Improvised Explosive Device Information Guide ROOM AND BUILDING SEARCHES Under optimum conditions, room and building searches will be conducted by persons familiar with the building and its contents. These persons are by far the most qualified to recognize any new items of sign of anything being ³out of place´. When a situation arises arises that requires Military police, security, emergency response, or other law enforcement personnel to conduct a search of a room, building, or facility, the following points should be considered: A. General rules of thumb: 1) Searches should be organized and conducted in a s ystematic, s ystematic, orderly, and logical sequence: Establish a command and control center near the site. Begin from the outside and move inward. Concentrate on public areas where terrorists would have easier access, then move to private areas. Conduct searches from the bottom or lower levels of a build and move upward. 2) Whenever possible, searches should be conducted by trained search teams. Additionally, teams should be divided into areas of primary responsibility: Exterior Team Public Area Team Room Teams Misc. Teams Teams should consist of a minimum of two persons. 3) Additionally, the following rules should be adhered to whenever possible: Utilize K9 for high value areas. Utilize individuals familiar with spaces (Floor (Floor wardens, maintenance personnel, etc.). etc.). Coordinate search with facility manager. manager. When feasible, obtain building floor diagrams or blueprints to aid in organizing the search.
Be aware of signs of new construction or repair work. Report status to Command Control as search progresses. Immediately report any suspicious items. Mark the location near the suspicious device using pre-determined signs or flags. Taping a string on the floor next to the suspicious device and leading it to the building entrance is the best method of marking an item. In this method, the EOD team does not require a guide to show them the device. 4) Safety Precautions: DO NOT DISTURB SUSPICIOUS OBJECTS ± CONTACT EOD OR BOMB DISPOSAL PERSONNEL FOR POSITIVE IDENTIFICATION. Communications RF transmission can be a hazard Use landline telephone or runner. RF Transmission hazard distances can vary based on location and scenario. Contact local EOD or Bomb Disposal technicians for specific advice. Turn on lights? Scenario specific determination should be made in this instance.
B. Detailed Room Sweep: 1) Conduct quick visual scan for suspicious items or anything
out of place. Listen to ambient room sounds for mechanical ticking. Divide room in half and into four horizontal layers. Floor to waist Waist to eye level Eye level to ceiling
Above false ceiling 2) The search will consist of four sweeps around the room by a minimum of two personnel. The first sweep will be conducted at the lowest level. Search teams should begin the search at a designated point in the room and work in opposite directions until they meet at the far end, then continue the search through the center of the room, working back to the starting point. Subsequent sweeps should be conducted in the same manner matching the horizontal layer divisions of the room. Once the room search is complete, it should be reported to the command center, and the room marked in a previously decided manner. This will reduce redundant searches.
C. Damage Reduction: If an IED is discovered during the course of a search, and as time and circumstance allows, the following actions should be taken to reduce damage in the event of a detonation: Adjust evacuation distances based on a worst-case scenario in consideration of the size and placement of the suspected IED. (NOTE: See Appendix A ± Determining Safe Blast and Fragmentation Distances) Have emergency services/personnel (EOD, fire, and emergency medical) standing by to respond to the incident. Be alert for secondary IEDs. A common tactic amongst terrorists is to detonate an IED, wait for emergency responders, and then detonate a second IED situated to target the responders. Vent potential blast wave into open by opening all doors and windows Isolate water/gas/fuel lines and electrical power. Prior coordination with facilities maintenance personnel should be conducted du ring Force Protection planning. Consider the use of firefighting foam. Foam has a distinct capability to reduce the damage from blast overpressure and minimal reduction of the fragmentation hazard. Tamping, or placing shock-absorbent material in the area adjacent to the suspect device may assist in damage reduction depending on the size of the device. However, this activity should only be accomplished be Trained EOD personnel.
DO NOT ATTEMPT TO REMOVE A SUSPECTED IED. THIS IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EOD.
