TACTICAL EXPLOSIVES SAFETYTACTICAL EXPLOSIVES

US Army Technical Center for Explosives SafetyTACTICAL EXPLOSIVES SAFETYQuick Reference GuideRevision 615 December 2011US Army Technical Center for Explosives SafetyDSN 956-8737 or commercial (918) 420-8737usarmy.mcalester.usamc.list.dac-esThe Cardinal RuleExpose:the minimum number of peopleto the minimum amount of explosivesfor the minimum amount of timeConsistent with safe and efficient operations.2

TACTICAL EXPLOSIVES SAFETYQuick Reference GuideRevision 615 December 2011Table of Contents3Table of ContentsPurpose . 6Introduction . 7Distances . 8Quantity Distance . 8Measuring Distances . 9Internal Distances . 9External Distances . 12Barricades . 16Barricade Diagram . 17Blast/Fragment Effects Chart Unbarricaded . 18Blast/Fragment Effects Chart Barricaded . 19Hazard Classification . 20Net Explosive Weight (NEW). 25Storage Compatibility . 27Storage Compatibility Mixing Chart. 28Ammo Storage Areas . 29Storage Sites . 294

Table of ContentsBLAHA Storage Table of Distances. 33BLAHA Storage Distances Diagram . 34AHA Configuration . 36Earth-Filled Steel Bin Barricades . 37Steel Bin Barricade Diagram . 39Arms Rooms . 40Light Armor Vehicles . 41Light Armor Vehicles Table of Distances . 43Forward Arming and Refueling Point (FARP) . 44FARP Diagram . 45Combat Aircraft Parking Area (CAPA) . 46Certificate of Risk Acceptance (CoRA) . 48Explosives Licenses . 51Explosives Safety Assistance . 53Acronyms . 54Glossary . 575PurposePurposeThe purpose of this guide is to provide personnel, in possession ofammunition and explosives (A&E), information on how to manage therisks associated with A&E storage and handling; it is designed for use bypersonnel who have had academic exposure to the concepts herein.The general information contained in this guide regards typicalammunition storage and handling activities, and meets criteria containedin Army Regulation (AR) 385-10, The Army Safety Program, DA PAM 38564, Ammunition and Explosives Safety Standards and DA PAM 385-30,Mishap Risk Management.A&E will be referred to as ammo in the contents of this guide.6

IntroductionIntroductionSeparation distances provide protection against effects of blast oroverpressure, high speed, low angle fragmentation and fire fromaccidental or enemy action. The greater the distance from a potentialexplosion site (PES), the greater protection the exposed site (ES) isafforded. Protection from fragments can also be provided by properlyconstructed and located barricades.When possible, all ammo should be stored in its original packaging in adesignated ammo storage area. Original packaging may provide greaterprotection from the effects of detonation and may prevent the ammofrom contributing to the detonation.It is imperative that the proper degree of protection is provided forpersonnel and assets. A lesser distance, and thus lesser protection, isacceptable risk for related personnel and operations directly associatedwith the ammo storage area mission. A greater distance and a higherlevel of protection is required for all other personnel. Examples ofunrelated personnel or operations requiring a higher degree of protectionare: Dining facilitiesAAFES Barracks Medical facilitiesMWR facilities7DistancesDistancesQuantity DistanceThe application of the rules on separation is called Quantity Distance(QD).QD relationships are based on levels of risk considered acceptable forspecific exposures. These relationships are tabulated in applicable QDtables. These separation distances do not provide absolute safety orprotection. Greater distances than those in the QD tables should be used ifpossible.8

Measuring DistancesDistances should be measured from the exterior edge of any ammo orammo container to the nearest edge of any site exposed to the ammo.DistancesInternal DistancesInternal distances are those required for the separation of operatingfacilities and storage sites within the confines of an ammo storage area.Internal distances are the minimum required by DA PAM 385-64 andTechnical Data Packages approved by the Department of DefenseExplosives Safety Board (DDESB).Intermagazine DistanceIntermagazine Distance (IMD) is the distance required between twoammo storage locations, such as pads within an Ammunition Supply Point(ASP) or Ammunition Holding Area (AHA).Distances9Intraline DistanceIntraline Distance (ILD) is the distance to be maintained from a PES, suchas a pad within an ASP, to an associated ES, such as ammo surveillance orammo maintenance. ILD can be barricaded (B) or unbarricaded (U).IMD and ILD are adjusted based on the presence or absence of properlydesigned and constructed barricades (see Barricades section). Theseinternal distances are expected to prevent ammo stack A from instantlydetonating ammo stack B. Delayed propagation of an explosives event toadjacent storage locations is still possible.Expected EffectsIt is extremely important that applicable internal distances areestablished and maintained between explosives locations.If these distances are not maintained, an explosive event can be expectedto propagate rapidly between sites, resulting in the destruction of all10

ammunition and explosives assets and rendering the unit incapable ofperforming its mission and denying access to the area until EOD canrender safe damaged items.DistancesAlthough prompt propagation is not expected, collateral damage toammunition on nearby storage sites and operating facilities may be sosevere that the assets may become unserviceable.Providing a greater distance than the minimum standard will providegreater protection and survivability to the nearby assets.BeforeAfter11DistancesExternal DistancesExternal distances are those required for the separation of personnel andfacilities that are outside the confines of an ammo storage area and thatare not directly related or associated with the ammo storage areamission.These external distances are identified as: Inhabited Building Distance (IBD) Public Traffic Route Distance (PTRD)Examples of IBD are installation boundary, dining facilities, billeting, MWRfacilities, medical facilities, tactical operations center, fuel/water storage,and other life support facilities.Examples of PTRD are on-base roads (external to ammo area), powerlines, navigable rivers, open-air recreational facilities and open-airtraining ranges. Generally PTRD is 60% IBD.Realistically, the required distances described are not always possible toobtain in a deployment situation. In the initial deployment, Commandersmust follow FM 5-19 and use composite risk management to identify andminimize the risk to personnel and mission capability. Once the situationhas stabilized, efforts should be made to comply with QD requirements;consideration should be given to moving personnel and material assets12

