Not Protectively Marked
Tactical Operational Guidance
Part One
Aide Memoire
of incident guidance
Part Two
Flowchart
of incident guidance
Part Three
Explosion
Document References
Relevant References
Technical References
Document Overview
Guidance for incidents where there has been a report of an explosion, where
CBRN(E) is not suspected.
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Explosion
Part One – Aide Memoire
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Initial considerations
En route
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If cause is unknown:
o Turn on and zero EPDs
o Turn on radiation survey meters,
establish and monitor background
levels
o If radiation above background levels
refer to radiation guidance
o If CBRN(E) suspected refer to
CBRN(E) guidance
Approach from upwind if possible
Consider available in-cab information
o Consider known risk information
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External prompts
Obtain FireMet information
Initial crew briefing
Consider cautious/silent approach
Consider casualties, debris, dangerous
structures and possible secondary
explosions etc.
Safe access/egress
Consider resource management
Start risk assessment process
On arrival
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2
Position appliance/establish initial
cordon
o Consider extent of debris/blast area
o Consider secondary explosion e.g.
Improvised Explosive Devices (IED),
flammable atmospheres
Gather information
o STEPS protocol
o If anything indicates that this is
CBRN(E) inform Fire Control and
refer to relevant guidance
Identify initial incident priorities
o Rescues
o Evacuation
o Firefighting
o Prevent catastrophic escalation
Set up a forward control point with
police/ambulance if in attendance
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Ensure all relevant risk information is
communicated to inform joint dynamic
hazard assessment
Identify:
o Hazmat involved
o Stability of structures
o Risk of secondary explosions
o Risk from damaged utilities
Inform others
o Assistance for further resources
o Informative – METHANE
o Confirm RVP
Set objectives – balance risk against
benefit
Initiate actions towards objectives
Preservation of evidence
Detailed information gathering
 Establish extent and overview
 Consider multiple sources of information
(360° survey/MDT/owner/occupier/
witnesses/SSRI)
 What’s happened/happening/likely to
happen
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 Share and gain situational awareness
with other responders
 Ensure all relevant risk information is
communicated
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Explosion
3
Resource information
 Consider PDA/ETA
 Initiate a make up if necessary
o USAR/technical rescue
o Aerial appliance
o HMEPA
 Consider other agencies:
o Police
o Ambulance/HART
o Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD)
o Utility companies
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Risk information to inform planning
Key hazards
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 Identify how resources will be managed
 Establish and maintain safe access and
egress
 RVP/marshalling areas
 Deployment site plan
Key control measures
Flammable atmosphere
Failure of a structure due to explosion
Secondary explosions
Exposed utilities
Hazmat (solid, liquid, gaseous, powder)
Contamination/irradiation from
radioactive source
Asbestos containing materials
IED
Biohazards
Booby traps
Overhead power supplies
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EPD/survey meter
Radiation guidance
Safe approach routes
FireMet
Controlled use of radios/
communications
Establish and maintain cordons
Safety Observer(s)
Minimum personnel within the risk area
Substantial cover
Search of RVP for IEDs
Eliminate sources of ignition
Advice from HMEPA
BA procedures
Asbestos guidance
Decontamination procedures:
o Safe undressing procedure
Hygiene procedures
Firefighting jet
Safety jet
Defensive firefighting tactics
Intrinsically safe equipment
Gas monitoring
Tactical adviser/EOD
Safe approach distances (electricity)
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Explosion
5
Planning
Common prompts
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Clear plan, prioritised objectives
Based on relevant information
Follows a logical sequence
Appropriately delegated
Balances risks and benefits
Aligns to Tactical Mode
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Correctly resourced
Communicated and understood
Flexible
Resilient e.g. ‘plan B’
Regularly reviewed
Be prepared to brief/hand over
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Contamination
o People
o Air
o Land
Cylinders
Inform EA/Public Health England
Unstable structures, consider:
o USAR/technical rescue team
o Building control
o Structural engineer
Incident specific prompts
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Identify hazard areas
Establish maintain and review cordons
o Consider evacuation to minimum
safe distances (see table in
supporting info)
Secondary explosions
o Flammable atmospheres
o Ordnance
o Industrial processes
Safety Observer(s)
Casualty evacuation/triage
Command and control
 Command structure should reflect the
complexity and scale of the incident
 Delegate roles
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 Create sectors
 Command support established
 Decision log
Safety and welfare
 Hygiene and decontamination
procedures
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Communications
 Establish reliable, accurate, timely
communications with sector
commanders, Fire Control
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 Other emergency responders
 Other agencies
Liaison
 Owner/occupiers
 Other emergency responders
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 Other agencies
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Explosion
10
Closing stages and post incident consideration
 Community impacts addressed
 Maintain recording, logging, Tactical
Mode
 Scene preservation
 Post mortem or coroner’s hearing
considerations
 Criminal investigation/litigation
considerations
 Public or Judicial Inquiry considerations
Equipment is recovered or
decontaminated/bagged as appropriate
 Gather information for IRS
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Gather all incident command paperwork
Decision logs are secured
Occupational health considered
Handover with safety brief to the owner,
responsible person, police or other
authority
Site security considered
Carry out hot incident debrief (include
other agencies if appropriate)
Assess crew welfare issues
Start critical incident debrief procedure
as appropriate
Supporting/additional information
Explosions can occur from a variety of sources and for many different reasons. The
outcomes from an explosion may bring into consideration other incident types and
therefore the relevant guidance will be required for a satisfactory outcome.
