Once the donor charge has been placed then the final action prior to the IEDD operator returning to the CP is for the detonator to be attached to the detonating cord.
ׁ HINT. It is strongly recommended that electrical (or shock tube if available) over non-electrical (safety fuze) means of initiation are used. This is because control is maintained over the demolition right up until the moment of initiation.
ׁ WARNING. If non-electrical (safety fuze) initiation is used, the IEDD operator must be confident that the cordon and evacuation can be maintained throughout.
ׁ HINT. Direct insertion of the detonator into the donor explosives is not recommended, even if the donor explosives are detonator sensitive. Having a detonating cord link serves two purposes: it enables the donor charge to be positioned and not be moved whilst the detonator is attached and also acts as a booster to the explosive chain.
ׁ WARNING. Prior to firing the demolition, the IEDD operator MUST ensure there has been no encroachment into the cordon and evacuation area. These distances MUST still be sufficient for the assessed explosive danger including the donor charge being used.
After firing the demolition and the application of a safe waiting period, the IEDD operator will need to confirm that the IED main charge has been destroyed and recover any remaining non-explosive IED components through appropriate IEDD techniques.
4.8.3. STAND-OFF It may not always be possible to safely place the donor charge without touching the IED main charge. However, the IEDD operator must not compromise safety and may consider placing the donor charge with increased stand-off. The IEDD operator must be aware that the risk of the detonation not propagating from the donor charge to the IED main charge will increase.
ׁ WARNING. This should not be attempted where failure could greatly increase the risk of the IED being left in a more dangerous state.
Increasing the size of the donor charge will help compensate for stand-off, however there is a limit as to how much this will work. The IEDD operator must use their experience and judgement to ascertain if attempting this technique is appropriate. In the next example a small IED main charge has been placed under a large pressure plate which overhangs the main charge on all sides. It would be unsafe for the IEDD operator to fingertip search further under the pressure plate to place a donor charge. Therefore, the IEDD operator has elected to place the donor charge with a slight increase in stand-off and double the size of the donor charge to help compensate for this increase.
IEDD techniques and procedures
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