VENTILATION SYSTEM PROTECTION AGAINST BW AEROSOLS
Abstract
Practical passive defense measures against biological warfare aerosols are required to be economical, and every available means must be explored. Since many buildings are equipped with air-handling and filtering equipment that may offer some degree of BW defense, ventilation air filters and air-supply system components have been tested with 0- to 5-micron-size dust, DOP smoke, and a BW simulant organism to assess the protection available against BW aerosols. Results show that a high percentage of particles below three microns in diameter will penetrate an air-conditioning system equipped with panel type ventilation air filters. During a one-hour BW aerosol test on a test shelter, an 80 % penetration of the air-conditioning system was experienced, but the aerosol concentration inside the shelter only reached a level of about 50 per cent of the outside concentration because of recirculation and dilution. This degree of protection is too low to be of much practical value for BW defense. The dust test results are valuable for providing information for the application of panel-type ventilation filters as prefilters for collective protectors. Technical Note N-287 shows the complete dust test results.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 27, 1956
- Accession Number
- AD0221761
Entities
People
- W. R. Nehlsen
Organizations
- Naval Facilities Engineering Service Center