From sophisticated bombs to improvised explosive devices (IED), sometimes all it takes is some household chemicals and ordinary products to create a bomb or IED. For instance, take a look at pressure cooker bombs which have been detonated multiple times around the world in recent decades. In April 2013, two pressure cooker bombs, filled with nails, ball bearings, and black powder, were detonated in the Boston Marathon bombings. IEDs are relatively easy to construct. Most of the materials required can be easily obtained and the bomb can be triggered using a simple electronic device such as a digital watch, garage door opener, cell phone, timer, or alarm clock.
When it comes to responding to a potential bomb situation, first responders need protection for themselves and others by eliminating any direct contact with a bomb and provide a safe environment for its examination and disposal. There needs to be a solution for serious threat situations which provides a portable and quick-to-deploy way to shelter people and property from the destructive effects of explosive devices and small bombs.
WHAT IS BLASTWRAP?
BlastWrap® is designed to mitigate the blast effects of an explosion by rapidly extinguishing the fireball, eliminating burns and post-blast fires, and reducing the subsequent over-pressures by more than 50%, thus reducing damage to people and property.
BlastWrap® is scientifically engineered and designed to remove much or most of the energy from an explosion. It actually interferes with the blast energy process. BlastWrap® dissipates blast shock wave energy through irreversible processes, such as drag, turbulence, friction, viscosity, reflection, etc. and at the same time, BlastWrap® dramatically quenches the flame fronts or fireballs created as a result of the explosion in milliseconds. BlastWrap® also kills the phenomena of after-burn which can initiate post-blast fires.
The performance of BlastWrap® proprietary technology is independent of scenario and environment, which means that it does not matter where the physical location is, how the basic product form is used or the environment in which the event takes place. The basic product form can be used as a stand-alone material (as linings, curtain barriers, or as structural material), or can be laminated or otherwise affixed to a wide range of product forms such as insulation (thermal and acoustic), ballistic armor, or packaging materials. BlastWrap® products can thus provide blast and fire protection in flooring, wall, and roof constructions, in packaging, in storage cabinets and other containment structures, and aboard all types of vehicles, ships, and aircraft.
There are no other products available in the marketplace with such dramatic pressure and impulse reduction and such low a momentum exchange. BlastWrap® also differs from other technologies in that it doesn’t offer another armored barrier at a protected position but provides a proven method of reducing blast energy at source or before it can interact with structure.
WHY IS BLASTWRAP THE ONLY “TRUE” BOMB MITIGATING BLANKET?
To date, ballistic blankets have been designed to offer level IIIA ballistic protection in a wide variety of tactical situations. Ballistic Blankets can be quickly and easily thrown over windows, doors and walls, or used as a personal shield in hazardous situations. The Blanket is ideal for use in police and military vehicles as it can provide ballistic protection for the seat, window or door. However, a ballistic blanket was never designed to mitigate the effects of a blast. While the ballistic blanket would be effective in capturing frag threats from an explosion, it cannot suppress or absorb the blast itself.
Mitigation of blast effects is the dissipation of blast energy so that acoustic and shock waves, peak overpressure, reflected peak overpressure, impulse and after-burn are reduced. This reduction is accomplished through both physical and chemical processes that are triggered when a blast occurs. The remaining energy is transmitted at a slower, more sustainable level. The amount of reflected energy is significantly reduced with mitigation.
Therefore, in order to deal effectively with any threat in which there are ballistic and/or fragment threats in addition to a blast threat, the combination of armor with BlastWrap® technology provides a complete solution. By combining a ballistic blanket with a sleeve of BlastWrap®, a superior solution of protection is available to place over suspected IEDs contained in small packages such as a briefcase or backpack as well as for covering pipe bombs. The combination of a ballistic blanket plus BlastWrap® can be used to protect personnel and structures from the effects of an explosion that also produces penetrating fragments.
HighCom Armor’s Stingray Level IIIA Ballistic Blanket with BlastWrap® provides the only TRUE bomb mitigating blanket. The BlastWrap® Sleeve clips on to HighCom’s Stingray blanket, to allow operators to easily and quickly deploy in critical situations. Ballistic capability of our blankets is independently tested according to the NIJ 0108.01 standard and our BlastWrap® is independently tested against severe large capacity and destructive explosive threats. Regardless of the material or compound causing the explosion, BlastWrap® is able to mitigate blasts and suppress flash fires resulting from explosions. When used in conjunction with our Stingray blanket, the BlastWrap® Sleeve insert dramatically reduces an operators risk from explosives as well as ballistic threats.