Toxic Chemical and Explosives Facilities - American Chemical Society

7 Design Criteria for Mobile Ammunition Surveillance Shop Including Personnel Protection Consideration

Downloaded by UNIV LAVAL on July 11, 2016 | http://pubs.acs.org Publication Date: April 6, 1979 | doi: 10.1021/bk-1979-0096.ch007

R. N. HUDDLESTON DARCOM Ammunition Center, SARAC-DEN, Savanna, IL 61074

Materiel readiness i s a primary consideration and a key element of National Defense. Consequently, the timely detection and correction o f deficiencies i s essential to assure material readiness and to preclude the corresponding economic loss that would accrue should deficiencies remain undetected. Supply Bulletin 742-1 describes the type o f inspections performed and procedures to be utilized i n the surveillance o f ammun i t i o n . Review o f the variety of ammunition storage locations has indicated that in overseas areas many of the storage sites are remote from base depots and a surveillance workshop (Figure 1). Due to the lack o f facilities, inspections were being accomplished by transporting samples to be tested from storage to the depot and then returning them to the storage s i t e . In some cases the inspections could be performed at the storage location but necessitated the movement o f appropriate tools and equipment to the site by whatever means was available and on many occasions required the use of privately owned vehicles. This procedure r e sulted in an uneconomical operation at best. The transportation of the ammunition samples from the storage s i t e to the base depot and return through civilian domain also resulted in additional liability potential should an incident occur as well as exposing the ammunition to an added security r i s k from dissident groups. TASK: To r e s o l v e t h e s e p r o b l e m s , t h e DARCOM Ammunition C e n t e r was t a s k e d t o d e s i g n a M o b i l e S u r v e i l l a n c e I n s p e c t i o n Shop t h a t would p r o v i d e a s u i t a b l e work l o c a t i o n and c o n t a i n a l l o f t h e n e c e s s a r y t o o l s and e q u i p m e n t t o accommodate t h e v a r i e t y o f i n s p e c t i o n s when c o n d u c t e d a t t h e s t o r a g e s i t e . T h i s m o b i l e shop was t o be t r a n s p o r t a b l e a n d s e l f s u s t a i n i n g . I t w o u l d be d e s i g n e d t o i n s u r e ease o f o p e r a t i o n , s e r v i c e and storage o f t h e u n i t , as w e l l as t o p r o v i d e an e f f i c i e n t work a r e a w i t h a maximum c o n s i d e r a t i o n f o r This chapter not subject to U.S. copyright. Published 1979 American Chemical Society Scott; Toxic Chemical and Explosives Facilities ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1979.

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TOXIC C H E M I C A L A N D EXPLOSIVES FACILITIES

the p r o t e c t i o n o f personnel exposed t o both t h e i n d u s t r i a l and exp l o s i v e hazards inherent t o the i n s p e c t i o n f u n c t i o n . Safety c r i t e r i a associated with t h i s design includes a l l o f the requirements a p p l i c a b l e t o a f i x e d f a c i l i t y as well as those p e c u l i a r t o the required mobility o f the unit.


