Protecting Buildings and People with Coiled Wire Fabric
Building components like glass, glazing, and even opaque assemblies can be subjected to forces from man-made events that require protection and securi
Sponsored by Cascade Architectural | By Peter J. Arsenault, FAIA, NCARB, LEED AP
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Building components like glass, glazing, and even opaque assemblies can be subjected to forces from man-made events that require protection and security. At the same time, architects and interior designers don’t want a purely industrial or harsh appearance to be the dominant feature of that protection. Rather, the goal is to find a solution that respects the overall design of a building while still providing the ability to be protected and resilient. This is particularly true where blast protection is part of the building design criteria as is the case in many government buildings and other public facilities. Recognizing these concerns as a design issue is the first step in determining an appropriate design response. Therefore, in this course, some of the basic issues of different degrees of security related to different building situations are reviewed. Then, some specific strategies are explored using protective, coiled wire fabric as a design solution to create buildings that can remain resilient in the face of identified security threats and challenges.
Photo @Fred Golden
The El Paso Federal Courthouse in Texas used coiled wire fabric to provide the required blast protection with an attractive, light shading solution for the building designed by Antoine Predock Architect.
Cascade Architectural, a division of Cascade Coil Drapery, Inc., has over 30 years of experience designing, engineering, and manufacturing coiled wire fabric systems for use in architectural applications worldwide. Cascade Architectural coiled wire fabric systems are environmentally sustainable and made in the U.S.A.
Originally published in Food Engineering
Originally published in July 2022
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
- Identify and recognize accepted principles associated with designing for the safety of people and the integrity of buildings.
- Assess the durability and safety performance aspects of wall and glazing systems that require security and blast protection.
- Explain the capabilities of coiled wire fabric in protecting people and property from damage and harm in both common and severe security conditions.
- Determine ways to incorporate the principles presented of public safety and security design into specific buildings as shown in case studies.
