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Blast Resistant Buildings

Rigid Global Buildings is an AISC-certified, IAS-AC472 accredited manufacturer with 140 in-house engineers and 35+ years building pre-engineered barndominium and residential metal building kits across all 50 states. Every kit is fabricated to your dimensions and engineered to your local building code before it leaves our facility.

Blast Resistant Pre-Engineered Metal Buildings

Rigid Global Buildings is an AISC-certified, IAS-AC472 accredited manufacturer of pre-engineered metal building kits serving petrochemical, refining, and chemical processing industries across all 50 states. In 2015, Rigid formally teamed with Baker Engineering and Risk Consultants (BakerRisk), an industry leader in the design and evaluation of blast resistant construction, to deliver Blast Resistant Pre-Engineered Buildings for industrial applications.

Together, Rigid and BakerRisk offer a turn-key solution that couples comprehensive understanding of blast design with the efficiencies of a pre-engineered metal building — ensuring the piece-of-mind needed to confidently deliver a product that meets specification and owner requirements. Every kit is designed by our team of 140 in-house engineers and fabricated to your project-specific dimensions before shipping as a complete structural package to your job site.

Start Your Estimate — tell us your blast load requirements, building size, and project location. Prefer to talk? Call (888) 467-4443.

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    What Is a Blast Resistant Building?

    A blast resistant building is a structure engineered to withstand the overpressure and dynamic loads generated by an accidental explosion — protecting personnel and equipment in petrochemical, refining, and processing environments where flammable or explosive materials are present.

    With the emergence of domestic fracking and the associated growth in natural gas and refining facilities, owners have encountered the challenge of safely locating personnel around expanding production and within limited real estate. Updated industry guidance — including API RP 752 and API RP 753 — has pushed owners to retrofit existing structures for higher blast loads or construct new buildings to accommodate growth and meet the latest industry requirements.

    Pre-engineered metal buildings have become the building of choice when the blast load is between 0 and 5 psi — more cost efficient, more customizable, and more adaptable than reinforced concrete or blast resistant modular alternatives in this blast range.

    Start Your Estimate — tell us your blast load requirements and project location.

    Blast-Metal-Buildings-Rigid-2

    Contact Our Blast Resistant Department

    Chris Greer — VP of Sales

    (281) 704-5320

    PEMB vs. Modular vs. Concrete — Why Pre-Engineered Metal Buildings

    Historically there have been two primary options when constructing a new industrial blast resistant building — reinforced concrete structures and blast resistant modular buildings (BRM). While both have merit in resisting blast loads, both can be restrictive when considering versatility, customization, schedule, and cost.

    With advances in engineering and testing, pre-engineered metal buildings have become the preferred solution when the blast load is between 0 and 5 psi. The Rigid / BakerRisk solution delivers a comprehensive blast analysis using dynamic modeling combined with the guaranteed quality and efficiencies of a pre-engineered metal building.

    Factor PEMB Modular Concrete
    Future Modifications Easy to retrofit and upgrade to meet new blast load criteria as process areas expand May require complete tear-down and replacement May require complete tear-down and replacement
    Customization Any width, length, virtually any height or ridge orientation. Exterior finishes include Stone, Stucco, EIFS, Hardie Board, Vinyl Siding Pre-set dimensions, no exterior finish options Limited flexibility, limited exterior options
    Cost at 0–5 psi Most cost efficient in this blast range Higher cost Higher cost
    Schedule Faster fabrication and erection timeline Moderate Longest timeline

    Start Your Estimate — tell us your blast load requirements, building size, and project location.

    Blast Resistant Building Applications

    Rigid blast resistant pre-engineered buildings serve a wide range of petrochemical, refining, and processing applications — any facility where personnel must be safely located near potential blast hazards.

