Merkhav Mugan (lit. protected space), popularly known as a mamad, is a reinforced security room required in all new buildings by Israel

Israel

The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...

i law. A Merkhav Mugan is deemed preferable to a bomb shelter

Bomb shelter

A bomb shelter is any kind of a civil defense structure designed to provide protection against the effects of a bomb.-Types of shelter:Different kinds of bomb shelters are configured to protect against different kinds of attack and strengths of hostile explosives. For example, an Air-raid shelter...

 when the warning time is too short for residents to reach a shelter, which may be located some distance away. It also offers protection against high impact projectiles and chemical weapons.

History

After Israel was attacked by Scud missiles in the Gulf War

Gulf War

The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...

, the Israeli Home Front Command

Israeli Home Front Command

The Israeli Home Front Command is an Israel Defense Forces regional command, created in February 1992 following the Gulf War, which was the first war since the 1948 Arab-Israeli War in which centres of civilian population faced significant threat....

 established new guidelines for civil defense

Civil defense

Civil defense, civil defence or civil protection is an effort to protect the citizens of a state from military attack. It uses the principles of emergency operations: prevention, mitigation, preparation, response, or emergency evacuation, and recovery...

. In 1992, technical specifications were drawn up for designated protected spaces in family homes. The Mekhav Mugan can withstand blast and shrapnel from conventional weapons, and offers protection against chemical and biological weapons. It has reinforced concrete walls and ceilings, 20–30 cm thick floors, and airtight steel doors and windows.

Types

• Merkhav Mugan Dirati (מרחב מוגן דירתי or ממ"ד) - installed in residential apartments.
• Merkhav Mugan Komati (מרחב מוגן קומתי or ממ"ק) - common floor space in apartment buildings in which there is no Merkhav Mugan Dirati in every apartment and in other multi-story buildings (mostly offices and industry).
• Merkhav Mugan Mosadi (מרחב מוגן מוסדי or ממ"מ) - installed in every public structure.