Urban Explosive Storage Magazine (NABCO SV-50)
Background: U.S. Military Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), Federal, State and Local Bomb Squads are faced with a growing problem. Terrorist threats and criminal devices proliferating through out the continental United States have necessitated a likewise increase in the types of explosive counter measures that EOD teams employ, train, and store. These explosive tools range from traditional high explosives like C4 and TNT to new low explosives designed to optimize tool characteristics. The problem is these tools and their explosive components cannot be stored near or with the Bomb Squads. Various Federal, State and local laws governing the use, storage, and safety of explosives do not allow mixed types of explosives to be stored near or in urban areas. This has created a serious problem whereby bomb squads that responded to an incident in a matter of minutes are now taking an extremely long time to respond. This increase in response time has the potential of causing loss of lives and property. In order to alleviate this potential serious problem a new type of explosive storage magazine is needed.
Requirement or Problem: The purpose of this effort is to develop movable, Urban Explosive Storage Magazines (UESMs) capable of withstanding 50 pounds of Net Explosive Weight (NEW) TNT equivalent. The proposed storage magazine will contain the blast and fragments from munitions and allow explosive storage in areas with minimal available safety distances. Subsequently NABCO has provided data to the DOD Explosives Safety Board (DDESB) for a similar unit rated for 80-lbs NEW and is involved in the design of a unit that will store 220-lbs NEW and has a door that will allow entry access.
Technology Description: An explosive storage magazine, useable within urban areas, to accommodate 50-lbs of Net Explosives Weight (NEW) TNT equivalent. The storage magazines will contain or suppress the blast and fragments from munitions with NEWs up to the stated range such that the UESM can be used adjacent to an occupied building with minimal safe standoff. The UESM is able to withstand one major blast (i.e., a one-shot throw -away vessel).
Regulatory Issues: ATF approval must be obtained for each installation. The ATF approved use of the UESM/SV-50 for the Virginia State Police in June 2007. Some 21 additional Military and Federal agencies have procured this system as of September 2007.
Test and Evaluation Results: Testing of two full-scale UESM prototype vessels was carried out with the cooperation of ABS Consulting and the Canadian Explosives Research Laboratory (CERL) in Ottawa, Canada. The full scale prototype tests were conducted at the MREL explosives test range located near Sharbot Lake, Ontario, Canada. The two UESM units were tested using a safety factor of 125% of the design explosive charge weight. Physical and electronic measurements were recorded to monitor the response of the vessel as well as the environment outside the vessel. Measurements include physical deformations, strains, dynamic pressure inside and outside the unit, accelerations of the vessel wall, thermal flux and temperature outside the unit. High speed and normal speed video cameras were used to record the testing. The video and test data were used to provide information to the DDESB and ATF to secure a reduced quantity-distance (Q-D) siting requirement for the UESM units in the field.
Users: Twenty one Military and Federal agencies have procured this system as of September 2007.
Vendor Contact Information: NABCO
Pittsburgh, PA
Randy Markey
412-231-8858
412-812-4514 Cell
randy@nabcoinc.com
http://www.nabcoinc.com/SV-23_50.asp