Use and Maintenance of Pneumatic Dunnage.

TM 38-400/NAVSUP PUB 572/AFMAN 23-210 MCO 4450.14/DLAM 4145.12

sufficient length to pass over the cargo and underneath

adequately fastened to prevent any forward, backward,

the vehicle body or flat bed, stakes sides, or pole

or sideward motion of the load when the vehicle is

trailers. The chain will be 3/s-inch steel BBB Coil Chain

subjected to the maximum deceleration of its service

in accordance with Federal specification RR-C-271,

brakes.

Chains and Attachments, Welded, Weldless and Roller

h. Acceptable loads. DOD drivers will not be

Chain. Binding chains will be adjusted as tight as

permitted to move a load if the load is not secured in

possible.

compliance with these instructions when such loads are

e. Stakes and sideboards. Vehicles carrying cargo

offered for transportation over public streets and

not secured in compliance with (1) above will be

highways.

equipped with sides, sideboards, or stakes; a rear end

gate; and a header board. Stakes, sideboards, end

3-84. Use and Maintenance of Pneumatic Dunnage.

gate, and header board will be of a height no less than

a. Use. Pneumatic dunnage is an airtight bag with

the load carried, and without an opening large enough to

a valve or valves for inflating and, in the case of

pass the smallest article on the vehicle as loaded.

reusable types, for deflating. It is designed to occupy

f. Long material.

When cargo such as long

void spaces in loaded rail, highway, or marine

lengths of pipe, piling, telephone poles, or similar

conveyances, including intermodal containers, to secure

material is carried on pole trailers and it is of such length

shipments in transit. Pneumatic dunnage is not for use

that the cargo must be used for connecting the front and

in aircraft. It may not be used to secure explosives or

rear bolsters, uprights, the height of the cargo will be

other hazardous articles without prior approval of the

inserted in pockets on the right and left side of each

Bureau of Explosives. Also, it cannot be used to secure

bolster. Such uprights will be tied together above the

loads of military explosives and ammunition.

load. Also, the cargo will be bound together by a

b. Types and sizes.

Pneumatic dunnage is

binding chain at the center of the load length. A red flag

available in two types-reusable (fig 3-42) and disposable

will be tied to the end of the oversized material for

(3-43). The nomenclature is "Dunnage, Pneumatic,

safety purposes.

Cargo Shoring-Type I Disposable and Type II

g. Vehicles exempt from tiedown requirements.

Reusable." Both are covered by Federal Specification

Vehicles transporting articles which because of size,

PPP-D-1427. Units are available through normal supply

shape, or weight require special vehicles for their

channels from the Defense General Supply Center,

carriage or special methods for their fastening, are

Richmond, VA. Sizes of pneumatic dunnage adopted

exempt from tiedown requirements stated herein.

by DOD as most suitable for general use are as follows:

However, loads on such vehicles will be securely and

Inflated size

Deflated size

Weight

(approx)

Type I.............................................................................

36 in by 48 in

36 in by 58 in

12 lbs

(Disposable) ..................................................................

48 in by 48 in

48 in by 58 in

18 lbs

48 in by 71 in

48 in by 82 in

22 lbs

48 in by 96 in

48 in by 106 in

26 lbs

Type II ...........................................................................

48 in by 48 in

57-1/2 in by 571/2 in

18-22 lbs

(Reusable) ....................................................................

48 in by 72 in

57-1/2 in by 81-1/2 in

26-29 lbs

assembly which consists of a threaded valve body

(1) Reusable pneumatic dunnage can be

molded into the dunnage unit. On some models, the

utilized for an indefinite number of shipments. It is

inflation valve has a metal washer and special nut to

fabricated from high tensile strength, finely woven, nylon

anchor the valve body to the dunnage unit. On these

fabric treated with a rubber or rubber-like compound and

models, a valve stem screws into the valve body and is

vulcanized as a single unit. (Units equipped with a

secured by a chain attached to the metal washer. Other

removable bladder are also currently in the system.

manufacturers use an "O" ring-type inflation valve which

This design has been outdated by the specification listed

incorporates a valve cap and a valve insert which

above; however, these units should be used until no

houses a check disc.

longer serviceable.) The unit has a high-flow valve

3-75