WRITTEN QUESTION E-3061/01

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) and Antonio Mussa (UEN) to the Commission

(7 November 2001)

Subject: Chemical and bacteriological substances and air conditioning systems

The disturbing spread of the terrorist threat of contamination by means of chemical or bacteriological substances must necessarily alert us to the problem of the possible use of the centralised air-conditioning systems existing in offices, department stores, banks and, above all, institutions.

Can the Commission make provision, along with the necessary control measures, for alternative systems in all the offices of the Institutions? Can it also invite the Member States to take steps to ensure that suitable controls are organised by management in all of their buildings open to the public in which air-conditioning systems exist?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(10 January 2002)

In the context of a possible terrorist threat of contamination by means of chemical or biological substances using the centralised air conditioning systems in offices, the only two options for alternative systems in offices of the Institutions, would be to: redesign the buildings back to natural ventilation; or to decentralise the buildings' air conditioning to have independent units for small office groups.

The majority of the Commission's middle sized and large buildings are equipped with centralised air conditioning systems. The changes over the last decades in building technology and materials used have resulted in rendering natural ventilation inefficient, even insufficient for larger office buildings. While it would in principle be possible to design office buildings without mechanical ventilation, the property market in Belgium and Luxembourg rarely offers buildings of that kind.

To retrofit a mechanically climatised building in order to have it naturally ventilated via windows and funnels would pose considerable technical problems, and the result would still be unsatisfactory for the occupants, especially in the summer and winter periods. If a building is not initially designed and optimised for natural ventilation it proves very difficult to adapt it afterwards, at a reasonable cost and with acceptable results.

A total decentralisation of the air conditioning would constitute enormous investments, increased running costs and a significantly lower coefficient of efficiency.

As the two above mentioned alternative provisions are practically impossible for existing buildings, the Commission has made sure to provide good protection of the existing installations:

- to protect the fresh air intake (usually situated in the roof area) by preventing the access to it for unauthorised persons;

- to prevent access to the climatisation control centres for unauthorised persons;

- to avoid as far as possible the recycling of the exhaust air into the fresh air supply of the offices;

- to provide for an organisational procedure that allows to switch off rapidly the complete ventilation system in an alert situation.

The Honourable Members are advised to address their question on measures taken by other Institutions to those Institutions.

The possibility of air circulation systems being used for the purpose of exposing people to harmful biological and chemical agents in buildings or transport means and structures cannot be excluded and has indeed been considered in discussions that the Commission has held with Member States' authorities aiming at sharing information and experience in facing up to attacks in which such agents are involved. There is acute awareness of the hazards and realisation of the shortcomings and of the difficulties that would arise from the introduction of technical modifications as alternatives or replacements to existing systems, as well as large consensus on the need to increase alertness at public buildings and strengthen and multiply controls on and emergency procedures for existing systems so as to minimise the risks from attacks.

Member States have already taken steps to ensure that safety and security checks and vigilance are increased and procedures established and adhered to for dealing with suspicious objects, circumstances or occurrences at buildings and structures in which the public has access. The Commission, as part of its action on the state of alertness and prevention capacity for emergencies linked to bioterrorism, will keep relevant arrangements under review.

Moreover, it is to be noted that members of the public who have access to workplaces of entreprises or buildings of public services can benefit from the protection afforded to workers pursuant to Council directive 89/654/EEC of 30 November 1989 concerning the minimum health and safety requirements for the workplaces(1). This directive makes specific provision for the safety and quality of air supplied to workplaces.

(1) OJ L 393, 30.12.1989.