SAFETY
INDOOR AIR QUALITY IS CRITICAL TO HEALTH AND WELLNESS AND NEEDS TO
BE PLANNED OUT EARLY
HOW TO
CLEAR THE
AIR IN THE FIRE STATION
By Dennis A . Ross , AIA , practice leader for H2M Architects + Engineers
The U . S . Clean Air Act became law in 1970 , simultaneously creating the Environmental Protection Agency with the authority to enforce it . Since then , much research and information has been gathered and studied about air quality in the micro-climate of the fire station .
Additionally , research on cancer among first responders , their health and well-being , protection from carcinogens and crosscontamination has led the way for emergency response architects and engineers to re-think how we design stations . Today , designers manage air quality , treatment and movement to promote responder health and safety .
CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
FIRE STATION DESIGN VOL . 1 | 55