Decontamination areas have often been somewhat of an afterthought in the design of a police facility, amounting to no more than an emergency shower and eyewash station to satisfy basic life-safety code requirements and minimum operational needs.

Significant recent events, including the global pandemic, concentrated areas of disease and infestation, elevated levels of exposure to chemicals and carcinogens, and increasing cases of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), highlight the need for better facility design solutions that protect the health and wellness of officers and enhance operational effectiveness.