Protect air intakes to the facility

Status: Live

[UCF ID 02211]

Supporting and supported controls

This control directly supports:

Maintain adequate environmental controls [UCF Control ID 00724]

There are no supporting controls.

Authority documents complied with:

Protection of Assets Manual, ASIS International, Revised Volume 4 1-I-24; Guidance for Protecting Building Environments from Airborne Chemical, Biological, or Radiological Attacks, NIOSH, May 2002, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2002-139, May 2002, Pg 7 thru Pg 11, Pg 13, Pg 14

US Federal Security Guidance

Fresh air intakes should be protected by placing them high enough above the ground so they are not accessible. If they are accessible from the ground, they should have intrusion alarms on them. [Revised Volume 4 1-I-24, Protection of Assets Manual, ASIS International]

Outdoor air intake vents should be located in a publicly inaccessible area. The lowest edge of the intake vents should be at the highest feasible level above the ground. The entrance to the intake vents should be covered with a minimum 45-degree sloped metal mesh cover. If the intake vents cannot be moved to an inaccessible area, a perimeter should be built around them. The perimeter should be see-through and should have a buffer zone between the public area and the intake vents. The use of security lighting, intrusion detection systems, and closed-circuit television will enhance the security of the intake vent perimeter. HVAC return-air grilles should be protected by relocating them to observable and inaccessible areas, adding cameras to vulnerable grilles, moving public access away from the grilles, and removing furniture and other obstructions from in front of the grilles. [Pg 7 thru Pg 11, Pg 13, Pg 14, Guidance for Protecting Building Environments from Airborne Chemical, Biological, or Radiological Attacks, NIOSH, May 2002, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2002-139, May 2002]