2018 International Explosives Safety Symposium and Exhibition
EXPERIMENTAL AND THEORETICAL BASIS OF CURRENT NATO
STANDARDS FOR SAFE STORAGE OF AMMUNITION AND EXPLOSIVES
M.M. van der Voort
1
, E. Deschambault
2
, J.A.J. de Roos
3
, T.N. Taylor
4
1
NATO Munitions Safety Information Analysis Center (MSIAC), B-1110, Brussels, Belgium
2
formerly US Department of Defense Explosives Safety Board (DDESB)
3
formerly Belgian MoD
4
formerly NATO MSIAC and US Army Europe
ABSTRACT
NATO standards for the safe storage of ammunition and explosives contain tables with so-called Quantity Distances (QDs).
These distances are aimed to provide an acceptable protection level to surrounding Exposed Sites (ES) in the event of an
accidental explosion of a Potential Explosion Site (PES). The development of the standards took place over many decades by
explosives safety experts. The QDs are based on the analysis of a large number of explosives tests- and accident data. Based
on additional testing and analysis accomplished in recent years, a comprehensive and transparent overview of the basis for the
QDs is necessary in order to validate them and to eliminate inconsistencies.
The Munitions Safety Information Analysis Center (MSIAC) conducted a study on the experimental and theoretical basis of
QDs. This paper presents a structured approach to QDs, starting with the amount of munitions involved in the munitions
response, and then treating each explosion effect separately.
Relevant references that support the standards have been analyzed. QDs have been compared to state-of-the-art prediction
models for blast wave propagation and observed damage. The basis of those QDs that are dominated by fragments and
structural debris is discussed as well. Planned changes to the NATO standards, such as the implementation of QDs for small
quantities of explosives, are taken into account. Knowledge gaps have been identified and recommendations for long term
development have also been made. A more detailed report as well as a repository of all references will be completed towards
the end of 2016.
INTRODUCTION
The NATO CNAD Ammunition Safety Group, Allied Committee 326 (AC/326), Sub Group C (SGC) on
“In-service and operational safety management” is responsible for developing NATO explosives safety
criteria. Standards for safe storage of Ammunition and Explosives (AE) contain tables with so-called
Quantity Distances (QD). QDs are aimed to provide an acceptable protection level to surrounding
Exposed Sites (ES) in the event of an accidental explosion of a Potential Explosion Site (PES). Figure 1
gives a graphical overview of the most important terminology.
AC/326 SGC has adopted the UN transport Hazard Divisions (HD1.1 through HD1.6) as the basis for
storage. Allied Ammunition Storage and Transport Publication 1 [AASTP-1, 2015] provides QDs for
static storage as a function of the Net Explosive Quantity (denoted as NEQ or Q). HD1.1 comprises
substances and articles which have a mass explosion hazard. HD1.2 substances and articles have a
projection hazard but not a mass explosion hazard. The major hazard for HD1.3 is that of a mass fire.
For HD1.4, which offers primarily a moderate fire hazard, separation distances are limited to fire
fighting requirements. HD1.5 substances, which are very insensitive but do have a mass explosion
hazard, are treated as HD1.1. For HD1.6 articles, which are extremely insensitive and do not have a
mass explosion hazard, QDs are based on the more hazardous effects of either the detonation of a single
article or a burn of the total NEQ. More detail on classification procedures can be found in the [UN
Orange Book, 2015], the associated UN Manual of Tests and Criteria and [AASTP-3, 2009]. AASTP-1
also distinguishes Storage Subdivisions (SsD) in addition to the UN transport HDs.
The mixing rules in AASTP-1 prescribe how different HDs are aggregated when stored together. AE are
also characterized with a compatibility group (CG) which is used to identify any storage restrictions.
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