FEMA 453 Design Guidance for Shelters and Safe Rooms

3.8 UpGRaDinG a CBR SaFe RooM
The simplest and least costly upgrade in protective capability for a
safe room is to upgrade from Class 3 to unventilated Class 2. This
involves adding a recirculation filter unit, the simplest of which
is a free-standing unit. This type of filter unit is available in many
models, flow rates, filter types, and cost levels; however, not all
have the same capability. Requirements for the grade of adsorbers
and particulate filters, as well as flow rate per square foot of safe
room, are listed in Section 3.4.2.1.
Upgrading from Class 2 or 3 to Class 1 involves the greatest expense.
It can be as simple as purchasing a high-efficiency filter
unit and installing it to supply filtered air through a special duct.
Rules of thumb on flow rates required to pressurize the safe room
are presented in Section 3.4.3.2. An interlocking system should be
considered for turning off air-handling units, exhaust fans, and
ventilation fans of the building’s unprotected zones while the safe
room is in the protective mode.
3.9 TRaininG on THe USe oF a SaFe RooM
As is the case with fire safety, all people who are to be protected in
a safe room, whether in a home or commercial building, must be
familiar with the procedures of using the safe room. Getting into
it quickly and closing the safe room door(s) is important for all
types of shelters. Whether sheltering from toxic agents, blast, or
storms, the protection a safe room provides is compromised when
it is not fully closed.
Training the people who work or reside in the building on safe
room procedures has four main objectives:
m To familiarize them with the locations of the safe rooms and
the procedures for using them.
m To inform them about who the emergency manager/
coordinator of the building is, what his/her responsibilities
are, and how he/she can be contacted.
3-3 CBR ThReaT pRoTeCTion