Ballistic and fire protection enclosures

Abstract

A fire-resistant, projectile-resistant, composite-material panel for use in a modular concrete enclosure may include a panel body having a front major face and a back major face opposite the front major face. The panel body may include concrete and a plurality of round objects embedded within the concrete and configured to hinder the advance of projectiles through the panel body, with each of the round objects having a dimension in a range of 0.25-1.0 inches. The panel may further include a resin layer disposed over the front major face, the resin layer configured to bind the front major face of the panel body when struck by projectiles, and a fire-resistant layer disposed over the back major face. The fire resistant layer may be configured to protect an interior space of the enclosure against fire exterior to the enclosure.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A modular concrete enclosure system comprising:
 a first column having a long axis, a first side, a second side opposite the first side, and a first groove in the first side of the first column, the first groove parallel to the long axis;   a second column spaced from the first column by a distance, the second column having a long axis, a first side, a second side opposite the first side, and a second groove in the second side of the second column, the second groove parallel to the long axis, and wherein the first side of the first column faces the second side of the second column;   a first panel disposed between the first and second columns, with a first side edge of the first panel disposed in the first groove of the first column and a second side edge of the first panel disposed in the second groove of the second column; and   a second panel disposed between the first and second columns and abutting the first panel along a seam therebetween, with a first side edge of the second panel disposed in the first groove of the first column and a second side edge of the second panel disposed in the second groove of the second column;   wherein the second panel includes a projecting lip proximate a third edge of the second panel and the projecting lip generally covers the seam along at least a significant portion of the distance between the first and second columns.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second panels are stacked on top of one another so that a front outer surface of the first panel is generally co-planer with a front outer surface of the second panel, a back outer surface of the first panel is generally co-planar with a back outer surface of the second panel, and the projecting lip extends from the front outer surface of the second panel and overlaps a perimeter region of the front outer surface of the first panel proximate the seam. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a top rail connected to the first and second columns opposite a coupling of the first and second columns to a foundation structure. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second columns include concrete reinforced with composite-material rebar that is substantially electrically non-conductive. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second columns and the first and second panels are disposed adjacent an electrical power substation and are configured to form at least a partial enclosure around the substation. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the lip is configured to substantially prevent transit of a projectile through the seam. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second panels includes a panel body including concrete and a plurality of round objects embedded within the concrete and configured to hinder the advance of projectiles through the panel body, with each of the round objects having a dimension in a range of 0.25-1.0 inches. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the panel body of each of the first and second panels has a front major face and a resin layer disposed over the front major face, the resin layer configured to bind the front major face of the panel body when struck by projectiles. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the panel body of each of the first and second panels has a back major face and a fire-resistant layer disposed over the back major face, the fire resistant layer configured to protect an interior space of the enclosure against fire exterior to the enclosure. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the panel body of each of the first and second panels includes long fibers configured to hinder the advance of projectiles through the panel body. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the panel body of each of the first and second panels is reinforced with composite-material rebar that is substantially electrically non-conductive. 
     
     
         12 . A fire-resistant, projectile-resistant, composite-material panel for use in a modular concrete enclosure, the panel comprising:
 a panel body having a front major face and a back major face opposite the front major face, the panel body including concrete and a plurality of round objects embedded within the concrete and configured to hinder the advance of projectiles through the panel body, with each of the round objects having a dimension in a range of 0.25-1.0 inches;   a resin layer disposed over the front major face, the resin layer configured to bind the front major face of the panel body when struck by projectiles; and   a fire-resistant layer disposed over the back major face, the fire resistant layer configured to protect an interior space of the enclosure against fire exterior to the enclosure.   
     
     
         13 . The fire-resistant, projectile-resistant, composite-material panel of  claim 12 , wherein the concrete of the panel body is non-refractory, fire-resistant concrete. 
     
     
         14 . The fire-resistant, projectile-resistant, composite-material panel of  claim 12 , wherein the panel body includes long fibers configured to hinder the advance of projectiles through the panel body. 
     
     
         15 . The fire-resistant, projectile-resistant, composite-material panel of  claim 12 , wherein the panel body is reinforced with composite-material rebar that is substantially electrically non-conductive. 
     
     
         16 . The fire-resistant, projectile-resistant, composite-material panel of  claim 12 , wherein the panel has (a) a first side edge sized to fit into a first vertical groove in a side of a first vertical column and (b) a second side edge sized to fit into a second vertical groove in a side of a second vertical column spaced a distance from the first vertical column. 
     
     
         17 . The fire-resistant, projectile-resistant, composite-material panel of  claim 16 , wherein the panel further includes a lip projecting from the front outer surface proximate a bottom edge of the panel body and the projecting lip generally covers a seam between the panel and an adjacent panel along at least a significant portion of the distance between the first and second columns. 
     
     
         18 . A modular enclosure system comprising:
 at least two columns with each column oriented vertically; and   a plurality of panels, with each panel disposed between a pair of adjacent columns of the at least two columns;   wherein at least one of the panels includes:
 a first vertical side member configured to be attached to a first column of the at least two columns; 
 a second vertical side member configured to be attached to a second column of the at least two columns; and 
 a plurality of slats oriented generally horizontally and spanning a distance between the first and second side members; 
 wherein each of the plurality of slats is (a) angled to deflect projectiles originating from outside the enclosure in a downward direction and (b) spaced from an adjacent slat of the plurality of slats to allow airflow into and out of the enclosure. 
   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein each of the plurality of slats includes a curved surface which is concave as viewed from outside the enclosure. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein at least one panel of the plurality of panels includes (a) concrete, (b) a plurality of round objects embedded within the concrete and configured to hinder the advance of projectiles through the panel body, with each of the round objects having a dimension in a range of 0.25-1.0 inches, (c) an exterior-facing resin layer configured to bind the concrete of the panel when struck by projectiles, and (d) an interior-facing fire-resistant layer configured to protect an interior space of the enclosure against fire exterior to the enclosure.