An Early Warning And Response System ForBuildings At Risk To Toxic Airborne Materials

This paper describes the design, development and demonstration of an HVAC-based early warning and response (eWAR) system for buildings-at-risk to Toxic Airborne Materials (TAMs). The performance of the system was evaluated under laboratory conditions. With a computerized search, match and seek (SMS) algorithm, the eWAR identifies “out-of-norm” in-duct air signals and triggers a set of filtration, in-duct neutralization and decontamination (FIND) responses. These responses are just-in-case (JIC) with risk-free consequences in case of false positive events. Developing an effective monitoring and response system with an adaptive learning capability was the main objective of this initiative. An in-lab release scenario was generated and the reaction of the newly developed eWAR system was tested. Time-of-release, time-to-respond and time-to-neutralize were estimated for two different FIND responses.