of their building systems.
If there is uncertainty about the effects of
a proposed modification, a qualified profes-
sional should be consulted.
∗
3. Do not interfere with fire protection and life
safety systems. These systems provide protec-
tion in the event of fire or other types of
events. They should not be altered without
guidance from a professional specifically
qualified in fire protection and life safety
systems.
•
Does the system provide adequate ventilation
given the building's current occupancy and
functions?
•
Where are the outdoor air louvers? Are they
easily observable? Are they or other mechanical
equipment accessible to the public?
•
Do adjacent structures or landscaping allow
access to the building roof?
Specific Recommendations
The recommendations can be divided into four
general categories: (1) things not to do; (2) phys-
ical security; (3) ventilation and filtration; and (4)
maintenance, administration, and training. Some of
these items, such as securing mechanical rooms,
may be started prior to your completing the recom-
mendations in the “Know your building” section.
Items within each of the four categories are listed in
the order of priority. Items considered to be highly
critical are identified by “
∗
” next to the number. As
you review these recommendations, consider their
potential implications upon the contract language
necessary for existing and future service contracts.
A brief discussion of the four categories and some
commonly considered recommendations follow.
Physical Security
Preventing terrorist access to a targeted facility
requires physical security of entry, storage, roof,
and mechanical areas, as well as securing access
to the outdoor air intakes of the building HVAC
system. The physical security needs of each
building should be assessed, as the threat of a
CBR attack will vary considerably from building
to building. For example, the threat to a large
corporate headquarters may be considered greater
than the threat to a small retail establishment.
Some physical security measures, such as locking
doors to mechanical rooms, are low cost and
will not inconvenience the users of the building.
These types of measures can be implemented in
most buildings. Other physical security measures,
such as increased security personnel or package
X-ray equipment, are more costly or may inconve-
nience users substantially. These measures should
be implemented when merited after consideration
of the threat and consequences of a terrorist attack.
Building owners and managers should be familiar
with their buildings and understand what assets
require protection and what characteristics about
Things not to do
More than anything else, building owners and
managers should ensure that any actions they take
do not have a detrimental effect on the building
systems (HVAC, fire protection, life safety, etc.)
or the building occupants under normal building
operation. Some efforts to protect the building from
a CBR attack could have adverse effects on the
building's indoor environmental quality. Building
owners and managers should understand how the
building systems operate and assess the impact of
security measures on those systems.
∗
1.
Do not permanently seal outdoor air intakes
.
Buildings require a steady supply of outdoor
air appropriate to their occupancy and func-
tion. This supply should be maintained during
normal building operations. Closing off the
