ASHRAE Guideline Readies Facility Managers for Major Events
A new guideline from ASHRAE will help owners and managers of buildings decide what preventive measurse to use to protect occupants and property from fires, storms, arson, earthquake, hazmat release, terrorism, and other major adverse events. ASHRAE Guideline 29-2009, Guideline for the Risk Management of Public Health and Safety in Buildings, explains how to evaluate, design, and implement such measures in new and existing buildings.
"Guideline 29 is the first guidance document on building protection developed by an industry group consisting of a range of stakeholders, including engineers, architects, contractors, building owners, and others," asid George Glavis, chair of the committee that wrote the guideline. "It provides a flexible approach to risk assessment for the range of health and safety hazards that may apply to any given building and thereby enables informed decision-making."
The standard covers aspects of building performance that affect occupants' health and safety, including egress; chemical, biological, and radiological protection; fire protection; smoke removal or purging; filtration; air quality; entrance paths for contaminants; and building envelopes. Guideline 29-2009 is priced at $46 for ASHRAE members and $54 for others. To order, call ASHRAE Customer Service at 800-527-4723 or 404-636-8400 (worldwide), fax 404-321-5478, or visit www.ashrae.org/bookstore.