PROTECTION OF WINDOWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24833, 5 February 1942, Page 4

PROTECTION OF WINDOWS

DANGER OF FLYING SPLINTERS SUGGESTED PRECAUTIONS In order to lessen the danger caused •by glass splinters from bomb-shattered windows, information on the protection of windows has been supplied to the Emergency Precautions Services. The weakest parts of buildings are the windows and similar openings, and, if unprotected, the glass will be shattered by bomb explosions, and a mass of lethal splinters will be projected inwards with great velocity. It is impossible to retain the use of a window and provide complete protection against all the possible effects of bombs. Complete protection involves the elimination of the window itself and the blocking of the opening. In many cases, however, partial protection is possible. One method which is being adopted to some extent in Auckland is the use of plywood shutters. These are light internal shutters which are placed in position as soon as an air raid warning is received and after the window has been opened. Other suggestions are contained in J. B. S. Haldane's book, "A.R.P." "The windows," he states, " must be specially protected against breakage by blast or splinters. One way is to gum transparent wrapping material inside the windows. For the benefit of those who cannot obtain these materials, I would remark that in Madrid most, large window panes were strengthened by a criss-cross arrangement of stout paper strips pasted on to them. This seemed to give a good deal of protection against the blast from bombs falling some distance away. For those who can afford them, the Government recommends a barricade of sandbags full of earth outside the window." Another method is to paste a widemesh, thin cotton net over the inside surface of the window. This method is used in some of the London buses.