Challenges of Small-Scale Safety and Thermal testing of improvised explosives: Results from the integrated data collection analysis (IDCA) program proficiency test

The IDCA Program has been conducting a Proficiency (Round Robin) Test on the application of Small-Scale Safety and Thermal (SSST) testing to Home Made or Improvised Explosives (HMEs). This Proficiency test has been designed to test the accuracy and relevancy of SSST testing among explosives testing laboratories (3 DOE and 2 DoD), where the testing is performed on the same batches of materials (17 HMEs and 2 Standards), prepared the same way. The results so far have indicated that standard testing methods are not adequate for HMEs, as many conflicting and inconclusive results have been documented: Impact sensitivity non-predictively affected by testing conditions; Detection of positive reaction (go/no-go) has too much variability; Thermal testing has sampling issues As the IDCA continues to compare and evaluate results from the Proficiency Test, many issues are beginning to coalesce about the application of traditional SSST Testing methods to HMEs. Many of the issues show that traditional methods used for military explosives MUST be modified before meaningful results can be obtained for HMEs. The IDCA is finding if traditional methods are not revised, testing can give misleading results that could lead to developing handling practices that are not adequate for working safely.