INVESTIGATION OF EXPLOSIVE DAMAGE AND REPAIR COSTS

On May 4, 1998 a series of explosions destroyed the Pacific Engineering Company (Pepcon) plant in Henderson, Nevada. The Pepcon plant manufactured ammonium perchlorate for rocket fuel. From damage analyses, the estimated explosive yield of the largest and most damaging single explosion was 226,800 kg. (500,000 lbs.) net explosive weight (NEW). Following the accident, a database was developed which contained key damage claim information including the location of each damaged structure, the general type of construction for each damaged structure, and the dollar amount of each damage claim. In 1992, based on these data, insurance companies paid nearly 17,000 claims totaling $77 million. The majority of these claims were for single family residences in Henderson and Las Vegas, Nevada. Starting in 1995, the U.S. Army Engineering and Support Center, Huntsville has supervised several studies by JWR, Inc., Albuquerque, New Mexico, which use the Pepcon database to assess structural damage and repair costs from accidental explosive detonations. In this paper, the authors will review the major findings of this research effort by evaluating probable repair costs from a hypothetical explosive detonation at a Department of Defense (DoD) installation. Their evaluation will be based upon the application of the current DoD minimum separation distance from the detonation to the installation boundary and will consider both residential and commercial construction.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0784404216
• Corporate Authors:

  American Society of Civil Engineers

  1801 Alexander Bell Drive
  Reston, VA  United States  20191-4400
• Authors:
  • LaHoud, P M
  • Zehrt, W H
• Conference:
  • 1999 New Orleans Structures Congress
  • Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
  • Date: 1999-4-18 to 1999-4-21
• Publication Date: 1999

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures;
• Pagination: p. 598-601

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Costs; Databases; Explosions; Explosives; Industrial plants; Loss and damage; Loss and damage claims; Repairing; Structures
• Uncontrolled Terms: Structural damage
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Finance; Highways; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00778298
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0784404216
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Nov 3 1999 12:00AM