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Greg Eiler, President and CEOIn the wake of 9/11, countless airborne toxin detection systems costing millions of dollars were deployed across global facility and critical infrastructure. Most relied on laboratory-grade instruments designed for controlled spaces, not every day real world environments. Diesel exhaust, cigarette smoke and household cleaning chemicals caused these systems to false alarm. Over time, these false alarms caused severe operational disruption that led to systems being decommissioned or abandoned.
Building Protection Systems, Inc. (BPSI) took a different approach. Rather than adapting failed laboratory equipment, it engineered The Sentry One Family of Products from the ground up for one purpose and one purpose only: “to protect human life in real-world HVAC environments in the absence of false alarms”. BPSI’s Sentry One Family of Products was rigorously tested by the Department of Homeland Security and then awarded the prestigious “SAFETY Act Designation” as a Qualified Anti-Terrorism Technology.
Within a building for example, 24/7/365 continuous sampling of the supply and return air through strategically positioned sensor arrays allows “the system” to accurately detect for toxins and upon detection, the Building Sentry One communicates with the resident building management system (BMS) to automatically shut down air handlers and dampers within seconds. Once the toxin is isolated, the remote monitoring center can alert first responders with real-time toxin identification and location data, enabling rapid intervention that protects occupants and accelerates safe building recovery.
“HVAC systems become the transport vehicle for airborne toxins in enclosed environments. Amid today’s increasingly complex threat environment, detection is only valuable if there is a system and means to halt the toxins before reaching the intended human targets. That’s exactly what our system is designed to do,” says Greg Eiler, president and CEO.
Three Million Instrument Operating Hours, Zero False Positive or Negative Alarms
How does zero false alarm performance impact operational reliability and risk management?
Sentry One System’s performance record is unmatched within the global threat detection equipment market. It has reported zero false positives and zero false negatives across more than three million instrument operating hours in active deployments to date. Not a single other system can match this world class operational excellence.
This performance advantage translates directly into operational and financial value for clients. In one incident, an underground electrical transformer fire occurred near the air intake of a large insurance building on the U.S. East Coast protected by a Building Sentry One. Toxic smoke was pulled toward the HVAC system and within half a second, the Building Sentry One immediately detected the toxin and shut down the air handlers and dampers via the building’s BMS. The facility avoided widespread contamination, complete evacuation, lawsuits and media coverage. A post-incident financial review concluded that the avoided evacuation and business interruption offset the full cost of the system in that single event.
For commercial buildings, data centers, transit systems and critical infrastructure, avoiding unnecessary shutdowns is critical to maintaining business continuity. Sentry One Systems operate 24/7 without human intervention, requires only annual calibration and delivers long-term, dependable performance.
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HVAC systems become the transport vehicle for airborne toxins in enclosed environments. Amid today’s increasingly complex threat environment, detection is only valuable if there is a system and means to halt the toxins before reaching the intended human targets. That’s exactly what our system is designed to do.
For commercial buildings, data centers, transit systems and critical infrastructure, avoiding unnecessary shutdowns is critical to maintaining business continuity. Sentry One Systems operate 24/7 without human intervention, requires only annual calibration and delivers long-term, dependable performance.
Modular by Design, Flexible by Necessity
How does modular system design enable scalable deployment across diverse environments?
Sentry One’s modular engineered design allows it to adapt to buildings of any size and architecture, underground transit facilities, open air environments, critical infrastructure, and high-risk events. BPSI also offers a mobile version of the system, Mobile Sentry One, designed for special security events and perimeter protection. Total cost of ownership remains significantly lower than competing detection equipment.
A soon-to-be-launched plug-and-play version will reduce installation time and slash system costs by well over half. Designed to integrate seamlessly with any BMS, it will create adoption opportunities for facilities previously constrained by budget or infrastructure limitations.
Behind the BPSI technology stands an expert team of professionals from HVAC, automation, mechanical services, nuclear and radiological detection and control systems engineering. Rather than centralizing talent geographically, BPSI operates as a distributed organization, sourcing best-in-class specialists regardless of location. It boasts well over a century of combined experience across critical disciplines in airborne threat mitigation.
Why is airborne threat mitigation becoming essential for critical infrastructure globally?
Discussions with security agencies and international partners indicate growing concern around CBRN risks, which is driving global interest in proven, commercially viable and proven protection systems like the Sentry One. Much like fire suppression systems before building codes required them, airborne threat mitigation is moving from an optional precaution toward an operational necessity. With scalable manufacturing capacity capable of increasing output fifteen to twentyfold without new facilities, BPSI is prepared to meet the growing demand.
Protecting Indoor Air From CBRN Threats
Urban buildings were not designed with chemical or toxic airborne attacks in mind. Ventilation systems move high volumes of air efficiently across floors and zones, a necessity for comfort and code compliance. That same efficiency creates exposure. If a harmful gas enters a fresh air intake or is released near a return, the HVAC network becomes a distribution channel. In dense office towers, arenas, transit hubs and similar venues, dispersion can occur before occupants understand that anything is wrong.
Executives responsible for life safety and asset protection face a difficult balance. They must guard against events that are infrequent yet catastrophic. Traditional detection technologies were largely adapted from laboratory instruments. Those tools perform well in controlled settings but often struggle in active environments where diesel exhaust, cleaning agents, smoke and human traffic create interference. The result across much of the installed base has been unreliable alerts or missed events. False alarms trigger evacuations, disrupt business continuity and erode confidence. Missed detections carry obvious consequences.
