EXPLANATION OF TERMS - TM-9-1300-2770131

TM 9-1300-277

A critical malfunction is one which may cause a hazard

under the circumstances described above.

For

Military Pyrotechnics-Ammunition manufactured specifi-

purposes of clarity, malfunctions do not include

cally for use as signals, illuminants and the like.

accidents and incidents resulting from negligence,

malpractice, or implication in such situations as

Misfire-A misfire is a failure of an explosive to detonate

vehicular accidents, fires, etc. However, malfunctions

after initiating action is taken. The failure may be due to

do include abnormal or premature function of explosive

a faulty firing mechanism or a faulty element in the

ammunition items during normal handling, maintenance,

explosive train.

storage, transportation, and tactical deployment.

Includes cookoff, hangfire, misfire, etc.

Mound-An elevation of earth having a crest at least 3

feet wide, with the earth at the natural slope on each

Mass-Detonating Explosives-High explosives, black

side and with such elevation that any straight line drawn

powder, certain propellants, certain pyrotechnics, and

from the top of the sidewall of a magazine or operating

other similar explosives, alone or in combination, or

building, or the top of a stack containing explosives to

loaded into various types of ammunition or containers,

any part of a magazine, operating building, or stack to

most of the entire quantity of which can be expected to

be protected will pass through the mound. The toe of

explode virtually instantaneously when a small portion is

the mound will be located as near the magazine,

subjected to fire, to severe concussion or impact, to the

operating building, or stack as practicable.

impulse of an initiating agent, or to the effect of a

considerable discharge of energy from without. Such an

Munitions-Supplies and equipment of all kinds needed

explosion normally will cause severe structural damage

by the military services for direct military purposes.

to adjacent objects. Explosion propagation may occur

immediately to other items of ammunition and

NEG-Net explosive quantity as expressed in kilograms.

explosives stored sufficiently close to and not

adequately protected from the initially exploding pile

Net Explosives Weight (NEW)-The total quantity of

with a time interval short enough so that two or more

explosives material or high explosives equivalency in

quantities must be considered as one for quantity-

each item or round to be used when applying

distance purposes.

quantitydistance criteria or other standards.

Mass Detonation-Virtually instantaneous explosion of

Nitrogen Padding (or Blanket)-To fill the void or ullage

mass of explosives when only small portion is subject to

of a closed container with nitrogen gas to prevent

fire, severe concussion or impact, impulse of initiating

oxidation of the chemical contained therein and to avoid

agent, or to effect of considerable discharge of energy

formation of a flammable mixture, or to maintain a

from without. Such an explosion normally will cause

nitrogen atmosphere in or around an operation, piece of

severe structural damage to adjacent objects, or the

equipment, etc.

simultaneous explosion of other separated ammunition

and explosives stored sufficiently close to the initially

Noncombustible-Not combustible, nor burnable in the

exploding pile. A mass detonation, when the explosives

ordinary sense of the word.

are located on or near the surface of the ground, is

normally characterized by a crater.

Non-DoD Component-Any entity (Government, private,

or corporate which is not a part of the Department of

Measurement of Distance-Measurement of distance for

Defense.

determining the maximum allowable quantity of

explosives shall be made from the nearest outside point

Note-An operating procedure, condition, etc., which is

or wall of the room, cubicle, or building proper involved

essential to highlight.

which contains the explosives to the nearest outside

point or TM 9-1300-277 wall of the other location under

Operating Building-Any structure, except a magazine, in

consideration.

which operations pertaining to manufacturing,

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