Summary Report for Use of Positive Pressure Ventilation (PPV) Fans to Reduce the Hazards of Entering Chemically Contaminated Buildings

reportActive / Technical Report | Accession Number: ADA387195 | Open PDF

Abstract:

Firefighters have used Positive Pressure Ventilation PPV fans to remove smoke from buildings before entry for rescue operations. A study was conducted to determine their effectiveness in removing chemical vapors from a building to afford quick rescue in the event of a terrorist bomb that employed chemical warfare agents. The testing was conducted in two phases. The first phase examined the ventilation rates of the building in natural and forced air with the PPV fans modes to determine the improvement in ventilation when PPV fans were used, and to determine how much vapor can be purged from a building within the first 10 minutes of PPV fan use. The second phase examined a mock rescue scenario in the same building by filling it with methyl salicylate and measuring the Physiological Protective Dosage Factor PPDF that firefighters received while performing the rescue mission. This testing was performed according to standard Man-in-Simulant Test MIST procedures. Previous MIST testing of firefighter gear was used as a baseline to determine the increased protection obtained by using PPV fans.

Author(s):
Arca, Victor J. ; Marshall, Stephen M. ; Lake, William A. ; Fedele, Paul D.
Author Organization(s):
EDGEWOOD CHEMICAL BIOLOGICAL CENTER ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND MD
Descriptive Note:
Final rept. May 1998-Sep 1999
Supplementary Note:
--Original contains color plates: All DTIC reproductions will be in black and white. DOI: 10.21236/ADA387195
Pagination:
0043

Security Markings

DOCUMENT & CONTEXTUAL SUMMARY

Distribution:
Approved For Public Release

RECORD

Collection: TR
Identifying Numbers
Report Number(s):
ECBC-TR-133
Monitor Series:
ECBC
 Subject Terms
Joint Capability Areas:
JCA_4.6_Engineering; JCA_4.6.1_General Engineering; JCA_7.2.1_Mitigate Lethal Effects; JCA_7.2_Mitigate; JCA_7_Protection; JCA_3.2_Engagement; JCA_3_Force Application; JCA_5_Command and Control; JCA_5.3_Planning; JCA_3.2.1_Kinetic Means; JCA_5.3.1_Analyze Problem; JCA_3.2.2_Non-Kinetic Means; JCA_6.4.1_Secure Information Exchange; JCA_8_Building Partnerships; JCA_8.2_Shape; JCA_1.2.5_Lessons Learned; JCA_6.4_Information Assurance; JCA_6_Net Centric; JCA_8.2.1_Partner with Governments and Institutions
Communities of Interest:
Human Systems
Descriptor(s):
*CHEMICAL CONTAMINATION, *BUILDINGS, *CHEMICAL WARFARE AGENTS, *VENTILATION FANS, TEST AND EVALUATION, SCENARIOS, REMOVAL, HAZARDS, METHYL RADICALS, AIR, VAPORS, RESCUES, SMOKE, FIRE FIGHTING, PROTECTIVE CLOTHING, BOMBS, TERRORISM, GEARS, SALICYLATES
Field(s)/Group(s):
Air Conditioning, Heating, Lighting and Ventilating, Chemical, Biological and Radiological Warfare
Keyword(s):
*PPV(POSITIVE PRESSURE VENTILATION), CHEMICAL PROTECTIVE SUITS, PPDF(PHYSIOLOGICAL PROTECTIVE DOSAGE FACTOR), MIST(MAN IN SIMULANT TEST)
Report Date:
2001 Jan 01
Creation Date:
2001 Mar 21