Mamad Sealing Kit — What You Need & Where to Buy

Why Do You Need a Sealing Kit?

Your mamad protects against shrapnel, but to also protect against chemical and biological threats, it needs to be airtight. A sealing kit lets you seal your safe room in minutes when the Home Front Command instructs you to do so.

The distinction is important: during a regular rocket alert, you simply enter the mamad and close the door. But during a chemical or biological event, the room must be completely sealed — every gap, every crack, every ventilation opening must be covered. This is where a prepared sealing kit saves critical time.

Having your kit ready and knowing how to use it means you can seal your mamad in 5-10 minutes instead of scrambling to find materials during a crisis.

Equipment List

Essential Items

Item	Quantity	Est. Price	Notes
Wide adhesive tape (5cm)	3-4 rolls	15-25 ₪/roll	Brown packing tape works well; cloth tape is even better
Thick plastic sheeting (0.1mm+)	2x3 meters	30-50 ₪	Pre-cut to fit your window and any vents
Wet wipes	1 pack	10-20 ₪	For wiping down surfaces before taping
Scissors	1 pair	already at home	Keep a dedicated pair in the kit
Flashlight with batteries	1	30-60 ₪	LED type, with spare batteries
Marker pen	1	5 ₪	To mark sealing points in advance

Recommended Items

Item	Quantity	Est. Price	Notes
Bottled water	10 liters per person	20-40 ₪	Replace every 6 months
First aid kit	1	50-100 ₪	Basic kit with bandages, antiseptic, painkillers
Battery-powered radio	1	50-100 ₪	For receiving official updates (Galei Zahal 102.3 FM)
Power bank	1	50-150 ₪	10,000+ mAh recommended
Snacks / dry food	1 day supply	30-50 ₪	Granola bars, crackers, dried fruit
Personal medications	1 week supply	-	Critical: keep a rotating supply
Garbage bags	5-10	10 ₪	For waste and emergency sanitation
Bucket with lid	1	20-30 ₪	Emergency toilet if shelter-in-place extends
Phone charger cable	1	10-20 ₪	Matching your phone type
Copies of important documents	1 set	-	ID, passport, insurance, medical records
Blanket	1 per person	30-50 ₪	Space blanket (emergency blanket) is compact
Dust mask / N95	2-3 per person	10-20 ₪	Additional protection if seal is imperfect

For Families with Children

Item	Notes
Diapers and wipes	If applicable
Baby formula / bottles	Pre-prepared if possible
Small toys or books	Distraction reduces stress
Comfort item (stuffed animal, blanket)	Helps children feel safe
Children’s medications	Fever reducer, any prescriptions

Total cost for a basic kit: 100-200 ₪

Total cost for a comprehensive kit: 300-500 ₪

Where to Buy

• Hardware stores: Home Center, ACE — best selection of tape and plastic sheeting
• Supermarkets: During emergency preparedness campaigns, many supermarkets set up dedicated shelves
• Online: Amazon.co.il, Zap, KSP — convenient for comparing prices
• Home Front Command: Free kits available for eligible populations (elderly, disabled, low-income families). Contact your local municipality or the Home Front Command website
• Pharmacies: Good source for first aid kits and medications

Tip: Do not wait until an emergency to buy supplies. During escalations, tape and plastic sheeting sell out within hours. Buy your kit during routine times and store it in or near your mamad.

How to Seal Your Mamad — Step by Step

Preparation (Do This Now, Before Any Emergency)

1. Measure your window and pre-cut plastic sheeting to cover it with a 15cm overlap on all sides
2. Identify all openings — door, window, ventilation holes, air conditioning vents, electrical outlets on exterior walls
3. Mark sealing points with a marker so you know exactly where to tape during an emergency
4. Practice sealing at least once so you know the process and how long it takes

Step 1: Door

1. Close the door and lock it using the manual handle
2. Check that the rubber seal sits flush all the way around — run your hand along it to feel for gaps
3. If there are gaps — seal them with adhesive tape, pressing firmly
4. Tape along the bottom of the door where it meets the floor, as this is the most common leak point

Step 2: Window

1. Close the steel shutter from inside and lock it
2. Cover the window from the inside with your pre-cut plastic sheeting
3. Tape the plastic firmly around the entire perimeter, overlapping the tape onto the wall
4. Press out any air bubbles and make sure there are no gaps at the corners

Step 3: Ventilation Openings

1. If you have a filtration system (NBC filter) — turn it on. Do not seal the filtration opening
2. If you don’t have a filtration system — seal the vent opening with plastic sheeting and tape
3. Check for any air conditioning ducts, cable entry points, or electrical outlets on exterior walls and seal them

Step 4: Final Check

1. Turn off all lights in the room
2. Have someone shine a strong flashlight around the door frame, window, and all sealed openings from outside
3. If you spot any light coming through — seal that area immediately
4. Once satisfied, you can turn the lights back on

Step 5: Stay Informed

1. Turn on your battery-powered radio (Galei Zahal 102.3 FM)
2. Wait for official instructions before unsealing
3. Do not open the door until the Home Front Command gives the all-clear

Common Sealing Mistakes to Avoid

• Using masking tape — it does not stick well enough. Use brown packing tape or cloth tape
• Not cleaning surfaces — tape sticks poorly to dusty or dirty surfaces. Wipe with wet wipes first
• Forgetting the floor gap — the gap between the door bottom and the floor is the most common overlooked point
• Sealing the NBC filter — if you have a filtration system, it should remain open and running
• Waiting too long — practice your sealing routine so it becomes muscle memory

Annual Maintenance

Perform this check once a year, ideally before the Home Front Command annual exercise:

• Check the rubber seal — press it with your finger; it should be flexible, not hard or cracked
• Replace old adhesive tape — tape loses stickiness within 1-2 years; keep fresh rolls
• Test batteries in your flashlight and radio; replace if needed
• Refresh your water and food supplies — replace every 6-12 months
• Check medication expiry dates — replace expired medications
• Verify plastic sheeting — make sure it hasn’t degraded or been damaged
• Practice the sealing routine — especially if new family members have joined

FAQ

How long can you stay in a sealed mamad? Up to 6 hours with a filtration system running. Without filtration — roughly 2-3 hours, depending on room size and number of people. A standard 9 sqm mamad with 4 people will begin to feel stuffy after about 2 hours without filtration.

Do I need to seal during every siren? No. Full sealing is only required during a chemical or biological event, which the Home Front Command will announce specifically. For a regular rocket alert, it’s enough to enter the mamad and close the door. Most alerts in Israel are conventional rocket attacks, not chemical.

What if I don’t have time to seal everything? Prioritize in this order: (1) close and lock the door, (2) seal the door gaps, (3) close and seal the window, (4) seal ventilation openings. Even partial sealing provides significant protection.

Can I use regular garbage bags instead of plastic sheeting? In an emergency, yes — any plastic barrier is better than none. However, garbage bags are thinner and harder to work with. Pre-cut plastic sheeting is much more effective and costs very little.

Should I seal air conditioning vents? If the AC unit draws air from outside, yes — seal the vent opening. If it is a split system that only recirculates indoor air, sealing is less critical but still recommended during a chemical event.

How do I know if there is a chemical attack versus a regular rocket attack? The Home Front Command will issue a specific announcement via the alert app, radio, and TV. Chemical attack protocols include different siren patterns and explicit instructions to seal rooms. Do not seal your room for a standard rocket alert — you need fresh air.

Where should I store the kit? Inside or immediately adjacent to your mamad. The kit should be accessible within seconds. Do not store it in a locked closet or a different room.