HEWEX® Technology
Next-Generation Structural Electromagnetic Shielding
Modern critical infrastructure, data centres, research laboratories, telecommunications installations, defence facilities and specialist medical environments require considerably more than a conventional Faraday Cage or a single layer of shielding material.
Increasing requirements for electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), electromagnetic pulse (EMP) protection and infrastructure resilience mean that effective shielding must now be considered an integral part of modern facility engineering.
The development of HEWEX® is built upon more than two decades of engineering experience in the design and construction of advanced protection systems, including Radiological Shielding, High-Density Concrete technologies and specialist shielding solutions for critical facilities.
This experience established the engineering foundation for the development of the HEWEX® Structural Electromagnetic Shielding platform.
HEWEX® was developed for the engineering and delivery of Structural Electromagnetic Shielding systems integrated directly into the building envelope. It combines electromagnetic protection with structural durability, enabling project-specific solutions for applications ranging from the refurbishment of existing facilities to newly constructed high-security infrastructure.
Basic protection
Reliable Structural Electromagnetic Shielding for standard commercial and industrial applications.
Enhanced Protection
High Shielding Effectiveness across a broad frequency spectrum for demanding environments and mission-critical applications.
Strategic protection
Integrated solutions for facilities requiring the highest level of Electromagnetic, EMP and Radiological Shielding.
HEWEX® technology
Three Protection Levels. One Engineering Philosophy. Integrating protection into the building structure.
Why Was HEWEX® Developed?
For many years, electromagnetic shielding systems have been based primarily on metallic structures, conductive meshes, shielding foils and welded Faraday Cage enclosures. These technologies remain the correct engineering choice for many specialised applications.
However, the continued development of technical infrastructure and increasing investor requirements have highlighted the limitations of treating shielding as a separate layer added to the building at a later stage.
- Modern facilities increasingly require not only high Shielding Effectiveness (SE), but also:
- long-term operational durability,
- mechanical robustness,
- corrosion resistance,
- efficient integration with the building structure,
- reduced vulnerability to installation damage,
- and the ability to engineer electromagnetic protection as part of the complete facility.
HEWEX® was developed in response to these requirements.
Its purpose is not to replace every established shielding method. Instead, it provides a modern engineering platform for creating monolithic and structurally integrated protection systems whose performance results from the design of the complete building element—not solely from the presence of a conductive material.
This approach transforms electromagnetic shielding from an additional building component into an inherent part of the facility’s architecture, structure and protective function.
What Is HEWEX® Technology?
HEWEX® is a proprietary SURICO technology for the engineering and construction of Structural Electromagnetic Shielding and radiological protection systems.
The technology is protected under Polish Patent No. 243295.
HEWEX® is based on the engineering of a complete protection system in which the required performance is achieved through the interaction of carefully selected Functional Layers, Conductive Layers, the Mineral Matrix and the structural configuration of the building envelope.
The HEWEX® technology family comprises three levels of electromagnetic protection, developed for different project requirements, facility types and security objectives.
Regardless of the selected protection level, the fundamental principle remains unchanged: every HEWEX® system is engineered individually according to the characteristics of the facility, its operational requirements and the target Shielding Effectiveness.
The HEWEX® Engineering Philosophy
The central principle of HEWEX® is to engineer electromagnetic protection as an integral part of the building structure rather than as an additional layer installed during the finishing stage.
Every facility has its own electromagnetic environment and project-specific EMC requirements. For this reason, HEWEX® is not based on a single universal system configuration.
Instead, it provides a flexible engineering platform through which the shielding system can be developed around:
- the nature of the electromagnetic threats,
- the required Shielding Effectiveness,
- the relevant frequency range,
- the function of the protected facility,
- structural and installation constraints,
- long-term durability requirements,
- and project economics.
Structural Integration and Mechanical Durability
Many conventional electromagnetic shielding systems rely on thin metal sheets, conductive foils or exposed mesh layers. Their protective performance may therefore depend on components that remain vulnerable to puncturing, deformation or accidental damage during installation and subsequent refurbishment work.
In HEWEX® systems, the shielding function is integrated directly into the wall, floor, ceiling or other structural building element.
This provides high mechanical durability both during construction and throughout the operational life of the facility.
Structural integration significantly reduces the risk of damage to the elements responsible for electromagnetic protection during:
- installation of building services,
- equipment replacement,
- maintenance work,
- facility refurbishment,
- or future functional changes.
The shielding system becomes part of the building element rather than a fragile surface layer attached to it.
Encapsulation of Conductive Components and Corrosion Resistance
One of the defining characteristics of HEWEX® is the method used to protect the conductive components responsible for electromagnetic shielding.
The Conductive Layers and other Functional Layers are permanently integrated within the Mineral Matrix. This configuration restricts the access of moisture and oxygen to the conductive components and protects them from direct exposure to the operational environment.
The resulting encapsulation supports:
- high corrosion resistance,
- stable shielding properties,
- long-term mechanical integrity,
- reduced sensitivity to environmental exposure,
- and prolonged service life of the complete shielding system.
This design approach allows electromagnetic performance to be maintained without relying on exposed conductive surfaces that may deteriorate or require additional protection during operation.
Controlled Electromagnetic Energy Absorption
Conventional electromagnetic shields are commonly associated with the reflection of electromagnetic energy from a conductive surface.
HEWEX® uses a broader engineering approach in which Controlled Electromagnetic Energy Absorption contributes to the overall shielding performance of the system.
Within the appropriately engineered composite structure, part of the incident electromagnetic energy is progressively absorbed and dissipated throughout the material volume rather than being predominantly reflected from a single metallic interface.
This mechanism can contribute to:
- reduced electromagnetic wave transmission,
- progressive energy attenuation,
- limitation of undesirable internal reflections,
- reduction of complex wave interactions within the protected environment,
- and high shielding performance, particularly at higher frequencies.
The final performance results from the interaction of the complete system, including its Functional Layers, Conductive Layers, Mineral Matrix and structural arrangement.
Controlled Electromagnetic Energy Absorption is one of the principal characteristics distinguishing HEWEX® from shielding systems based predominantly on reflection from exposed metallic surfaces.
Three Levels of HEWEX® Structural Electromagnetic Shielding
The HEWEX® engineering platform is supported by more than two decades of practical experience in designing and delivering advanced protection systems for critical infrastructure, medical facilities, research laboratories and industrial applications.
The HEWEX® family has been developed to address different engineering requirements while following one common philosophy:
Structural Electromagnetic Shielding integrated directly into the building structure.
The selection of the appropriate protection level depends on the required Shielding Effectiveness (SE), the nature of the electromagnetic threats and the operational function of the protected facility.