NIJ GUIDE 100-00 "GUIDE FOR THE SELECTION OF CHEMICAL AGENT AND TOXIC INDUSTRIAL MATERIAL DETECTION EQUIPMENT FOR EMERGENCY FIRST RESPONDERS".

NIST developed this guide through an interagency agreement with the Chemical and Biological Information Analysis Center of the Department of Defense. The guide, which was released in October 2000 by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), is the first of five planned guides dealing with chemical and biological (CB) agent protection equipment for emergency first-responders against terrorist release of CB weapons. The primary purpose of the guide is to provide emergency first-responders with information to aid them in the selection and utilization of chemical agent and toxic industrial material (TIM) detection equipment. The guide provides information on a variety of factors that can be considered when purchasing detection equipment, including sensitivity, detection states and levels, and portability. The guide is separated into two volumes: Volume I represents the actual guide and Volume II serves as a supplement to Volume I and contains the detection equipment manufacturers specifications. Technical informat ion is included in sections describing how the various detection technologies work. Sixteen selection factors have been identified. These factors were compiled by a panel of scientists and engineers with multiple years of experience in chemical agent and TIM detection and analysis, domestic preparedness, and identification of emergency first-responder needs.