The fire department must be made aware of the
15. Abnormal odors, thermometer condition, and
log (if installed)
content of the building.
16. Evidence of tampering, forced entry, or
A red (Bravo) flag must be displayed to indicate
sabotage
the presence of ammunition or explosives.
17. Current magazine standard operating procedure
If the operation in a building is to be inactive for a
(SOP)
period in excess of 108 hours, all ammunition and
A log must be maintained to document all
explosives must be removed to magazines. Normally,
deficiencies and corrective actions taken. Mandatory
supplies, exceeding approximately an 8-hour work
log entries include the date of inspection, the
requirement, must be kept in a ready-service magazine
inspection SOP used, the deficiencies detected, and the
located at an intraline distance from the operating
deficiencies corrected. All entries must be signed.
building.
QUANTITY-DISTANCE
Magazine, Magazine Area, and Storage
REQUIREMENTS
Inspections
The relationship between the quantity of
All areas used for long- or short-term storage or
hazardous material allowed in an area and the
h o l d i n g a m m u n i t i o n ex p l o s ive s a n d / o r o t h e r
hazardous materials must be periodically inspected. At
separation (safety) distance between such areas is
a minimum, magazines must be inspected before initial
known as quantity-distance (Q-D). Q-D requirements
use, before reuse after being empty, and periodically
are designated to protect personnel from serious injury
while in use to ensure that the facilities are capable of
or death and all adjacent property from destruction by
safely storing ammunition, explosives, and/or other
fires or explosions.
hazardous materials. The inspection must include an
As a Mineman, you normally will not determine
examination of the facility or location, the surrounding
the Q-D requirements for an operating building or a
area, and the material being stored. The inspection
storage area. However, you must be aware of the
must address, but not be limited to, the following
necessity for such requirements and their principles
factors:
and applications.
1. Housekeeping
BASIC Q-D PRINCIPLES
2. Fire hazards
3. Content compatibility
The principle considerations that form the basis for
Q-D requirements are the amount and type of material
4. Net explosive weight
involved, the segregation of material, the separation
5. Grounding system and lightning protection
(safety) distance, and the material hazard
6. Security systems
classification. Volume 1 of NAVSEA OP 5 provides
applicable Q-D tables.
7. Physical condition and suitability of the facility,
including roads, rail service, and power lines
Quantity of Material
8. Firebreaks and fire protective equipment
The potential hazard area, surrounding the
9. Environmental control
accumulation of explosives, increases as the quantity
10. C o n t e n t i d e n t i f i c a t i o n , a r r a n g e m e n t ,
of explosives increases. Therefore, it is desirable to
segregation, and condition
minimize the quantities of explosives at any one
11. Posting of fire, chemical hazard and safety
location. Limits have been established, in most cases,
information, and explosive limits
for the maximum amount of explosives permitted in
any one pile and in any one magazine, and the distances
12. First-aid equipment
that such piles or magazines are to be separated.
13. Alarm systems
Whenever practicable, the specified distances should
be exceeded to afford greater safety.
14. Unnecessary combustible material
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