Guide for the Selection of Explosives Detection and Blast Mitigation Equipment for Emergency First Responders
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Guide for the Selection of Explosives Detection and Blast Mitigation Equipment for Emergency First Responders Preparedness Directorate Office of Grants and Training Guide 105–07 February 2008 Homeland Security Guide for the Selection of Explosives Detection and Blast Mitigation Equipment for Emergency First Responders Guide 105–07 Dr. Alim A. Fatah1 Richard D. Arcilesi, Jr.2 Dr. Joseph A. McClintock2 Charlotte H. Lattin2 Michael Helinski2 Martin Hutchings3 Coordination by: Office of Law Enforcement Standards National Institute of Standards and Technology Gaithersburg, MD 20899–8102 Prepared for: U.S. Department of Homeland Security Preparedness Directorate Office of Grants and Training Systems Support Division 810 7th Street, NW Washington, DC 20531 February 2008 1 National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Office of Law Enforcement Standards (OLES). 2 Battelle. 3 National Bomb Squad Commanders Advisory Board (NBSCAB), retired. This guide was prepared for the Preparedness Directorate’s Office of Grants and Training (G&T) Systems Support Division (SDD) by the Office of Law Enforcement Standards at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) under Interagency Agreement 94–IJ–R–004, Project No. 99–060–CBW. It was also prepared under CBIAC contract No. SP0700–00–D–3180 and Interagency Agreement M92361 between NIST and the Department of Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC). The authors wish to thank Ms. Kathleen Higgins of NIST for programmatic support and for numerous valuable discussions concerning the contents of this document. We also wish to acknowledge the InterAgency Board (IAB) for Equipment Standardization and Interoperability and the Responder Knowledge Base (RKB). The IAB (made up of government and first responder representatives) was established to ensure equipment standardization and interoperability and to oversee the research and development of advanced technologies to assist first responders at the state and local levels in establishing and maintaining a robust crisis and consequence management capability. The RKB, supported under Award Number MIPT106– 113–2000–002, Project Responder, from the National Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism (MIPT) and the Office of Grants and Training, Preparedness Directorate, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has been built specifically to serve the needs of emergency responders. The RKB contains information on currently available products, along with related information such as standards, training, and grants. We also sincerely thank all vendors who provided us with information about their products. DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT I: Approved For Public Release; Distribution Is Unlimited. DISCLAIMER: Reference in this guide to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not constitute or imply the endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, or any agency thereof. The views and opinions contained in this guide are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the U. S. Department of Homeland Security or any agency thereof. FOREWORD: The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of the Secretary, Preparedness Directorate Office of Grants and Training (G&T) Systems Support Division (SSD) develops and implements preparedness and prevention programs to enhance the capability of Federal, State, and local governments, and the private sector to prevent, deter and respond to terrorist incidents involving chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive (CBRNE) devices. The Preparedness Directorate Office of G&T administers comprehensive programs of direct and grant support for training, exercises, equipment acquisition, technology transfer, and technical assistance to enhance the nation’s preparedness for CBRNE acts of terrorism. The Preparedness Directorate Office of G&T SSD works closely with other Office of Domestic Preparedness (ODP) divisions and Homeland Security professionals gaining an intimate understanding of the emergency responder technology needs and shortfalls. In addition, SSD conducts commercial technology assessments and demonstrations, and transfers equipment directly to the emergency responders. As part of the Congressional FY–03 funding, SSD was tasked with developing CBRNE technology guides and standards for the emergency responder community. This is one of several guides that will aid emergency responders in the selection of CBRNE technology. iii INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK CONTENTS FOREWORD ................................................................................................................................. iii COMMONLY USED SYMBOLS AND ABBREVIATIONS.................................................... viii ABOUT THIS GUIDE ....................................................................................................................x 1. INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................1–1 2. INTRODUCTION TO EXPLOSIVE MATERIALS .............................................................2–1 2.1 Nature of Explosives ........................................................................................................2–1 2.1.1 Uses of Explosives.................................................................................................2–1 2.1.2 Categories of Explosives........................................................................................2–1 2.2 Characteristics of Chemical Explosives...........................................................................2–1 2.3 Classification of Chemical Explosives.............................................................................2–2 2.3.1 Explosives Train ....................................................................................................2–2 2.3.2 Low Explosives......................................................................................................2–3 2.3.3 High Explosives.....................................................................................................2–5 2.3.4 Improvised Explosives.........................................................................................2–11 3. PURCHASE AND USE OF EXPLOSIVES DETECTION AND BLAST MITIGATION EQUIPMENT BY FIRST RESPONDERS ............................................3–1 3.1 Purchasing Considerations. ..............................................................................................3–1 3.1.1 Threat Assessment .................................................................................................3–1 3.1.2 Establishing a Use Plan..........................................................................................3–1 3.1.3 Equipment Performance.........................................................................................3–1 3.1.4 Precautions.............................................................................................................3–2 3.2 Blast/Fragmentation Mitigation Equipment.....................................................................3–2 4. OVERVIEW OF EXPLOSIVES DETECTION AND BLAST MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES … .........................................................................................................4–1 4.1 Explosives Detection Technologies .................................................................................4–1 4.1.1 Trace Detection......................................................................................................4–2 4.1.2 Bulk Detection .......................................................................................................4–8 4.2 Blast Mitigation Technologies .......................................................................................4–17 5 MARKET SURVEY AND EQUIPMENT EVALUATION...................................................5–1 5.1 Market Surveys.................................................................................................................5–1 5.1.1 Past Market Surveys ..............................................................................................5–1 5.1.2 Identification of Explosives Detection Equipment................................................5–2 5.1.3 Vendor Contact ......................................................................................................5–2 5.2 Equipment Evaluation and Selection Factors...................................................................5–2 5.2.1 Equipment Evaluation............................................................................................5–3 5.2.2 Evaluation Results .................................................................................................5–4 5.3 Trace/Bulk Detection Equipment.....................................................................................5–4 5.3.1 Market Survey........................................................................................................5–4 5.3.2 Trace/Bulk Explosives Detectors Selection Factors..............................................5–5 5.3.3 Evaluation of Trace Explosives Detectors...........................................................5–11 5.3.4 Evaluation of Bulk Explosives Detectors ............................................................5–14 5.4 Visual Detection Equipment ..........................................................................................5–16 5.4.1 Market Survey......................................................................................................5–16