Chapter 5: Planning and Siting of Explosives Facilities and Alterations to Existing Facilities

Question 1

1/2 Why is it essential to correctly plan, site and construct major explosives facilities?

Answer 1

1. To ensure that they can be operated safely, efficiently and economically.
2. To keep the risks to ES at a level that is tolerable and ALARP.
3. To prevent loss of stocks due to an accidental or deliberate explosive event and limit the consequences of fire or explosion.

Question 2

2/2 Why is it essential to correctly plan, site and construct major explosives facilities?

Answer 2

4. To provide a storage and handling environment in which stock can be maintained in a fully serviceable condition to enable users to be supplied with reliable explosives natures at the right time and place.
5. To ensure that the explosives licences of existing PES are not compromised.

Question 3

What are the main considerations when siting PES?

Answer 3

To ensure that the Quantity Distances (QDs), both inside and outside, are adequate and that the best use is made of the area available.

Question 4

Where on the area should the PES for the most hazardous stores (HD1.1) normally be sited? Why?

Answer 4

At the centre of the area, in order to minimize the amount of ground outside the area that will be subject to Safeguarding restrictions.

Question 5

When planning explosive storage facilities, how can maximum safety and flexibility of use be achieved?

Answer 5

By traversing all non-earth covered explosives buildings.

Question 6

Selecting the optimum combination of types of construction of PES, QDs and protection requires a balance between what factors?

Answer 6

Cost of construction, availability and cost of land, and the economic and operational values of the explosives stock that might be rendered U/S in the event of an explosion.

Question 7

On sites with processing buildings, what must planners avoid?

Answer 7

Mixing earth-covered, medium walled or heavy construction with light-weight process buildings.

Question 8

What further considerations must be taken into account during planning?

Answer 8

The HDs and CGs to be stored in the facility
The need for flexibility in the use of the facilities
The requirements of the Major Accident Control Regulations (MACA)

Question 9

What must a site be accessible to/from?

Answer 9

1. The sources from which stocks are likely to be received.
   2 The units which the facility is intended to supply.
   3 Ports and airfields from which shipments will be made.
   4 A civilian labour force, if the facility is to be manned, or partly manned, by civilians.

Question 10

Notwithstanding the requirements of accessibility, sires are to be sufficiently isolated to comply with what?

Answer 10

Outside Quantity Distances (see Chapter 10).

Question 11

What is the normal minimum permissible distance from a PES to the fence-line/MOD Boundary?

Answer 11

20m.

Question 12

In cases where there is an external road giving access for lorries to the fence-line, what is the minimum permissible distance from a PES to fence-line/ MOD Boundary?

Answer 12

50m.

Question 13

Why should sites not normally be within an airfield circuit?

Answer 13

To reduce the risk of aircraft force-landing in explosives areas.

Question 14

At MOD Airfields, where should PES not be sited?

Answer 14

Within flight strips or approach funnels to runways, or within 35m from the centre line of an aircraft taxiway.

Question 15

What should planners consider with regards to mobile and fixed transmitters?

Answer 15

The potential effect of the RADHAZ on the explosive stocks.

Question 16

What climatic and terrain conditions are to be avoided?

Answer 16

Areas with high incidence of electrical storms or other atmospheric abnormalities.
Terrain that is liable to flooding.
Areas in which the roads become blocked by snow.

Question 17

What is the ideal terrain for a site?

Answer 17

Dry, well-drained, gently undulating country provides natural traverses and assists concealment.

Question 18

Why is firm and stable subsoil preferable?

Answer 18

Otherwise subsidence of traverses, roads and hard standings may result.

Question 19

Why are thickly wooded sites usually unsatisfactory?

Answer 19

1. Excessive fire risk in dry weather and consequent effort and expenditure to clear undergrowth and firebreaks.
2. Usually poorly ventilated and excessively humid.
3. Difficult for cranes and heavy vehicles to access.

Question 20

What are the transport requirements of a site?

Answer 20

That it is served by good roads of sufficient width and strength to permit their use by a constant flow of heavy traffic, with due cognisance of PTRDs (see Chapter 10).

Question 21

What should planners avoid with regard to access roads?

Answer 21

They should not pass through congested towns and the hazard and inconvenience resulting from a possible accident to a vehicle carrying explosives or toxic materials should be borne in mind.,