Book excerpt: This textbook combines in one volume, for the first time, most of the material covered in the Fallout Shelter Analysis courses for architects and engineers sponsored by the Office of Civil Defense. It is intended for use by practicing professionals enrolled as students in formal graduate level university courses under the direction of professors well versed in the methods and techniques of shelter design and properties and effects of fallout gamma radiation. This volume confines itself to design and analysis of structures for protection against radioactive fallout, which presents the most widespread threat to our population in the event of a thermonuclear attack. The feasibility of incorporating inherent fallout protection into the design of many buildings and structures at little cost will be apparent when the designer becomes aware of the problem and familiar with the principles of fallout shelter design and analysis. The text is not intended to be used as the source of detailed background information on nuclear physics or weapons effects.