Flanders Adapts Its Biocontainment Systems for Use in Commercial Buildings and Public Venues.

Business Editors

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 26, 2001

Provides Systems and Products for Hardening Against Airborne

Bioterrorism Attacks, Including Anthrax

Flanders Corporation (Nasdaq:FLDR), announced today it has adapted its high-end air filtration technology and other biocontainment systems for use in office complexes, sports arenas and other public venues. These systems may include High Efficiency Particulate Air ("HEPA") filtration systems, Chemical Biological Radiological Bag In/Bag Out (CBR BIBO) systems, and isolation barrier systems. Flanders sells these systems, which are designed to protect against airborne hazards, to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. armed forces, Department of Energy, semiconductor manufacturers, and several biotech firms engaged in research with bacteria, viruses, chemical warfare agents, nuclear processing and other toxic contaminants. These systems are currently used to contain microorganisms and other contaminants in specific hazardous environments. They can also provide key components for "hardening" buildings against bioterrorist attacks using airborne biological weapons. These products historically have been viewed as being too expensive for general commercial use.

Filtration systems cannot protect against all airborne hazards. Dr. Jack Keene of Council Rock Consulting, Inc., former President of the American Biological Safety Association and a biohazard consultant for Flanders, stated, "No single system can ensure protection against infection from bioorganisms. Building owners should evaluate their risks, then develop an overall plan that includes HEPA filtration along with other mechanisms as part of an overall program to minimize dangers from biological attacks."

Robert Amerson, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "Our part in a hardening program is to provide the high-end air filtration technology. Air filtration is an essential part of an overall program to harden a building against biological terrorist attacks. A sophisticated multi-layered approach to these threats is the only practicable defense."

Building Hardening

Airborne biological agents may be delivered in many ways. Methods for minimizing their impact include the following:

-- Air intakes. Bioweapons could be released into a commercial or public
building's air intake, typically located on the roof and building sides.
Without adequate filtration of incoming, or "make-up" air, the building's HVAC
system would rapidly contaminate the entire building, exposing all of the
occupants. HEPA filtration at air intakes can help prevent this threat.

-- Package delivery. Bioweapons could be released from a specific location
inside a building in many ways, ranging from an "exploding package" to a thrown
handful of dust in the lobby. A building's air recirculation system could
quickly spread the air from the release area to other areas of the building,
unless there were HEPA filters installed to prevent this.

-- Air release. Bioweapons could be released into the outside air, via
crop-dusting plane, helicopter, hot air weather balloon, or other methods. HEPA
filtration on all air intakes, pressurization to keep contaminated air from
leaking into the building from outside, and recirculation filtration, to keep
spot containment failures at doors and windows from affecting the entire
building, could minimize the effectiveness of this type of attack.

Available Technologies

Simply installing HEPA filters into an existing Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning ("HVAC") system is usually not possible, because existing filter frames are not appropriate for HEPA filters, and current HVAC fans typically are unable to handle the increased restriction to air flow caused by these high efficiency filters. One option is Flanders' CBR-BIBO system, which combines HEPA filters for particulate control, carbon filters for chemical warfare, odor and organic compound control, and an integrated air handling system to push air through the heavier filters and provide positive air pressure inside the building.

CBR-BIBO systems are appropriate for two types of installations: outside air inlets, to filter air coming into the building from outside; and inside the buildings' recirculation systems, to prevent contaminants in one area of the building from spreading into other areas through the air conditioning system. However, these systems are significantly more expensive than typical HVAC systems and can only be used where increased concerns about air quality and safety can justify the additional cost.

Flanders also manufactures "gloveboxes" that are used in a variety of commercial settings where it is critical to provide a method for handling hazardous materials without exposing individuals to associated risks.

Side Benefits

According to the World Health Organization, air contaminated by micro-particulates is a leading cause of death, accounting for more deaths in the industrialized world than automobile accidents. According to the Harvard School of Medicine, particles less than 1 micron in size are the most harmful. However, most current commercial, residential and industrial HVAC systems do not filter such small particles, but instead focus on large particles and "strings" which would accumulate on HVAC equipment. In other words, most air handling systems are designed to extend the lives of equipment, not people.

Any system which provides cleaner air, particularly in office buildings, will decrease the exposure of individuals to contaminants, potentially increasing productivity and decreasing time lost due to asthmatic attacks, allergies, colds, and other respiratory ailments.

Persons with specific questions or concerns about airborne or other organisms should contact the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or other public health agencies.

Flanders is currently unable to evaluate whether the recent interest in investigating the installation of these systems in commercial buildings indicates a change in the marketplace that will result in a significant long-term increase in its high-end business, which has traditionally provided higher margins, or is a short-term phenomenon.

Flanders is a leading air filtration products manufacturer. Flanders' products are utilized by many industries, including those associated with commercial and residential heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, semiconductor manufacturing, ultra-pure materials, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, synthetics, nuclear power and nuclear materials processing.

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are inherently subject to risk. These forward-looking statements are not intended to be predictions of the future and may be affected by a number of factors that may change the currently anticipated outcome. These factors include market acceptance of the Flanders' products, a determination by potential Flanders customers that the higher cost of its high-end filtration systems can be justified for general commercial application, Flanders' ability to successfully retrofit existing buildings with effective sophisticated filtering and air handling systems, and the development of increased demand for its high-end products. Many of these factors are beyond Flanders' control. These factors, and others, are discussed in Flanders' periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and should be reviewed by the reader of this press release.

Further information on Flanders and its products can be found on its web site, http://www.flanderscorp.com, or call us at [phone].