Not just duct tape: how to protect windows from shock waves

The brutal attacks on peaceful cities in Ukraine by the Russian army over the New Year's holidays have once again made the issue of protecting windows from blast waves relevant. The most common method is to tape the windows. But it is not the only one.

OBOZ.UA talks about six ways to protect windows from the effects of nearby explosions and about the advantages and disadvantages of each of them.

Adhesive tape

Adhesive tape alone will not help prevent glass from breaking during an explosion, but it will prevent it from shattering and injuring those in the room. Therefore, it is necessary to seal as large an area as possible. There is no correct form of sealing. Apply the tape crosswise, in a chaotic pattern, or even completely cover the entire surface of the glass: all these methods will help better protect against shards. You can also tape frames together to prevent them from flying out during an explosion.

Fabric strips

Strips of cotton fabric work in a similar way. They will also help reduce the impact of glass fragments. But to stick them on, you will have to work hard: cut up something (for example, an old sheet) and prepare a paste. To make it, bring 0.5 liters of water to a boil and pour a mixture of half a cup of flour and a cup of cold water. Stir the paste constantly to prevent it from lumping. The product is ready when the first bubbles appear. The cooking process takes about 30-60 seconds. The cooled paste is passed through cheesecloth and applied to the fabric with a brush. The strips soaked in the product are glued to the window panes in the same way as adhesive tape. Remove this protection by simply soaking it with water.

Newspaper or paper

This is the least effective of all the protection, but it is better than nothing at all. Strips of newspaper or other paper can also be glued to the pasteboard or attached with soap. Use a wet bar to rub the paper well and attach it to the glass. It will be the easiest way to remove this protection.

Sandbags

This method is considered the most effective. Heavy bags prevent the glass from shattering and absorb part of the shock wave. On the ground floors, it is better to seal the windows from the outside, but you can install such a barrier indoors as well. The main disadvantage is that sandbags completely block out daylight.

Books

You can also block window openings from the inside with books. They also weigh a lot and can become a physical barrier to debris. But you have to seal the windows tightly so that at the end of the day, it will be difficult to slide the books into the towers.

Plywood shields

Windows can also be protected with plywood boards. They will hold the fragments well if the glass is broken by a shock wave, but they will also block daylight. To allow it to pass inside at least a little, you can make small slits in the plywood and cover them with transparent tape.

Earlier, OBOZ.UA told you how to charge your phone in case of a power outage.

Subscribe to OBOZ.UA on Telegram and Viber to keep up with the latest events.