ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces protective design concepts, along with advice gathered from years of experience of blast engineering and provides valuable guidance to designers encountering blast requirements within their projects. Blast engineers focus on solutions that reduce the hazards associated with explosion incidents, while preserving the building's aesthetic and functional design. The first questions that a blast consultant will ask concern the explosive type and size—called design basis threat—and the performance criteria required. Design basis threat form one side of the blast-resistant-design equation; the other side has the defined design performance criteria. Together they form the client's blast-protection objectives. Blast-resistant design criteria define how much damage to a façade or structure is considered acceptable. A blast consultant can advise on the impact of designing for certain levels of protection and threat scenarios. The intensity of blast loads is dependent upon: the size of the explosive device, and the type of explosive.
