UK1 12V Nuclear Shelter Air Filter
The UK1 12V Nuclear Shelter Air Filter is a purpose built 12V air filter system designed for domestic use to bring clean air into a sealed emergency space, in the event of a nuclear incident etc.
In 1980 the Home Office published a booklet called Protect and Survive. The booklet explained how a fallout room and 'inner refuge' can be created inside the average British home in the event of a nuclear war.
Today, the majority of nuclear bunkers that the public know about have been decommissioned, abandoned or repurposed. There is no provision by the UK government to accommodate any of the British public in bunkers during a nuclear attack. When we compare the UK to other European countries, some of which can shelter a large proportion of their population or even their entire population, Britain is woefully unprepared.
Building a bunker in the UK is not something that is practical or affordable to do for the average person. Planning permission means that neighbours would be alerted to one's intentions long before building is even underway. The bunker builder would become the subject of local attention, and would likely make the newspapers or even national television as the lunatic building a doomsday bunker in their garden. The next best option for protection is a basement, which can be converted by means of a reinforced roof and even a gas tight steel door, with suitable NBC air system. The UK1 air filter would be suitable for this purpose.
For the vast majority, our home is all we have, however if a room or space can be allocated on the ground floor, 3 metres or more from all external walls, then an 'inner refuge' could be built. If a house is destroyed in a 5psi blast wave of a nuclear bomb, then an inner refuge and it's occupants would likely go with it. Perhaps more likely would be that your home is located either not in a blast zone at all, or in the wider 1psi blast zone of a bomb. In this case windows would probably break, with roof and heat damage possible. However if one can seal up broken windows within 10 minutes before fallout may arrive, then an inner refuge with NBC air filter could make the difference between surviving and not surviving.
Such an emergency shelter should be as airtight as possible and it must have a suitable air filter to bring in clean breathable air. It also must create positive pressure, where the pressure inside the shelter is greater than the atmospheric pressure outside of the shelter. The positive pressure (inside air pushing out of the shelter) prevents contaminated air from seeping in from outside through cracks and gaps. As important, positive pressure ensures that exhaled carbon dioxide along with unwanted odours, is pushed out.
Whether it’s a safe room, basement fallout shelter or improvised inner refuge, an emergency shelter should have a suitable air filter to bring in clean breathable air.
It also must create positive pressure, where pressure inside the shelter is greater than the pressure outside of the shelter. The reason for this is that exhaled carbon dioxide needs to be expelled as well as unwanted odours. As important - the positive pressure (inside air pushing out of the shelter) prevents contaminated air from seeping in from outside through cracks and gaps.
Features
+ 12VDC – can be used with a range of 12V sources such as car/leisure batteries, solar, wind, pedal and hand crank generators directly
+ Heavy steel construction - yet portable
+ Adjustable speed control
+ Can be used for various types of emergency shelter
+ Designed and manufactured in the UK
The UK1 NBC Air Filter Kit Includes:
- UK1 NBC air filter
- 1 metre of 100mm black ducting
- 1 metal 100mm duct clip
- ‘Red n Black’ Power lead 3 metre with Blue 2 pin plug to UK1 unit, and bare ends to 12V source
- Spare Blue 2 pin plug (For replacing the main cable plug or wiring to another 12V source such as a mains power supply - a note about mains power supplies, the unit would need a 10A switch mode power supply to run from mains).
The filter block is comprised of in sequence: a pre filter, a HEPA 13 filter, which removes 99.97% of particles down to 0.3 micron and a TEDA carbon filter containing 5kgs (11lbs) of carbon. TEDA carbon is a special type of carbon used in the nuclear industry that is impregnated with Triethlyenediamine, which by the process of adsorption removes radioactive iodine and methyl iodine from passing air as well as a range of other toxic gases
The portable UK1 NBC Filter consists of a tough powder coat painted heavy duty steel enclosure containing a fan, adjustable speed controller and specially made replaceable filter block.
Main Construction
• Steel enclosure, powder coat painted.
• Quick release cover providing access to replaceable filter block Filter Construction.
• Combined HEPA / TEDA carbon filter block in metal unit with foam gasket on each face.
Filter Specification
• HEPA 13 to EN1822 standard
• 99.97% particle removal to 0.3 micron
• TEDA (Triethlyenediamine impregnated) activated carbon granules (coconut shell) 5kgs / 11llbs
Power
12VDC 80W / 6A MAX
Air Output
• 100CFM MAX, measured at 100mm output duct as 1500 ft/min x 0.0666 (Area of duct in ft sq) = 99.9 CFM
Residence Time
• 0.3 seconds
External Testing
• EMC tested in UK for electrical emissions and Immunity
• *LEV Thorough Examination and Testing (TExT) under COSHH Regulation 9
• CE & UKCA marked Dimensions
Air flow measurements through the UK1 Air Filter are given in CFM (cubic feet per minute). The maximum output is 100 CFM. The amount of air that an adult with a high pulse rate breathes is up to 5 CFM per min. Therefore theoretically 100 CFM could provide air for up to 20 people.
In practice the UK1 is intended for use by small families, where 4 people will require around ~25CFM. One must take into account that the air flow rate will be reduced with the addition of certain pre filters in wall fittings, along with different lengths of ducting, pipework, power source fluctuations and battery drain. With this in-mind it is safer to double the amount of air that a person might need, to 10CFM. This means that in practice the UK1 could support 10 people.
Noise reduction is important wherever possible. The UK1 can be turned down to a more comfortable level with the built-in speed controller. In addition to the reduction of noise levels, reducing fan speed (and air output) will reduce current drain from a battery.
In the event of a nuclear attack an EMP (Electromagnetic pulse) needs to be considered. The UK1 contains electrical circuitry that is deliberately low tech, avoiding LCD screens, timers and anything requiring microelectronics that is most vunerable to an EMP. The unit itself provides a degree of EMP protection because it is a solid steel enclosure (Albeit with a 100mm hole in the top and side).
The motor controller module inside has some electronic components, but it is wrapped in a fine stainless-steel mesh for further protection.
We offer the UK1 as a stand-alone unit (filter enclosure and filter only, with QTY 2 wire-able power plugs), for use with your own 100mm ducting, ducting clips, tape and on/off-grid power supplies.
Please note, we do not currently offer a blast valve or over-pressure valve, which are usually required for purpose-built bunkers / blast shelters. It should be noted that there is a large difference between a blast shelter and a fallout shelter. A blast shelter should be underground and designed to withstand the pressure wave of a nuclear detonation with a minimum of 5 psi. Blast shelters of 20 and 40psi are typical, and these require specialist knowledge and professional build skills, along with adequate blast valves.
A fallout shelter on the other hand is a broad term used to describe a shelter that will minimise risk to life from radioactive fallout particles, be that settled particles that are radiating through materials or air-suspended particles that may be inhaled or ingested. Such a shelter requires correct distance positioning, as much dense material protection around it as possible and a sealed positive pressure air filter set up, which is the life support system of a shelter.
Dimensions 42 x 24 x 40 cms.
Weight 18 kg.
