Storage Compatibility Groups

Ammunition and explosives are assigned to one of twelve storage compatibility groups (A through H, J, K, L, and S).

GROUP A. Group A items are initiating explosives. These are bulk initiating explosives that have the necessary sensitivity to heat, friction, or percussion to make them suitable for use as initiating elements in an explosive train. Wet lead oxide, wet lead styphnate, wet mercury fulminate, wet tetracene, dry RDX, and dry PETN are examples of initiating explosives.

GROUP B. Group B items are detonators and similar initiating devices. These are items containing explosives that are designed to initiate or continue the functioning of an explosive train. Detonators, blasting caps, small arms primers, and fuzes without two or more safing features are examples of Group B items.

GROUP C. Group C items are bulk solid propellants, propelling charges, devices containing propellant with or without a means of ignition, and items that will deflagrate, explode or detonate upon initiation. Examples of Group C items are single-, double-, and triplebase propellants, composite propellants, rocket motors (solid propellant), and ammunition with inert projectiles.

GROUP D. Group D items are black powder, high explosives (HE), ammunition containing HE without its own means of initiation and without propelling charges, and fuzes with two or more safing features. This group includes ammunition and explosives that may explode or detonate when any given item or component is initiated. Also included in this group is ammunition with an initiating device that is packaged to eliminate the risk of ammunition detonation if accidental functioning of the initiating device occurs. The initiating function is confined within the package unless the package has been degraded by fire. In this case, all blast or projection effects are limited to the extent that they will not significantly hinder fire fighting.

Examples of these items are thermal batteries, explosive switches or valves, and other ammunition items

packaged to meet the criteria established for this group.

GROUP E. Group E items are ammunition that contains HE without its own means of initiation with a propulsive charge (other than one containing a flammable or hyperbolic liquid). Examples of these items are artillery ammunition, rockets, and guided missiles.

GROUP F. Group F items are HE ammunition with means of initiation other than described in Group D, with a propelling charge (other than one containing a flammable or hyperbolic liquid) or without a propelling charge. This group includes HE ammunition or devices (fuzed) with or without propelling charges. Examples are items initiated by means of a bouchon firing device, grenades, sounding devices, and similar items that have an in-line explosive train in the initiator.

GROUP G. Group G items are fireworks, and illuminating, incendiary, smoke (including HC) or tear-producing munitions other than those munitions that are water activated or contain white phosphorus, flammable liquid or gel. This group includes ammunition that, upon functioning, results in an incendiary, illumination, lachrymatory, smoke, or sound effect. Examples of these items are flares, signals, incendiary or illuminating ammunition, and other smoke or tear-producing devices.

GROUP H. Group H items contain explosives and white phosphorus or other pyrophoric material. Ammunition in this group contains a filler, which is spontaneously flammable when exposed to the atmosphere. Examples of these items are white phosphorus (WP), white phosphorus plasticized (PWP), or other ammunition containing pyrophoric material.

GROUP J. Ammunition in this group contains both explosives and flammable liquids or gels. This ammunition contains flammable liquids or gels other than those that are spontaneously flammable when exposed to water or to the atmosphere. Examples of these items are liquid- or gel-filled incendiary ammunition, fuel air explosive (FAE) devices, flammable-fueled missiles and torpedoes.

GROUP K. Ammunition in group K contains both explosives and toxic chemical agents. Ammunition in this group contains chemicals specifically designed for incapacitating effects that are more severe than lachrymation. Examples of these items are artillery or mortar ammunition (fuzed or unfuzed), grenades, and rockets or bombs filled with a lethal or incapacitating chemical agent.

GROUP L. Ammunition in Group L is not included in other compatibility groups. Ammunition in this group has characteristics that don't permit storage with other types of ammunition, explosives, or dissimilar ammunition within this group. Examples of these items are water-activated devices, prepackaged hyperbolic liquid-fueled rocket engines, certain fuel-air-explosive (FAE) devices, TPA (thickened TEA), and damaged or

suspect ammunition of any other group. Types of ammunition having similar hazards can be stored together but cannot be mixed with other groups.

GROUP S. Ammunition in this group presents no significant hazard. It is designed or packed so all the accidental functioning hazards are confined within the package, unless the package has been degraded by fire. In this case, all blast or projection effects are limited to the extent they will not significantly hinder fire-fighting operations. Examples of these items are thermal batteries, explosive switches or valves, and other ammunition items that are packaged to meet the criteria established for this group.

Ammunition and explosives are assigned to _{compatibility groups.} When stored within their assigned group, ammunition and explosives can be stored together without significantly increasing either the probability of an accident or, for a given quantity, the magnitude of the effects of such an accident. The mixing of storage compatibility groups is permitted by NAVSEASYSCOM, as shown in figure 12-2. The mixing of storage compatibility groups other than those

Figure 12-2.-Storage compatibility mixture chart. 12-9

shown in figure 12-2 must be approved by NAVSEASYSCOM.