A breath of fresh air in an otherwise closed space

In recent years, interest in "shelters" has increased as a means of preparing for emergencies such as disasters, wars, pandemics, and terrorism. The word "shelter" may conjure up images of sturdy steel doors, thick concrete walls, and secret rooms set up underground.
In fact, a wide variety of shelter types exist, including ground-mounted, semi-subterranean, and indoor-mounted types, and they range from home use to public facility use. However, no matter what form they take, they all share a common element as "life-protecting spaces.
That is the issue of "air security.

Can breathing be protected in an enclosed space?

Shelters must be extremely well sealed to keep out harmful substances from the outside. This is an essential design concept to protect against radiation, chemical gases, and biological weapons.
However, the more it is hermetically sealed, the more basic and important questions emerge, such as

. "How do you take in air?"
. "Is there enough oxygen after being cooped up for so long?"
. "How is carbon dioxide and moisture emitted?"
. "If the outside air is contaminated, what do you do about it?"

All of these are unavoidable issues that must be addressed in order for people to stay safe and healthy in shelters. Air circulation and purification are very important design elements during an emergency, when people may spend hours or days in this enclosed space.

Just having an intake is not enough.

It is common for shelter designs to have vents or air intakes. However, simply bringing air in from the outside is not the root of the problem.
This is because "open air" in an emergency is not always safe. The following risks are real

Radioactive dust and gases
Toxic chemical weapons and industrial gases
Viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens
Smoke and dust from fires and explosions

If the air intake is left open to allow outside air in, there is a danger that these harmful substances can easily enter the interior. On the other hand, if the air intake is completely sealed, there will be a lack of oxygen, resulting in increased moisture and carbon dioxide concentrations inside.
In other words, modern shelters must have the ability to "filter" air, i.e., a system that selects and takes in only safe air.

Ideas for "safely capturing" air

The prevailing concept in modern shelter design is to purify the air through high-performance ventilation and filtration equipment before bringing it in, rather than bringing the outside air in as it is.
These devices use multiple layers of high-performance filters to remove particulate matter (PM2.5 and radioactive dust), gaseous chemicals, and biological contaminants from the air and provide safe air to the inside of the shelter.
The "exhaust" function is also in place to replace the air inside the building, thus enabling **fresh air "circulation "** to be achieved.
And one product that meets these modern requirements is Protect Arts' **CBRNE-compliant ventilation system "AT Barrier "**.

Protect Arts' "AT Barrier" -- a shield of air that protects your breath

The "AT Barrier" is a CBRNE-compliant ventilation system that can be used in emergencies such as disasters, war, and terrorism.
What makes it unique is that it is not just a ventilation system, but a structure designed for "CBRNE disaster response. In other words, it can protect the air from special disasters such as chemical, biological, radioactive, nuclear, and explosion disasters.

Main Features

interpoint (interword separation)multilayer filtering system
　Multi-layered filters for chemical gases, radioactive materials, and other contaminants.
interpoint (interword separation)Power outage and emergency operation support
　Battery operated for a certain period of time even in the event of power loss.
interpoint (interword separation)Compact design
　Smaller models available for personal and home shelters.

▶ For more information on the product, please click here:
　At-Barrier 150 | Protect-Ats Inc.


By connecting this "AT Barrier" to the air intake, it is possible to increase the safety of the outside air and create a safe environment for breathing even during long shelter stays.

Before the air becomes "invisible stress

The internal environment of a shelter cannot be measured only by its external robustness. In particular, "air quality" is closely related to psychological comfort as well as physical condition. Symptoms vary from "the air feels stuffy," "breathing becomes shallow," "headaches and nausea," and "increased unconsciousness and anxiety.
All these symptoms are signs of invisible stress caused by "dirty air" and lack of ventilation. It is meaningless to enter a shelter in a time of emergency, only to fall ill because of the unfavorable air quality.
That is why the air management system should be positioned as one of the most important life-support systems.

Summary｜"Breathing environment" is the key to safety and security.

Shelters are not only places of protection, but also places of survival. Air is more important than food and water for safety and comfort during the hours or days spent there.
Protect Arts' AT Barrier is a ventilation and purification solution that meets these modern needs. Although we cannot see the air, protecting our breath is directly related to protecting our lives.
In times of emergency, we want a space where people can breathe in peace, not a place where they will suffer just by being there.
The technology to support this is now in demand.