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U.S. Army Explosives Safety Quantity-Distance
(ESQD) Principles Exam Questions With
Verified Solutions
Governing Regulations: DA PAM 385-64, DoD 6055.09-STD, DoD 6055.09-M
1. What is the primary purpose of Explosives Safety Quantity-Distance (ESQD)
criteria?
A. To maximize storage capacity at ammunition depots
B. To establish minimum safe separation distances between potential explosion
sites and exposed sites
C. To standardize magazine construction materials
D. To determine the cost of explosives storage facilities
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: ESQD establishes explosives safety siting criteria for potential explosion
sites (PES) and exposed sites (ES), based on blast, fragment, firebrand, thermal,
and groundshock effects. QD is determined by the effect requiring the greatest
distance .
2. What does the acronym PES stand for in explosives safety?
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A. Primary Explosive Storage
B. Potential Explosion Site
C. Protected Explosives Structure
D. Personnel Exposure Standard
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: PES refers to Potential Explosion Site, the location where explosives are
present. QD relationships define separation distances between a PES and exposed
sites (ES) .
3. What does the acronym ES stand for in explosives safety?
A. Explosive Storage
B. Emergency Shelter
C. Exposed Site
D. Environmental Standard
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: ES refers to Exposed Site, the location or facility that could be affected
by an explosion at a PES. QD criteria determine safe separation distances between
PES and ES .
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4. What does NEWQD stand for in explosives safety calculations?
A. Net Effective Weight Quantity Distance
B. Net Explosive Weight for Quantity-Distance
C. New Explosives Weight Determination
D. Net Environmental Weight for QD
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: NEWQD is the Net Explosive Weight for Quantity-Distance. For HD 1.1,
NEWQD equals the NEW (Net Explosive Weight), which is the total high explosives
weight plus total net propellant weight .
5. According to DoD standards, what is the minimum safe distance for mass
detonating explosives (HD 1.1) unless otherwise noted?
A. 500 feet
B. 1,000 feet
C. 1,250 feet
D. 2,000 feet
Correct Answer: C
U.S. Army Explosives Safety Quantity-Distance
(ESQD) Principles Exam Questions With
Verified Solutions
Governing Regulations: DA PAM 385-64, DoD 6055.09-STD, DoD 6055.09-M
1. What is the primary purpose of Explosives Safety Quantity-Distance (ESQD)
criteria?
A. To maximize storage capacity at ammunition depots
B. To establish minimum safe separation distances between potential explosion
sites and exposed sites
C. To standardize magazine construction materials
D. To determine the cost of explosives storage facilities
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: ESQD establishes explosives safety siting criteria for potential explosion
sites (PES) and exposed sites (ES), based on blast, fragment, firebrand, thermal,
and groundshock effects. QD is determined by the effect requiring the greatest
distance .
2. What does the acronym PES stand for in explosives safety?
,2|Page
A. Primary Explosive Storage
B. Potential Explosion Site
C. Protected Explosives Structure
D. Personnel Exposure Standard
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: PES refers to Potential Explosion Site, the location where explosives are
present. QD relationships define separation distances between a PES and exposed
sites (ES) .
3. What does the acronym ES stand for in explosives safety?
A. Explosive Storage
B. Emergency Shelter
C. Exposed Site
D. Environmental Standard
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: ES refers to Exposed Site, the location or facility that could be affected
by an explosion at a PES. QD criteria determine safe separation distances between
PES and ES .
, 3|Page
4. What does NEWQD stand for in explosives safety calculations?
A. Net Effective Weight Quantity Distance
B. Net Explosive Weight for Quantity-Distance
C. New Explosives Weight Determination
D. Net Environmental Weight for QD
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: NEWQD is the Net Explosive Weight for Quantity-Distance. For HD 1.1,
NEWQD equals the NEW (Net Explosive Weight), which is the total high explosives
weight plus total net propellant weight .
5. According to DoD standards, what is the minimum safe distance for mass
detonating explosives (HD 1.1) unless otherwise noted?
A. 500 feet
B. 1,000 feet
C. 1,250 feet
D. 2,000 feet
Correct Answer: C
