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

Details

• Alternative Title:
  Protecting building environments from airborne chemical, biological, or radiological attacks
• Corporate Authors:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Description:
  Reducing a building's vulnerability to an airborne chemical, biological, or radiological (CBR) attack requires a comprehensive approach. Decisions concerning which protective measures to implement should be based upon the threat profile and a security assessment of the building and its occupants. While physical security is the first layer of defense, other issues must also be addressed. Preventing possible terrorist access to outdoor air intakes and mechanical rooms and developing CBR-contingent emergency response plans should be addressed as soon as possible. Additional measures can provide further protection. A building security assessment should be done to determine the necessity of additional measures. Some items, such as improved maintenance and HVAC system controls, may also provide a payback in operating costs and/or improved building air quality. As new building designs or modifications are considered, designers should consider that practical CBR sensors may soon become available. Building system design features that are capable of incorporating this rapidly evolving technology will most likely offer a greater level of protection. While it is not possible to completely eliminate the risk of a CBR terrorist attack, several measures can be taken to reduce the likelihood and consequences of such an attack. Many of the recommendations presented here are ones that can be implemented reasonably quickly and cost effectively. Many are applicable to both new construction and existing buildings, although some may be more feasible than others. Building owners and managers should assess buildings by looking first for those items that are most vulnerable and can be addressed easily. Additional measures should be implemented as feasible. The goals are to make your building an unattractive target for a CBR attack and to maximize occupant protection in the event that such an attack occurs. - NIOSHTIC-2
  
  NIOSHTIC No 20021947
  
  
• Content Notes:
  Result of recent building vulnerability assessments conducted by NIOSH, as well as significant content and review recommendations provided by Interagency Workgroup on Building Air Protection members.
• Subjects:
  Biohazards Chemical Hazards Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Safety
• Series:
  NIOSH Numbered Publications
• DOI:
  https://doi.org/10.26616/NIOSHPUB2002139
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Guidance
• Place as Subject:
  United States
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  40 pdf pages
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20021947
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Guidelines and Recommendations
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:f43e137541f7b05b728ba3b0b60eb510e5355c1a96bc78f33575b763d8a87d548c0b66768478d28d3e977d6ceba5b20b736e6d27f28cd358fd52141d9a092338
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/6465/cdc_6465_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 604.94 KB ]