Realistic Safe-Separation Distance Determination for Mass Fire Hazards
Abstract
Propellants and explosives are energetic materials found in missile motors, bombs, and warheads, as well as bulk powder and fill in gun cartridges and projectiles. The materials can burn, explode, and/or detonate either on purpose or by inadvertent accident. These accidents can occur during manufacture, transportation, storage, and operational use. One way to protect personnel and facilities from the risk and consequences of accidents caused by inadvertent reaction of these energetic materials is to provide safe-separation distances between possible explosive sources and exposed sites whether they are inhabited buildings, public roadways, or processing buildings. (U) This report presents an overview of how safe-separation distances are currently determined for various hazard divisions (HDs), with emphasis on HD 1.1 and HD 1.3. It reviews accidents and incidents involving munitions in manufacture, storage, transportation, and operational situations; commercial explosives primarily in transportation situations; fireworks primarily in storage situations; and energetic ingredients such as ammonium perchlorate (AP) and ammonium nitrate (AN) primarily in manufacture, transportation, and storage situations; experimental test results, and analytical models. This report will discuss how to determine safe-separation distances to prevent fatalities from mass fire events.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 25, 2013
- Accession Number
- ADA587077
Entities
People
- Josephine Covino
- Kevin P. Ford
- Thomas L. Boggs
Organizations
- Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division