SAFETY GUIDANCE: B r i e f l y , e x p l o s i v e s a f e t y c o n s i s t s o f minimizing and/or e l i m i n a t i n g c o n d i t i o n s which might lead t o t h e a c c i d e n t a l detonation of explosives and/or p r o v i d i n g necessary p r o t e c t i o n t o operating personnel t h a t would minimize and/or e l i m i n a t e personal i n j u r y a s sociated with an explosive i n c i d e n t . Army e x p e r i e n c e s a s w e l l a s t e c h n o l o g i c a l a d v a n c e s have r e s u l t e d i n t h e a c c u m u l a t i o n o f s u b s t a n t i a l d a t a , w h i c h has been u s e d t o d e v e l o p t h e f u n c t i o n a l c r i t e r i a , t h a t must be r e c o g n i z e d i n d e s i g n and d e v e l o p m e n t o f e q u i p m e n t a n d a s s o c i a t e d f a c i l i t i e s u s e d - f o r ammunition o p e r a t i o n s . Primary g u i d e l i n e s a r e found i n t h e Army M a t e r i e l D e v e l o p m e n t a n d R e a d i n e s s Command S a f e t y Manual (DARCOMR 3 8 5 - 1 0 0 ) , Ammunition a n d E x p l o s i v e S t a n d a r d s (TM 9-1300206) a n d O c c u p a t i o n a l S a f e t y a n d H e a l t h A c t S t a n d a r d s , a s w e l l a s o t h e r l a w s , r u l e s and r e g u l a t i o n s . A l l o f t h e s e c r i t e r i a have been r e c o g n i z e d and c o n s i d e r e d i n t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e M o b i l e S u r v e i l l a n c e I n s p e c t i o n Shop. APPLICATION OF DESIGN CRITERIA: A v a r i e t y o f common a n d b a s i c t r a n s p o r t a t i o n u n i t s were s t u d i e d t o d e t e r m i n e w h i c h u n i t c o u l d b e s t be u t i l i z e d t o house t h e M o b i l e S u r v e i l l a n c e I n s p e c t i o n Shop. T h e Army MILVAN c o n t a i n e r ( F i g u r e 2 ) , was d e t e r m i n e d t o be t h e most c a p a b l e o f b e i n g a d a p t e d f o r t h e intended purpose and t o provide t h e g r e a t e s t b e n e f i t . A d d i t i o n a l l y , t h e c a p a b i l i t y t o t r a n s p o r t and handle t h e b a s i c MILVAN u n i t i s u n i v e r s a l a t a l l i n s t a l l a t i o n s w i t h i n t h e Army. The m a j o r i t y o f s u r v e i l l a n c e o p e r a t i o n s p l a n n e d t o be accommodated i n t h e m o b i l e shop i n v o l v e i t e m s where t h e e x p l o s i v e s a r e c o n t a i n e d w i t h i n p r o j e c t i l e s , c a r t r i d g e c a s e s , f u z e s , g r e n a d e s and a r e n o t n o r m a l l y e x p o s e d t o c o n d i t i o n s t h a t w o u l d be c o n s i d e r e d a s b e i n g c o n d u c i v e t o a n e x p l o s i v e i n c i d e n t . Due t o t h e e x i s t e n c e o f t h e e x p l o s i v e p o t e n t i a l , however, f a c i l i t i e s d e s i g n and s a f e t y c o n s i d e r a t i o n s a s w e l l a s i n t e r n a l f e a t u r e s and e q u i p m e n t were d e veloped t o c r i t e r i a normally a s s o c i a t e d with exposed e x p l o s i v e c o n d i t i o n s . E l e c t r i c a l w i r i n g , c o n t r o l s , l i g h t i n g and other e l e c t r i c a l d e v i c e s i n s i d e t h e m o b i l e shop ( F i g u r e 3) were housed i n e n c l o s u r e s s e l e c t e d t o meet t h e r e q u i r e m e n t f o r h a z a r d o u s l o c a t i o n s a s a d v i s e d i n t h e N a t i o n a l E l e c t r o n i c s Code f o r C l a s s 1, Group D and C l a s s 2, Groups E , F, a n d G c o n d i t i o n s . T h e s e p r e cautions included t h e thermostat u t i l i z e d t o c o n t r o l t h e temperat u r e i n s i d e t h e shop. Compressed a i r c a p a b i l i t y was p i p e d t o a c o n v i e n i e n t l o c a t i o n

Scott; Toxic Chemical and Explosives Facilities ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1979.


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Figure 1.

Figure 2.

