Aboard ship, magazine inspections are mandatory and are an integral part of the ship's PMS. These inspections must be conducted by qualified personnel using a check sheet (maintenance requirement card) to ensure that a hazard or abnormal condition is not overlooked.

It is not within the scope of this manual to discuss in detail the criteria of all required magazine inspections. However, we can provide a brief description of daily magazine inspection requirements.

Daily Visual Inspections

The daily visual inspection of magazines generally consists of checking for improperly secured stowage, unsatisfactory protective packaging, unusual fumes or odors, magazine cleanliness, and any other abnormal condition.

Abnormal conditions in a ship's magazine or ammunition stowage space include evidence of tampering to gain access (broken, damaged, or missing locks), evidence of theft, and the presence of unauthorized materials. Abnormal conditions also include evidence of localized overheating from adjacent compartments on decks, bulkheads, and overheads; indications of leaks from sprinkler or flood pipes, nozzles, or control valves and regulators; and inoperable or damaged reachrods, linkages, automatic fire alarm devices, and other similar equipment.

Another important requirement of the daily inspection is to observe, record, and report maximum and minimum temperature conditions.

Magazine Temperatures

Temperature is the most important factor that affects powder and propellant stability. This is why it's important to monitor temperature conditions.

Temperature readings are normally taken once a day. The exact time may vary, but most ships take the readings in the morning (around 0800 for example), using a special maximum and minimum thermometer (sometimes called a high-low thermometer). Figure 5-5 illustrates a typical maximum and minimum thermometer.

Figure 5-5.-Bimetallic maximum and minimum thermometer: A. Internal components; B. Dial face and pointers.

Every magazine or locker will have at least one direct reading thermometer. It will be located where maximum space temperature variations will normally occur. It must be installed so it is readily accessible for taking readings and resetting the index pointers. Special brackets are available to mount the thermometer where it can be protected from accidental damage.

View A of figure 5-5 shows the internal components of the device. The temperature-sensitive element is a single helix low-mass coil (bimetal element) that fits closely inside the thermometer stem. The bimetal element is carefully sized and aged for lifetime stability and is covered with a fluid to assure good heat transfer. The fluid also permits maximum speed of response and reduces pointer oscillations caused by outside vibrations. The case and stem are made from stainless steel for strength and anticorrosion protection.

View B of figure 5-5 illustrates the dial face of the thermometer. It is 3 inches in diameter. A plastic window protects the index pointers. The index reset arm is on the outside of the window and is used to reset the high-low pointers. Temperature gradations on our example are marked off in 20 increments. The approximate readings on this thermometer are 100'F, high; 78'F, present; and 55'F, low. After you record these temperatures, reset the "high" and "low" pointers in line with the "present" pointer. As temperature rises during the day, the "present" pointer pushes the "high" pointer up the scale. As temperature falls during the night, the "present" pointer reverses direction and pushes the "low" pointer down the scale. As the sun comes up, the "present" pointer again moves up the scale. Thus, we see three different temperature readings. They reflect the temperature variations throughout a 24-hour period.

The 45 spread between the high and low pointers in our example is a bit large. However, it could happen. The reading you must be cautious about is the 100'F high. When this occurs, you should turn on the magazine cooling or ventilation system. If these systems are not working, you might have to use artificial cooling (fans, blowers). Topside lockers may require cooling with water. Remember, the optimum temperature should be around 70'F.

A magazine temperature record card (fig. 5-6) is located in each magazine and is posted near the thermometer for recording daily magazine temperatures. These cards are replaced on the first day of each month. The completed cards are removed from the magazine and the temperatures for each month are posted in a permanent log. The magazine temperature cards must be retained on file for a period of one year.

When magazine temperatures are recorded in the permanent log, temperatures in excess of 100'F must

Figure 5-6.-Magazine Temperature Record Card

be recorded in a conspicuous manner (red ink). If the temperature exceeds 110'F in smokeless powder, rocket motor and JATO magazines, the temperature must be checked hourly and recorded in a separate notebook. These recorded temperatures are transferred daily to the permanent log. Any magazine in which the temperature is consistently above 100'F must be reported to the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEASYSCOM).

