Modern security challenges require the highest standards of quality and reliability. When it comes to protective shelters, it is important to understand that not all solutions that meet state standards provide maximum protection in real conditions. Bunker OK seeks to change the approach to creating shelters, ensuring their certification based on real tests, not just mathematical calculations.
The problem with modern shelters
According to a report by the International Civil Defense Organization, more than 70% of shelters in countries with a high risk of natural and man-made disasters are designed based only on theoretical calculations without real testing. In such conditions, even compliance with state standards does not guarantee real safety during emergencies.
Many companies in the field of civil protection create shelters that meet the requirements of state building codes (DBN) and state standards of Ukraine (DSTU). At first glance, this seems like sufficient proof of quality and safety. However, it is worth paying attention to one important aspect: these standards are based only on theoretical calculations. In fact, most of these shelters have never been tested in real conditions that are as close as possible to possible emergency situations.
The Bunker OK Approach
At Bunker OK, we believe that safety cannot be compromised. Our shelters undergo comprehensive testing not only at the test sites, but also in research institutes. This gives us confidence that our products are able to withstand real threats. We have certificates confirming the results of these tests and can guarantee that our shelters will really protect people in the most difficult conditions.
According to the statistics of tests conducted at our institute, 95% of shelters that passed real tests turned out to be reliable and suitable for operation in extreme conditions. At the same time, shelters that met only mathematical calculations showed a 30% decrease in protection efficiency in real conditions.
International experience
In many countries in Europe and North America, shelter testing is a mandatory requirement for certification. For example, in Switzerland, where the level of safety is one of the highest in the world, all protective structures must pass a series of field tests before they are approved for use. This ensures reliability even in extreme conditions such as earthquakes or explosions.
A similar system operates in the United States, where shelters, especially those designed to protect against natural disasters, must pass tests by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). According to statistics from this agency, shelters that have passed real-world tests are 50% more effective in saving lives than those that only meet basic standards.
Safe Space: More Than Just Walls
It is important to understand that a shelter is not just a concrete structure. A safe space includes comfort and the ability to stay in it for a long time. Shelters from "Bunker OK" take this factor into account: we design our solutions so that they are not only reliable during emergency situations, but also comfortable to stay in.
The space inside the shelter must be properly organized: provide ventilation, necessary supplies of water and food, emergency lighting and communication system. Our solutions provide for these components, which makes the shelter a full-fledged safe environment for survival during prolonged crises.
The danger of theoretical calculations
Imagine a shelter that was designed and manufactured only on the basis of mathematical models. Can it actually withstand the pressure or shock wave during a real emergency? Only real tests can give the answer to this question. Without them, it is impossible to accurately predict how a shelter will behave during a natural disaster or a man-made catastrophe.
Instead, companies that only refer to compliance with DBN and DSTU may offer shelters that have not passed real tests. This creates an illusion of safety that can lead to catastrophic consequences.
Conclusions
Safety is a responsibility that cannot be ignored. Real tests at testing grounds and in institutes are the only way to make sure that shelters are truly reliable. "Bunker OK" offers its clients not only mathematical calculations, but also practical confidence that their shelter will withstand the most severe tests. This is the only way to guarantee the safety of people in crisis situations.
In addition, our shelters create a safe space that can ensure comfortable survival even in the most extreme conditions. It's not just protection - it's life and peace of mind when it matters most.
When choosing between theory and reality, it is important to remember: life and safety cannot be put at risk.
Protected space: idea, situation in Ukraine, experience of other states
The Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dated August 13, 2024 No. 926 approved the Procedure for implementing a pilot project on the creation of protected spaces (premises for physical protection) in buildings and structures of educational institutions.
We will not assess the compliance of the specified Procedure with the requirements of the Civil Protection Code of Ukraine (the latter does not contain norms regarding protected spaces and premises for physical protection), as well as the powers of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine to approve such a Procedure.
Let's focus on the main thing. During a detailed study of this document, it can be seen that the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, under martial law, has actually legalized the possibility of using the internal spaces of educational institution buildings located no higher than the first floor for sheltering participants in the educational process. The requirements for such premises actually duplicate the recommendations previously provided by the State Emergency Service on the arrangement of the simplest shelters in educational institutions. The justification for this conclusion is provided in the table (we attach a picture to the publication).
We must understand that in conditions of insufficiency of the civil defense protective structures fund, the specified step is truly forced.
But are the specified premises really protected spaces?
Israel has the main experience in creating such spaces. The legislation and technical standards of this state provide for the creation of several types of protected spaces within various purposes, primarily residential buildings, namely: mamad – a protected room in an apartment or house, usually for one family; mamak – a protected space within the building, for the general public. For example, a mamak can be created within the volume of a stairwell.
Other protected spaces are established in open areas – miklady and migunity. Migunit is a cube made of concrete slabs (made of high-quality concrete of the B30 brand), which has two uncovered exits - that is, you can easily run into it, wait out the attack and falling debris, and then exit.
Although such spaces do not provide a 100% guarantee of safety, they allow you to reduce the time for their occupation, and therefore reduce the likelihood of injury from ammunition fragments.
❗ Once again, we must emphasize that there are technical requirements for such protected spaces.
For the southern territories of the USA, where tornadoes and storms rage, it is relevant to create protected spaces as part of individual residential buildings (mainly from easily prefabricated structures), which allow their owners to safely survive the weather. These spaces are not intended for use in military (combat) conditions, but technical requirements are also established for them.
There are no technical requirements (building codes and standards) for protected spaces in educational institutions in Ukraine, so such premises can be called protected in comparison with corresponding foreign spaces only conditionally.
However, is there a need for protected spaces in Ukraine and is it relevant only for educational institutions?
Yes, such a need exists and not only for educators. First of all, this applies to critical infrastructure facilities, whose personnel often, even in conditions of real danger, cannot leave the equipment and control panels of such facilities and take a place in a protective civil defense structure. It is for such categories of the population that small-capacity protected spaces should be provided near the workplace, including mobile spaces made as technical products.
The creation of protected spaces as part of residential and public buildings and structures is also relevant, especially for territories located at a short distance from the aggressor state. They will not replace full-fledged civil defense protective structures, but as a supplement to them, that is, for organizing the protection of the population at the initial stage of the emergence of danger and in conditions of time shortage, they are extremely relevant.
The requirements for such protected spaces should be established by building codes and national standards. We believe that a special requirement for such spaces should be their location as part of the monolithic cores of rigidity of buildings and structures of which they are a part.
But this is a completely different story and it requires more serious study.