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Ammunition surveillance being performed under field condition at an Ammunition Supply Point (ASP)

U.S. Army MILVAN's, at Transportation Testing Area, Ammunition Center, Savanna, IL

DARCOM



TOXIC CHEMICAL AND EXPLOSIVES FACILITIES

Figure 3. Interior view of Mobile Surveillance Inspection Shop showing explosion proof electrical switches mounted on forward bulkhead, explosion proof light enclosures, office and grenade disposal barricade



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I n s i d e t h e f a c i l i t y work a r e a t o p r o v i d e a n o n - s p a r k i n g power s o u r c e f o r power t o o l s a n d e q u i p m e n t . A u x i l l i a r y and support equipment, r e q u i r e d t o s u s t a i n t h e ope r a t i o n and not e a s i l y adapted t o use i n t h e e x p l o s i v e environment, was l o c a t e d i n an e q u i p m e n t module ( F i g u r e 4) a t t a c h e d t o t h e e n d o f t h e shop a n d s u f f i c i e n t l y i s o l a t e d t o p r e c l u d e a n y h a z ard t o o p e r a t i o n s conducted t h e r e i n . The g a s o l i n e d r i v e n e l e c t r i c g e n e r a t o r s u p p o r t i n g t o t a l e l e c t r i c power r e q u i r e m e n t , a h e a t pump, a i r c o m p r e s s o r a n d h y d r a u l i c pump a r e a l l l o c a t e d w i t h i n t h i s e q u i p m e n t m o d u l e . A s e c t i o n i z e d r o d w i t h s e l f - c o n t a i n e d hammer i s p r o v i d e d a n d s t o r e d i n t h e e q u i p m e n t m o d u l e . T h i s r o d i s d r i v e n i n t o t h e g r o u n d a t e a c h work l o c a t i o n a n d c o n n e c t e d t o t h e shop frame t o i n s u r e e l e c t r i c a l g r o u n d i n g a n d p r e v e n t i o n o f a n y buildup o f s t a t i c e l e c t r i c i t y t h a t could produce a spark w i t h i n the shop. T h i s b a s i c MILVAN u n i t h a s been e q u i p p e d w i t h f o u r h y d r a u l i c a l l y o p e r a t e d l e g s ( F i g u r e 5) t h a t c a n be e x t e n d e d f r o m p o c k e t s on t h e s i d e s o f t h e m o b i l e s h o p . T h e l e g s were p r o v i d e d a s a s e l f - c o n t a i n e d means o f l o a d i n g a n d u n l o a d i n g t h e shop f r o m t h e MILVAN c h a s s i s o r f l a t b e d t r a i l e r u t i l i z e d t o t r a n s p o r t t h e i t e m . D u r i n g f i e l d t r i a l s , t h e c a p a b i l i t y o f s e t t i n g t h e shop a t g r o u n d l e v e l a s compared t o when i t was mounted o n a c h a s s i s o r f l a t b e d t r a i l e r , was p r o v e n t o e l i m i n a t e many o f t h e h a z a r d s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e movement o f a m m u n i t i o n i n a n d o u t o f t h e work l o c a t i o n . WORK AREA LAYOUT: The Army MILVAN has d o u b l e c a r g o d o o r s i n one e n d w h i c h a r e s e c u r e d w i t h c a m l o c k h a r d w a r e . T h e l o c k i n g mechanism was a l t e r e d t o p r o v i d e a p a n i c b a r ( F i g u r e 6) t o p e r m i t r a p i d e v a c u a t i o n s h o u l d i t become n e c e s s a r y . A p e d e s t r i a n d o o r w i t h p a n i c hardware was i n s t a l l e d i n t h e s i d e o f t h e shop p e r m i t t i n g an u n o b s t r u c t e d escape route from the opposite end o f the o p e r a t i n g area. ARMED GRENADE DISPOSAL: One o f t h e most p o t e n t i a l l y h a z a r d o u s o p e r a t i o n s i n t h e Shop i s t h e s u r v e i l l a n c e i n s p e c t i o n s p e r f o r m e d o n e x p l o s i v e t y p e hand g r e n a d e s . T h e p o s s i b i l i t y t h a t t h e s a f e t y p i n c a n become d i s e n gaged, t h e handle r e l e a s e d and t h e e x p l o s i v e t r a i n i n i t i a t e d t o f i r e t h e grenade i n 5 t o 7 seconds, represents a s i g n i f i c a n t haza r d . S a f e t y C r i t e r i a r e q u i r e s a b a r r i c a d e be p r o v i d e d f o r ammun i t i o n o p e r a t o r s t o d i s p o s e o f g r e n a d e s t h a t become armed o r a r e s u s p e c t e d o f b e i n g armed. T h e Ammunition P e c u l i a r E q u i p m e n t P r o gram d e s i g n s a n d p r o v i d e s s u c h e q u i p m e n t f o r ammunition o p e r a t i o n s a n d has a s t a n d a r d " p i t c h - i n " b a r r i c a d e d e s i g n e d f o r t h i s p u r p o s e . T h e b a s i c d e s i g n o f t h e s t a n d a r d i t e m s , however, was t o o l a r g e f o r t h e s p a c e a v a i l a b l e . A d d i t i o n a l l y , t h e d e s i g n was such t h a t pressures and h o t gases generated through a grenade d e t o n a t i o n c o u l d n o t be h a r m l e s s l y d i s s i p a t e d i n t h e r e l a t i v e l y



