AC 450.137-1

Advisory circular · De Minimis Far-Field Blast Overpressure Effects Analysis

Approved
September 10, 2024
Last reviewed
September 10, 2024
This change
Provides guidance on a simplified method for performing a Far-Field Blast Overpressure (FFBO) blast effects analysis as part of a flight safety analysis in accordance with Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 450.137. It is intended to assist prospective applicants in obtaining commercial space authorizations and operating in compliance with commercial space regulations for operations where FFBO hazards are de minimis (negligible). Specifically, this AC provides a method for applicants to screen the FFBO hazards associated with their flight and, where those hazards are negligible, to tailor their FFBO analysis in a manner that meets §§ 450.137(a)(1) and (b). In accordance with §450.137(a), an applicant who elects to perform their FFBO analysis prior to the day of theoperation does not need to analyze FFBO risk during the countdown as well.
Family
AC 450.137-1 · 1 version
14 CFR parts
450

Guidance, not mandatory unless a rule or AD requires it. DRS record last changed November 21, 2025.

Show pages 13–24

8.4 Wi ndow Breakage.

In accordance with § 450.137(c)(4), a far-field overpressure risk analysis must include a description of the methods used to compute the probability of window breakage. For a screening analysis performed in accordance with this AC, an FFBO analysis should state that the probability of breakage was based on the glass damage model described in ANSI Standard S2.20-1983.

8.5 Probability of Casualty Computations.

In accordance with § 450.137(c)(5), a far-field overpressure risk analysis must include a description of the methods used to compute the probability of casualty for a representative individual, including tabular data and graphs for the probability of casualty, as a function of location relative to the window and the peak incident overpressure for a representative range of window types, building types, and yields accounted for. For a screening analysis performed in accordance with this AC, an FFBO analysis should state that the method assumes that no casualties can occur from the maximum credible yield for each phase of flight because every population center within the maximum range of the FFBO hazard is located beyond “no-damage yield” range based on Figure 5 of this AC (replicated from Figure 5.2.3 of the IAASS publication).9 9 Allahdadi, Firooz A., Isabelle Rongier, Tommaso Sgobba, and Paul D. Wilde, Safety Design for Space Operations, Sponsored by The International Association for the Advancement of Space Safety, Elsevier, Watham, MA, dated 2013.

8.6 P robability of Casualty Threshold Locations.

In accordance with § 450.137(c)(6), a far-field overpressure risk analysis must include tabular data and graphs showing the location of any individual member of the public that could be exposed to a probability of casualty of 1 × 10-5 or greater for neighboring operations personnel, and 1 × 10-6 or greater for other members of the public, given foreseeable meteorological conditions, yields, and population exposures. For a screening analysis performed in accordance with this AC, an FFBO analysis should state that no individuals will be exposed to a probability of casualty of 1 × 10-5 or greater for neighboring operations personnel, and 1 × 10-6 or greater for other members of the public because every population center within the maximum range of the FFBO hazard is located beyond “no-damage yield” range based on Figure 5 of this AC (replicated from Figure 5.2.3 of the IAASS publication).

8.7 Maximum Expected Casualties.

In accordance with § 450.137(c)(7), a far-field overpressure risk analysis must include the maximum expected casualties that could result from far-field overpressure hazards, given foreseeable meteorological conditions, yields, and population exposures. For a screening analysis performed in accordance with this AC, an FFBO analysis should state that the maximum expected casualties that could result from far-field overpressure hazards in any phase of flight is no more than 1E-6 because every population center within the maximum range of the FFBO hazard is located beyond “no-damage yield” range based on Figure 5 of this AC (replicated from Figure 5.2.3 of the IAASS publication).

8.8 Meteorological Measurements.

In accordance with § 450.137(c)(8), a far-field overpressure risk analysis must include a description of the meteorological measurements used. For a screening analysis performed in accordance with this AC, an FFBO analysis should state no meteorological measurements will be used because every population center within the maximum range of the FFBO hazard is located beyond “no-damage yield” range based on Figure 5 of this AC (replicated from Figure 5.2.3 of the IAASS publication).

A ppendix A Yield Factor Equation Coefficients for HD 1.3 Solid Propellants Table 3 – TNT Yield Equations for Solid Propellant Geometries with Constant Web Thickness to Length Ratios, Side-on Impact in Sand10 Coefficients Limits (ft/sec) Element Type Curve a b c d e Min Max 41-inch Se gment Im

p. -9.67E-14 1.

74E-10 -1.02E-07 5.

71E-05 3.32E-02 23 800 OP 3.77E-14 -7.84E-11 6.

51E-08 2.23E-05 3.47E-02 23 800 60-inch Se gment Im p 4.97E-13 -7.54E-10 3.

98E-07 -3.89E-05 5.

49E-02 68 800 OP 6.36E-13 -9.37E-10 4.

81E-07 -4.09E-05 5.

73E-02 68 800 92-inch Se gment Im p -2.03E-13 5.

22E-10 -2.20E-07 8.

05E-05 7.34E-02 82 800 OP -3.79E-13 8.

87E-10 -3.91E-07 1.

23E-04 8.02E-02 82 800 124-inch Se gment Im p -4.19E-12 6.

66E-09 -3.05E-06 5.

50E-04 7.50E-02 83 800 OP -5.58E-12 8.

85E-09 -4.05E-06 7.

35E-04 8.16E-02 83 800 146-inch Se gment Im p -5.43E-12 7.

24E-09 -2.41E-06 3.

