Laticrete Develops Explosion Resistant System

Bethany, CT, October 30, 2007—Laticrete has partnered with International Materials Inc. to develop a shock resistant façade system for the United States Department of State that could serve as the new standard specification to protect high-risk government buildings and airports from terrorism.

International Materials recently developed Sure-Board, a steel sheet and medium density fiberboard composite shear wall, and is proposing that it be used in conjunction with the Laticrete Direct Adhered Façade System to protect buildings in the U.S. from severe damage if attacked by improvised explosive devices or similar acts of terrorism.

In order for International Materials and Laticrete to gain approval for a new specification standard to be put in place, the materials provided by both firms had to undergo extensive testing to prove they were shock resistant enough to withstand stress levels generated by an explosion.

In a test in the New Mexico desert. four 9’ x 6’ panels were bolted into 12’ x 12’ concrete cubes and two of them were positioned at distances of 85 feet and 115 feet from a detonation of 375 pounds of C-4 plastic explosives. For perspective, 1.25 pounds of C-4 plastic explosives is the standard measurement used to obliterate a truck, and eight to 10 pounds is the standard demolition charge needed to destroy structural columns when imploding a high rise.

When the 375 pounds of C-4 was detonated, the closest cube at 85 feet received seven cracks but no delamination or interior damage, despite the fact that the pressure from the blast forced the center of wall to flex an estimated 2 inches.

The second cube set 115 feet from the blast suffered significantly less damage, with just two cracks in the cube and no interior damage.