Method and apparatus for protecting building personnel during chemical or biological attack

A decontamination system for responding To the detection of the presence of chemical or biological agents in a building having a sprinkler system for fire protection, the sprinkler system having u plurality of springier heads in fluid communication with a number of feeder pipes, the system comprising:

• a fire detector for detecting the presence of fire in the building;
• a valve local to at least one of the sprinkler heads for allowing flow from a feeder pipe and through said at least one sprinkler head, said valve responsive to said fire detector;
• said valve also allowing flow from the feeder pipe and through said at least one sprinkler head in response to a chemical or biological agent detection signal;
• a chemical or biological agent detector for detecting a nerve agent, a biological agent, or phosgene;
• and
• circuitry for generating said chemical or biological agent detection signal responsive to said chemical or biological agent detector.

A decontamination system for responding to The detection of the presence of chemical or biological agents in a building having a sprinkler system for fire protection, the sprinkler system having a plurality of sprinkler beads in fluid communication with a number of feeder pipes, the system comprising;

• fire detecting means for detecting the presence of fire in the building;
• chemical or biological detecting means for detecting the presence of a nerve agent, a biological agent, or phosgene in the building, and for providing a chemical or biological agent detection signal;
• means for opening one or more of said sprinkler heads in response to the fire detecting means;
• means for delivering water to one or more of said feeder pipes in response to the fire detecting means;
• means for opening one or more of said sprinkler heads in response to the chemical or biological agent detection signal;
• and
• means for delivering a chemical or biological agent decontamination fluid to one or more of said feeder pipes in response to the chemical or biological agent detection signal.