Risk Assessment & Planning a Hardened Facility

“We shape our buildings; thereafter they shape us.”
Sir Winston Churchill, British statesman

The first steps in determining the feasibility of constructing a Hardened Structure in a specific location is to completely understand the Client’s priorities/goals/budget, thoroughly examine the site and its surroundings, be fully aware of all regulatory agencies having jurisdiction and to conduct a full Risk Assessment. Once this information has been assimilated, the development of the Hardened Structures Feasibility Study can be completed and submitted. This study is a condition precedent to establishing a Program of Requirements, which then allows the Client to modify the Program or continue to the next phases. The planning, design and construction of a Hardened Structure is technically specific and complex and is executed through the following phases;

• Feasibility Study
• Management Plan
• Design Documents
• Permitting
• Pre-Construction
• Construction
• Client Move-In and Systems Orientation

Because it is impossible to protect against all threats and hazards, adopting a balanced approach in designs that considers intended functions, threat mitigation and budget is imperative. There is no one-size-fits-all and there is no formula of security features and programs that will ensure 100% safety against all violent attacks or natural disasters. Designers and owners must understand the limitations of designed facilities and proposed countermeasures. Mitigating measures or countermeasures are specified to meet a particular anticipated threat, not all possible threats.

Underlying Assumptions:

A Hardened Structure Feasibility Study typically takes one week to complete. We meet with the Clients, examine the site, do a preliminary geotechnical investigation and prepare a budget. The cost will average between $25,000 and $30,000 and is credited back to the Client when construction begins. Please click here to fill out an Inquiry Form or call us toll free at 1-877-486-0084.

The following Underlying Assumptions were developed by the U.S. National Response Plan (NRP) for Catastrophic Incidents, and they describe the likely effects/aftermath of a Major Event occurring in the United States. Hardened Structures acknowledges these Assumptions within their designs:

Hardened Structure Facility Program Development

All structures face differing levels of risk associated with climate change and natural events, accidents or intentional (criminal or terrorist) events. The development of effective and efficient project-specific mitigation strategies requires the use of Risk Assessment. Risk is a combination of credible threats, vulnerability and consequence. Certain geographical areas have particular risk factors that affect facility capability need and placement such as population density, presence of critical infrastructure, location in a high terrorist threat or high natural disaster areas and military base/complex proximity. Therefore, in determining the design for a Client’s particular facility in a specific location, the following Assessments are conducted:

• Asset Assessment - The people, facilities, property and organization to be protected are identified and prioritized. The nature of the asset, it value, location, current and replacement value and by whom it is utilized are all identified.
• Threat Assessment – This evaluates the potential aggressors and the type of tactics and weapons that they are most likely to employ. The threat assessment considers the complete spectrum of threats including Global Warming and Climate Change and man-made (i.e., criminal acts, terrorist acts, etc.) For threats involving explosives and other types of mass destruction, the threat assessment should quantify the type and/or size of device. The final result of the Threat Assessment is list of credible threats and/or attack scenarios.
• Site and Security Assessment – A physical site security assessment consists of an evaluation of a proposed or already determined location for the facility. Site access, site lines, topography, susceptibility to climate change, vegetation, adjacent land use and varying possibilities for stand-off distance placement are recorded.
• Vulnerability Assessment – This quantifies the potential impact from a specific threat scenario based on the proposed site, personnel and planned capabilities. The Vulnerability Assessment should evaluate potential damage to assets and injury to people from each hazard scenario. This provides a baseline for determining the potential benefits from various security or hardening design options.

Utilizing a combination of quantitative and qualitative techniques, the Risk Assessment incorporates the Threat Assessment, the Site Assessment, and the Vulnerability Assessment to evaluate the potential risks associated with each threat. The objective of the Risk assessment is to quantify the existing and potential risks and to make recommendations to mitigate to the best level possible.

Based on the Risk Assessment and the Client’s Budget, a Balanced Survivability Assessment is generated and the Hardened Structures Feasibility Study is completed. This Study establishes a Program of Requirements which identifies in a statement of required activities that specifically responds to a Client’s goals.

These Assessments together with the Client’s specific energy goals, storage capabilities and manned and mechanical defensive response requirements, establishes the fundamental basis and design liabilities on which the Hardened Structures design may proceed.