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Window Vulnerability

In the wake of the 1995 terrorist bombing of the A.P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, the President of the United States responded to the threat of global terrorism by directing the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and U.S. Marshall's Service to conduct a vulnerability assessment of federal facilities.

The product of that effort was a blast vulnerability assessment that included suggestions and recommendations for improving the security and reducing the vulnerabilities of federal facilities.  Consistent with these findings, the GSA developed a detailed Security Criteria to provide performance-based guidance to designers and to ensure that security becomes an integral part of the planning, design, and construction of new Federal facilities and major modernization projects.

The primary objectives of a blast vulnerability assessment study are:

  • To determine the extent and type of potential structural and facade damage as a result of blast-induced loadings.
  • To estimate the likelihood of loss and the extent of injury to people and other assets.
  • To explore hazard mitigation options such as possible site, structural, and facade upgrades/enhancements (if needed) that will provide mitigation for meeting the project-specific ISC Security Design Criteria requirements.

See a report on the explosive testing of window systems.

GSA Testing Standard

Window Glazing Analysis Response and Design (WINGARD)

The tutorial CD can be obtained by emailing a request to: oca.bstp@gsa.gov.  The tutorial or also available at www.buildingsecurity.us.

Last Reviewed 3/11/2009