Keep explosions out, with security slats
An explosion often results in many casualties and damage.
There could be a terrorist attack, criminals using explosives or an accident such as in the petrochemical industry.
If an explosion poses a realistic risk, then it is important to take specific measures to protect people. An explosion has major consequences for buildings and the people in those buildings.
Not only the affected building itself, but also the adjacent or opposite buildings are often at risk.
This means that targeted measures are needed both at the organization that may be the target, and also at the organizations in the immediate vicinity.
To reduce the impact of these types of incidents and to guarantee people’s safety, an integrated security approach is needed.
An approach that is based on the recognition of the threat, the expected (type and amount) of explosive and the distance to people and buildings.
A few years ago, Mactwin conducted research into solutions that could be used to secure high-risk objects against these types of threats.
For example, there are doors and walls that are resistant to the explosives.
To secure (existing) windows, Mactwin entered into a partnership with the English company Abbey Group to use their SecuraBlinds, so-called explosion-resistant slats, in the Netherlands.
“SecuraBlinds look and can be used like ordinary solar control vertical slats, which you see so often in office environments,” says Brian Wilkins, managing director of Abbey Group International Limited.
“But these fins also absorb the pressure wave of an explosion. The positive phase of the pressure wave pushes the slats closed in a split second. The window on the outside can break into thousands of splinters, the slats keep all these splinters and other debris out. In fact, the SecuraBlinds are so strong that the glass and debris are thrown out in the so-called negative phase of the pressure wave. We have tested this extensively with various quantities of explosive material. Even when inflating no less than 500 kilos of TNT at a distance of 28 meters, the fins fully absorbed the pressure and force of this explosion.”
These slats are now used at various properties in the Netherlands, in the financial heart of London, in the Middle East and in conflict areas to protect government buildings, offices and hotels from the consequences of car bombs.
John van de Weijenberg, security specialist and project manager at Mactwin, adds: “We recommend these types of slats not only for safety reasons, but also as a security measure. They stop intruders. In the Netherlands, we mainly see the application of this architectural solution to high-risk objects (such as banks and cash centers), governments, data centers, museums and industrial companies. It is also convenient that the slats are suitable for both existing and new construction. We notice that architects are enthusiastic about these slats because they do not disturb the façade appearance and do not require building permits. The latter is in contrast to other structural security measures that can be placed in front of the façade of a building to protect people from the consequences of an explosive.”
