Improvised Explosive Device Safe Standoff Distance Chart

High Explosives (TNT Equivalent)
Photo Threat Description Explosives Mass¹
(TNT Equivalent) Building
Evacuation
Distance² Outdoor
Evacuation
Distance³

Pipe Bomb 5 lbs.
2.3 kg. 70 ft.
21 m. 850 ft.
259 m.

Suicide Belt Suicide Belt 10 lbs.
4.5 kg. 90 ft.
27 m. 1,080 ft.
330 m.

Suicide Vest Suicide Vest 20 lgs.
9 kg. 110 ft.
34 m. 1,360 ft.
415 m.

Briefcase or Suitcase
Bomb 50 lbs.
23 kg. 150 ft.
46 m. 1,850 ft.
564 m.

Compact Sedan 500 lbs.
227 kg. 320 ft.
98 m. 1,500 ft.
457 m.

Sedan 1,000 lbs.
454 kg. 400 ft.
122 m. 1,750 ft.
534 m.

Passenger or Cargo Van 4,000 lbs.
1,814 kg. 640 ft.
195 m. 2,750 ft.
838 m.

Small Moving Van or
Delivery Truck 10,000 lbs.
4,536 kg. 860 ft.
263 m. 3,750 ft.
1,143 m.

Tanker Truck 30,000 lgs.
13,608 kg. 1,240 ft.
375 m. 6,500 ft.
1,982 m.

Semitrailer 60,000 lbs.
27,216 kg. 1,570 ft.
475 m. 7,000 ft.
2,134 m.

**High Explosives (TNT Equivalent)**
Threat Description	Explosives Mass¹ (TNT Equivalent)	Building Evacuation Distance²	Outdoor Evacuation Distance³
Pipe Bomb	5 lbs. 2.3 kg.	70 ft. 21 m.	850 ft. 259 m.
Suicide Belt	10 lbs. 4.5 kg.	90 ft. 27 m.	1,080 ft. 330 m.
Suicide Vest	20 lgs. 9 kg.	110 ft. 34 m.	1,360 ft. 415 m.
Briefcase or Suitcase Bomb	50 lbs. 23 kg.	150 ft. 46 m.	1,850 ft. 564 m.
Compact Sedan	500 lbs. 227 kg.	320 ft. 98 m.	1,500 ft. 457 m.
Sedan	1,000 lbs. 454 kg.	400 ft. 122 m.	1,750 ft. 534 m.
Passenger or Cargo Van	4,000 lbs. 1,814 kg.	640 ft. 195 m.	2,750 ft. 838 m.
Small Moving Van or Delivery Truck	10,000 lbs. 4,536 kg.	860 ft. 263 m.	3,750 ft. 1,143 m.
Tanker Truck	30,000 lgs. 13,608 kg.	1,240 ft. 375 m.	6,500 ft. 1,982 m.
Semitrailer	60,000 lbs. 27,216 kg.	1,570 ft. 475 m.	7,000 ft. 2,134 m.

Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG Butane or Propane)
Photo Threat Description LPG Mass/Volume¹ Fireball
Diameter⁴ Safe
Distance⁵

Small LPG Tank Small LPG Tank 20 lbs. 5 gal.
9 kg. 19 |. 40 ft.
12 m. 160 ft.
48 m.

Large LPG Tank Large LPG Tank 100 lbs 25 gal.
45 kg. 95 |. 69 ft.
21 m. 276 ft.
84 m.

Commercial or Residential
LPG Tank 2,000 lbs. 500 gal. 184 ft.
56 m. 736 ft.
224 m.

Small LPG Truck 8,000 lbs. 2,000 gal.
3,630 kg. 7,570 |. 292 ft.
89 m. 1,168 ft.
356 m.

**Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG Butane or Propane)**
Threat Description	LPG Mass/Volume¹	Fireball Diameter⁴	Safe Distance⁵
Small LPG Tank	20 lbs. 5 gal. 9 kg. 19 \|.	40 ft. 12 m.	160 ft. 48 m.
Large LPG Tank	100 lbs 25 gal. 45 kg. 95 \|.	69 ft. 21 m.	276 ft. 84 m.
Commercial or Residential LPG Tank	2,000 lbs. 500 gal.	184 ft. 56 m.	736 ft. 224 m.
Small LPG Truck	8,000 lbs. 2,000 gal. 3,630 kg. 7,570 \|.	292 ft. 89 m.	1,168 ft. 356 m.

¹ Based on the maximum amount of material that could reasonably fit into a container or vehicle. Variations possible.

² Governed by the ability of an unreinforced building to withstand severe damage or collapse.

³ Governed by the greater of fragment throw distance or glass breakagean the falling glass hazard distance. These distances can be reduced for personnel wearing ballistic protection. Note that the pipe bomb, suicide belt or vest, and briefcase or suitcase bomb are assumed to have a fragmentation characteristic that requires greater standoff distances than an equal amount of explosives in a vehicle.

⁴ Assuming efficient mixing of the flammable gas with ambient air.

⁵ Determined by U.S. firefighting practices wherein safe distances are approximately 4 times the flame height. Note that an LPG tank filled with high explosives would require a significantly greater standoff distance than if it were filled with LPG.

This link will take you to a smaller IED printable chart that you can print out for your personal use.

To Kolb