164


Figure 4. Equipment compartment with doors open. Electrical generator is in the upper right-hand corner. Heat pump is upper left and air compressor in the lower left. The three ground rods, driver, and cable are in the center with fire hazard signs storage in lower right.



7.

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Figure 5.

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Ammunition

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Mobile Shop at ground level with hydraulically operated lifting legs extended to operating position

Figure 6. Interior view of rear exit door showing panic hardware. Pitch-in-barricade for disposing of suspect grenades is shown to right of exit door.


165



166

Figure 7. Phantom view of pitch-in-barricade showing operation of blast door and vent

1.0 PSI r

-.87 PSI

L

Figure 8. Pressure time trace of data Channels 2 and 3. Shot number 1. Data from instruments at approximate location of operator (2) at side of hopper (3) on pitch-in side of hopper.


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Shop


7.

Figure 9.

Mobile Surveillance Inspection Shop mounted on MILVAN ready for movement


chassis

168


l i m i t e d volume o f t h e M o b i l e Shop. T o p r o v i d e a n a c c e p t a b l e b a r r i c a d e , m e e t i n g t h i s c r i t e r i a d i c t a t e d d e v e l o p m e n t o f a new des i g n . Because the b a r r i c a d e i s c l a s s i f i e d a s an o p e r a t i o n a l s h i e l d , i t s d e s i g n had t o meet t h e c r i t e r i a i n M i l i t a r y S t a n d a r d 398. A p r o t o t y p e had t o be t e s t e d i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h p r o c e d u r e s i n t h i s standard t o i n s u r e compliance with the c r i t e r i a , which r e q u i r e s t h a t o p e r a t i n g personnel not r e c e i v e a heat f l u x exposure


