Facility Protection

There are steps that businesses can take to protect against and minimize the effects of a terrorist attack. In addition to planning for emergencies, some modifications of physical buildings can provide additional protection for building occupants. The links below provide guidance on steps businesses can take to improve the protective features of their facilities.

Building Air Protection

Guidance for Filtration and Air-Cleaning Systems to Protect Building Environments from Airborne Chemical, Biological, or Radiological Attacks
DHHS (NIOSH) Pub No. 2003-136
Provides preventive measures that building owners and managers can implement to protect building air environments from a terrorist release of chemical, biological, or radiological contaminants.

Guidance for Protecting Building Environments from Airborne Chemical, Biological, or Radiological Attacks (NIOSH)
DHHS (NIOSH) Pub No. 2002-139
Outlines preventive measures that building owners and managers can take to protect building air environments from a terrorist release of contaminants.

Protecting Building Environments from Airborne Chemical, Biological, or Radiological Attack (CDC/NIOSH)
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, September 6, 2002 / 51(35);789
Summary report of November 2001 NIOSH investigations of public and private-sector buildings to determine the vulnerability of building air environments to CBRN agents.

Building Security

Building Security by Design: A Primer for Architects, Design Professionals, and their Clients (American Institute of Architects)
Provides general information on building protection. Includes summaries of asset analysis, threat analysis, vulnerability analysis, and risk analysis.

Facilities Standards for Public Buildings Service (GSA)
Contains detailed building construction guidance. This document establishes design standards and criteria for new buildings, major and minor alterations, and work in historic structures for the Public Buildings Service (PBS) of the General Services Administration (GSA).

Building and Fire Research Laboratory (NIST)
Information on building materials; computer-integrated construction practices; fire science and fire safety engineering; and structural, mechanical, and environmental engineering.

Making Federal Buildings Safe (GSA) [PDF – 171 KB]
Provides tips and guidance on ways to make Federal buildings more secure. Information about Mail handling; chemical, biological, and bomb threats; more…

High-Rise Protection

Security and Safety in Los Angeles High-Rise Buildings After 9/11 (RAND)
Short study that focuses on the threats to and possible responses from the owners and managers of Los Angeles high-rise buildings in the aftermath of 9/11.

Protecting Occupants of High-Rise Buildings (RAND)
Guidance for local governments and building owners on mitigating the effects of an attack on high-rise buildings.

Chemical Plant Protection

A Method to Assess the Vulnerability of U.S. Chemical Facilities (Department of Justice) [PDF – 220 KB]
Presents an overview of a prototype methodology to assess the security of U.S. chemical facilities. Identifies and assesses potential security threats, risks, and vulnerabilities, and guides the chemical facility industry in making security improvements.

Chemical Plant Vulnerability Analysis (American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE))
Guidelines for analyzing and managing the security vulnerabilities at fixed chemical sites.

Site Security Guidelines in the US Chemical Industry (American Chemistry Council)
Guide for implementing a quality site security management system. “Site Security Guidelines for the U.S. Chemical Industry,” developed by a group of company security professional and designed specifically for the chemical industry, can help member companies build upon their existing security programs.