From the 1953 tests it was apparent that: (1) a conventional framehouse will be severely damaged at a pressure range of 2 pounds per square inch and destroyed at 5 pounds per square inch. (See slide No. 6.) (2) The damage inside of the houses indicated that persons without shelter exposed to 5 pounds per square inch would have been killed or severely injured. (3) Indoor shelters should be tested under substantial debris loads. 4) All future tests should include instrumentation to measure interior as well as exterior temperatures and pressures. The shelter designs were modified for the FCDA home shelter manual. The results obtained aided in defining the criteria for shelters, and the development of standards to provide protection from a nominal size atomic weapon. In 1955, we participated in Operation Teapot. Through the cooperation of other agencies and about 200 industries, FCDA conducted its most extensive technical program to that time. The programs sponsored by FCDA were: (1) Response of residential, commercial, and industrial structures and materials. (2) Exposure of foods and foodstuffs. (3) Utilities, services, and associated equipment. (4) Mobile housing and emergency vehicles. (5) Civil defense radiological defense studies. (6) Shelters for civilian populations. Only the shelter program which is of primary importance to this discussion will be described. In the 1955 series, corner-room shelters as shown here and lean-to type shelters were tested in all test houses with basements. (See slides Nos. 7 and 8.) |