TM 9-1345-203-12
c. Misfires. A misfire is a complete failure to function.
Working on or near a misfire is the most hazardous of all
operations. Investigation and correction should be under-
a. Explosive materials must be handled with appropriate
taken only by the person who placed the charge or by EOD
care at all times. The explosive elements in primers, blasting
personnel. A misfire should be rare if the procedures in
caps, and fuzes are particularly sensitive to shock and high
temperatures.
d. Safe Distance from Demolitions.
b. Personnel must be trained to handle all items and com-
ponents, including practice and training items, as potentially
(1) Blast effect. Generally, the greater danger to per-
dangerous. The same basic safety rules should be followed
sonnel is the missiles thrown by the explosion. Blast effect
when using inert training or lecture aids as those when
(the increase in air pressure) is hazard even though special
loaded items are being used. Striking, dropping, or handling
protection features are used at detonation or demolition sites
in other than the manner prescribed for explosive-loaded
to eliminate or confine missiles and provide for detonation of
(live) items should not be permitted. Practice items are
charges close to personnel. Personnel provided the mini-
painted light blue with white lettering. Practice demolition
mum protection prescribed in (3) below will not generally be
items with a low-explosive filler have a brown band.
endangered by blast effects.
c. In order to keep explosive materials in a serviceable
(2) Missile hazard. Explosive can propel lethal mis-
condition and ready for immediate issue and use, the general
siles great distances. How far an explosion-propelled mis-
rules (1) through (5) below apply.
sile will travel in air depends primarily upon relations
between weight, shape, density, initial angle of projection,
and initial speed. The missile hazard from steel-cutting
(1) Store explosive materials in the original containers
charge extends a greater distance under normal conditions
in a dry, well-ventilated place protected from the direct rays
than that from cratering, quarrying, or surface charges of
of the sun and other sources of excessive heat. Keep sensi-
bare explosives.
tive initiators, such as primers, blasting caps, fuzes, and
igniters, separate from other explosives.
(3) Safe distances. The following criteria give the mis-
sile hazard distances at which personnel in the open are rela-
(2) Keep all materials and containers clean, dry, and
tively safe from missiles created by charges placed in or on
protected from possible damage.
the ground, regardless of type or condition of the soil (AR
385-63, AR 385-64). Safe distances calculated for selected
(3) Disassembly of explosive components, without
charge weights are given in table 1-3.
specific authorization, is strictly prohibited.
(4) Do not open sealed containers or remove protective
Personnel in the Open
safety devices until just before use.
Pounds of
Safe Distance
Pounds of
Safe Distance
Explosive
(in feet)
Explosive
(in feet)
(5) All material prepared for firing but not fired must
have protective safety devices installed before returning to
1 to 27 .................. 900
150 .................... 1,590
original packing. Mark packing appropriately.
30 ......................... 930
175 .................... 1,680
35 ......................... 980
200 .................... 1,750
d. For more detailed information on care, handling, pres-
40 ...................... 1,020
225 .................... 1,820
ervation, and safety-distance requirements, refer to AR 385-
45 ...................... 1,070
250 .................... 1,890
64 and DA Pam 385-64.
50 ...................... 1,100
275 .................... 1,950
60 ...................... 1,170
300 .................... 2,000
70 ...................... 1,240
325 .................... 2,070
80 ...................... 1,200
350 .................... 2,100
90 ...................... 1,330
375 .................... 2,160
100 .................... 1,390
400 .................... 2,210
125 .................... 1,500
425 or over ........ 2,250
Change 4