7 4 2 3

2

g r e a t e r than 0 . 6 2 t * ° * c a l / c m / s e c , where " t " i s t i m e o f e x p o s u r e i n s e c o n d s , o r be s u b j e c t t o more t h a n 2.3 pounds p e r s q u a r e i n c h peak p o s i t i v e i n c i d e n t p r e s s u r e , and t h a t a l l f r a g m e n t s must be c o n t a i n e d . The a c c e p t a b l e " p i t c h - i n b a r r i c a d e " , d e v e l o p e d f o r t h e Shop, c o n t a i n e d a b l a s t d o o r t h a t c l o s e s a u t o m a t i c a l l y when a g r e n a d e i s tossed i n t o the opening (Figure 7 ) . Supressive s h i e l d i n g p r i n c i p l e s were u s e d t o c o n t r o l f r a g m e n t s w h i l e v e n t i n g t h e h o t g a s e s t o t h e o u t s i d e o f t h e Shop. When t h e p r o t o t y p e b a r r i c a d e was t e s t e d w i t h a l i v e g r e n a d e , u n d e r c o n d i t i o n s s i m u l a t i n g t h e M o b i l e Shop, t h e b l a s t p r e s s u r e s i n s i d e t h e Shop, a d j a c e n t t o t h e b a r r i c a d e , were w e l l w i t h i n t h e 2.3 pounds p e r s q u a r e i n c h p e r m i t t e d b y t h e M i l i t a r y S t a n d a r d c r i t e r i a ( F i g u r e 8 ) . The h e a t f l u x was i n s i g n i f i c a n t and c o u l d n o t be m e a s u r e d w i t h t h e i n s t r u m e n t s n o r m a l l y u s e d d u r i n g t h i s t y p e o f t e s t i n g . No f r a g m e n t s f r o m t h e e x p l o d ing grenade reached the o u t s i d e o f the b a r r i c a d e . In s h o r t , an o p e r a t o r i n s i d e t h e M o b i l e Shop, u s i n g t h e b a r r i c a d e t o d i s p o s e o f an armed g r e n a d e , w o u l d n o t be i n j u r e d . FIRE SYMBOLS: On e a c h o f t h e f o u r s i d e s o f t h e Shop, a h o l d e r was p r o v i d e d so t h a t t h e a p p r o p r i a t e f i r e h a z a r d s y m b o l , r e f l e c t i n g t h e most h a z a r d o u s m a t e r i a l i n t h e Shop, c o u l d be p o s t e d . F i r e s y m o b l s f o r e a c h o f t h e c l a s s e s o f ammunition t h a t would be e n c o u n t e r e d i n p e r f o r m i n g f i e l d s u r v e i l l a n c e o p e r a t i o n s a r e p r o v i d e d and s t o r e d i n the equipment module. SUMMARY: The a v a i l a b i l i t y o f t h e M o b i l e Ammunition S u r v e i l l a n c e I n s p e c t i o n Shop w i l l s u b s t a n t i a l l y b e n e f i t t h e i n s p e c t i o n f u n c t i o n t h r o u g h a more e f f e c t i v e c a p a b i l i t y t o d e t e r m i n e ammunition s e r v i c e a b i l i t y a t remote s t o r a g e l o c a t i o n s a s w e l l a s a c c o m p l i s h i n g t h i s i n s p e c t i o n f u n c t i o n a t a s u b s t a n t i a l l y reduced c o s t . A g r e a t e r d e g r e e o f s a f e t y w i l l be a f f o r d e d t o t h e o n - s i t e o p e r a t i o n . Exposures o f c i v i l i a n population i n h a b i t i n g the area t h r o u g h w h i c h m u n i t i o n s were t r a n s p o r t e d t o a b a s e d e p o t a c t i v i t y w i l l be e l i m i n a t e d . Ammunition p a c k a g i n g can be r e s t o r e d t o i t s o r i g i n a l c o n f i g u r a t i o n through the ready a v a i l a b i l i t y o f equipment c o n t a i n e d w i t h i n t h e M o b i l e Shop. The a v a i l a b i l i t y o f t h i s Shop w i l l s u b s t a n t i a l l y increase the confidence l e v e l a s s o c i a t e d with


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an o n - s i t e i n s p e c t i o n o f t h e a m m u n i t i o n commodity. T h i s M o b i l e Shop a s f i e l d e d ( F i g u r e 9) p r o v i d e s a f u l l y e q u i p p e d , s a f e work e n v i r o n m e n t t h a t c a n be e a s i l y t r a n s p o r t e d t o r e m o t e s i t e s t o f u l f i l l t h e ammunition s u r v e i l l a n c e m i s s i o n r e s p o n s i b i l i t y as an a d j u n c t t o t h e o v e r a l l m a t e r i e l r e a d i n e s s o b j e c t i v e o f t h e Army.

Literature Cited: 1. Ammunition Surveillance Procedures, SB 742-1, Hq. Department of the Army, Washington, DC, May 1976.


2. Safety Manual, AMCR 385-100, Hq. US Army Materiel Command, Alexandria, VA, Latest E d i t i o n . 3. Ammunition and Explosive Standards, TM 9-1300-206, Hq. Department o f the Army, Washington, DC, June 1977. 4. Shields, Operational for Ammunition Operations, C r i t e r i a for Design of, and Tests for Acceptance, MIL STD 398, US Government Printing Office, Washington, DC, 5 November 1976. RECEIVED

November 22, 1978.


Toxic Chemical and Explosives Facilities - American Chemical Society

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