Cleanliness in Magazines

All magazines and other spaces containing explosives must be kept scrupulously clean. Combustible materials such as paper, oily rags, cotton waste, solvents, and volatile liquids are not permitted in or near a magazine except when they are being used for approved purposes. Care must be taken to ensure that no steel wool, sand, gravel, or other abrasive substances are on the decks or other working places where explosives are handled. The bulkheads, overhead, and deck should be wiped or washed down as often as necessary to keep them clean. All ammunition holding and securing devices must be kept free of oil, grease, and paint.

Work in Magazines

No work may be performed in a magazine or explosive stowage area unless it is required by ship design or as part of stowing and unstowing procedures (canning, decanning, loading, and unloading dollies, etc.,) or is otherwise necessary and unavoidable. Work in a magazine normally is limited to such activities as admitting and stowing hazardous munitions, removing articles stowed in the magazine, keeping the stowage space clean, and maintaining the equipment in the magazines. Before any work that might cause abnormally high temperatures or intense local heat in a magazine or adjacent compartment used primarily as a magazine is performed, all explosives should be removed to other safe stowage. They should not be returned to the magazine until the work is completed and normal conditions are restored.

Appropriate warning, safety precautions, and instructions must be posted conspicuously in all areas where explosives, dangerous chemicals, or other hazardous materials are stowed. Training must be conducted on a regular basis to ensure that all personnel are aware of the meaning and intent of all warning signs, safety precautions, and instructions.

Food, drink, and smoking are prohibited in a magazine or magazine area. Personnel are not permitted to carry cigarette lighters or any type of open flame, or spark or flame-producing apparatus in these areas.

Electrical switches, junction boxes, and convenience outlets must be protected with watertight fittings. Be sure to keep protective caps and covers installed on these fixtures. Magazine lighting may be either fluorescent or incandescent. The light fixtures must be watertight, installed properly, and well-maintained. Be sure to use the proper size bulb where plastic protective globes are used. Never have a naked, unprotected light in a magazine.

Sound-powered telephone circuits are usually installed in magazine spaces. They should be tested routinely and maintained in good condition. Traffic and working areas of certain magazines will have a nonskid deck covering. There are different types of coverings available, so check current instructions for the approved materials.

Ammunition magazines must be identified properly and clearly. In addition to the standard compartment designators, another important sign or label must be in place. This marking is commonly called the AMMUNITION FAR SIDE sign. The sign (fig. 5-7) will be installed on all bulkheads, decks, and overheads surrounding a magazine. On vertical bulkheads, the signs should be 5 feet above the deck and spaced every 12 feet apart. On horizontal decks and overheads, the signs should be 12 feet apart and located to ensure maximum visibility. The sign should not be installed where it is visible from outside the ship. The sign is a yellow rectangle, 5 inches high by 9 inches wide. Painted on the sign are black slanted lines, 1/8-inch thick and one-inch long, on 3/4-inch centers along the top and bottom edges, with lines slanting from top right to bottom left. The letters are 1/8-inch thick and 3/4-inch high.

Magazine Security

All ammunition stowage spaces containing ammunition or explosives are required, by current directives and instructions, to be secured and locked unless work is actually being performed within the space. Properly securing an ammunition stowage space includes ensuring that all environmental controls are properly set and that all hatches, doors, or accesses are closed. It also includes ensuring that all dogs are

Figure 5-7.- AMMUNITION FAR SIDE, sign or label (example).

properly set on watertight closures and that the space is locked with an adequate locking device.

Only authorized personnel are be permitted in a magazine and then only when they have business there. A magazine is no place in which to sit and "shoot the breeze."

Some ammunition and explosive items such as small arms ammunition, small arms, and pyrotechnics are considered to be highly pilferable and must be stowed only in high-security stowage spaces.

Additional information on magazine security is contained in OPNAVINST 5530.13, Physical Security Instructions for Sensitive Conventional Arms, Ammunition, and Explosives.

There is one more aspect of ammunition stowage that we need to discuss. This is the magazine sprinkler systems used for emergency cooling and fire fighting on board ship.