From:
Marcy Marino <marcy0823**At_Symbol_Here**GMAIL.COM>
Subject:
Re: [DCHAS-L] Building/chemical storage ventilation during ashfall
Date:
Mar 27, 2025 18:51 UTC
Reply-To:
ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU>
Message-ID:
<CABVYd_aX9usA1TZ+pq_Ybhsh8uSZxEwxV1DYudkdBsP7APjORA**At_Symbol_Here**mail.gmail.com>
In-Reply-To:
<CABNxZ9ccdLMLE4wf2cdgCOG+uMHfH-5GE2F6NsofoJRgptqTMw**At_Symbol_Here**mail.gmail.com>
My thanks to all who chimed in. Our Facilities department held a meeting with our Building Managers and Research personnel to discuss what they would do in the event of ashfall, and to hear the concerns the researchers had.
We found out that our buildings and areas within buildings with 100% fresh make-up air (research labs, animal housing, chemical storage rooms) will have the ventilation in operational mode and an extra layer of pre-filters added to the intake air handlers. Building automation can monitor these areas and get a team in to replace the filters as needed during the event. All other buildings with general ventilation will have the system in unoccupied mode or recirculation only mode, keeping intake fans off to prevent ash from entering the ventilation system.
Good to know the HVAC SMEs have a handle on how to keep the buildings protected from ash while keeping the indoor air quality safe for research animals and chemical storage.
Marcy
Welp - that's a new one! I hope you are all safe from the volcano.
I don't have any advice for you but share your concerns about needed supply ventilation in those areas you list. If the exhaust is left on and supply turned off, make up air will find it's way into these areas anyway without controls or filtration and may make it difficult to access those spaces due to pressure differentials.
I'm wondering if our colleagues in Hawai'i might have advice for you since Kilauea continues to erupt. Here's the observatory link:
Good luck! Keep us posted on your progress.
My Best
Debbie
Hello all,
I'm in a new (to me) emergency preparedness situation - potential ashfall from Mount Spurr, Alaska. Our EOP states air intake vents will be shut down and sealed, effectively shutting down all the ventilation in each building. Our concern is lack of ventilation in chemical storage rooms, flammable chemical storage rooms, and animal housing facilities.
Does anyone have any experience with what to do during a volcanic eruption and ashfall? Google has not been very helpful for this specific topic.
Thanks,
Marcy
-- Marcy Marino, CCHO
Certified Chemical Hygiene Officer
Department of Environmental Health and Safety & Risk Management
University of Alaska Anchorage
I was born and raised on the land of the Haudenosaunee. I live and work on the land of the Dena'ina.
-- Marcy Marino, CCHO
Certified Chemical Hygiene Officer
University of Alaska Anchorage
3211 Providence Dr
Anchorage, AK 99508
I was born and raised on the land of the Haudenosaunee. I live and work on the land of the Dena'ina.
---
For more information about the DCHAS-L e-mail list, contact the Divisional membership chair at
membership**At_Symbol_Here**dchas.org
