scope:

Purpose.

This part of MIL-HDBK-240 provides the procedures and techniques to conduct Personnel-borne Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) (PESD) and Helicopter-borne ESD (HESD) tests. It covers PESD and HESD testing for all Air Force, Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard ordnance and support equipment for all mission areas. Although intended primarily for use by Department of Defense (DoD) ESD test activities, this part of the handbook provides a consolidation of "corporate knowledge" about the subject that should be of interest to procurement authorities and system developers.

Background.

There are three specific objectives of this handbook:

a. Harmonize the differences in the existing ESD test procedures used by each of the Services.

b. Reduce redundant testing.

c. Meet the ordnance safety requirements in MIL-STD-464.

The use of this standard should allow interoperability of ordnance facilitating the use or adaptation of Joint Service weapons. MIL-STD-464 provides the fundamental environment for PESD and HESD. Ordnance required to survive the MIL-STD-464 environment should be tested and evaluated using this standard. MIL-STD-331 serves as the fuze environmental performance standard for the qualification of fuzes, safe & arm (S&A) devices and ignition safety devices (ISD). MIL-STD-331 only addresses fuzes, where MIL-STD-464 and this handbook address the ordnance all-up round (AUR) and ordnance subcomponents. In order to facilitate the flow and acceptance of ESD reports, analyses, and data it is important that calibration, procedures, and sensitivity data conform to this document.

ESD test data are used to determine the susceptibility of ordnance and weapon systems to PESD and HESD. This information is used to assess risks and develop effective control measures to minimize those risks.

The PESD procedure applies to all categories of ordnance, such as ammunition, small arms, missiles, rockets, and pyrotechnics.

The HESD procedure applies to all categories of ordnance in the following configurations: bare item carry, the external carry (installed on aircraft), the hot tube loaded (install/uninstall on operating ungrounded aircraft), and the Vertical Replenishment (VERTREP)/sling load carry (packaged configuration).

intended Use:

This handbook can be used by any facility engaged in ESD testing for any of the military departments.