    Control Rooms
    Blast resistant control rooms for process operators — engineered to protect personnel and critical instrumentation in facilities where process upsets or accidental releases could generate overpressure events.
    Safe Rooms & Refuge Buildings
    Personnel refuge structures for emergency shelter during process incidents — designed to provide a protected assembly point for workers in petrochemical and refining environments.
    Compressor Buildings
    Blast resistant enclosures for gas compression equipment — protecting both machinery and maintenance personnel in natural gas processing and pipeline compression facilities.
    Administrative Buildings
    Office and administrative buildings sited within or adjacent to process areas — engineered to meet API RP 752 and API RP 753 requirements for occupied buildings near potential blast sources.
    Ready to Start Your Project?
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    Start Your Estimate
    Metering & Instrument Buildings
    Blast resistant enclosures for metering stations, instrument panels, and electrical equipment — protecting critical process infrastructure in hazardous area classifications.
    Equipment Shelters
    Blast resistant shelters for process equipment and personnel access points — customizable exterior finishes allow integration with existing facility aesthetics.
    Maintenance Shops
    Blast resistant maintenance and repair facilities sited within process areas — clear-span interiors with full customization for equipment access, ventilation, and workflow requirements.
    Retrofit & Upgrade Projects
    Existing PEMB structures can be retrofitted and upgraded to meet new blast load criteria as process areas expand or blast contours change — a key advantage over modular and concrete alternatives.

    Start Your Estimate — tell us your application, blast load requirements, and project location.

    “Rigid Global Buildings went above and beyond to make me feel confident in the metal buildings I was purchasing. Their team helped with multiple aspects of my jobsite, kept the project moving, and made the overall process significantly smoother than I expected.”
    Jeff K.General Contractor

    Key Advantages of Blast Resistant Pre-Engineered Metal Buildings

    The Rigid / BakerRisk solution delivers performance advantages that reinforced concrete and modular alternatives cannot match in the 0–5 psi blast load range.

    Comprehensive Blast Analysis
    Every Rigid blast resistant building includes a comprehensive blast analysis using dynamic modeling — not simplified static analysis. BakerRisk's dynamic approach ensures the design meets specification and owner requirements with confidence.
    Cost Efficiency at 0–5 psi
    Pre-engineered metal buildings are the most cost efficient blast resistant solution when the design blast load is between 0 and 5 psi — outperforming both modular and concrete alternatives on first cost and lifecycle cost.
    Future Modification Capability
    As process areas expand and blast contours change, PEMB structures can be retrofitted and upgraded to meet new blast load criteria — without demolition. Modular and concrete alternatives typically require complete replacement in the same scenario.
    Full Customization
    Any width, any length, virtually any height or ridge orientation. Exterior finishes include Stone, Stucco, EIFS, Hardie Board, and Vinyl Siding — unlike modular buildings which offer no exterior finish options and pre-set dimensions only.
    API RP 752 & 753 Compliance
    The Rigid / BakerRisk solution is designed to meet the requirements of API RP 752 and API RP 753 — the industry standards governing the siting and design of occupied buildings near potential blast sources in petrochemical and refining facilities.
    Turn-Key Solution
    One turn-key solution covering blast analysis, engineering, fabrication, and delivery — Rigid provides the pre-engineered building system, BakerRisk provides the blast engineering expertise. No separate coordination between blast consultant and building manufacturer.

    Start Your Estimate — tell us your blast load requirements and project location.

    How to Specify a Blast Resistant Pre-Engineered Building

    Blast resistant building projects require additional engineering inputs beyond a standard pre-engineered building. These are the key steps in the specification and design process.

