CLASSIFICATION OF CIVIL DEFENSE SHELTERS / PROTECTIVE STRUCTURES

THE THREATS

As the history shows there are many examples related to Chemical, Biological, Radiological & Nuclear (CBRN) events not only during the wartime. These events can create a high risk to human lives and potentially cause a large number of fatalities and injuries.

From the recent history we can point out the nuclear accident in Fukushima in 2011, use of nerve agent “Novichok” in Salisbury, explosion at a chemical plant in northern Spain with spread of toxic industrial chemicals (TIC) and many examples of biological events. The result of such mass event can be clearly seen in the current situation with the Covid-19.

Beside the CBRN events, caused by accidents related to human factor and natural disasters, there are other potential threats like the attacks with conventional or non-conventional weapons, that can create a high pressure blast wave, as well as fragments, heat and electromagnetic pulse.

Potential harm from CBRN events:

• Chemical:?Poisoning or injury caused by chemical warfare agents, harmful industrial or household chemicals
• Biological:?Illnesses caused by the infection of dangerous bacteria, viruses or toxins
• Radiological:?Illness caused by exposure to harmful radioactive materials
• Nuclear:?Life-threatening health effects caused by exposure to harmful radiation, blast effects and heat created by nuclear blast

SHELTER AND IT’S ROLE

A bomb shelter (shelter) is a structure designed to protect people and equipment against the harmful effects of blast and other types of threats according to purposes it’s been built for. There are different types of shelters, and they can be categorized according to needed protection level (class), space and configuration demands, number of people and duration of a stay and more parameters.??

Main types of shelters that can be met today:

Blast shelter?– serves for protect people and equipment from effects of blast and explosion caused by bombing attacks or blasts on hazardous worksites, such as oil & gas refineries, petrochemical factories or other potentially dangerous facilities, as well as against earthquake effects.

CBRN shelter – usually combined with blast shelter with addition of life supporting equipment for protection and stay in case of CBRN event and contamination outside. This type of shelters has to be airtight for creating “clean” toxic free area inside. The CBRN shelters equipped with air supply systems for breathing and creating overpressure inside. The overpressure serves as a barrier to prevent the contaminated air from entering the shelter through small openings in the structure walls.

Fallout shelter – designed for blocking the radiation from nuclear fallout in case of a nuclear explosion. Many such shelters were built during the Cold War for protecting people in case of nuclear war.

SHELTER USAGE IN PEACETIME

The highest class operational shelters like the government, military or command and control shelters must have a fully operational status continuously, but if we talk about the general public shelters for Civil Defense, we can look at the successful example of such shelters in Finland used in everyday life. As the main question in many countries is the budgeting and maintenance of such shelters in the peacetime, the use of the shelter space in everyday life creates a?significant cost benefits during the life cycle of the shelter.

Examples of such shelters used in peacetime:

Warehouses, metro stations, underground car parking, recreational areas e.g. swimming or sports hall, small private shelters as a guest room, movie theatre, storage room etc.

For more details, consulting and design of the complete solution for your shelter you can contact us at [email protected].

Atmas Oy provides Consulting, Design, Project Management & Turn-Key Solutions in the fields of Civil Defense Shelters, Strategic Infrastructure and Industrial Facilities Protection, As well as Sourcing Survivability and Lifesaving Systems, Portable Structures, and Equipment for Emergency and Security.

www.atmas-tech.com