The initial response includes control measures to protect FRS personnel until CBRN(E) is
discounted.
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Explosion
Recommended minimum hazard zones for explosives – Initial cordons
Premises
Storage
Recommended
minimum hazard
zone (radius in
metres)
Type
Location
Maximum
quantity and
type
Registered for retail
fireworks
Retail outlet within
residential or industrial area
250 kg HD1.4
100m
Other registered
premises
Retail outlet within
residential or industrial area
30kg HD1.1
200m
100 kg HD1.3
250 kg HD1.4
Licensed storage of
fireworks
Not normally in built up area
Up to 2000kg
HD1.1, HD1.3
and/or HD1.4
600m
Licensed for storage
by the Police
Generally remote e.g.
quarries
Up to 2000kg
Generally
HD1.1
600m
Licensed site by HSE
Not normally built up area
Limited only
by separation
distances
Less than 2000kg
600m
More than
2000kg 1000m
Transportation
incident
Public roads, rail
undertaking
HD 1.1
HD 1.2
600m
Transportation
incident
Public roads, rail
undertaking
HD 1.3
200m
Transportation
incident
Public roads, rail
undertaking
HD 1.4
100m
Any
Suitcase size
100m
Any
Car size
200m
Any
Lorry or when
the size of
device is
unknown
400m
CBRN(E), terrorist*
* To be used in the absence of any reliable information or intelligence regarding the
nature of the substance involved. Consideration should always be given to being out
of line of sight of the device and behind substantial cover, if available.
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Explosion
United Nations Committee of Experts on Transport of Dangerous
Goods and Manufacture and Storage of Explosives Regulation 2005
HD 1.1
Substances and articles which have a mass explosion hazard.
A mass explosion hazard is an explosion which affects almost
the entire load virtually instantaneously. If involved in fire,
major structural damage can be expected e.g. high explosive
shells, bombs etc.
HD 1.2
Substances and articles which have a projectile hazard but not
a mass explosion hazard, e.g. mortar bombs, rocket propelled
grenades etc.
HD 1.3
Substances and articles which have a fire hazard and either a
minor blast hazard or a minor projection hazard or both, but
does not have a mass explosion hazard, the combustion of
which gives rise to considerable radiant heat or which burn one
after another, producing minor blast or projection effects or
both e.g. flares etc.
HD 1.4
Substances and articles which present only a slight risk of
explosion in the event of ignition, or initiation during carriage,
storage or manufacture. The effects are local, largely confined
to the package and no projection of fragments of appreciable
size or range is to be expected. An external fire shall not cause
virtually instantaneous explosion of almost the entire contents
of the package e.g. small arms ammunition etc.
HD 1.5
Very insensitive substances that have a mass explosion
hazard. This division comprises substances which have a mass
explosion hazard but are so insensitive that there is very little
probability of initiation or of a transition from burning to
detonation under conditions of normal transport, e.g.
ammonium nitrate fuel oil – a preparation for blasting.
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Explosion
Part Two - Flowchart
En route brief
Incident info
 Establish extent and
overview
 Multiple sources of
information
(MDT/owner/occupier
/witnesses/SSRI/
other agencies)
 What’s: happened –
happening - likely –
necessary
 Determine initial
cordon
 Share/gain
situational awareness
with other
responders
 Ensure relevant risk
information is
communicated
Consider
 STEPS protocol
 Deliberate act/
CBRN(E)Hazmat
 In-cab information
 External prompt
 Cautious/silent
approach
 Forward control point
with police/ ambulance
 Resource management
 Specialist advice
 Decontamination
 Major incident
 Disruption to
strategic/local
infrastructure
 Large scale public
welfare
Page 8 of 9
On arrival
 EPDs set to zero/monitor
background radiation with
survey meter
 Upwind/upslope approach
 Initial cordon outside debris/
blast area
 Consider secondary
explosion
 Gather information
 Joint dynamic hazard
assessment
 Identify initial incident
priorities
 Set objectives – balance risk
against benefit
 Initiate actions towards
objectives
 Inform others
 Evaluate, feedback, review
and amend
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Safety critical actions
Establish maintain and
review cordons
Safety Observers as
appropriate
Minimum persons in hazard
area
All personnel within hazard
area to wear appropriate
PPE/RPE identified by DRA
Identify initial incident
priorities
o Rescues
o Evacuation
o Firefighting
o Prevent catastrophic
escalation
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Resources info
PDA/ETA
Make up required
Return resources not
required
Other agencies - in
attendance/required
Safe access/egress
RVP/marshalling
Deployment site plan
Key hazards
Contamination/
irradiation from a
radioactive source
Secondary explosions
Flammable
atmosphere
IED
Booby traps
Hazmat
ACMs
Failure of a structure
due to explosion
Overhead power
supplies
Exposed utilities
Other hazards
 Loss of signal
 Intimidation/violence
from members of
public/ affected
persons
Explosion
Part Three – Document References
1.
Relevant references
This incident type is potentially linked to the following other operational guidance
documents:
Document name
Link to document
To be populated
2.
Technical references
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Fire and Rescue Manual Vol 2 Incident Command System
Fire and Rescue Manual Vol 2 Environmental Protection
CFRA FRS Operational Guidance: Hazmat Incidents
GRA 5.1 Electricity
GRA 5.7 Explosives
GRA 5.9 Asbestos
Ref no:
Date of issue:
Version no:
Page 9 of 9
P1.0.0
13/10/2014
1
Lead FRS:
Review date:
Protective
marking:
NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED
Kent
12/10/2017
None