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Corrugated Metals Homeland Security Division - Benefits
Overview
Security benefits
Functional benefits
Benefits of working with Corrugated Metals
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Metalith™ functional benefits

Metalith protective barriers were designed to be effective as protective physical security barriers offering both blast mitigation and containment protection as well as anti-ram vehicle protection shielding troops, civilians, and critical infrastructure from the impact of vehicle borne improvised explosive devices (VBIEDs). They were also engineered to be easy to install, long lost -lasting structures, required no excavation, and be easily transportable to the assembly point. However, these are not the only benefits provided by the Metalith perimeter security barriers. These functional benefits include:

Effective and efficient

The Metalith perimeter security barriers are a "tactical to practical" application of technology originally developed for the military to safeguard aircraft parked in close proximity to one another limiting the effects of one airplane exploding and setting off chain reaction explosions.

The Metalith barriers use similar concepts while adding additional interior bracing to allow them to be configured in many standard and custom heights and depths.

Regardless of their configuration, the Metalith physical security barriers are extremely effective in providing force protection and critical infrastructure protection.

Metalith steel panel barriers are cost efficient proving to be significantly cheaper than comparably sized concrete walls providing cost savings while eliminating the possibility of concrete becoming fragmentary materials during an explosion or due to exposure to a VBIED.

Metalith barrier systems are available in a range of standard sizes to meet most application's requirements and custom sizes to solve the perimeter security needs of more unusual applications providing end-users and specifiers with a perimeter protection system to meet virtually any needs. Click here to see our standard size chart.

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Available architectural elements

Our original Metalith designs were engineered to provide the only product on the market offering U.S. Department of State K12 crash barrier certification and significant blast mitigation and shrapnel absorption capabilities.

However, we recognize the need to provide facades and finishes that are attractive in any urban or corporate setting.

The basic Metalith barrier metal can be provided in hundreds of colors. The Metalith perimeter security barriers and walls are offered with our exclusive Coranar finishes, a Kynar-based coating system. Our Coranar finishes allow architects and specifiers to chose a color and finish that is best for their application.

Additionally, architects and specifiers can create aesthetically, non-military or non-industrial, pleasing exteriors and interior finishes that can be modified for a wide variety of architectural applications.

The Metalith can be finished to have a pleasant, non-military, appearance providing aesthetically pleasing looks that can be modified for a wide variety of architectural applications.

Architectural elements - illustration Architectural elements - illustration
Architectural elements - illustration
Metalith photo Metalith photo

Metalith panels provide an attractive, yet imposing, appearance, making them suitable for perimeter security barriers around virtually any type of application.

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Longevity

The Metalith physical security barrier systems are constructed using 16 and 18-gauge steel that will not degrade due to environmental exposure unlike other systems that are made from plastics or geo-textiles which both quickly suffer substantial degradation due to environmental exposure. Panels can also be produced using:

  • Galvanized steel
  • Stainless steel
  • Cor-Ten(TM) steel
  • Aluminum, or
  • Electrogalvanized steel

Metalith perimeter security barrier - illustrationMetalith barriers are long lasting requiring only minimal maintenance to provide an estimated useful life of over 20 years!   They are also extremely strong. Independent engineering tests indicate they can withstand 150 mph hurricane winds, 100 psi snow loads, and head pressures of 480 psf.

Metalith perimeter security barriers will not collapse under hydrostatic pressure due to the strong 16 and 18-gauge steel construction with integrated cross members providing needed strength to mitigate the effects of significant hydrostatic pressure.

Metalith blast barriers and anti-crash barriers will not deteriorate from prolonged exposure to the elements, temperature, and sunlight which is a problem with other sand filled, geotextile membrane systems.

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Ease of installation

Photo - installing the Metalith physical security barrierMetalith blast barriers and crash barriers are easily installed on-site requiring minimal installation training, and no tools, instructions, or hardware other than what is shipped with each system kit.

They set up easily by following a series of repetitive steps allowing available unskilled or semi-skilled labor to be used, reducing labor expenses.

Metalith prefabricated pinsMetalith panels are attached to one another using only prefabricated and supplied pins that are inserted into pre-punched holes on the panels making installation quick and simple and requiring no electricity or generators for power tools.

The erected or flat panels can be easily field repaired using welding or riveting equipment.

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No excavation or footings required

One of the real benefits of using Metalith barrier wall systems is that no excavation or subsurface preparation is required, saving equipment and labor costs.

Photo - installing the Metalith physical security barrierThe Metalith barrier walls are surface-mounted, eliminating the need for any major excavation work to install footings, but needing only a gentle grading before actual barrier installation begins.

Most of the other barrier, wedge, and bollard systems used to stop vehicles from penetrating checkpoints or perimeters require substantial subsurface work.

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Variable Sizes to Meet Varying Threats

Infrastructure Defense Technologies' offers the Metalith physical security barriers in a variety of standard sizes and finishes. The table that follows shows the standard sizes that are offered.

