6.5.5 Ventilation Systems

Air-intake locations should be located as high up in the building as is practical to limit access to the general public. Systems that serve public access areas such as mail receiving rooms, loading docks, lobbies, freight elevators/lobbies should be isolated and provided with dedicated air handling systems capable of 100 percent exhaust mode. Tie air intake locations and fan rooms into the security surveillance and alarm system.

Building HVAC systems are typically controlled by a building automation system, which allows for quick response to shut down or selectively control air conditioning systems. This system is coordinated with the smoke-control and fire-alarm systems.

See Section 6.6 on chemical, biological, and radiological protection for more information.