Once the county approves a building to be evaluated, Friedland’s team holds a pre-assessment meeting in which the team gathers initial data that includes original design drawings and modifications; utilities and communications site plans; security assessments; wind, flood and earthquake maps; and more. Conveniently, IRVS is integrated with Google Earth, so the software automatically determines how the surrounding environment may affect the screened building’s risks.
Then, the team completes a field assessment in cooperation with the building’s facility-management staff. IRVS specifically was designed to be used in the field, so it is well suited for tablets and laptops. In fact, its “Help” function features images and descriptions to help users find answers to questions they may not have without documentation, Internet access and other references.
Friedland says the tool is very straightforward; DHS developed it so screeners can be law-enforcement officials, building operators and others outside the design community. “IRVS doesn’t require an assessment team to come out and do it,” he explains. “I’d love for our team to eventually do some train-the-trainer seminars so facilities can do it themselves. Some of the tools that come out of the federal government are very complicated; IRVS is not. It incorporates common sense. Our team loves it.”
After the onsite testing process, Friedland’s team can input additional comments into the IRVS program that affect the scores in the final report the tool generates. “For example, a facility may not have a generator,” Friedland says. “Agreeing to purchase a generator would reduce the threat and enhance the resiliency score.” As part of the report, a color-coded summary provides an overview of all the building’s vulnerabilities. In addition, a matrix illustrates how hazards interact with one another. For example, a blast may change the danger levels of other hazards, such as wind and seismic events.
Ratings are given in the summary for the components of resilience: robustness, resourcefulness and recovery. Robustness refers to the strength of the building to withstand various threats. Resourcefulness is a function of the building’s operations; for example, critical data may be backed up or stored in a way that will allow the building to return to operation more quickly after an event. These two components and other strategies the building has in place, such as an employee training or continuity plan, will dictate how quickly the building can achieve recovery.
The final report includes photos taken onsite, geographic information, and IRVS-generated building drawings and models. The report also offers observations, including what sections of the assessment demonstrate high risk. Friedland says at this point building owners should meet with engineers, security consultants or other experts, depending on the risk type, to assist with remediating the building’s vulnerabilities.
“IRVS points you in the right direction so you know you’re going to need an engineer or a security consultant,” Friedland notes. “That’s what I like about it. It brings a little more pinpoint direction than say a fire-security walkthrough. It’s broad and protects all parties.”