Width
Feet
6' Tall
Gauge
8' Tall
Gauge
10' Tall
Gauge
12' Tall
Gauge
14' Tall
Gauge
3'
Yes
18
No
--
No
--
No
--
No
--
4'
Yes
18
Yes
18
No
--
No
--
No
--
5'
Yes
18
Yes
18
No
--
No
--
No
--
6'
Yes
18
Yes
18
Yes
18
Yes
18
No
--
7'
Yes
18
Yes
18
Yes
18
Yes
18
Yes
16/18
8'
Yes
18
Yes
18
Yes
16/18
Yes
18
Yes
16/18

Custom sizes are offered as long as they are stable from an engineering standpoint. Recent engineering studies indicate the Metalith barriers can be built easily to 25 foot heights and with modifications of the interior structure can be erected as tall as 40 feet high.

Whatever the threat, there is probably a Metalith barrier wall configuration that will protect assets against that threat.

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Rapidly deployed in military and civilian applications

Metalith barriers were designed and engineered with the understanding that they may have to be shipped rapidly and by differing means of transport. Therefore, the knocked down Metalith panels are easy to ship by flat bed truck, railcar, ocean container, or air cargo making them easy to transport anywhere.

Metalith - photoWhen required by the military, the Metalith steel barrier panels offer rapid deployment capability being easily shipped on standard military 463L pallets for C-130 and C7 transport. They then can be quickly and easily erected in forward areas with no special training or tools required.

Infrastructure Defense Technologies will ship the Metalith panels on a variety of pallets or skids to meet the requirements of our customers. The corrugated steel Metalith panels next tightly for ease of shipment while protecting the panel finish.


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Other Metalith benefits

The Metalith perimeter security barriers offer a number of other benefits, besides those benefits that were proven during the blast testing conducted at EMRTC and the K12 certification testing conducted at Karco. Metalith perimeter security barriers:

  • Were designed from day 1 as blast mitigation protection and anti-ram vehicle protective barriers, providing the highest level of design safety compared to products crossing over from other initial design applications.

  • Were designed for deployment at Homeland Security designated critical infrastructure sites (power plants, airports, freight terminals, petrochemical/gas plants and terminals, etc.) and forward military positions to afford the highest level of protection for those types of applications.

  • Installing the Metalith physical security barriers - photoRequire no excavation or subsurface preparation, saving equipment and labor costs.

  • Are subject to Infrastructure Defense Technologies' stringent quality standards from pre-production, during production, and post-production, ensuring that our security conscious customers receive product manufactured to the required specifications, while eliminating quality related delays.

  • Are long lasting while requiring only minimal maintenance to providing an estimated useful life of over 20 years!

  • Are offered with architecturally enhancing options including an anti-climb surface and a protective roof option making its appearance suitable for many applications.

  • Are available in a range of standard sizes to meet most application's requirements and custom sizes to solve the perimeter security needs of more unusual applications providing end-users and specifiers with a perimeter protection system to meet virtually any needs. Click here to see our standard size chart.

  • Are constructed using 16 and 18-gauge steel that will not degrade due to environmental exposure unlike other systems that are made from plastics or geo-textiles which both quickly suffer substantial degradation due to environmental exposure.

  • Are produced using duplicate tool sets, so that one set of tooling can be running while the other is having maintenance or repair services performed (polishing, machining, grinding, heat treat, other), provided our perimeter security barrier customers with production redundancy and flexibility.

  • Are easily installed requiring minimal installation training, and no tools, instructions, or hardware other than what is shipped with each system kit.

  • Set up easily by following a series of repetitive steps allowing available unskilled or semi-skilled labor to be used, reducing labor expenses.

  • Have a pleasant, non-military, appearance providing aesthetically pleasing looks that can be modified for a wide variety of architectural applications.

  • Are cost efficient proving to be significantly cheaper than comparably sized concrete walls providing cost savings while increase perimeter security effectiveness.

  • Are extremely strong based on independent engineering tests that indicate they can withstand 150 mph hurricane winds, 100 psi snow loads, and head pressures of 480 psf.

  • Metalith - photoAre very space efficient allowing manufactured pre-erected panels to be easily stored on pallets, requiring minimal warehousing space, and once erected, providing a small footprint making them practical to use for many applications.

  • Are easy to ship by flat bed truck, railcar, ocean container, or air cargo making them easy to transport anywhere.

  • Provide rapid deployment capability being easily shipped on standard military 463L pallets for C-130 and C7 transport, and are easily erected in forward areas with no special training or tools required.

For more information about Infrastructure Defense Technologies' perimeter security products and applications, please call us at 1-800-621-5617, email us at info@themetalith.com, or fill out our contact form.

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The Metalith
A Division of Infrastructure Defense Technologies

3575 Morreim Drive • Belvidere, Illinois 61008
Phone: 1-800-621-5617• Fax: 1-815-323-1317
Email: info@themetalith.com

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CONTACT METALITH

Please fill out our
contact form or speak directly to a Metalith representative at:
1-800-621-5617.


Metalith - perimeter security barriers brochure

For more information about the Metalith blast mitigation and anti-ram physical security barriers, please request our FREE BROCHURE by mail.

Or you can DOWNLOAD it here.

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