What is a Blast-Resistant Steel Building?

If you’re looking for the answer to, “What are blast-resistant modular buildings?” then this article is exactly what you need. Over the course of this article, we’ll discuss the costs involved in the construction of a blast-resistant building project as well as its important design aspects.

Blast-resistant modular buildings are structures that have been specially designed to resist significant explosions and to protect property and personnel in hazardous working environments like ones encountered in petrochemical facilities, oil and gas refineries and chemical processing plants. Blast-resistant modular buildings are also known as blast-resistant units, blast-resistant modules, or simply as BRMs or BRBs.

Typically used in oil and gas facilities, military buildings and high-security federally-owned buildings, BRMs are constructed with thick walls of special steel that can withstand extremely high blast pressures. Moving to the inside of the structure, the same assurance is also provided with the non-structural components of BRMs such as the electrics, plumbing, the light fixtures and the cabinetry.

Now that we’ve given you the basics on BRMs, let’s move on to their architectural design aspect.

Architectural Aspect Of BRM Design

When it comes to the architectural aspect of BRMs, the primary aim is to minimize the damage to the structure and its occupants in the event of an explosion. The priority is to prevent complete structural failure of the whole building or large parts of it. Another major requirement is to minimize the impact of blast waves and projectiles that may be transmitted into the structure through openings. The main architectural challenge with blast-resistant buildings is to come up with a solution that satisfies all major requirements, such as the construction budget, aesthetics, firefighting regulations and accessibility variations.

Planning & Layout

The planning stage of a BRM is critical as a lot can be done in terms of limiting potentials hazards and the damage and injury risk associated with them. Some important considerations include the levels of danger in the area of construction, analyzing the need of blast protection for non-structural and structural members, and strategic placement of shelter areas within the project.

In buildings where there’s a risk of external threats, the goal should be to maximize the standoff distance between the potential threats and building as much as possible. If your project is in a congested commercial area or city center, chances are that there isn’t much scope in terms of positioning the building. However, it’s important to secure standoff areas wherever possible. This can also be achieved by placing obstructions such as trees and bollards in strategic locations around the building.

Internal Layout & Structural Form

A crucial parameter, structural form has a significant bearing on the blast loads of the structure. Structural forms that involve domes and arches are more likely to reduce the effects of a blast compared to those that have a cubicle form. Another factor that greatly influences the blast load magnitude experienced by the building is its plan-shape. If the building has a complex shape, it’ll cause the blast waves to reflect multiple times, potentially increasing the impact of the explosion. Another point worth noting is that single-story structures, if applicable, offer better blast-resistance compared to multistory ones.

Also, fully or partially embed structures have superior levels of blast resistance. These buildings utilize the shock absorbing properties of the soil to their advantage. The soil can provide protection in the event of a nuclear explosion as well.

When it comes to the building’s internal layout, the aim while undertaking this parameter should be isolating the assets of the greatest value from the potential threat. This means that the layout should be arranged in such a way that there’s maximum distance between the most valuable assets and the highest potential threat. Some effective internal layout strategies used in the construction of BRMs include:

Walls of reinforced concrete for the protecting foyer areas.

Double-dooring and eccentric arrangement of corridor doors to limit the blast pressure from being transmitted into the building’s interior.

Controlled building entrance that’s separated from the other parts of the structure

Installing fire-resistant structural members

Installations

Interior installations such as water, gas, and steam lines, electrical and plumbing connections, water storage systems and elevators should be planned to be resistant to the affects of explosion. It’s critical to prioritize installation connections and their use should be avoided in areas that have a high risk of deformation. The installation of electrical and gas lines should also be avoided in areas that are likely to receive high damage. These include external walls, roof slabs, ceilings and lobbies. Installation feeding points and main control units should be placed in areas where they’re shielded from direct or high exposure to the blast waves. Furthermore, it’s important to provide a secondary installation system located away from the main system that can be used as a reserve in the event of an explosion.

Cladding & Glazing

Glass from shattered building windows can cause a large number of casualties in the event of an explosion. Therefore, it’s critical to opt for a safer glazing solution. Laminated glass is a viable option as it doesn’t break into large dangerous shards when it shatters. Another effective solution is applying a transparent anti-shatter film to the glazing’s interior surface.

When it comes to the building’s cladding, numerous design aspects should be considered to maximize the protection for the building’s inhabitants and minimizing damage to the structure itself. Minimal amount of glazing should be used in the facade. This reduces glazing induced internal damage and limits the amount of blast waves that enter the building. Furthermore, it’s vital to ensure that the connections between the cladding and the structure are strong, secure and accessible. This will allow a quick and effective inspection for movements or failures after the structure has been subjected to an explosion.

Having discussed the architectural aspect of BRM design, let’s take a look at the factors that influence the costs of a BRM project.

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