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Physical Protection System Identification and the Metalith

The Metalith critical infrastructure protection and force protection barriers were designed from inception do be a part of an overall security system. The Metalith was designed to mitigate explosive blasts or contain blasts and provide protection from the effects of vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices, VBIEDs. The Metalith is the only system today that effectively provides anti-blast and anti-crash protection and can be effectively used as one of the components of a Physical Protection System (PPS).

The Physical Protection System methodology described on this page is a derivation of what had been originally developed by Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) to protect a Department of Energy (DOE) facility's high-value assets from theft or sabotage.

A complete physical protection system provides all required functions of an effective security system including:

Detection
Delay
Response or Interdiction

These functions should be performed in order and within a length of time that is less than the time required for the terrorist, saboteur, or even disgruntled employee, to complete their task.

A well-designed system provides protection in depth with multiple layers of security that must be defeated in sequence, minimizes the consequences of single component failure, and exhibits balanced protection no matter which path of attack the adversary chooses. Protection can be obtained through various combinations of technology (hardware and software), manpower, and procedures.

Detection

the first element of Physical Security System is the discovery of an adversary action that includes sensing covert or overt actions. An effective physical protection system requires that any malevolent act committed must be detected and assessed so that the response can interrupt and neutralize the situation.

To increase a facility's ability to detect an aggressor, it is critical that a facility's security operations personnel identify and determine:

The type of entry control and contraband detection systems in place.
The process for key control, combination locks, and seals.
How packages are allowed into the facility.
How deliveries to the facility and shipments from the facility are checked.
The procedures used to allow access or departure.
Perimeter detection, including sensors on boundaries, fence fabric, gates, clear zones, and other exterior sensors.
Interior intrusion detection.
Protection elements for the security system's infrastructure.
False alarm rate/nuisance alarm rate (FAR/NAR) and system reliability.
Physical and environmental conditions as they relate to sensor detection and assessment.
Known defeat methods and records related to system performance.
Performance testing related to assessing situations and emergency incidents.
Integration between detection and assessment.
Means and performance level of assessment by observation, i.e. security personnel in towers, monitoring stations (protection level), and ability to signal duress
Video systems currently in place and related components (switching equipment/video playback/video monitors/controller/ transmission medium) and the ability to monitor a location for rapid and immediate assessment).
Whether the present detection and assessment equipment and location are adequate for the threat.
Other responsibilities that could reduce assessment capabilities, i.e., respond to alarms, paperwork, and key service.
Information available to the security personnel on the display board.
The process used in establishing a secondary monitoring station.

Physical protection detection components that have demonstrated the most immediate potential for benefits in international safeguards applications included:

Active infrared sensors
Infrasonic sensors
Capacitance proximity sensors
Electric field sensors, and
Radiation sensors.

Other detection sensors could also provide benefits when used in very specific type applications. These included:

Vibration sensors
Passive sonic sensors
Pressure sensors, and
Light sensors.

Delay

Delay is slowing down of adversary progress. After detection and subsequent assessment, the adversary must be delayed long enough for the response force to arrive and neutralize the situation. The types of delay devices employed can vary from the locks, fences, and razor wire to the use of jersey barriers, protective delay barriers, activated delays, spiked vehicle barrier strips, concrete rails, and protective forces. Whatever means is used, it is critical that the delay time frame provide additional time to respond to the adversary than what would normally have occurred without the mechanism or mechanisms. Delay time is a variable dependent on the adversary's capabilities and the guard response time and it varies with the distance between a guard post and destination to be dispatched among other factors.

To increase a secure facility's ability to delay an aggressor, saboteur, or disgruntled employee, it is critical that a facility's security operations personnel identify:

The perimeter delay, including type of boundaries, gates, concertina, and length, width, fence fabric, and the covering material of clear zone, such as gravel.
Existing vehicle barriers.
The construction of walls, windows, doors, roofs, floors, ceilings, and vents and other features of buildings.
Any use of dispensable barriers at the facility.
Any areas of the facility or perimeter where detection is not provided before delay.
Whether multiple layers of delay exist, including features such as locks, windows, walls, distance, serpentine approaches, fences and other types of perimeter security barriers, and razor wire.
Whether detection and delay are balanced around the facility. If facility hardening is roughly equal around the facility, there will be no relatively weak spots as compared to other areas.
Timelines associated with access delay.

The "Delay" area is where the Metalith physical security barriers are the most beneficial to the overall Physical Protection System. In testing to date, using both high order detonations, and vehicles much larger than required by the Department of State's K12 rating, the Metalith protective delay barriers have been successful in not only dramatically increasing delay times compared to ordinary jersey barriers and chain link fence, but in also delaying or preventing a follow on attack.

Response or Interdiction

Response is defined as actions taken by the enforcement force - interruption and neutralization - to prevent adversary success. Interruption or interdiction is defined as a sufficient number of response force personnel arriving at the appropriate location to stop the adversary's progress.

Once the adversarial action has been detected, assessed, and delayed, the response force should arrive in time to neutralize the situation, if the facility has timely detection.

To increase a facility's ability to respond and interrupt, neutralize, or interdict an aggressor, saboteur, or disgruntled employee, it is critical that a facility's security operations personnel identify:

The types of communication available, including backup types.
The internal communication system for major events, (i.e., sirens, duress alarms, and public address systems), as well as whether they are timely and accurate.
Security's ability to monitor aggressor communications.
Security's ability to assess activity, i.e., ergonomics, accessibility to equipment, and space availability.
The number and types of vehicles available to the response force and their accessibility by aggressor force.
The inventory and location of all personal protection equipment, e.g., gas masks, helmets, and body armor.
The inventory and location of all night vision devices and other vision aids.
The response time lines, and whether time lines are adequate for the facility and the threats.
Type of response force plans and training (both physical and tactical), and whether response has been performance tested.
The ratio of the response force to likely aggressor forces based on estimates and scenarios.
The number and type of primary responders for a given threat and the number and type of secondary responders, if their assistance is required.
Determine observation post and patrol locations and responsibilities.
The false alarm rate/nuisance alarm rate (FAR/NAR) records.
The current policy on maintenance of response force equipment, including ordering out of service and implementing compensatory measures.
Whether the response force is armed versus unarmed, the use of force policy. current weapons training, and checkout procedures.
Establish whether equipment is appropriate for the assigned task.
Security's ability to monitor diversionary tactics and policies in places that address these tactics.

Secure facilities that utilize the bulleted checklists provided and correct identified deficiencies will provide a superior level of physical security and reduce the threat of secure materials theft or facility sabotage or destruction.

Infrastructure Defense Technologies' Metalith blast mitigation and K12 anti-ram vehicle barriers and walls are designed to stop intruders attempting to penetrate a facility's perimeter security borders using vehicles or explosive devices.

Resources

Physical Protection System Identification and the Metalith

Detection

Delay

Response or Interdiction

Related links

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