Facility Armor / Blast Lite

Blastlite®

Pinnacle Armor specializes in the physical hardening, "armoring" of facilities for ballistic, explosive blast and forced entry threats. Pinnacle Armor has established its reputation in the high threat physical security industry by dedicating itself to superior customer service, technologically advanced armor systems, comprehensive product offerings, and relying on its years of experience to assure its customer's needs will be satisfied.

Pinnacle Armor has taken its comprehensive knowldege and experience, and developed an explosive threat resistant window system totally unique to the industry.

The BlastLite® patent pending explosion mitigation system is a fully operable, hinged secondary window system. The BlastLite® explosion mitigation system incorporates a multi-point locking mechanism with literal 'pick-proof' locks. The locking mechanism is machined from solid stainless steel for supreme strength and aesthetics. The frame is constructed from aluminum specially tempered for un-equalled strengths, while maintaining a streamlined light weight system. The system is lighter, thinner, easier to use and less expensive than a welded steel system, with the same threat resistance capabilities.

This advanced engineered design concept has indisputable advantages for explosive threat mitigation resistance and adds years of trouble-free secured window life.

FEATURES

• Streamlined, pleasing-to-the-eye appearance.
• Anodized or painted finishes available.
• Single or multiple window combinations.
• No need to remove existing windows.
• Long service life - ASTM and ISO standards required of the finishes.
• Suitable for custom shapes such as ovals, rounds, arches, hexagonals, etc.
• Keyable cylinder supports standard high security locks such as Medeco & Schlage, as well as four-sided European pick-proof locks.

FRAME CONFIGURATIONS
Hinged Left	Hinged Right
Hinged Top	Hinged Bottom
Vertical Split w/ Fixed Astrigal	Horizontal Split w/ Fixed Astrigal

BLASTLITE® OPERABLE EXPLOSIVE THREAT MITIGATING WINDOW/DOOR SYSTEM PASSES U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS EXPLOSIVE BLAST MITIGATION TESTS

The patent pending BlastLite® secondary hinged window/door system has passed the test protocol and procedures for the blast mitigation window requirements established by the U.S Army Corps. of Engineers. This test method and program provides a means of evaluating the capabilities of the blast resistant products for use within the U.S. Government agencies.

Project No. A520-001
Test protocol and Procedures
Blast Mitigation Window Product Testing
U.S. Army Corps. of Engineers, Waterways Experimental Station

Introduction:

Glazing systems that fail due to intentional or accidental explosions pose a serious threat to the occupants of a structure. Typically, response of glazing systems to blast loads is quantified through analysis. Significant research and testing have verified these methods for common glazing systems. However, due to the evolution of blast resistant products for window systems, calculation of the capacity of a glazing system that has been modified for increased blast resistance can be analytically impractical. Therefore, these newly developed and/or modified systems need to be tested for stand-alone performance capabilities to specific given threat requirements.

Blast resistant window glazing products are very diverse. Each may have different blast resistant capabilities; however, this program will be limited to two different blast loads. The products included in this test program may be tested at a blast load with a peak applied pressure of 4 psi with a duration of 37 msec, and/or a blast load with a peak applied pressure of 10 psi for a duration of 31 msec. These blast loads are representative of a 1000 pound TNT explosion at a standoff distance of 275 and 140 feet, respectively.

Scope:

This test protocol sets forth the standard procedures that will be used to evaluate the blast capacity of blast mitigating products and product systems. Methods outlined in this protocol allow all products to be tested in a consistent manner. Individual components or entire systems may be tested.

Test Apparatus:

All tests in this test program will be performed in a shock tube. A shock tube is an apparatus that performs controlled explosion tests of products/systems. A shock tube is used to more accurately provide repeatable results from test to test as compared to an open air arena test out in a field. There are substantial factors such a winds, temperatures, density altitudes, etc, that can affect the tests in an open air arena, that are controlled within the shock tube environment. The shock tube to be used in this test program is capable of testing up to an 8” x 8” foot square test specimen. The shock tube is capable of generating a wide range of blast pressures with varying durations, along with rebounding shock wave pressures.

Results:

The BlastLite® operable blast mitigating window/door system has passed the test protocol and procedures for the 4 psi overpressure and duration, along with secondary rebounding pressure replicating typical urban environments worse case scenarios.

Pinnacle Armor will be submitting for passing the following glazing types for the tests as a completed system with the BlastLite® window/door system: laminated glass, glass clad composites, laminated polycarbonate, and PET laminated glass combinations.

Laminated Glass

Pinnacle Armor’s BlastLite® hinged window/door glazing system passed the Army Corps of Engineers BMAG Level 4 psi test, acquiring a GSA level 2 threat level certification without any glazing loss. The BlastLite System® was fully capable of operation subsequent to the blast test. The hinges and locking mechanism were easily operated by the use of only two fingers as opposed to a bent and/or restricted latching and/or hinged mechanism requiring substantial tugging or pulling to operate.

Glass Clad Polycarbonate

Pinnacle Armor’s BlastLite® hinged window/door glazing system passed the Army Corps of Engineers BMAG Level 10 psi test, acquiring a GSA level 2 threat level certification without any glazing loss. The BlastLite System® shown has a lever activated latching mechanism for easy operation. There are two additional independent locking mechanisms at the head and sill that preclude a cabled or linked locking mechanism failure at the corners due to high overblast pressures.

Pinnacle Armor will be testing a 15, 20, 30, & 40 PSI requirement for the BlastLite® system in the near future.

PATENT PENDING