Foreign Military Explosives
Foreign military explosives may be used as a last resort to supplement US demolition materials.
Their use must be by explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) or experienced, demolition-trained
personnel.
DEMOLITION FIRING SYSTEMS
There are two standard types of firing systems used for ED operations. These are the electric and
the nonelectric firing systems. A firing system consists of an initiator, a transfer medium, and a
detonator. A combination dual-firing system uses an electric and a nonelectric firing system.
The detonating cord system is used to initiate charges as a component of an electric or nonelectric
firing system.
Electric Firing System
The electric firing system is preferred when time allows its use. It can be used for destruction by
detonation or by burning. It is preferred because it provides total control of when the shot will be
fired. This system must not be used during electrical storms, when there is an electromagnetic
radiation (EMR) hazard present, or when there are high levels of power from radio and/or radar
transmissions.
The electric firing system may be used without a ring main to destroy an individual stack, a
magazine, or to initiate a ring main. The electric firing system should be dual primed for
individual shots, which means two blasting caps in the same explosive charge. When used in a
combination dual-firing system, the independent electric system is used as a back up for the
nonelectric system.
An electric firing system consists of an electric blasting machine M32 or M34, the firing wire and
reel, and an electric blasting cap. See Figure 14. When the blasting machine is activated, it
generates an electric impulse that travels through the firing wire to fire the electric blasting cap
(either military or commercial). The tools and test equipment needed to assemble the electric
firing system are shown in Figure 15. The proper methods and the sequence of electric priming
operations are discussed in the following paragraphs.
Figure 14. Electric firing system.
MM0165
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