A credible HVAC-integrated defense approach must address three realities. It must be engineered specifically for live air handling conditions rather than repurposed from laboratory science. It must respond before concentrations reach dangerous levels, and it must act automatically without waiting for human interpretation. In commercial settings, even a short shutdown of a forty-story office tower carries financial implications. Yet the cost of uncontrolled contamination, remediation and reputational damage is far greater. Systems that can isolate airflow within seconds of detecting trace compounds shift the equation from reactive cleanup to preventive containment.
Reliability over time also distinguishes viable solutions from shelfware. Many post-incident deployments were decommissioned after repeated nuisance alerts or maintenance burdens that outweighed perceived value. For building owners and corporate leadership, persistence in service is a proxy for trust. A solution that runs continuously, requires limited intervention and maintains calibration discipline supports both safety and operational continuity. Education and ease of use matter as well. Security and facilities teams must be able to understand system status without extensive retraining.
The strategic environment reinforces the case for such measures. Chemical threats do not require complex delivery mechanisms. Readily available industrial gases, if introduced into an intake path, can cause widespread harm in enclosed spaces. Accidental releases from nearby transportation corridors pose similar risks. In both scenarios, early detection at the mechanical system level determines whether contamination spreads building-wide or is contained at the perimeter. Forward-leaning organizations recognize that waiting for a regulatory mandate may mean waiting for a triggering event.
Building Protection Systems, Inc. (BPSI) presents a focused response to this challenge through its HVACintegrated detection platform. It engineered its system after 9/11 specifically for live air environments, placing sensor arrays in supply and return ducts and linking them directly to building management systems. Detection occurs in milliseconds, prompting automatic shutdown of fans and dampers before dispersion escalates. The company reports more than three million operating hours without a documented false positive or false negative, a record that addresses the credibility gap seen elsewhere in the market. Installations remain active rather than decommissioned, and a forthcoming plug-and-play sensor aims to reduce cost and installation time while preserving performance. For executives evaluating indoor CBRN defense, it stands as a disciplined, HVAC-centric option aligned with both life safety and business continuity priorities.
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FAQs
Q1
Why is Building Protection Systems Inc. recognized among HVAC-Integrated CBRN/Bioterrorism Defense Systems providers?
Building Protection Systems Inc. (BPSI) has earned recognition for developing specialized air protection technologies designed to defend occupied facilities against airborne chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats. The company’s focus on HVAC-Integrated CBRN/Bioterrorism Defense Systems allows organizations to strengthen building resilience without requiring entirely separate infrastructure. Its solutions are engineered to work directly within existing HVAC environments, helping facilities improve protective readiness while maintaining operational continuity. This integration-focused approach has positioned BPSI as a notable contributor within the critical infrastructure and facility protection sector.
Q2
What differentiates BPSI in the facility protection market?
Technical specialization and infrastructure compatibility distinguish BPSI from many traditional security solution providers. The company develops HVAC-Integrated CBRN/Bioterrorism Defense Systems that combine air filtration, contamination mitigation and automated response capabilities within building ventilation systems. Rather than treating airborne defense as an isolated layer of protection, BPSI emphasizes integrated building security designed for real-world operational environments. This capability enables facilities to enhance preparedness while reducing disruption to existing building operations and engineering frameworks.
Q3
How does BPSI support organizations managing high-risk environments?
Facilities responsible for public safety, government operations and critical infrastructure require reliable protection strategies against airborne hazards. BPSI supports these environments through HVAC-Integrated CBRN/Bioterrorism Defense Systems that help organizations strengthen emergency preparedness and indoor air protection capabilities. Its technologies are designed to detect and manage airborne threats while supporting occupant safety and continuity planning. By integrating defensive technologies into HVAC systems, the company helps organizations implement scalable building protection measures suited for evolving threat conditions.
Q4
What role does innovation play in BPSI’s solutions?
Innovation remains central to the company’s engineering and protection strategy. BPSI develops HVAC-Integrated CBRN/Bioterrorism Defense Systems that combine advanced air management technologies with automated response functionality to improve facility defense readiness. Its solutions focus on integrating detection, filtration and protective response mechanisms into unified building systems capable of supporting rapid threat mitigation. This technology-driven approach allows facilities to strengthen indoor environmental security while maintaining practical operational performance across complex infrastructure settings.
Q5
How do HVAC-Integrated CBRN/Bioterrorism Defense Systems create long-term value for facilities?
Long-term facility protection depends on preparedness solutions that can operate effectively within existing infrastructure. BPSI delivers HVAC-Integrated CBRN/Bioterrorism Defense Systems that help organizations improve building resilience, occupant safety and emergency response readiness without requiring extensive operational restructuring. Integrated protection capabilities can reduce response delays, strengthen contamination control and support continuity planning during airborne threat scenarios. The company’s solutions create value by helping facilities align protective readiness with practical building management requirements.
Q6
Why is BPSI relevant to modern infrastructure security needs?
Growing concerns surrounding airborne threats, public safety and infrastructure resilience continue to influence facility protection strategies across multiple sectors. BPSI remains relevant because its HVAC-Integrated CBRN/Bioterrorism Defense Systems directly address the need for integrated indoor air protection and emergency preparedness technologies. Its emphasis on infrastructure-compatible defense systems supports organizations seeking proactive approaches to building security and environmental safety. This continued focus on practical, integrated protection solutions strengthens the company’s relevance within modern critical infrastructure security initiatives.
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Building Protection Systems, Inc. (BPSI)
Company
Building Protection Systems, Inc. (BPSI)
Management
Greg Eiler, President and CEO
Description
Building Protection Systems, Inc. (BPSI) delivers HVAC-integrated CBRN detection engineered specifically for real-world, human occupied environments. Its Sentry One family of products automatically detects airborne toxins within milliseconds, shuts down airflow to contain threats, and has recorded zero false positives or negatives across millions of operating hours.
