DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES AIR .

DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCEHEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES AIR FORCEWASHINGTON, DCAFMAN91-201 AFGM2016-019 March 2016MEMORANDUM FOR DISTRIBUTIONMAJCOMs/FOAs/DRUsFROM:HQ USAF/SE1400 Air Force PentagonWashington DC 20330-1400SUBJECT: Air Force Guidance Memorandum to AFMAN 91-201, Explosives Safety StandardsBy Order of the Secretary of the Air Force, this is an AF Guidance Memorandum(AFGM) immediately implementing changes to AFMAN 91-201. This AFGM updates locallightning warning system information in the event of an electrical storm as it pertains to nuclearand conventional weapons operations. To the extent its directions are inconsistent with other AirForce publications; the information herein prevails, in accordance with AFI 33-360, Publicationsand Forms Management.In advance of a rewrite of AFMAN 91-201, the Attachment to this Memorandum isupdated to provide guidance changes that are effective immediately. An asterisk (*) indicatesnewly revised material.The Memorandum becomes void after one-year has elapsed from the date of thisMemorandum, or upon incorporation of an Interim Change or rewrite of AFMAN 91-201,whichever is earlier.ANDREW M. MUELLER, Maj Gen, USAFChief of SafetyAttachment:Guidance Change

AttachmentGuidance ChangeThe change below to AFMAN 91-201, dated 12 January 2011, is effective immediately.*5.22. Facilities Requiring Lightning Protection Systems. Properly maintained lightningprotection systems (LPS) are required for all explosives facilities (to include open locations), exceptas noted in paragraph 5.25. The DoD has selected the LPS criteria of NFPA 780, Standard for theInstallation of Lightning Protection Systems, for ammunition and explosives (AE) facilities. If LPStest methods or designs are used, other than prescribed in this section, they must offer equivalentprotection to those prescribed in this section and be approved via the explosives site plan. DoD3150.02, DoD Nuclear Weapon System Safety Program Manual, and AFI 91-100 series WeaponsSystem Safety Rules provide LPS program guidance for nuclear weapons facilities and operations.*7.33. Local Lightning Watch, Warning and Advisory Support. The servicing AF weather unitwill provide lightning watch, warning, and advisory support to installations allowing units time totake precautionary measures (see AFVA 15-137, Operational Weather Squadron Areas ofResponsibility, to assist in contacting your servicing weather unit). Supervisory personnel willconsult with the supporting weather unit and/or review the local weather support plan to ensureadvisories, watches and warnings provide coverage for their working areas and become familiar withthe base notification process. In addition weather personnel will coordinate with all installationorganizations to ensure weather requirements are being met, in accordance with AFMAN 15-129,Volume 2, Air and Space Weather Operations - Exploitation.*7.34. Procedures in the Event of Lightning for Conventional AE.*7.34.3. Locations with nuclear weapons will request notification of lightning within 10 miles oftheir location according to DoDM 3150.02, from their servicing weather unit. Local procedures forthese advisories are documented in AFMAN 91-201, Explosive Safety Standards, Section 7H—Procedures in the Event of Electrical Storms. DoDM 3150.02 prescribes response actions for nuclearweapons operations when 10 mile lightning advisories are issued.*(added) 7.34.4. See section 5H for additional LPS information.*Attachment 1*(added) DoDM 3150.02, DoD Nuclear Weapon System Safety Program Manual, 31 January 2014,Incorporating Change 1, 15 January 2015*(added) AFMAN 15-129, Volume 2, Air and Space Weather Operations - Exploitation, 7 December2011*(added) AFVA 15-137, Operational Weather Squadron Areas of Responsibility, 27 Oct 2015

