Designing to reduce the chemical, biological and radiological vulnerability of new buildings (IP 7/15)
BRE (Building Research Establishment) is an independent, research-based consultancy, testing and training organisation, operating in the built environment and associated industries.
On 7 September 2015, BRE published Designing to reduce the chemical, biological and radiological vulnerability of new buildings (IP 7/15) by Vina Kukadia and Alan Abela.
If there were a chemical, biological or radiological (CBR) release, it could have a major impact on buildings, their occupants and business operations and services. However, buildings are generally not designed to offer protection against CBR events.
Once built, retrofitting to mitigate against CBR impacts is time-consuming, disruptive and expensive. It is important therefore to consider and incorporate means of reducing the impact of CBR releases as an part of the initial design, planning and construction process.
This 12-page Information Paper considers ventilation and infiltration as the main potential routes for the ingress of contaminants into buildings and provides an overview of existing design standards, methods and practices that may be implemented at the design stage without adding significantly to costs.
Designing for CBR can:
- Improve the security and protection for occupants.
- Enhance indoor environments as a result of less environmental pollution ingress.
- Offer commercial advantages to developers from providing a high-quality building with an advanced level of security and protection.
- Shorten recovery phase following a CBR release, which may otherwise be extensive.
- Offer savings in costs for remediation.
The contents of the paper include:
- Introduction.
- Ingress of contaminants into buildings.
- Building air permeability (airtightness).
- Ventilation.
- Physical security of plant and equipment.
- Fire safety and CBR incidents.
- Building zoning.
- Shelter-in-place and incident response strategies.
- Building information modelling.
- Summary.
- References and further reading.
- Appendix: Summary of strategies to reduce the impact of CBR releases on buildings.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- BRE articles on Designing Buildings Wiki.
- BRE Buzz articles on Designing Buildings Wiki.
- Building Research Establishment.
- COSHH.
- Deleterious materials.
- Environmental health.
- Hazardous substances.
- Indoor air quality.
- Methane and other gasses from the ground.
- Pollution.
- Radon.
- Solid and liquid contaminants risk assessments.
Featured articles and news
Types of building sensors on BD
From biometric to electrical current, chemical and more.
Government mandates detectors in rented homes
Changes are due to come into force on 1st October 2022.
80% of major government projects are rated red or amber
Heed advice and insight of this report IPA tells the government.
The end of the games but continued calls for action
From the Commonwealth Association of Architects.
CIOB respond to the government call for evidence
For the Levelling Up, Housing & Communities Committee.
How are buildings and their occupants responding to extreme heat?
BSRIA's Technical Director reflects on recent weather patterns.
Landownership in England in 1909
A national valuation to fund old-age pensions.
The world’s largest Commonwealth memorial to the missing.
Long after the end of the defects liability period.
BSRIA Occupant Wellbeing survey BOW
Occupant satisfaction and wellbeing in buildings.
Geometric form and buildings in brief
From the simple to the complex.
Understanding the changing nature of insulation
And the UK Government guidelines.
Three year action plan to improve equity, diversity and inclusion
Commitment agreed to by major built environment bodies.
The Construction Route – what needs to change?
Electrical skills, low carbon, high-tech and the building services revolution.
Deep geothermal power possibilities
Ultra-deep drilling with millimeter-wave beam technology.
BSRIA Briefing 2022- From the outside looking in
Looking at the built environment from space.
Competence requirements for principal contractors and designers
BSI standards 8671, 8672 and 8673.
Bringing life to burial grounds.
From failed modernism to twenty-minute neighbourhoods.
Design chill and design freeze
The gates process and change control.