Wrightstyle and an Aluminum Anniversary

Wrightstyle and an Aluminum Anniversary

Wrightstyle and an Aluminum AnniversaryIf it was a wedding anniversary, a traditional gift—albeit somewhat unromantic—would be aluminum, which makes some sense because Wrightstyle supplies glazing systems in both aluminum and steel. However, for us, it’s an even more important anniversary because it was ten years ago that we first introduced a market-leading glazing system that could withstand the pressure impact of a lorry bomb. It was ground-breaking at the time; there were more than a few doubters who said that a glazing system couldn’t resist such an immense blast pressure. But we developed our structurally-glazed system and independently tested it against the equivalent of 500 kilos of TNT (acknowledged to be the explosive impact of a lorry bomb) which is roughly ten times the size of a car bomb.

Known in the industry for developing glazing solutions for challenging specifications, Wrightstyle was initially approached with a set of criteria for the Central Security and Coordination Command Centre for the Asian Games hosted in Doha, Qatar in December 2006. Initially designed to protect and prevent any disruption to the critical operations of the Games’ coordination, the $31 million building also needed to be designed with the intention to hand it over to the Qatar military on completion of the Asian Games. The strict criteria from the project architects and consultants required the majority of the external glazing to mitigate the effects of a medium-sized lorry bomb and a close range car bomb.

Other requirements were that the glazing have solar control, be thermally performing, and to have an external sight line of less than ¼ inch and internal sightline of less than 2½ inches to maximize vision to the building exterior—project requirements for which there was no tested system available on the market. Our solution was achieved through a high-specification structural glazing technique that bonds the glass to the framing support system so that, in an explosion, the components work together to safely absorb the thermal shock of the explosion. Successful tests were carried out independently by Advantica Limited at a specialist site within RAF Spadeadam, Northumberland. The simulated lorry bomb attack was immediately followed by a simulated car bomb attack (100 kilos of TNT). The lorry bomb was detonated about 250 feet from the test rig and the car bomb was detonated at a distance of over 65 feet, producing a higher loading on the facade.

The Wrightstyle system set a new benchmark for a glazing system to mitigate against blast attack and, with terrorism much in the news, has now been supplied to a number of projects in the United States, UK, and the MENA and Asia-Pacific regions. It is a worldwide success, protecting high-risk buildings and those adjacent to them. We’ve also been pushing the boundaries – for example, to make our advanced system look no different from non-protected glazing systems. Such an achievement deserves more than a lump of aluminum but, being also being a supplier of aluminum glazing systems, we could make good use of it.

About the Author

Tim Kempster is managing director for Wrightstyle.

Featured

  • Just as Expected

    GSX produced a wonderful tradeshow earlier this week. Monday was surprisingly strong in the morning, and the afternoon wasn’t bad at all. That’s Monday’s results and asking attendees to travel on Sunday. Just a quick hint, no one wants to give up their weekend to travel and set up an exhibit booth. I’m just saying. Read Now

    • Industry Events
    • GSX
  • Allied Universal Report Highlights Expected Security Hazards

    All is not well with the world. I know that is not breaking news. Read Now

    • Industry Events
    • GSX
  • NOLA: The Crescent City

    Twenty years later we finds ourselves in New Orleans. Twenty years ago the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina forced exhibitors and attendees to look elsewhere for tradeshow floor space. Read Now

    • Industry Events
    • GSX
  • Nothing Artificial About this Intelligence

    I have been looking forward to this year’s GSX show in New Orleans, the Cresent City, or if you prefer The Big Easy. It seems like quite a while since we’ve been here. Twenty years ago, ASIS, as it was known then was literally washed out of the city by someone known as Katrina. It is a good thing to come back to NOLA. Read Now

  • From Monitors to Mission Control

    Security Operations Centers (SOC) were once defined by rows of static monitors, each displaying a single feed with operators quietly watching for issues. That model has become obsolete. Incidents evolve too quickly, data comes from multiple locations, and decisions must be made in seconds—not minutes. Read Now

New Products

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions.

  • Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden Door Controls is pleased to announce that, in response to soaring customer demand, it has expanded its range of ValueWave™ no-touch switches to include a narrow (slimline) version with manual override. This override button is designed to provide additional assurance that the request to exit switch will open a door, even if the no-touch sensor fails to operate. This new slimline switch also features a heavy gauge stainless steel faceplate, a red/green illuminated light ring, and is IP65 rated, making it ideal for indoor or outdoor use as part of an automatic door or access control system. ValueWave™ no-touch switches are designed for easy installation and trouble-free service in high traffic applications. In addition to this narrow version, the CM-221 & CM-222 Series switches are available in a range of other models with single and double gang heavy-gauge stainless steel faceplates and include illuminated light rings.

  • FEP GameChanger

    FEP GameChanger

    Paige Datacom Solutions Introduces Important and Innovative Cabling Products GameChanger Cable, a proven and patented solution that significantly exceeds the reach of traditional category cable will now have a FEP/FEP construction.