Internal Releases

An internal release is an incident involving the release of a toxic agent inside a building resulting in the distribution of that agent throughout the structure via the HVAC return system. Areas at risk include reception lobbies, mailrooms and labs. If, as recommended, these areas are on separate HVAC systems from the rest of the building and those systems are equipped with Hunter FFA Series air filtration systems the air can be cleaned quickly.

The first objective is to protect building occupants by evacuating them as quickly as possible in accordance with a well defined, pre-existing plan or moving the occupants to a designated TFA for the duration of the threat. Hunter CBRN filtration equipment can be installed in conjunction with separate air handling equipment to isolate these areas by either incorporating them into independent HVAC systems or filtering the area's return air prior to mixing it with the air for the rest of the building. In either case, the proper system size must be determined by the amount of air to be drawn from the TFA and the type of HVAC system being utilized.

Depending on the facility's size and HVAC system configuration, internal incidents are best managed and resolved by evacuation or by moving occupants into a TFA as quickly as possible. In addition, clean makeup air should be introduced into the building as soon as possible. In any case, a protective action plan should be well defined and exercised in advance.