Explosive Ordnance Storage

Explosive Ordnance Storage Buildings

Spantech are well known for specialised Explosive Ordnance Storage Solutions

Spantech Explosives Storehouses Are Extremely Safe Earth Covered Buildings to Store Explosive Ordnance

The Spantech ESH is a 7 Bar Type 4 Igloo (as defined by eDEOP101 the Australian Department of Defence’s explosives storage and handling regulations). The buildings can be licenced to store up to 75,000kgs (NEQ) (165,000lbs) of HD1.1 at minimal (D3 and D4) NATO separation distances. The building also meets applicable NATO and US regulations.

For clarity, Explosives Storehouses (ESH) are also referred to as:

explosive ordnance (EO) storage buildings
earth covered buildings (ECB)
munition stores
EO stores
igloos
bunkers

Spantech has three standard ESH designs:

Spantech 13m ESH
Spantech 23m ESH and
Spantech 17.5m ESH

The numerator in the name is the nominal maximum internal width of the building.

Each ESH design uses the Spantech Woomera 300 profile in galvanised steel to line all internal surfaces of an earth covered reinforced concrete structure.

The 13m ESH and 23m ESH feature an internal arch rising from floor level. The arch is a continuous segment of a circle. These buildings have been widely used by the Australian Department of Defence since 1991.

The Spantech 17.5m ESH features a light-weight arched roof supported by vertical side and end walls. This design was developed in 2017 specifically to meet the needs of the Australian Defence Force as they modernise their EO logistics across the country.

Each ESH is designed to meet different storage requirements:

types of munitions and ordnance
number of pallets
pallet stacking heights
type of mechanical handling equipment to be used and
siting requirements of the ESH within the EO depot.

Spantech ESH specifications

Use the table below to help identify suitable specifications:

Details	Spantech 13m ESH	Spantech 23m ESH	Spantech 17.5m ESH
Nominal Width	13.0 m	23.0 m	17.5 m
Standard Length	13.0 m	15.6 m	21.2 m
Max. Extended length	25.0 m	25.0 m	25.0 m
Standard Pallet Capacity*	96	220	360
Licensing Capacity^	75,000 kgs	75,000 kgs	75,000 kgs
* Based on nominal 1200 x 1200 x 1200 pallets stacked up to 3 pallets high within a standard length building in a layout which complies with NATO standards. Bulked-out pallet capacity may exceed the listed pallet capacity by up to 30%.
^ Licensing Capacity is the recommended maximum kilograms (NEQ) of HD1.1 with minimal Inter-Magazine Separation Distances of D3 and D4 as described in eDEOP101 and tested in full scale explosive trials.

Design Options

All current ESH designs can be constructed in a range of lengths from 13m to 25m long to suit individual requirements.

Spantech has the design experience and qualifications to modify most elements of the design to suit a customer’s individual requirements. For example, Spantech offers a range of options in the the following key areas:

main blast door sizes
one or two main blast doors
blast door operating systems (manual, mechanical or electric, or a combination of these)
the number and location of personnel doors (including within the main blast door)
blast valves
ventilation systems (passive and/or mechanical ventilation)
air conditioning and/or dehumidification systems
floor heights, slopes and floor finishes
line marking options
standard pallet racking or bespoke racking for over-sized ordnance and packaging
erosion prevention or control systems
lightning arresting and earthing systems
antistatic systems
earthed work benches
roof access and fall prevention systems
electrical layout options
security system options
safety stations with safety showers and eye washes
overhead cranes
pallet racking systems
pallet moving systems

Search Defence Projects to view our recent Explosives Depots

Other Types of EO Buildings

Spantech also design and construct specialised buildings to manufacture, process, handle and manage all types of Explosive Ordnance.

Ammunition Preparation Buildings (APB)
Unit Stores
EO Workshops
EO Manufacturing Facilities
EO Loading Facilities
Small Detonator Stores
Transportable EO Stores
EO Shipping Containers

Spantech ESH Tested in Full-Scale Explosive Trials

Spantech Explosives Storehouses have been subjected to seventy-five thousand kilogram (75,000kgs) (NEQ) HD1.1 blasts at minimal NATO separation distances.

The Australian Department of Defence conducted a comprehensive series of full scale donor and receptor trials in 1991 and 1992 at the Woomera Rocket Range in South Australia. (See image below)

The Second Explosive Ordnance Building Blast Test

The Second Test video below is available to Defence personnel and those in a related defence industry. Contact us to receive the password for this video…

The aim of the trials was to determine the ability of the cost effective Spantech designs to provide satisfactory protection for their contents and prevent propagation to adjacent storehouses in the event of an accidental explosion occurring within the NATO inter magazine safety distances.

The trials were conducted by the Australian Department of Defence in conjunction with the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence and a division of the United States Army Corps of Engineers.

The Spantech ESH is now the benchmark for ESH projects undertaken by the Australian Department of Defence, Ministry of Defence, New Zealand and many others.

Test Overview

The key stages of the tests were:

Stage I

Three Spantech 13m ESH (receptors) were constructed at D3 and D4 distances from a UK Double Bay Igloo donor.

The donor contained 75,000kgs (NEQ) of HD 1.1 and was wired at 600 points for instantaneous detonation.

All three Spantech 13m ESH receptor buildings survived.

Stage II

Three Spantech 13m ESH (receptors) were subjected to an open air blast with 75,000kgs (NEQ) of HD 1.1 placed on an adjacent concrete slab. The stack was again wired at 600 points for instantaneous detonation.

All Spantech 13m ESH receptors survived.

Stage III

A Spantech 13m ESH (donor) was filled with 75,000kgs (NEQ) of HD 1.1 wired at 600 points for instantaneous detonation.

A new Spantech 23m ESH (receptor) was constructed for Stage III. The design included an internal double arch stepped to allow additional pallet storage in the rear wall.

All receptors survived.

Stage IV

A Spantech 13m ESH (donor) was subjected to a series of HD 1.2 burns. The largest burn featured over five thousand 105mm shells in a stack comprising 160 pallets.

The donor building suppressed the series of explosions and all Spantech buildings survived.

Results

The Australian Ordnance Council advised, “the Spantech 13m and 23m Spantech Explosives Storehouse designs are acceptable for use and qualified for use as Bar 7 igloos.”

In particular:

During all stages of testing the Spantech ESH survived the force of the blast and proved to be able to satisfactorily protect the contents to a serviceable standard.
The fragmentation spread of the Spantech ESH was significantly lower than comparable structures, with the fragmentation spread remaining within the recommended NATO safety guidelines.

International Acceptance

Since the successful testing Spantech has constructed over 500 Spantech ESH and other blast resistant defence buildings.

The Spantech 13m ESH and Spantech 23m ESH are now specified and widely used by Defence departments in Australia, New Zealand, the United Arab Emirates and Malaysia.

For more information download the Spantech Defence brochure.

Other Defence Buildings

Also refer to:

Sample Defence Projects

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Design Assistance

Spantech can help you to select the right profile or product for your project.
Our friendly Spantech team offers comprehensive design assistance to Architects and Engineers.

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Other Wide Span Roofing Applications

Spantech profiles were originally developed for roofing. But the strength and versatility of these unique profiles makes them cost effective and suitable for a wide range of applications.

Explosive Ordnance Storage