The easiest way of protecting a facility against blasts is to build massive protection and/or invest heavily in blast protected windows, doors and walls. In this way, it is very easy to spend fortunes into turning a building into Fort Knox. The MIP Security takes a more reasonable and conservative approach by taking 4 steps:
- Consider the realistic threats to the facility and focus on protecting against those.
- Invest first in keeping those threats a safe distance from the facility to minimize potential damage.
- Model the effects of potential blasts given the realistic threats and the minimum distances to identify the vulnerable areas of the facility.
- Propose investment in protection only in those areas which are vulnerable.
The MIP team includes building surveyors and engineers capable of reviewing sites and plans to gather relevant information for assessing blast effects. Blast Modeling is highly technical and requires the use of advanced equipment for structural examination as well as using various international blast modeling software.
MIPS regularly performs blast modeling for both new and existing buildings and presents finding and recommendations. Our company regularly provides training in the international arena on the use of blast modeling tools. Much of our expertise is based on our attendance at terror attack sites, and the official report writing of the various terror attacks which have taken place around the globe over the past 20 years.
MIPS regularly tests blast mitigation products for evaluation and has worked with many governments, blast mitigation and security companies on blast testing and modeling. MIPS personnel have attended countless conferences and seminars and have presented many reports and papers on blast mitigation issues.
Blast Mitigation Case Study
The corporate headquarters of a major international company recognized the need to better protect its building against blasts. Discussions with suppliers of protective glass and laminate resulted in a multi-million dollar proposal to protect all 28 floors of its building which has a fully glazed exterior.
MIP Security was commissioned to undertake a Threat & Risk Analysis and Blast Mitigation exercise. It was concluded that by implementing strict access control to the underground car park, the threat from a major blast could be limited to outside the building. Furthermore, the road layout and the wider base of the building indicated that the extent of blast damage would be limited to only certain floors and elevations of the building.
By protecting only those windows which were really at risk, MIP Security saved its client millions of dollars.