    Determine the Design Blast Load
    The design blast load — expressed in psi overpressure — is the starting point for all blast resistant building design. This load is determined by a quantitative risk analysis (QRA) or consequence analysis of the potential explosion sources on your site. BakerRisk performs this analysis as part of the Rigid / BakerRisk turn-key solution. The Rigid / BakerRisk PEMB solution is optimized for blast loads between 0 and 5 psi.
    Review API RP 752 and API RP 753 Requirements
    API RP 752 governs the management of hazards associated with location of process plant permanent buildings. API RP 753 extends this guidance to portable buildings. Both standards provide the framework for siting decisions and occupied building design in petrochemical and refining facilities. The Rigid / BakerRisk solution is designed to meet the requirements of both standards.
    Evaluate PEMB vs. Modular vs. Concrete
    For blast loads between 0 and 5 psi, PEMB is typically the most cost efficient and flexible solution. For blast loads above 5 psi, reinforced concrete may be required. Modular blast resistant buildings offer speed of installation but sacrifice customization and future modification capability. The Rigid / BakerRisk team can assist with the structural option evaluation for your specific project requirements.
    Define Building Size, Layout, and Siting
    Blast resistant building siting — distance and orientation relative to potential blast sources — directly affects the design blast load and structural requirements. Building size and layout are driven by the number of occupants, equipment requirements, and operational workflow. The Rigid / BakerRisk solution accommodates any width, length, and height configuration required by your project.
    Plan for Future Modifications
    Process areas grow. Blast contours change. A PEMB blast resistant building can be retrofitted and upgraded to meet new blast load criteria as your facility expands — without demolition. Factor future modification capability into your structural option selection from the start. This is one of the most significant long-term advantages of the PEMB solution over modular and concrete alternatives.

    Start Your Estimate — tell us your blast load requirements, building size, and project location. Or contact Chris Greer directly at (281) 704-5320.

    Common Blast Resistant Building Configurations

    Blast resistant pre-engineered buildings are sized to your specific occupancy, equipment, and site requirements. These are common configurations by application — every building is custom engineered to your project specifications.

    Application Typical Size Blast Load Range Notes
    Control Room20×40 – 40×801–5 psiPersonnel protection, instrumentation, operator workstations
    Safe Room / Refuge20×30 – 30×601–5 psiEmergency assembly, temporary shelter during process incidents
    Compressor Building40×60 – 60×1200.5–3 psiEquipment enclosure, maintenance access, ventilation requirements
    Administrative Building40×80 – 60×1201–5 psiOffices, meeting rooms, sited within process area per API RP 752
    Instrument / Metering Building10×20 – 20×401–5 psiEquipment protection, hazardous area classification
    Maintenance Shop40×60 – 60×1000.5–3 psiClear-span interior, equipment access, personnel workspace

    Start Your Estimate — tell us your application, blast load requirements, and project location. Or contact Chris Greer at (281) 704-5320.

    Serving All 50 States

    Blast Resistant Buildings Delivered Nationwide

    Rigid Global Buildings ships blast resistant pre-engineered building kits to petrochemical, refining, and processing facilities across all 50 states. Every building is engineered to your specific blast load requirements and local building code before it ships.

    State Spotlight

    Blast Resistant Building FAQs

    Common questions about blast resistant pre-engineered metal buildings, the Rigid / BakerRisk solution, and the design process.

    What blast load range does the Rigid / BakerRisk PEMB solution cover?
    The Rigid / BakerRisk pre-engineered metal building solution is optimized for blast loads between 0 and 5 psi. In this range, PEMB is typically the most cost efficient and customizable blast resistant structural solution available. For blast loads above 5 psi, reinforced concrete may be required.
    Who is BakerRisk and what do they provide?
    Baker Engineering and Risk Consultants (BakerRisk) is an industry leader in the design and evaluation of blast resistant construction. In the Rigid / BakerRisk turn-key solution, BakerRisk provides the comprehensive blast analysis using dynamic modeling — including quantitative risk assessment, blast load determination, and structural performance verification. Rigid provides the pre-engineered metal building system.
    What are the API RP 752 and API RP 753 standards?
    API RP 752 is the American Petroleum Institute recommended practice for management of hazards associated with the location of process plant permanent buildings. API RP 753 extends this guidance to portable buildings. Both standards provide the framework for siting decisions and occupied building design in petrochemical and refining facilities. The Rigid / BakerRisk solution is designed to meet the requirements of both standards.
    Can a blast resistant PEMB be modified if blast contours change?
    Yes — this is one of the most significant advantages of PEMB over modular and concrete alternatives. If a process area expands and the building falls into a new, higher blast contour, a