L-278 Injury & Lethality Criteria from Thermal Radiation

Accidents involving explosive substances and articles belonging to Hazard Division 1.3 may expose involved persons and the public to thermal radiation; depending on the dose received, this may result in burns of varying severity, and even death.

When siting explosives facilities, NATO nations implement safety distances to reduce the risk from thermal radiation to tolerable levels. The tolerable injury criteria associated with these safety distances have been investigated; their continued applicability has then been assessed based on an understanding of the mechanism by which thermal radiation causes damage to the human body.

Recommendations have subsequently been made for harmonisation between NATO nations, and improvements to the way in which thermal radiation safety distances are determined for accidents involving ammunition and explosives.