Chapter 4: Classification of Military Explosives for Storage and Transport

Question 1

1/3 Explosives can be assumed to be SAFE when what 7 conditions have been satisfied?

Answer 1

1. The chemical composition of each explosive item in the munition or component has been tested and accepted as safe and suitable for service in accordance with current procedures.
2. They have been classified for storage and transport by the ESTC.

Question 2

2/3 Explosives can be assumed to be SAFE when what 7 conditions have been satisfied?

Answer 2

3. The time elapsed since manufacture has not exceeded the service life.
4. All removable safety devices are correctly fitted.
5. Non-removable safety devices are set to safe or other non-live positions, as appropriate to their state of preparation.

Question 3

3/3 Explosives can be assumed to be SAFE when what 7 conditions have been satisfied?

Answer 3

6. They can be seen not to be damaged, corroded, distorted or incorrectly assembled, and are known not to have been involved in an accident/incident or otherwise subjected to excessive heat, friction or abnormal shock.
7. They are not subject to ‘Restrictions in Use’.

Question 4

When are explosives to be regarded as unsafe?

Answer 4

When they do not fulfill the SAFE conditions, or when their condition is unknown.

Question 5

How long should should UNSAFE explosives continue to be regarded as such?

Answer 5

Until such time as a competent person has confirmed their safety.

Question 6

Why are explosives assigned to Compatibility Groups?

Answer 6

In order to identify compatible explosives and those that may have to be segregated to promote safety in storage and transport.

Question 7

When are explosives considered to compatible?

Answer 7

If they may be stored or transported together without significantly increasing either the probability of an accident or, for a given NEQ, the magnitude of the effects of such an incident.

Question 8

In testing explosives, why is it dangerous to predict the effect of an explosion by reference to similar items?

Answer 8

Minor differences in the item construction or packaging can have a significant effect on an explosion of the item.

Question 9

How many HCC are theoretically possible?

Answer 9

78, but certain combinations of HDs and CGs are mutually exclusive and do not occur in practice. There are 35 available HCC.

Question 10

What organisation assesses and classifies UK military explosives?

Answer 10

The ESTC.