Federal buildings told to improve security of air systems

The Health and Human Services Department has recommended that federal agencies tighten physical security around building air intake and ventilation systems to minimize the threat of chemical, biological and radiological attacks.

The guidelines on protecting buildings from airborne agents are part of the department's continuing efforts to protect public health since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and the ensuing anthrax scare, according to HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson. "These guidelines offer practical advice to building owners, managers and maintenance staffs on the steps they can take to protect their ventilation systems," he said in a statement.

The new recommendations suggest that building managers ensure that access to internal operations systems and building design information is restricted and that they assess the emergency capabilities of those systems. Building managers should also inspect air filters to ensure they're performing correctly and adopt more preventive maintenance procedures, the guidelines state. Still, building managers should not be overly cautious, the guidelines warn. For example, maintenance personnel should avoid possibly detrimental measures like permanently sealing outdoor air intakes.

"This guidance offers reasonable and practical measures to reduce the likelihood of a contaminant attack and to minimize the impact if one occurs," Office of Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge said in a statement. Ridge's office offered input on the recommendations, which were prepared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, with the cooperation of more than 30 federal agencies and state and local professional associations. The guidelines were also distributed to private companies.

The guidelines attempt to offer practical advice for buffering existing security systems or adding ones where none exist. On some level, all buildings have similar needs, they say. "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," the guidelines say.

Yet each building's security needs must be addressed individually. Most buildings could use low-cost security measures, such as locks on doors to mechanical rooms. Other, more expensive steps, such as installing X-ray equipment to examine packages, should be considered only if further steps are warranted, the guidelines say.