IED Clearance Good Practice Guide

3.3.4.DETECTING OTHER COMPONENTS WITH A TRIPWIRE FEELER AS A VISUAL SEARCH AID The detection of other surface-laid switches can also be enhanced by the use of a tripwire feeler or other aids such as laser pens. This is especially true for the crush wire pressure IED switches that have been commonly encountered since 2015 in Iraq and Syria.

ׁ WARNING. The principle is not to interact with the switch, rather to use the feeler to help focus the searcher’s vision.

Crush wire pressure switch

Lane marker

Image 13. Surface-laid crush wire switch located with the help of a tripwire feeler

3.3.5.DETECTING TRIPWIRE USING A LASER AS A VISUAL SEARCH AID Searchers can use additional aids such as commercially available laser pens in these environments. The concept is that a tripwire will visibly break or interrupt the laser’s line or interrupt the dot depending on the type of laser being used.

ׁ WARNING. It is important that training and familiarisation of this technique is conducted and that it is used alongside a visual search, just like tripwire feeling, and not used in isolation.

ׁ WARNING. Approval and accreditation are required by the NMAA or equivalent with regards a suitable procedure and the procurement of a laser pen that is safe to use.

Search core skills and procedures

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