EXISTING BUILDINGS.- Occasiona1ly, existing buildings are used to store ammunition. Each building should be of fire-resistant construction, and it should protect ammunition against moisture and dampness. It should have adequate ventilation and have substantial flooring to support the ammunition. An existing building should afford adequate protection to the ammunition and adjacent areas.

CAVES AND TUNNELS.- Caves and tunnels are used to store ammunition if they are reasonably dry and free of moisture seepage. Most types of ammunition may be stored in caves and tunnels. In very hot climates, however, don't store ammunition that contains smokeless powder in caves and tunnels unless they are ventilated, either by natural or artificial means, to prevent the accumulation of ether fumes.

OPEN STORAGE.- Ammunition is stored in the open at advanced bases to supplement magazine space. However, when ammunition is stored outdoors, special consideration must be given to protecting it from the elements.

Identification of Magazines and Open Storage Sites

When practicable, magazines, buildings used as magazines, and piles of ammunition stored in the open are marked according to the system of identification you have already read about. At advanced bases, the identification system consists of two parts-a group construction symbol and a symbol hazard indicator.

The group construction symbol is a three-group symbol that consists of the following:

1. A number indicating the group in which the magazine or open storage site is located,

Figure 12-6.-Amnmnition protected by a wooden, roof-type cover.

Figure 12-7.-Revetted stowage of aircraft bombs.

2. A letter or group of letters designating the type and capacity of the magazine, and

3. A number designating the sequence of the magazine within the magazine group or area.

Letter designators for advanced base storage are indicated in table 12-11. To indicate the nature of the construction of the magazine, the letter T is added if the magazine is earth-covered and barricaded; the letter C is added if the magazine is earth-covered, but the door isn't barricaded. The letter T is also used to designate revetted storages. Advanced base magazines, buildings used as magazines, caves, tunnels, and open storage sites do not conform to the standard magazine sizes prescribed in NAVSEA OP 5, volume 1. Therefore, the letters X, Y, or Z that identify explosion hazard, fire hazard, or fragment hazard, respectively, are used in place of the standard letter designators. Accordingly, XT is applied to an earth-covered, barricaded, advanced base magazine that is used for storing high explosives. Also, RZT is part of a designator for fragment-hazard material in a revetted storage.

In addition, the following information must be conspicuously posted on one door in each magazine or building that contains ammunition

1. The hazard classification of ammunition (explosion, fire, or fragment) stored there.

2. The maximum quantities of ammunition in each hazard classification as determined from the quantity-distance (Q-D) tables.

Table 12-11.-Letter Designators for Advanced Base Storage

3. Safety precautions and regulations that pertain to the specific material presently stored in the magazine or building.

Post this information at each outside (open) ammunition storage site. Print the information on a card so it is protected from the weather. Then, put the card in a locally manufactured ammunition site sign and card holder, as shown in figure 12-8.

Advanced base magazines are built in the most suitable location for storing one of the three hazard classifications-explosion, fire, or fragment. Since all advanced base magazines are of the same type of construction, all three hazard classifications may be stored in them if they are within Q-D limitations. However, the group construction symbol designates the type of storage for which the magazine is most suitable. Don't change this symbol to show the magazine's present or new use, unless the change is permanent.