Improvised Explosive Device (IED)

SAFE STAND OFF DISTANCE

  Threat Description Explosives Capacity1 Mandatory Evacuation Distance2 Shelter-in-Place Zone Preferred Evacuation Distance3

H I G H E X P L O S I V E S

Pipe Bomb 5 lbs 2.3 kg 70 ft 21 m 71 - 1,199 ft 22 - 365 m +1,200 ft 366 m
Suicide Bomber 20 lbs 9 kg 110 ft 34 m 111 - 1,699 ft 35 - 518 m +1,700 ft 519 m
Briefcase/Suitcase 50 lbs 23 kg 150 ft 46 m 151 - 1,849 ft 47 - 563 m +1,850 ft 564 m
Car 500 lbs 227 kg 320 ft 98 m 321 - 1,899 ft 99 - 579 m +1,900 ft 580 m
SUV/Van 1,000 lbs 454 kg 400 ft 122 m 401 - 2,399 ft 123 - 731 m +2,400 ft 732 m
Small Delivery
Truck 		4,000 lbs 1,814 kg 640 ft 195 m 641 - 3,799 ft 196 - 1,158 m +3,800 ft 1,159 m
Container/Water
Truck		 10,000 lbs 4,536 kg 860 ft 263 m 861 - 5,099 ft 264 - 1,554 m +5,100 ft 1,555 m
Semi-Trailer 60,000 lbs 27,216 kg 1,570 ft 475 m 1,571 - 9,299 ft 476 - 2,834 m +9,300 ft 2,835 m


1 Based on the maximum amount of material that could reasonably fit into a container or vehicle. Variations possible.

2 Governed by the ability of an unreinforced building to withstand severe damage or collapse.

3 Governed by the greater of fragment throw distance or glass breakage/falling glass hazard distance. These distances can be reduced for personnel wearing ballistic protection. Note that the pipe bomb, suicide belt/vest, and briefcase/suitcase bomb are assumed to have a fragmentation characteristic that requires greater standoff distances than an equal amount of explosives in a vehicle.

  Threat Description LPG Mass/Volume1 Fireball Diameter2 Safe Distance 3

L P G

Small LPG Tank 20 lbs /
5 gal 		9 kg /
19 L 		40 ft 12 m 160 ft 48 m
Large LPG Tank 100 lbs /
25 gal 		45 kg /
95 L 		69 ft 21 m 276 ft 84 m
Residential LPG Tank 2,000 lbs /
500 gal 		907 kg /
1,893 L 		184 ft 56 m 736 ft 224 m
Small LPG Truck 8,000 lbs /
2,000 gal		 3,630 kg /
7,570 L 		292 ft 89 m 1,168 ft 356 m
Semitanker LPG 40,000 lbs /
10,000 gal 		18,144 kg /
37,850 L		 499 ft 152 m 1,996 ft 608 m


1 Based on the maximum amount of material that could reasonably fit into a container or vehicle. Variations possible.

2 Assuming efficient mixing of the flammable gas with ambient air.

3 Determined by U.S. firefighting practices wherein safe distances are approximately 4 times the flame height. Note that an LPG tank filled with high explosives would require a significantly greater standoff distance than if it were filled with LPG.