BY ORDER OF THESECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCEAIR FORCE MANUAL 91-20112 JANUARY 2011Incorporating Change 1, 22 June 2012SafetyEXPLOSIVES SAFETY STANDARDSCOMPLIANCE WITH THIS PUBLICAITON IS MANDATORYACCESSIBILITY: This publication is available digitally on the e-Publishing website atwww.e-publishing.af.mil for downloading or orderingRELEASABILITY: There are no releasability restrictions on this publication.OPR: AFSC/SEWSupersedes:AFMAN 91-201, 17November 2008Certified by: AF/SED (Mr. Roberto I.Guerrero)Pages: 473This Manual implements Air Force Policy Directive (AFPD) 91-2, Safety Programs, and DoD6055.09-M, Volumes 1–8, DoD Ammunition and Explosives Safety Standards. It establishes acentral source for explosive safety criteria. It identifies hazards and states safety precautions andrules when working with explosives. It applies to everyone involved in explosives operations ofany kind at Air Force, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve-owned or leased facilities andto US-titled ammunition in contractor or host-nation facilities. Compliance is mandatory, butonly as minimum safety standards. The use of the name or mark of any specific manufacturer,commercial product, commodity, or service in this publication does not imply endorsement bythe Air Force. Send major command (MAJCOM) supplements to AF/SE, 9700 Avenue G SE,Kirtland AFB NM 87117-5671, for approval before publication. Send recommended changes onAF Form 847, Recommendation for Change of Publication, any conflicts with other Air Forcedirectives as well as general correspondence about the content of this Manual through commandchannels to AFSC/SEW, 9700 G Avenue SE, Kirtland AFB NM 87117-5670. Ensure that allrecords created as a result of processes prescribed in this publication are maintained inaccordance with AFMAN 33-363, Management of Records, and disposed of in accordance ms.cfm.SUMMARY OF CHANGESThis interim change implements guidance for handling Joint Test Assemblies, eliminatesMAJCOM interim ESP approval, modifies (Event) Operational Waiver process, clarifiesplacarding of multicubes, maintenance of land in and around storage locations, requirements for

2AFMAN91-201 12 JANUARY 2011risk assessments, and Airfield deviations, Lightning Protection System design and operationalrequirements, and updates Intentional Detonation Site requirements . A margin bar ( ) indicatesnewly revised material.Chapter 1—INTRODUCTION AND EXCEPTION PROGRAM28Section 1A—Explosives Safety General Instructions281.1.Purpose. .281.2.Scope. .28Section 1B—Exception Program301.3.General. .301.4.Deviations. .311.5.Operational Waivers. .331.6.Waivers. .341.7.Exemptions. .341.8.SECAF Waivers and Exemptions for New Construction. .351.9.Exceptions for Non-DoD Explosives Activities on Air Force Installations. .351.10.Waiver and Exemption Information Requirements. .351.11.HAF-Level Waiver and Exemption Information Requirements. .361.12.Waiver or Exemption Decision Nomograph. .371.13.Periodic Reviews for Exceptions. .381.14.Cancellation of Waivers and Exemptions. .39Table 1.1.Likelihood of a Mishap. .40Table 1.2.Exposure. .40Table 1.3.Possible Consequences of a Mishap. .41Table 1.4.Periodic Review Levels for HAF-Level Waivers and Exemptions. .42Figure 1.1.Exception Decision Nomograph–Day-to-Day Operations. .43Figure 1.2.Exception Decision Nomograph–Contingency and War Plans. .44Figure 1.3.Nomograph Plotting Example. .45Chapter 2—REACTION EFFECTS46Section 2A—Principal Effects of High Density (HD) 1.1 Events462.1.Blast. .462.2.Fragments. .482.3.Thermal Hazards. .48

AFMAN91-201 12 JANUARY 201132.4.Groundshock and Cratering. .482.5.Expected Consequences. .49Section 2B—Principal Effects of HD 1.2 Events.512.6.Blast. .512.7.Fragments. .522.8.Thermal Hazards. .522.9.Ejected Items. .522.10.Propelled Items. .522.11.Firebrands. .522.12.Expected Consequences. .52Section 2C—Principal Effects of HD 1.3 Events532.13.Gas Pressures. .532.14.Fragments. .532.15.Thermal Hazards. .532.16.Propelled Items. .532.17.Firebrands. .532.18.Expected Consequences. .54Section 2D—Principal Effects of HD 1.4 Events542.19.Blast. .542.20.Fragments. .542.21.Thermal Hazards. .542.22.Firebrands. .542.23.Compatibility Group (CG) S Items. .542.24.Expected Consequences. .54Section 2E—Principal Effects of HD 1.5 and HD 1.6 Events542.25.HD 1.5 Effects. .542.26.HD 1.6 Effects. .54Table 2.1.Expected Peak Incident Pressures From HD 1.1 Events. .54Table 2.2.Probability Of Window Breakage From Incident Pressure. .55Table 2.3.General Blast Effects On Personnel–Eardrum Rupture. .56Table 2.4.General Blast Effects On Personnel–Lung Damage. .57Table 2.5.General Blast Effects On Personnel – Lethality Due To Lung Rupture. .57

