International Standard for Arena Testing of Blast Resistant Glazing

Robert A C Stephens & Nicholas F Johnson, UK Home Office Scientific Development Branch

Glass fragments are a major source of injury to occupants of buildings subjected to an explosive event. Health and safety considerations and the principles of a reasonable duty of care impose requirements on employers and on the designers and managers of buildings.

Two Draft International Standards have been prepared for the test and classification of “Glass in building – Explosion resistant security glazing”. These incorporate three test regimes. One standard employs a shock tube method to simulate the blast from large vehicle bombs. The other standard provides two series of arena tests using live explosives at varying distances. One test series uses small, hand-carried charges up to 20 kg weight and the other is based upon the blast from 100 kg (TNT Equivalent) vehicle bomb charges.

This paper concentrates on the arena tests and demonstrates the application of the Standards for the specification, design and testing of glass and complete glazing systems from anti-shatter film applications through to thick and bullet resistant laminated glass. The paper also indicates how the Arena Standard will provide a valuable tool to evaluate blast-resistant building components leading to the construction of safer buildings.

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The Authors