baLCon® – ballistic concrete; ballistic protection systems
baLCon is a newly developed concrete with excellent ballistic protection properties. Projectiles are slowed down and caught without splintering at short penetration depths in the baLCon elements.
- Projectiles are caught and stored in the element
- No ricochets or bounces
- Element remains intact (no crack propagation)
- Minimal bullet cratering
- Environmentally friendly, unproblematic emissions (cement and quartz dust)
- No defragmentation of the projectile (environmentally and safety relevant with regard to pollutants and projectile splinters)
- Reproducible penetration depths of tested ordnance and police ammunition
Approval
The baLCon elements (type A, thickness 300 mm) were tested in a laboratory and the requirement of the VPAM guideline PM was met with 5,6 x 45 mm (GP90), 7,5 x 55 mm (GP 11), 9 mm Para (Pist Pat 14) und 9 x 19 mm SINTOX (Action 4).
Absorption capacity
The absorption capacity was determined empirically with a bombardment test. With a 25% reduction in the actual capacity, the following bullet capacities were obtained for the baLCon elements:
- Stgw 90 (for GP 90 with 5.56x45mm): 3130 rounds per m2
- Pistol 75 (for PistPat 14 with 9mm): 5000 rounds per m2
Easy handling
baLCon elements have a specific weight of approximately 1.05 t/m and are therefore comparatively light. The elements are equipped with transport anchors and, with
a weight of about 50 kg for a 50 cm x 30 cm x 30 cm element, can be carried, laid or installed by 2 people in accordance with the usual work safety regulations.
Service life of a barrier made of baLCon elements
The assumptions for estimating the service life, i.e. the time until one or more baLCon elements need to be replaced:
- Shots per year of the shooting range: 60,000
- Proportion of misses: 4%
- Missed shots per year: 2400
- Area of the installed baLCon elements: (12m long wall 2m high) 24m2
- Missed shots per m2 baLCon area per year: 100
- Absorption capacity 9 mm per m2: 5'000
- Absorption capacity 5.56 mm per m2: 3,130
The above assumptions result in the following service lives:
when using 100 % 9mm ammunition, the service life of the baLCon elements is 50 years.
when using 100 % 5.56 x 45 mm, the service life is 31.3 years.
if 50% 9mm and 50% 5.56 x 45 mm are used, the service life is 40.65 years.
A refurbishment, probably only a replacement of a few, somewhat more heavily stressed elements, is only due after a long period of time. Very low maintenance costs can therefore be assumed when using baLCon elements.
Applications
Bullet trap in the target area & ballistic protection walls
Ballistic protective walls made of baLCon elements are easy and quick to realise. They are suitable both in the target area and laterally along the firing axis.
New possibilities for short-distance and indoor shooting ranges
Safe and also cost-effective projects can be designed with the new, unique possibilities provided by baLCon elements for classic as well as 270° tacting shooting ranges. baLCon elements can be used for the cladding of walls or the division of rooms with little effort and with a high degree of flexibility. The baLCon elements are mounted either self-supported with the Lego principle or as a front-hung façade system with the possibility to easily replace the single elements in heavily used zones. A rubber curtain can be installed to catch possible splinters in regions with direct fire at close range.
Environmentally friendly refurbishment of outdoor shooting ranges
baLCon elements offer new, innovative solutions for the decontamination of bullet traps in outdoor shooting ranges. After the decontamination of the backfill, baLCon elements can be installed as bullet traps. They prevent the re-contamination of the soil. The appearance of the shooting range is mostly preserved. It is also possible to heighten the bullet trap without enlarging the existing earth wall.
Advantages of renovations and upgrades with balCon elements:
- With baLCon elements, upgrades and refurbishments with front panels, dam covers and dam heights can be realised quickly, easily and without great planning effort at manageable costs.
- Current safety and environmental requirements for shooting ranges can be met quickly and easily with baLCon elements.
- The simple installation of baLCon elements enables shooting clubs to carry out their own work.
- Low maintenance costs, baLCon elements can be easily replaced.
