Confused by some of the terminology used in the UXO industry? Check out our glossary below:
Abandoned Explosive Ordnance (AXO)
Abandoned Explosive Ordnance is explosive ordnance that has not been used during an armed conflict, that has been left behind or disposed of by a party to an armed conflict, and which is no longer under control of that party. Abandoned explosive ordnance may or may not have been primed, fuzed, armed or otherwise prepared for use.
Detonation
The high-speed chemical breakdown of an energetic material producing heat, pressure, flame and a shock wave.
Device
This term is used for any component, sub-assembly or completed ordnance, which may or may not have an explosive risk. It can apply to detonators, primers, gaines, fuzes, shells or bombs.
Explosive
The term explosive refers to compounds forming energetic materials that under certain conditions chemically react, rapidly producing gas, heat and pressure. Obviously, these are extremely dangerous and should only be handled by qualified professionals.
Explosive Ordnance (EO)
Explosive Ordnance is all munitions containing explosives, nuclear fission or fusion materials and biological and chemical agents. This includes bombs and warheads, guided and ballistic missiles, artillery, mortar, rocket, small arms ammunition, mines, torpedoes, depth charges, pyrotechnics, cluster bombs & dispensers, cartridge & propellant actuated devices, electro-explosive devices, clandestine & improvised explosive devices, and all similar or related items or components explosive in nature.
Explosive Ordnance Clearance (EOC)
Explosive Ordnance Clearance is a term used to describe the operation of ordnance detection, investigation, identification and removal, with EOD being a separate operation.
Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD)
Explosive Ordnance Disposal is the detection, identification, on-site evaluation, rendering safe, recovery and final disposal of unexploded explosive ordnance.
Explosive Ordnance Reconnaissance (EOR)
Explosive Ordnance Reconnaissance is the detection, identification and on-site evaluation of unexploded explosive ordnance before Explosive Ordnance Disposal.
Explosive Remnants of War (ERW)
Explosive Remnants of War are Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) and Abandoned Explosive Ordnance (AXO), excluding landmines.
Explosive Substances and Articles (ESA)
Explosive substance are solid or liquid substance (or a mixture of substances), which is either:
- capable by chemical reaction in itself of producing gas at such a temperature and pressure and at such a speed as to cause damage to the surroundings.
- designed to produce an effect by heat, light, sound, gas or smoke, or a combination of these as a result of a non-detonative, self-sustaining, exothermic reaction.
Explosive article is an article containing one or more explosive substances.
Fuze
A fuze is the part of an explosive device that initiates the main explosive charge to function. In common usage, the word fuze is used indiscriminately, but when being specific (and in particular in a military context), fuze is used to mean a more complicated device, such as a device within military ordnance.
Gaine
Small explosive charge that is sometimes placed between the detonator and the main charge to ensure ignition.
High Explosive (HE)
Secondary explosives (commonly known as High Explosives) make up the main charge or filling of an ordnance device. They are usually less sensitive than primary explosives. Examples of secondary explosives are: Nitro glycerine (NG), Trinitrotoluene (TNT), AMATOL (Ammonia nitrate + TNT), Gunpowder (GP), and Cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX).
Munition
Munition is the complete device charged with explosives, propellants, pyrotechnics, initiating composition, or nuclear, biological or chemical material for use in military operations, including demolitions. This includes those munitions that have been suitably modified for use in training, ceremonial or non-operational purposes. These fall into three distinct categories:
- inert – contain no explosives whatsoever.
- live – contain explosives and have not been fired.
- blind – have fired but failed to function as intended
Primary Explosive
Primary explosives are usually extremely sensitive to friction, heat, and pressure. These are used to initiate less sensitive explosives. Examples of primary explosives are: Lead Azide, Lead Styphnate, and Mercury Fulminate. Primary explosive are commonly found in detonators.
Propellants
Propellants provide ordnance with the ability to travel in a controlled manner and deliver the ordnance to a predetermined target. Propellants burn rapidly producing gas, pressure and flame. Although usually in solid form they can be produced in liquid form. Examples of propellants are: Ballistite often found in a flake form and Cordite used in small arm ammunition.
Pyrotechnic
A pyrotechnic is an explosive article or substance designed to produce an effect by heat, light, sound, gas or smoke, or a combination of any of these, as a result of non-detonative, self-sustaining, exothermic chemical reactions.
Unexploded Ordnance (UXO)
UXO is explosive ordnance that has been either primed, fuzed, armed or prepared for use and has been subsequently fired, dropped, launched, projected or placed in such a manner as to present a hazard to operations, persons or objects and remains unexploded either by malfunction or design.