Blast Testing

Blast Testing Fast Facts

Provides engineering analysis and physical testing. Features industry’s first apparatus that can completely evaluate the whole system in both the positive AND negative phase of the blast load. Helped develop the AAMA standard for Blast Hazard Mitigation. Conducts testing to the Department of Defense’s Unified Facilities Criteria. High-speed, high-resolution video up to 5,000 frames/second and high-speed, high-resolution data capture for up to 64 channels at 5,000,000 samples per channel per second. Quick turnaround specimen loading and unloading, completely enclosed for all-weather testing. Currently capable to test up to 4' x 6' with future expansion to 12' x 12'.

Value

Almost 75 percent of the damage and injury from a blast is due to flying and falling glass. Consequently, building owners, tenants, and building codes require a minimal level of blast protection. Architectural Testing provides engineering analysis and physical testing of fenestration and protective-glazing products to rate the level of blast protection provided by a product. Testing and analysis are also used by designers, architects, consultants, and manufacturers to mitigate hazards from glass fragmentation. Architectural Testing has worked closely with AAMA in developing test standards for Blast Hazard Mitigation for Fenestration Systems and standards under the jurisdiction of the ASTM Committee F12 on Security Systems and Equipment.

The types of tested materials include:

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Innovations

Minimizing glass fragmentation caused by explosion is the fenestration industry’s most demanding challenge. Architectural Testing brings nearly three decades of experience in fenestration-performance testing to blast-hazard analysis and testing. Our experience with curtain-wall products helps us understand the interaction between the system and the overall building envelope.

To create the test conditions required by the GSA standard, Architectural Testing has a specially designed apparatus that can evaluate the whole system: glazing, framing, and anchorage points. We are building the largest commercially available shock-type blast simulator, which incorporates a 12-foot x 12-foot aperture to accommodate large specimens. It is housed in a dedicated, enclosed facility to allow year-round testing. A specially designed material handling system moves specimens in and out of the simulator for fast turnaround.

To record the procedure, a color digital video camera captures images at speeds up to 5,000 frames per second. A high-speed data acquisition system enables real-time acquisition of 64 channels of data at a rate of over 5 million samples per channel per second.

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Insights and Possibilities

Because many factors influence blast protection, customers benefit from the experience Architectural Testing has gained from decades of fenestration testing. Today, we are playing a leading role in the Protective Glazing Council’s (PGC) effort to develop standards and specifications for protective glazing systems. With insights resulting from Architectural Testing blast testing, customers will be able to:

• Evaluate rigid versus flexible glazing protection concepts
• Determine the balance between multi-hazard objectives
• Evaluate impact on sunlight control and thermal performance
• Evaluate durability of protective glazing

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Learn more about how the Architectural Testing Difference can help you or Contact Us today.