Distancesthat are at risk from the ammunition being stored or establishing a newammunition facility. If QD compliance is still not possible, a DA Form7632, Certificate of Risk Acceptance (CoRA) must be initiated. CoRAs areexplained later in this guide.Inhabited Building DistanceIBD provides excellent protection to personnel and material assets fromblast effects and very good protection from fragments at this level ofprotection. There is moderate risk of serious injury and possible fatalitiesfrom rogue fragments.13DistancesPublic Traffic Route DistancePTRD provides less protection with a higher probability of serious injuriesand fatalities than does inhabited building distance. Most material assetsat PTRD can be expected to be serviceable or easily repairable.14(ES)

Contractor CHUs too close to ammo areaAmmoareaDistancesCHUsFOB Falcon Iraq,2006, incominground, excess ammopresent, ammostored for weaponsystem not present.Contractor CHUs toonear ammo locationflattened.Ammo area destroyed15BarricadesBarricadesProperly constructed and located barricades reduce the internal footprint(IM/IL distances) of an AHA or any other ammo operation or site. They donot reduce the external footprint. Barricades will stop high velocity, lowangle fragments but are ineffective in preventing high, lobbed fragments.For this reason, there is no reduction in the external distance (IBD/PTRD)based on the presence of barricades.Barricades are typically built of earth construction. Typically, barricadesdo not use concrete, heavy steel, stones or debris heavier than 10 lb orlarger than 6 inches in diameter in the fill or cover due to the addedfragmentation or spalling hazard they create. A natural land feature canbe used as a barricade provided there is line-of-sight PLUS 1 foot betweenthe ammo locations, and the top of the natural feature is at least 1 footthick. HESCO Concertainer barricades have been used to provide therequirements of a properly constructed barricade.The barricade diagram shows general details of a barricade. Properlydesigned barricades use a 2:1 ratio (2 feet of run for every 1 foot of rise).A MIL 7 topped by a MIL 4 HESCO works well for this configuration.DO NOT USE STONES IN BARRICADE FILL.16

Barricade DiagramBarricadesCONCRETE BARRIERS (i.e. T-Walls, Texas or Jersey Barriers, etc.)DO NOT provide “BARRICADE” protection for explosives safety purposes. They may be of value for Force Protection, but do not reduce QDrequirements.17Blast/Fragment EffectsBlast/Fragment Effects Chart Unbarricaded18

Blast/Fragment Effects Chart BarricadedBlast/Fragment Effects19Hazard ClassificationHazard ClassificationThe official source for determining the Hazard Class/Division (HCD) andthe Net Explosive Weight (NEW) for ammo items is the Joint HazardClassification System (JHCS) available at (requires login and password):https://www3.dac.army.mil/esidb/login/An unofficial source for HCD and NEW is the “Yellow Book” available byemail request to: mcal.dac.yellowbook@conus.army.mil20

Hazard ClassificationThis is a typical data page from the Yellow Book. A DODIC is a 4 digit alphanumeric designation for the different types of ammo. Nomenclature is the “military” name for it. The column headed “HC/DIV CG” contains information used to determine the hazard associatedwith an ammo item and types of ammo that can be located together. The “NEW QDLB”column has Information that is used to determine how much ammo may be placed in any given location. How these types of information are used is discussed in other portionsof the booklet.Hazard Classification21The DOD uses the international system of classification devised by theUnited Nations Organization (UNO) for transport of dangerous goods. TheUNO classification system consists of nine Hazard Classes (HC). Class 1contains most ammunition and explosive items. The hazard division is anumerical designator within an HC indicating an item’s associated hazardsand potential for causing casualties and property damage. For example,within HC 1 (explosives), there are six divisions. The first four are listedbelow.Division 1.1—Explosives that have a mass explosionhazard, i.e., a mass explosion effects the entire loadinstantaneously.Examples include artilleryprojectiles, frag grenadesand some types of missiles.22

Hazard ClassificationDivision 1.2—High explosives filled items that,when one detonates, it is expected that NOT allthe others in the same location will explode at thesame time. This presents fragment hazard.Examples includesome types of mortarrounds, linked ammoand simulators.23Hazard ClassificationDivision 1.3—Ammo that has a significant fire hazard.When started, the fire typically cannot be put out. Thismay have a minor fragment or explosion hazard.Examples includepropelling charges,signals and rocketmotors.Division 1.4—Ammo that has a relatively minor explosionhazard.Some types include signalcartridges, and ammo forpistols, rifles, shotguns,and machine guns.24

Net Explosive WeightThe NEW is not marked on the box. How would you determinethe NEW for this item?NEW25NEWDetermining NEW26