4AFMAN91-201 12 JANUARY 2011Chapter 3—HAZARD CLASSIFICATION58Section 3A—DoD Hazard Classification System583.1.Purpose of Hazard Classification. .583.2.Responsibility for Hazard Classification. .583.3.Hazard Classification Authorities. .583.4.Standards for Determining DoD Hazard Classification. .583.5.Description of DoD Hazard Classification System. .583.6.Net Explosive Weight and Net Explosive Weight for Quantity-Distance. .593.7.Requirement for DoD Hazard Classification. .59Section 3B—Storage and Transportation Without DoD Hazard Classification603.8.Storage and Transportation Without DoD Hazard Classification. .603.9.Explosives With DOE Hazard Classifications. .603.10.DoD-Owned Non-Stock-Listed Commercial Explosives. .613.11.Manufacturing, Research and Development Items. .623.12.Foreign Explosives. .623.13.Non-DoD-Owned Explosives. .63Section 3C—Hazard Classification of Unpackaged Items3.14.Hazard Classification of Unpackaged Items. .Section 3D—Class 1 Divisions and Subdivisions6565663.15.HD 1.1 – Mass-explosion. .663.16.HD 1.2 – Non-mass Explosion, Fragment Producing. .663.17.HD 1.3 – Mass Fire, Minor Blast or Fragment. .673.18.HD 1.4 – Moderate Fire, No Significant Blast or Fragment. .673.19.HD 1.5 – Explosive Substance, Very Insensitive (With Mass Explosion Hazard).67HD 1.6 – Explosive Article, Extremely Insensitive. .673.20.Section 3E—Compatibility Groups and Sensitivity Groups673.21.Storage and Transportation Compatibility Groups. .673.22.Sensitivity Groups. .69Chapter 4—RISK ASSESSMENTS AND PROTECTION PRINCIPLES70Section 4A—Risk Assessments704.1.Requirements for Risk Assessments. .70

AFMAN91-201 12 JANUARY 201154.2.Risk Assessments. .704.3.Risk Management (RM). .704.4.System Safety. .714.5.Professional Assistance for Risk Assessments and System Safety Analyses. .71Section 4B—Munitions Systems and Equipment714.6.Safety Certification of Munitions Systems. .714.7.Risk Assessments for Explosives Equipment. .71Section 4C—Explosives Operations and Facilities714.8.Risk Assessment for Explosives Operations. .714.9.Risk Assessments for Explosives Facilities. .72Section 4D—Glass Breakage Risk Assessments724.10.Purpose of Glass Breakage Risk Assessments. .724.11.Requirements for Performance of Glass Breakage Risk Assessments. .724.12.Software Tools for Glass Breakage Risk Assessments. .734.13.Methodology for Glass Breakage Risk Assessments. .744.14.Engineering Mitigation Actions for Reducing or Eliminating Glass BreakageHazards to Personnel. .74Section 4E—Health Hazard and Environmental Assessments754.15.Health Hazard Assessments. .754.16.Environmental Assessments. .75Section 4F—Protection Principles754.17.Protective Shielding and Remotely Controlled Operations. .754.18.Intentional Ignition or Initiation of AE. .764.19.Protective Measures. .764.20.Emergency Operations. .77Five Step Process for Risk Management .78Figure 4.1.Chapter 5—GENERAL EXPLOSIVES FACILITY DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION ANDMAINTENANCE, AND EQUIPMENT DESIGN, MAINTENANCE ANDINSPECTION79Section 5A—Introduction795.1.Applicability. .Section 5B—Glass Panels7979