HOW TO PROTECT THE GLASS IN YOUR BUILDING FROM EXPLOSIONS

DFU ^ | 5-19-02 | Doug from Upland

[doug from upland]

NOTE: the name of the company and product will not be revealed in this post. It is not intended to be a commercial, but rather to give you some information that may be of some benefit.

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As a few of you know, since 9-11 I became associated with a company that specializes in anti-terrorist work. No, I don't carry a gun and go after the bad guys. We make products that save lives and have done so for three decades.

The latest news that apartment buildings, commercial buildings, and malls may be the next target of terrorist attacks in this country has many people apprehensive. We should be. There are an unknown number of determined terrorists in this country who are willing to die while they are killing many of us.

In explosions the biggest killer is glass. (The WTC is an obvious exception -- tons of concrete falling was the biggest killer.) Glass is an architectural marvel and makes buildings beautiful and functional. But it is dangerous.

When a bomb explodes, windows break and flying shards of glass become lethal projectiles. Several blocks away from the Oklahoma City bombing there were buildings that had glass blown in. Besides damage to people, it caused economic damage to the businesses.

Immediately after the attack on the WTC, the government instituted an immediate action order which caused the closest parking places at our airports to be closed. The FAA requires that the glass in a terminal survive a 400-lb car bomb from 300 feet away. None can currently survive that.

But there is hope. For thirty years the most notable buildings in London and many buildings around the world have been protected by a window film. It goes on with a gelcoat and its purpose is to hold broken glass together and prevent the shards from killing people. It is designed to work for explosions, hurricanes, earthquakes, etc.

One particular product is able to absorb 73 Joules of energy. Tests have shown it to hold the glass pieces together from the force of a 650-lb ammonium nitrate bomb from 191 feet away. For security purposes, the film can prevent baseball bats, sledge hammers, picks, and even bullets from penetrating.

Nothing will protect glass if a car bomb is right in front of the building --- the walls are going to implode. But for surrounding buildings, the window film can be a life saver. It is used on some of our government buildings, commercial buildings, and hotels and has been demonstrated at Quantico.

If you are involved in the ownership or management of a building, you are burdened with what is called the Duty of Care. It is your obligation to do everything prudent to protect the well-being of your tenants. If you don't, you have a big problem when you get sued. It may be worth your time to look into window film to protect the glass.

Now, let's get back to the airports. I am amazed that we are still able to just drive right up to the terminal without being checked. This is of enormous concern. I spoke with a government official who regularly uses a particular airport in California. She told me that the FAA gave a waiver and cars can now park closer again. The reason for the waiver was that they check the cars going into the airport. How do they check? She told me that they spent a few seconds looking in at her back seat.

Ladies and gentlemen, 9-11 thrust us into a new world, however, many are living as if it is still September 10. The government has an awesome responsibility but we also have individual responsibilities for our own safety. One suggestion is to ask the manager or owner of the building in which you work to see the safety plan he has enacted. Also, ask him him about the glass.

[dixie sass]

Tofu and other soy products have a long, very long shelf life I understand. I can drink the soy milk and eat the soy power bars, but...

[doug from upland]

Bumping this again. Come on, everyone. Call your airport and tell them they have to inspect every car coming in.

[Brad’s Gramma]

BTTT

[doug from upland]

How do you feel working in a big glass building?

In a major U.S. city on a Sunday afternoon I did a field test. I walked around 5 multi-storied beautiful glass buildings for about an hour. I walked on the interior of the premises. I was able to get security information from a parking guard without a request for my ID. I spent time taking notes and taking pictures. No one asked me what I was doing on the property!

Had I been a terrorist with a car bomb, I could have easily driven on a grass area between the buildings, blown out the glass in all the buildings, and done tens of millions, maybe even hundreds of millions of dollars worth of damage. Perhaps some of the buildings would have been taken down. Had the terrorist scenario played out during business hours, hundreds and hundreds of lives would have been lost.

We are not paying attention and have gotten complacent since 9-11. It worries me greatly.