HD 1.3 Quantity-Distances Shorter But Still Safe
Abstract
The UK military quantity-distances are closely related to those agreed by NATO and over the last 4 years the Science, Explosives & Testing branch of the Naval Support Command has been asked to advise on the safety of over 400 naval potential explosion sites which do not conform to the regular UK military quantity-distances. Based on some of the experience gained in giving this advice, this paper reports how quantity-distances for Hazard Division 1.3 can be realistic and also shorter without compromising safety criteria. Distances To Prevent Propagation Following prolonged tests Jarrett (Ref 1) was able to advise distances at which propellant either in wooden boxes or unpacked and loose would not ignite when exposed to a massive propellant fire. Today the boxed distances are the Intermagazine Distances and the unpacked ones plus a margin to protect workers are the Process Building Distances. Distances To Prevent Harm To People Jarrett applied Glasstone (Ref 2) on nuclear explosions and compared nuclear thermal irradiation with that from conventional explosions of equivalent yield to justify distances to the public. In his work he explained that, "correction needs to be made for dose rate and spectral quality" and that, "The spectral emission (equivalent black body temperature of 1390 degrees Celsius measured in the trials) is quite different from a nuclear fireball" but nevertheless for distances to the public "it would appear as a first approximation that the emission from propellant fires is comparable with that for devices of the order of 200 kilotons." Baker et al (Ref 3) recommend use of Buettner's work (Ref 4) on pain threshold for distances to people. They say, "To extrapolate the nuclear weapon data to predict radiation effects from propellant, explosive and other chemical reaction fireballs is very dangerous, as the wave lengths being transmitted are orders of magnitude different."
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1994
- Accession Number
- ADA507529
Entities
People
- B. Lawton
- R. D. Willcox