Regulatory framework, reliability calculation and the economic aspect
The implementation of projects with enhanced blast protection in Ukraine requires from architects, engineers, and investors not only engineering excellence but also strict adherence to the regulatory and legal framework, as well as an understanding of the mechanisms of financial protection of investments.
State Building Codes (DBN) and standardization
A fundamental document regulating facility safety is DBN V.1.2-14:2018 “General principles of ensuring the reliability and structural safety of buildings and structures”. According to the provisions of these codes, hazardous impacts (which today, unfortunately, also include military risks) must be taken into account for the entire life cycle of the object, with a mandatory assessment of the spatial unevenness and frequency of these impacts.
The design of the facade systems themselves relies on DBN V.2.6-33:2018 “Structures of external walls with facade thermal insulation. Design requirements”. This normative act details the requirements for the load-bearing capacity of fastening subsystems, the calculation of wind loads (the mechanics of which have much in common with the aerodynamics of a blast wave at large distances), thermal deformations, and corrosion resistance. Metal facade cassettes are ideally suited for top-class ventilated facades, guaranteeing strength and durability for over 50 years of operation.
Under current conditions, the concept of designing dual-use structures has gained special weight. Such commercial facilities (e.g., underground parking lots or fortified basement floors of shopping malls) must be able to withstand the overpressure of a blast wave, radioactive contamination, and the penetrating action of fragments, creating reliable conditions for sheltering the population (up to 48 hours). The use of massive metal facade systems in combination with a reinforced concrete load-bearing frame significantly increases the chances of preserving the building’s integrity and human lives. For international projects, the strength of fasteners and facade elements is calculated according to the ASTM F2247 standard (Standard Test Method for Metal Doors and Facades Used in Blast Resistant Applications), which allows using the equivalent static load method to optimize the design.
Maintainability as an economic factor
Passive protection of facades is viewed by businesses not only as a humanitarian tool for saving lives, but also as a pragmatic method of preserving enterprise capital and ensuring the continuity of operational processes. The application of modern facade systems, such as cassettes or slats from the “Mehbud” plant, provides phenomenal maintainability.
In the event of small fragment hits or plastic deformation from a blast wave, the damage is usually localized. Thanks to the modular structure of RVFs, there is no need to dismantle or replaster the entire wall (as in the case of “wet” facades). Defective metal cassettes or slats are simply unclipped or unscrewed from the guide profiles and replaced with new ones. This minimizes commercial facility downtime, requires no heavy machinery, and significantly reduces the cost of post-war or post-accident repairs.
Property insurance and state compensation
Ukraine’s economic ecosystem is gradually adapting to the new realities by introducing risk transfer mechanisms. Programs for insuring the real estate of legal entities against military risks have appeared on the financial market (for example, the “Iron Dome” program from ARX and similar products from other companies). These insurance policies cover losses from blast waves, falling debris from downed missiles, UAVs, and broken glass throughout Ukraine, except for regions in close proximity to the front line (usually less than 100 km from the combat zone).
The cost of such insurance is calculated individually during the underwriting process and directly depends on the type of facility, its geographical location, and engineering protection. The presence of a strong metal facade on a building, certified armored glass (or high-quality anti-vandal films), as well as the use of exclusively non-combustible materials (NG/A2-s1,d0 class) is considered by insurers as a powerful risk reduction factor. This can significantly reduce the cost of the insurance premium or increase coverage limits.
In parallel with private insurance, state and international compensation mechanisms are being developed. Initiatives to create a large-scale business recovery fund (up to $4 billion) are being considered, which will operate on a First-loss principle, where the state or fund will cover the first part of the losses within a set limit (e.g., up to $10 million per company). To promptly receive compensation through state registries (RPZM, Diia), it is critical to have official project documentation for the building and use certified materials, as this simplifies the assessment of damage and examination by commissions.