SEPA
www.epa.gov/nhsrc
technical BR
Building Retrofits for Increased Protection
Against Airborne Chemical and Biological Releases
DCMD report and software evaluate retrofit technologies
and strategies to protect buildings
A new report provides owners, managers, engineers, and other
decision makers with information about various building retrofit
options that will improve building protection against airborne
hazards. The accompanying software provides economic
analysis tools for selecting cost-effective approaches to mitigate
these hazards. The report and software are the result of
research conducted by the EPA National Homeland Security
Research Center (NHSRC) and the National Institute for
Standards and Technology (NIST). This research supports
responsibilities assigned to EPA by the 2002 Presidential
budget and by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 10,
which addresses biodefense research and decontamination
issues.
Research Addresses Building Owner Needs
The research addresses concerns of building owners, building
managers, and other decision makers about potential airborne
chemical and biological releases in or near buildings. When
these professionals consider retrofitting buildings to provide
protection against such events, they need to know the benefits
of each technology and strategy in specific applications. Industry
has been proposing retrofit technologies that have varying levels
of effectiveness and costs, as
well as varying degrees of applicability to particular buildings and
ventilation systems.
The report describes each retrofit technology and strategy in
detail, presenting relevant performance data and the level of
protection that might be expected from the retrofit. Potential
disadvantages and knowledge gaps for each technology are also
presented. By using building airflow and contaminant dispersion
modeling to compare a retrofitted building to one that was not
retrofitted, researchers evaluated the potential of each option to
protect building occupants from generic contaminant releases.
A case study (with preinstallation designs and cost estimates) evaluated specific retrofit options for
two buildings. An economic analysis software tool, using life-cycle cost analysis techniques, was also
developed. An appendix to the report describes how to use the software.
As part of USEPA's Office of Research and
Development, the National Homeland Security
Research Center (NHSRC) provides products and
expertise to improve our nation's ability to respond
to environmental contamination caused by terrorist
attacks on our nation's water infrastructure,
buildings and outdoor areas.
NHSRC conducts research related to
• Detecting and containing contamination
from chemical, biological, and
radiological agents
• Assessing and mitigating exposure to
contamination
• Understanding the health effects of
contamination
• Developing risk-based exposure
advisories
• Decontaminating and disposing of
contaminated materials.
Dispersion of airborne contaminant
in an office
(more)
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Retrofit Technologies and Devices Evaluated
The retrofit options include stand-alone technologies as well as devices that are installed and
implemented as purchased. Technologies include enhanced particle filtration, sorbent-based
gaseous air cleaning, ultraviolet germicidal lamps, photocatalytic oxidative air cleaning, and
work area air capture and filtration equipment.
The retrofit strategies include ventilation system recommissioning; building envelope tightening;
building pressurization; relocation of outdoor air intakes; shelter-in-place planning; isolation of
vulnerable spaces, such as lobbies; air handling system shutdown and purge cycles; and automated
heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) changes in response to contaminant sensing.
Conclusions
The following conclusions are presented in the report:
• For retrofits to provide the desired level of protection, the building HVAC system must be
operating properly. A first step in retrofitting a building is to check airflow rates, system
controls, filter fit and sealing, and maintenance procedures.
• The filtration and air cleaning retrofit options have the advantage of always being operational.
These technologies do not rely on an advanced warning of a release with a human or
automated response action.
• The report provides an established test method for selection of appropriate particulate matter
filters. Gaseous air cleaning and other air-cleaning options do not yet have a standard test
method.
• Many retrofit options require rapid operational decisions during a release in order to provide
effective protection (for example, whether to shut down an air system or use the air system
to purge the building and whether to send building occupants to a shelter-in-place zone or to
evacuate).
To make retrofit choices for a particular building, it is necessary to assess the risks associated
with the building and the building's vulnerabilities. The level of protection and associated costs
can then be determined. Many release and building occupancy scenarios can be considered.
Each building is unique, and detailed study is required to determine the level of protection
desired and how best to achieve that level of protection in a cost-effective manner.
Follow this link to download the full report and the associated software:
http://cfpub.epa.gov/si/si public record report.cfm?dirEntrvld=161506
or visit the NIST Web site at http://www2.bfrl.nist.gov/software/LCCchembio/index.htm.
For more information on EPAs Homeland Security Research visit our website at www.epa.gov/nhsrc
EPA Technical Contact: Jacky Rosati (919) 541-9429, rosati.jacky@epa. gov
EPA Communications Contact: Kathy Nickel (513) 569-7955, nickel.kathy@epa.gov
NIST Communications Contact: John Blair (301) 975-4261, iohn.blair@nist.gov
April 2007
EPA/S-07/017
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