scope:

a. This document is applicable to all NASA facilities engaged in the development, manufacturing, handling, storage, transportation (on/offsite), processing, or testing of explosives, or assemblies containing explosives. The manual provides procedures for operations involving explosives, propellants, and pyrotechnics, and the safe management of such operations.

b. The design of all new explosives facilities, except those whose design phase is beyond Preliminary Design Review (PDR) or 30-percent completion at the publication of this document, shall conform to the requirements established herein and references as applicable. It is not the intent of NASA to change existing physical facilities arbitrarily to comply with these provisions, except as required by law. Existing facilities not in compliance with this document may continue to be used for the balance of their functional lives, as long as current operations present no significantly greater risk than that assumed when the facility was originally designed, and it can be demonstrated clearly that a modification to bring the facility into compliance is not feasible. In the case of a major renovation, however, the facility must be brought into compliance with current standards.