Identifying the best location for Blast Mitigation can help protect people and property from potentially devastating events. Buildings should be seismically resistant, and Blast Mitigation Systems should be applied to walls, columns, beams, slabs, roof panels, and windows. While some buildings may have already been damaged by blasts, they can be repaired or replaced with safer materials. Regardless of the location, Blast Mitigation systems should be part of the design process to protect people and property.
While a building’s structural design can mitigate blast hazards, there are different types of threats that can occur. For instance, in a bomb attack, the blast pressure can be extremely high, causing bodily injuries and damage to fixed objects. This type of attack can be extremely dangerous, so building design must consider how to minimize these risks. For this reason, a blast mitigation strategy must take into account the potential of future threats and mitigate those risks.
There are several factors that can influence the performance of a structure. An inadequately designed mitigation strategy can result in extensive building failure. For example, a small blast pressure on a wall can have a massive effect, causing many metric tons of force on the structure. In addition, the duration of a blast load is an important factor in determining the impact it can have on a structure. While overpressure and duration of blast loads are not necessarily related, they both are essential to predicting the potential for damage and how to reduce it.
Blast threats are unpredictable, but a building’s design must take into account these unknown factors. The best blast mitigation strategy takes into account the known threats as well as the possible future conditions. However, the best mitigation strategy will take into account all of these variables and try to address every potential problem. Most designers of Blast Mitigation will agree that the most important concept in the design process is setback. The setback is a building’s savior, and any measures that improve the setback should be considered.
Explosions may cause bodily injury or damage to fixed structures. The RCMP has a manual that outlines the different aspects of Blast Mitigation. It can also be used to help mitigate the effects of blasts on historic buildings. It is important to note that while a design study is important, it is not sufficient to eliminate the risk of a blast. A properly designed building will allow occupants to move freely and safely, preventing the need for relocation.
While new construction is generally the best option for Blast Mitigation, there are many factors to consider. The type of building will have to be protected against the blast. If the building is a landmark, a Blast Mitigation system can protect it from damage and prevent the possibility of a second earthquake. The RCMP manual will also provide a guideline for identifying the best location for Blast Mitigation.
The most common hazard associated with Blasts is the primary fragments. The primary fragments can travel as high as two hundred feet per second. Consequently, the blasts should be mitigated by all means. A good design will prevent the blast from destroying the building. The best mitigation strategies address known threats and also prepare for unknown conditions. In addition, the best method of Blast Mitigation is based on the setback.
The most obvious hazard from a Blast is the primary fragments. These pieces can travel at up to 200 ft/sec. A secondary fragment can travel at up to 100 ft/second. Often, there are no protective devices for these secondary fragments. Combined with the primary fragments, the secondary hazard is the collapse of a building. The pressure load is stronger than the building’s components.
While Blast mitigation increases costs and construction time, it is an important design element for high-risk buildings. The best mitigation strategy should address the known threats and address potential threats that may arise in the future. The use of blast shields, also known as blast walls or blast curtains, is often the most effective method of Blast Mitigation. They are very expensive but very effective for certain situations. There are many other factors that should be considered.
