How to protect ventilation systems from attack

Jun 1, 2002 12:00 PM

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has released new guidelines for protecting ventilation systems in commercial and government buildings from chemical, biological and radiological attacks. The recommendations concern physical security of ventilation systems, airflow and filtration, systems maintenance, program administration and maintenance staff training.

“This guidance offers reasonable and practical measures to reduce the likelihood of a containment attack and to minimize the impact if one occurs,” says Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge. “This effort demonstrates how the federal government and the private sector can work together to make our nation more secure.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) prepared the guidelines with input and review by the Interagency Workgroup on Building Air Protection, a unit of the Office of Homeland Security; and with multiple state, federal, local and professional agencies.

According to the guidelines, protective measures should be tailored to fit the individual building based on several factors, including perceived risk, engineering, architectural feasibility and cost.

Its specific recommendations include:

• preventing access to outdoor air intakes;

• preventing public access to mechanical areas and the building's roof;

• implementing guards, alarms and cameras around sensitive areas; and

• restricting access to the building's operational information.

A copy of the report, entitled “Guidance for Protecting Building Environments from Airborne Chemical, Biological or Radiological Attacks,” can be viewed at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh.

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