Patent Issued for FORTRESS Protective Buildings’ Unparalleled Design

BakerRisk is excited to share that our expertly designed and engineered FORTRESS Protective Building has officially been patented by the United States Department of Commerce.

BakerRisk inventors William Mather, Thomas Mander, John Dyer, Murtaza Gandhi, and Alexander Fergusson designed, engineered, and tested the building drawing from their years of experience with design of protective structures, project management, facility siting, control system design, and full-scale hazard testing.

This innovative building is uniquely composed of prefabricated concrete modules that join with seals to provide customizable building design and high hazard protection from fragment, overpressure, radiation, and toxic hazards.

The building is also designed with HVAC control systems that monitor the external environment for toxic or flammable hazards, and upon detection of contaminants, to automatically place the HVAC system into safe-mode to maximize the protection for building occupants.

Why did BakerRisk design a protective building?

BakerRisk’s experience investigating incidents, designing structures to resist hazards, testing blast and thermal effects, and assisting clients and industry with best practices for process safety management provided our team with a unique insight to what the industry needs and how to develop a practical option.

It was evident to BakerRisk that a gap existed for a building solution that provides unparalleled ability to mitigate a full range of hazards that many facilities need to address, such as toxic chemicals/gases, thermal and radiation exposure, fragment/projectile dangers, and blast/overpressure from unexpected failures and events. Many shelters are rated for blast resistance but lack protection against the ”less glamorous” hazards commonly presented at many chemical and oil refineries, processing plants, manufacturing facilities, and other industrial work sites. However, according to API 752, these hazards are equally as important when choosing and siting a permanent occupied building.

BakerRisk designed and fully tested the solution many companies were searching for. FORTRESS fills the gaps in many existing options while ensuring it is a practical and flexible, suited for a variety of needs and budgets. An additional benefit of the modular construction approach is the ability to optimize installation speed to support critical project timelines and reduce onsite construction time and associated disruptions and risk.

BakerRisk is proud of the product that resulted: FORTRESS Protective Buildings. Additionally, the FORTRESS buildings are backed by partnerships with leading companies to assure its components are as trustworthy as its design.

What is so unique about the design that it deserved a patent?

In a few words: FORTRESS’s design is unparalleled. There are many shelters on the market that are blast rated, but FORTRESS protects beyond that – it’s design and features allow for high hazard protection against explosion, fragment, fire, toxic, and even extreme weather hazards. While most purpose- built, hazard resistant buildings take months or years to design and engineer, FORTRESS can be onsite and ready for occupancy in a matter of months.

The protective FORTRESS design has been put to the test by BakerRisk’s testing team, which provides clients with confidence that their most valuable assets – their personnel – are protected. The design is also unmatched, as it is exceedingly comfortable and pleasant to work within, as it includes features such as reliable HVAC, plumbing, electrical and internet connectivity, and can include comforts such as a kitchen, laundry room, restroom facilities, and meeting room.

How can I learn more?

Visit the FORTRESS Protective Buildings website, and contact their team with any questions.