ISO 16933:2007 Arena Testing

ISO 16933:2006 provides a structured procedure to determine the air-blast resistance of glazing and sets forth the required apparatus, procedures, specimens, other requirements and guidelines for conducting arena air-blast tests of security glazing.  Seven standard blasts simulating vehicle bombs and seven standard blasts simulating smaller satchel bombs that can be used to classify glazing performance are incorporated in this International Standard and cover a broad range of blast parameters.

To view products that can offer blast resistant properties, see the below links.

Stock items 

Bullet Resistant Transaction Window - Exterior / Interior Bullet Resistant Window with Electronic Speech, Ticket Window.

Night Pay Window / Hatch - A flat fronted Transaction Window with opening drawer, typically uses Petrol Stations and Pharmacies.

BR6  Guard House Transaction Window -Flat fronted Ballistic Window with opening drawer for document transfer. 

All of the above can also be manufactured in bespoke sizes.

Bespoke items 

Blast Resistant Glass -Laminated Blast resistant Glass to incorporate into Blast Windows and Doors                                                  

Blast Windows - Blast windows to protect against terrorist attacks and longer petrochemical explosions

Security Counters and Screens - Physical, Ballistic or Blast resisting counters for any application to keep staff secure.

Ballistic and Blast Resistant Guard Houses - Modular New Build or Upgrading existing. EN1522/3 FB2 to FB7, NIJ 0108.01 LII to IV UL 752.

Explosion Vents and Rupture Panels - Safety devices used to contain an explosive blast effect within a building.

Blast Resistant Doors - Steel manufactured doors offering blast protection to buildings

Security glazing, including that fabricated from glass, plastic glazing sheet material, glass-clad plastics, laminated glass, insulated glass, glass/plastic glazing materials and film-backed glass, can be tested and classified in a standard frame or tested but not classified in frames provided with the glazing.

Classification and ratings are assigned based on the performance of glazing loaded by air-blast pressures and impulses and are specific to the blast characteristics under which the test takes place.  Glazing that has received an air-blast classification and rating is suitable for use in blast-resistant applications only for blasts of comparable characteristics and only if installed in a properly designed frame.  Design based on knowledge of the air-blast resistance reduces the risk of personal injury. 

(^a) In the classification code, the letters, i.e. EXV refer to the type, i.e. a vehicle bomb; numbers denote a nominal standoff distance, expressed in meters, when a charge  of 100kg TNT equivalent is placed at a point perpendicular to the surface of the test specimen when mounted in a reaction structure (test cubicle) of face size abut 3 x 3 m and (X) denotes the hazard rating received during the test.  For example, classification code EXV25 (C) applies to a test in which a standard blast having peak air-blast pressure of 80kPa and positive phase impulse of 380 kPa-ms, resulting in damage to the glazing resulting in hazard rating C.

Nominal charge sizes and standoff distances for typical test frames compared to those normal to a large facade calculated to equate to the blast values for the vehicle-bomb classifications (ISO 16933:2007). 

 (^b)  Derived from test measurements of reflected blast values on the face of vertical 3.15 × 3.15 m test frames
positioned at standoffs from 100 kg TNT equivalent charges placed 1.2 m above a hard surface to exceed the
classification criteria.

(^c)  Calculated assuming hemispherical surface bursts on the ground at standoffs normal to the vertical face of
large facades.

Classification criteria for hand-carried satchel bombs (ISO 16933:2007). 

(^a) In the classification code the letters, i.e. ‘SB’, refer to the type, i.e. a hand-carried satchel bomb, the number designates the standard blast and (X) denotes the hazard rating received during the test.  For example, classification SB4(C) applies to a test in which a standard blast having peak air-blast pressure of 800 kPa and positive phase impulse of 500 kPa- ms resulted in damage to the glazing resulting in hazard rating C.

Nominal charge sizes and standoff distances for typical test frames compared to those normal to a large facade calculated to equate to the blast values for the satchel bomb classifications (ISO 16933:2007).

(^a)  See Table 11.

(^b)  Derived from test measurements of reflected blast values on the face of vertical 2.4 × 2.4 m test frames
positioned at the standoffs listed from charges of TNT equivalent mass listed to exceed the classification
criteria. The charges were positioned at the distances above the hard surfaces as defined above.

(^c)  Calculated assuming hemispherical surface bursts on the ground at standoffs normal to the vertical face of
large facades.

For our full range of technical specifications please click on relevant headings below;

Other Blast Specifications

GSA-TS01:2003     Standard Test Method for Glazing and Window Systems Subject to Dynamic Overpressure Loadings

EN 13541                   Glass in building - Security glazing - Testing and classification of resistance against explosion pressure 

EN 13123-2              Windows, doors and shutters - Explosion resistance - Requirements and classification

Fire Specifications

UL 10C           Positive Fire Pressure Tests of Door Assemblies 

EN 1363-1    Fire resistance tests –Part 1: General Requirements

EN 1364-1     Fire resistance tests for non-load-bearing elements – Part 1: Walls

BS 476 Part 22     Fire tests on building materials and structures

EN 1634-1   Fire resistance and smoke control tests for door and shutter assemblies, openable windows and elements of building hardware 

Attack Specifications

EN 1627                     Pedestrian door-sets, windows, curtain walling, grilles and shutters - Burglar resistance - Requirements and classification

LPS 1270                    Requirements & testing procedures for the LPCB approval & Listing of intruder resistant security glazing unit

LPS 1175                    Requirements and testing procedures for the LPCB certification and listing of intruder resistant building components, strongpoints, security enclosures and free-standing barriers

EN 356                         Glass in building - Security glazing - Testing and classification of resistance against manual attack.

Ballistic Specifications and Standards

EN 1063                     Glass in Building - Security Glazing - Testing and Classification of Resistance Against Bullet Attack

UL 752                         Standard for Bullet-Resisting Equipment

BS 5051                       Bullet-resistant glazing - Part 1:  for interior use- Part 2: for Exterior use