Airlock Arrangement for Shelters and Bunkers

Airlock in large shelter with installation overpressure valves

What is an airlock

Airlock is a chamber used for controlled passage between two rooms of the shelter or areas with controlled environments. In shelters airlocks are used for safe entry in during the emergency event with CBRN contamination of the air.

Airlock typically consists a chamber or several following chambers which create stages and each is separated by gastight doors and can be combined with protection from blast and other threats. To move between the airlock stages the each door opens separately but not simultaneously, creating stages with movement of the air toward outside keeping the previous stage without contamination.

Regulation of overpressure in the shelter entrance airlocks is required for positive pressure gradation (steps) between the main compartment of the shelter and the airlock. The overpressure in the main compartment should be higher that in the airlock, what allow to direct the flow of the air from the compartment towards outside and prevent the contamination of the main compartment when the people enter the airlock.

Such steps in overpressure can be created by using Arconik PRV 800 differential pressure regulation valves in the inner perimeter (main compartment and airlock) and BVNC overpressure blast valves at the outer perimeter (airlock and the "street"). 

In many cases airlock is also used as a decontamination chamber to decontaminate personnel which enter the shelter.