The IMESAFR Science Panel
Kevin McNeill; ATF; Huntsville, AL, USA
Noel Hsu, Ph.D.; Orica; Denver, CO, USA
John Tatom; APT Research, Inc.; Huntsville, AL, USA
William Evans; APT Research, Inc.; Huntsville, AL, USA
Key Words: uncertainty, barricade, probability, event, conservation, mass
Abstract
ATF recommended and sponsored the formation of the Institute of Makers of Explosives Safety
Analysis for Risk (IMESAFR) Science Panel (ISP), which reviews and discusses the technical
content of the IMESAFR software, desired future algorithms, and field testing associated with
the IMESAFR models. The group was modeled after the Department of Defense Explosives
Safety Board (DDESB) Science Panel. The ISP is co-chaired by ATF and IME (but is not an
IME committee) and invites participation and technical contributions from the commercial
explosives community, associated regulatory bodies, and academia.
Recent accomplishments by the ISP include changes to: the debris algorithms, the barricade
logic, the probability of event, and the uncertainty routine. The group will continue to review the
maturity of the existing IMESAFR algorithms and discuss any necessary improvements or
additions.
The ISP recommends test programs to improve IMESAFR software. The ISP may also
recommend numerical modeling or other analytical studies to provide “synthetic data” when
testing is not feasible.
Introduction
IMESAFR Software
IMESAFR is an explosives safety quantitive risk assessment (QRA) tool designed to assess and
manage risk in the commercial explosives industry. IMESAFR considers the probability of an
accidental explosives event and the consequences given such an event. This paper will not cover
the details of the tool itself, as that is the subject of a separate paper at this symposium
.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) is the United States (U.S.)
federal agency tasked with the regulation of the commercial explosives industry. Those
Tatom, John T. 2018. "IMESAFR Overview (20720)." In the International Explosives Safety Symposium &
Exposition. San Diego, CA: NDIA.
