Metalith

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Infrastructure Defense Technologies of Belvidere, Illinois, produces the Metalith, a twenty-first century perimeter security system, designed to protect critical infrastructure from terrorist attacks involving the use of explosives and/or vehicles.

The Metalith is a prefabricated steel barrier structure which offers superior blast mitigation, force protection, anti-ram vehicle protection cost efficiency, and ease of installation. The product is available in multiple sizes and configurations to meet the requirements of any site in need of physical perimeter security. It is in use by the American military and deployed currently in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Overview

Originally used by the United States Armed Forces for force protection and critical equipment protection in forward areas, the Metalith has been modified and strengthened to accommodate the growing demand for the protection of industrial, commercial, and government facilities of all types against attack.

The Metalith is a U.S. Department of State K12 certified prefabricated steel wall structure that offers cost efficiency, excellent asset protection, and ease and speed of installation. The product is available in multiple sizes and configurations to meet the custom requirements of any site in need of perimeter protection. Metalith barriers can easily be built to heights of 20 to 30 feet with a small footprint.

The Metalith is unique in that it offers:

· blast mitigation protection, · anti-ram vehicle deterrence, · protective delay, · force protection, and · protection from follow-on attack.

What is the Metalith?

The Metalith is a prefabricated steel wall unit constructed from both 16 and 18-gauge corrugated steel panels that are connected with stainless steel pins, formed into a multiple course assemblies of varying heights, thickness, and shapes. The Metalith barrier wall system requires only dirt or sand to be used as ballast fill. The Metalith can be manufactured from a variety of different materials, including:

· Galvanized steel, · Stainless steel, · Cor-Ten steel, · Aluminum, or · Electrogalvanized steel

Applications

The main applications for our Metalith perimeter security barriers would be to:

· Protect personnel and assets from the direct effects of an explosive blast · Deflect explosion blast waves / pressure waves · Protect against anti-ram vehicle penetrations · Protect personnel and assets from shrapnel and exploding fragments, · Screen against direct fire · Prevent chain reaction explosions

Industrial, commercial, and government facilities will find applications for the Metalith barrier systems as protection from intruders, from disgruntled former employees to terrorists, attempting to penetrate perimeter security using a vehicle intended to ram through a gate, wall, or security post or those intending to set off an explosive device to cause damage to facilities, assets, and personnel.

Features and benefits

Infrastructure Defense Technologies’ Metalith perimeter security barriers offer a number of important features and benefits. The Metalith barrier panels:

· Provide excellent close standoff protection from high order detonation shrapnel and explosive pressures due to the combination of the double steel inner and outer walls plus the ballast fill. · Stop heavier gauge ordnance providing significant protection versus near miss general-purpose bombs, direct hit small, high explosive, shaped charges, and 50 caliber ballistic impacts. · Will not collapse under hydrostatic pressure due to the strong 16 and 18-gauge steel construction with integrated cross members providing needed strength to mitigate the effects of significant hydrostatic pressure. · Are made out of 16-gauge and 18-gauge steel providing superior strength, durability, and blast mitigation and anti-ram vehicle crash protection. · Were designed as blast mitigation barriers and anti-ram vehicle barriers from inception rather than erosion protection. · Require no footings as they are surface-mounted, eliminating the need for any major excavation work to install footings, saving installation labor time and expense. · Are designed to offer permanent or semi-permanent construction, providing needed blast mitigation and crash protection for decades. · Are constructed of strong, and long-lasting, 16 or 18-gauge steel versus similar use products constructed of geotextile mesh panels providing superior strength and protection. · Use readily available dirt or sand ballast fill providing superior blast and ram protection at a reasonable cost. · Can be made in virtually any length in a straight, vertical, wall design. · Can be field repaired using welding or riveting equipment. · Can be fitted with our optional anti-climb panels making a vertical wall dozens of feet tall, providing a straight vertical face that is extremely difficult to scale without climbing equipment. · Can provide permanent protection against rain and snow using the optional roof units providing a quick cap option that keeps moisture, rain, and snow from seeping into the structure providing a longer life product. · Will not deteriorate from prolonged exposure to the elements, temperature, and sunlight. · Don't succumb to bearing pressures like gabions have.

[edit] External links

  • Infrastructure Defense Technologies (the manufacturers’ homepage)
  • The Metalith product website
  • Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) - site for military and civilian engineers, scientists and other specialists that provide engineering and environmental services for the both the U.S. military and the general public
  • U.S. Department of State - Provides guidelines for vehicle crash tests including the K12 certification