Robust Protection: Blast Resistant Building Design
AEL designs and manufactures blast resistant buildings across a wide range of industries including aerospace, oil, gas, energy, and more! Blast resistant buildings are designed to withstand blast events . These are typically constructed with thick steel walls, redundant reinforcement, and interior items designed to withstand small & large blast events!
Features Include:
- Ribcage structure
- Reinforced doors
- FRP walls
- FRP wallsFRP wallsFRP walls
- exterior paint with polyurethane coating
- UL Insulated and non-insulated variations.
- Temperature controlled environments
- Subpanels
- Partitioned areas or "zones"
- Task-specific lighting
- Various PSI ratings
Configurations Of blast resistant modules:
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Configurations
- Galleys
- Restroom facilities
- Workspaces
- Sleeping quarters
- Offices
- Guard Shacks
- C1D1/C1D2 configurations
What is a blast resistant container?
Purpose: Blast-proof office containers are deployed to safeguard equipment, materials, or personnel in high-risk environments, including oil and gas facilities, construction sites, military installations, and disaster-prone areas.
Construction: These containers are constructed with robust materials like steel or concrete for the walls, roof, and floor. Additional blast-resistant panels or layers are integrated to absorb and disperse the energy from explosions, ensuring the protection of interior contents.
Blast-Resistance Rating: Blast-resistant buildings are assessed based on their ability to withstand explosion pressures, measured in pounds per square inch (psi), and their response levels. Higher ratings indicate greater resistance to blasts. Response level ratings, established by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), range from low to high, reflecting the expected damage and required repairs post-explosion.
Design Considerations: Various design features are incorporated into blast-resistant containers to mitigate explosion impacts. These include blast-absorbing materials, reinforced doors, redundant structural members, laminated or tempered glass windows, and explosion venting systems.
Modular and Portable: AEL’s blast-resistant containers are designed to be modular and portable, facilitating easy deployment and customization. They can be stacked or interconnected to create larger protected areas or tailored configurations. Rental and setup are streamlined, often involving straightforward roll-off delivery without the need for crane assistance
How are blast resistant structures rated?
The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) establishes the rating system for blast-proof office containers. These buildings are categorized into response levels ranging from Low to High, indicating the extent of repair needed post-explosion.
- Low Response: Minimal damage is expected, allowing the building to remain functional with minor repairs.
- Medium Response: Significant repairs are necessary due to widespread damage, rendering the building unusable until repairs are completed.
- High Response: Structural integrity is compromised, requiring the replacement of the entire building due to severe damage. In this instance the entire building needs to be swapped out.
Blast Resistant VS Explosion proof?
While these terms are sometimes used interchangeably, they are very different. “Explosion proof” usually refers to the CID1 requirement, which requires that all exposed electrical meets CID1 standards (intrinsically safe). This rating is mainly used in areas where hazardous solvent levels are constantly present. “Blast resistant” refers to a buildings resistance to an explosion that occurs outside the building . In some cases, a CID1 room may be blast resistant as well, but each term is very specific and typically refers to a different construction type.
What features can I add to my building?
When adding features into a blast resistant building, we take carful consideration to ensure the highest level of safety and efficiency for those working inside the room. Below are features that can be added to increase the functionality and versatility of your blast resistant building!
- Gas detection
- CID1 or CID2 rated areas
- Antechambers
- Office space
- Bathrooms
- Closets
- Clean rooms
- “Hot” or “Cold” rooms
And much more! Need something that’s not in this list? Give us a call to design your custom blast resistant facility!
Defense and Security:
Meeting the unique requirements of the defense and security industry is intricate and often varies depending on the specific mission at hand. This necessitates the provision of secure, customizable, and adaptable modular spaces that can be tailored to specific mission needs
These are custom made to meet any parameters including:
- Visitor Centers
- Guard Shacks
- Multi-section visitor centers
- Security offices
- Instrument enclosures
- Turnstile modules
- Blast and Ballistic Resistant viewing bunkers
- Communication shelters
- Debriefing rooms
- Command centers
- Storm shelters
- Emergency management facilities
- Medical field offices
- Embassy/Consulate Facilities
- HATS (Hardened Aircraft Shelters)
- Blast resistant range operations
- Restrooms
- Kitchenettes
Why are Blast Resistant Modules Necessary for Buildings and Structures in High-Risk Areas?
Blast-resistant modules play a crucial role in safeguarding buildings and structures situated in high-risk environments. These modules serve to absorb and mitigate the impact of blasts, thereby preventing damage and potential harm to nearby structures and individuals.
Employing advanced engineering technologies, explosion-resistant modules adhere to stringent safety standards outlined by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), as detailed in The Design of Blast Resistant Buildings in Petrochemical Facilities. These standards ensure the provision of optimal protection tailored to the customer’s requirements and the level of explosion they seek to safeguard against.
Explosions can range from high damage, resulting in complete building destruction, to medium damage, necessitating significant repairs but allowing salvageability, to low damage, resulting in minimal repairs. By aligning with their desired level of protection, customers can determine the size and scope of their project, ensuring their specific needs are effectively addressed
Efficiency
Our labs are engineered with efficiency and quality in mind. All labs are made using CNC machinery, and are made in the USA.
Turnkey
Our labs provide innovative and turnkey solutions, that allow you to focus on your core business.
Safety
Our labs provide innovative and turnkey solutions, that allow you to focus on your core business.
Fully Customizable
Our in-house design team can make your vision a reality! We work with you to find the lab and layout that best meets your needs.