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Blast Mitigation FAQsTo get answers to the most frequently asked questions about blast mitigation protection and our K-12-certified Metalith™ perimeter security barrier walls, please select one of the links below:
What is blast mitigation protection?To the U.S. Department of Sate, blast mitigation protection is focused on countering a vehicular bomb threat, a vehicle borne improvised explosive device (VBIED). This has been the major source of structural damage in past international incidents. While the threat may be a low probability for any one of our hundreds of facilities, the consequences are high.
What are the primary means of mitigating the results from an explosive blast?The two most effective ways to mitigate the effects of an explosive blast are barriers and maintaining a standoff distance from a perceived threat.
What happens to our military personnel, embassy personnel, and civilians when an explosive device is set off in close proximity?Primary injuries are caused by the rapid change in pressure, the blast pressure wave, that causes major damage to internal body organs, especially ruptures in the lungs and ear canals. The flying debris - glass and metal shrapnel - created by the blast and carried at high speeds toward a victim causes secondary injuries. Injuries from explosive debris are severe and penetrating due to the high kinetic energy of the projectiles. Next, the person may be picked off the ground by the force of the blast and may strike an obstacle, building, and eventually, the ground inflicting more trauma injuries. Finally, there are typically burns from the explosive blast, and the person may be severely injured during a subsequent building collapse.
How far do the Metalith barriers need to be from a blast to offer safe protection?The answer to that question depends on the force of the blast and the thickness of the barrier walls. We do not provide specific standoff information to individuals for whom we have not performed a security check. Please call us at 800-621-5617 if you or your organization requires specific information.
What is blast attenuation?Blast attenuation is the difference between the blast pressure on the front side of a barrier and blast pressure on the backside of the blast protection barrier.
How well do the Metalith barriers perform concerning blast attenuation?We contracted with an independent testing facility, the Energetic Materials Research and Testing Center (EMRTC) in Socorro, New Mexico to perform blast tests on our Metalith barriers. The actual complete test results will only be released to personnel that have been cleared, but the measured attenuation was over 96% at nearly all standoff distances from the high order detonation blast. See our detailed information on independent blast testing performed at the EMRTC.
How are the Metalith barriers different than the Hesco barriers that are used by the military?That's an important and interesting question. The Hesco Bastion Concertainer Revetment System is a fine product that has great support from the Armed Forces for rapid and forward deployment situations. Homeland Security Divisions' Metalith barriers share many of the same blast mitigation and crash protection benefits but are designed to be a more permanent structure and can be used in architectural applications that the Hesco product is ill suited for. Our Metalith barriers require a much smaller footprint than the Hesco product since ours is a real wall not a pyramid shaped stack of non-connected geotextile enclosures. This smaller footprint provides for a larger enclosed area and is especially important when being used in architectural applications for existing structures where land is at a premium. The Metalith barriers are a far more permanent structure and cannot be easily damaged by vehicle accidental impact or be snagged by a passing vehicle. Our barriers can be patched in the field, permanently, replacing damaged panels using rivets or welding equipment. Again, due to the differences in the need for more or less permanent structures, our barrier walls have a long service life being made from 16 and 18-gauge steel and using stainless steel pins in the construction. The Metalith barriers are far more durable than a geotextile mesh and will not collapse due to hydrostatic pressure like the gabions can over time. The protection afforded by the Metalith barriers is symmetrical from top to bottom and doesn't lessen near the top. Finally, the Metalith barriers can be manufactured in virtually any length and height that is supported from an engineering standpoint.
Call us today at 1-800-621-5617, email us at sales@themetalith.com, or send a fax using 773-254-1106 to get an immediate quote for your perimeter security problems. Stop them before they cause serious security issues, critical infrastructure damage, or disaster. Metalith Product Info | Exterior Finishes | Benefits | Applications The Metalith Copyright ©2003-2008 Infrastructure Defense Technologies. |
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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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