46E-04 1.08E-01 74 800 OP -6.86E-12 9.

08E-09 -2.97E-06 4.

36E-04 1.25E-01 74 800 41-inch CAS Im p -4.31E-13 9.

54E-10 -6.82E-07 1.

98E-04 9.52E-03 156 1000 OP -4.79E-13 1.

05E-09 -7.29E-07 2.

05E-04 4.61E-03 156 1000 60-inch CAS Im p 1.87E-14 7.06E-11 -6.74E-08 2.

71E-05 3.29E-02 37 800 OP 4.61E-14 5.87E-11 -6.71E-08 2.

95E-05 3.04E-02 37 800 92-i nc h CAS Im p -1.51E-13 4. 06E-10 -3.08E-07 1. 17E-04 3.98E-02 99 800 OP -6.96E-13 1.

41E-09 -9.08E-07 2.

62E-04 3.17E-02 99 800 124-inch CAS Im p -1.24E-12 2.

06E-09 -1.01E-06 2.

16E-04 4.99E-02 104 800 OP -1.54E-12 2.

45E-09 -1.11E-06 2.

15E-04 5.79E-02 104 800 146-inch CAS Im p -2.06E-12 3.

26E-09 -1.48E-06 2.

67E-04 6.04E-02 94 800 OP -2.70E-12 4.

22E-09 -1.86E-06 3.

18E-04 6.82E-02 94 800 18-inch Cube Im p 5.84E-16 -8.73E-12 4.

42E-08 -1.20E-05 1.

99E-02 89 1600 OP 5.42E-16 -8.91E-12 5.

03E-08 -1.36E-05 1.

05E-02 89 1600 24-inch Cube Im p 9.84E-16 -1.34E-11 5.

79E-08 -8.19E-06 2.

21E-02 79 1600 OP 1.34E-15 -1.83E-11 8.

01E-08 -1.83E-05 1.

60E-02 79 1600 30-inch Cube Im p -1.39E-17 -8.

98E-12 5.

79E-08 -4.41E-06 2.

66E-02 72 1600 OP 6.96E-17 -1.30E-11 8.

11E-08 -1.24E-05 2.

16E-02 72 1600 10 Devoid, W. and C. Wass, “Final PIRAT Yield Model for Impacting Solid Propellant, Revision 2”, Report No.

CSR3-00300-R2, A-P-T Research, Inc. Cocoa Beach, FL, 16 September 2011.

T able 4 – TNT Yield Equations for Solid Propellant Geometries with Variable Web Thickness, Side-on Impact in Sand11 Element Type, Web Thickness Curve a Coefficients b c d e Limits (ft/sec) Min Max 41-in Seg, 21 in I mp 0.00E+00 8.55E-11 -9.43E-08 6. 48E-05 3.19E-02 78 800 OP 0.00E+00 1.38E-10 -1.47E-07 8.80E-05 2.90E-02 78 800 41-in Seg, 14 in Imp 0.00E+00 8.04E-11 -8.67E-08 6.11E-05 3.06E-02 76 800 OP 0.00E+00 1.00E-10 -1.02E-07 7. 34E-05 2.71E-02 76 800 41-in Seg, 7 in Imp 0.00E+00 7.98E-11 -8.23E-08 5.69E-05 2.78E-02 74 800 OP 0.00E+00 1.03E-10 -9.82E-08 6.72E-05 2.29E-02 74 800 60-in Seg,

30.

6 in I mp 0.00E+00 6.76E-11 -3.87E-08 5. 16E-05 4.81E-02 79 800 OP 0.00E+00 7.23E-11 -2.41E-08 5.71E-05 4.99E-02 79 800 60-in Seg,

20.

4 in Imp 0.00E+00 6.07E-11 -2.84E-08 4.71E-05 4.64E-02 79 800 OP 0.00E+00 8.25E-11 -3.28E-08 5. 78E-05 4.71E-02 79 800 60-in Seg,

10.

2 in Imp 0.00E+00 6.53E-11 -3.05E-08 4.53E-05 4.26E-02 79 800 OP 0.00E+00 8.96E-11 -4.14E-08 6.13E-05 4.09E-02 79 800 92-in Seg, 47 in I mp 0.00E+00 1.96E-10 -9.99E-08 6. 74E-05 7.27E-02 67 800 OP 0.00E+00 3.15E-10 -2.00E-07 1.12E-04 7.79E-02 67 800 92-in Seg,

31.

3 in Imp 0.00E+00 1.96E-10 -1.00E-07 6.74E-05 6.99E-02 67 800 OP 0.00E+00 1.93E-10 -4.52E-08 6. 21E-05 7.84E-02 67 800 92-in Seg,

15.

6 in Imp 0.00E+00 2.18E-10 -1.23E-07 7.30E-05 6.41E-02 67 800 OP 0.00E+00 2.76E-10 -1.42E-07 8. 94E-05 6.87E-02 67 800 124-in Seg,

63.

2 in Imp 0.00E+00 5.19E-10 -3.28E-07 1.30E-04 9.11E-02 83 800 OP 0.00E+00 5.79E-10 -2.84E-07 1.19E-04 1.10E-01 83 800 124-in Seg,

42.

2 in I mp 0.00E+00 5.45E-10 -3.46E-07 1. 30E-04 8.92E-02 83 800 OP 0.00E+00 6.90E-10 -3.98E-07 1.50E-04 1.04E-01 83 800 124-in Seg, 21 in Imp 0.00E+00 5.29E-10 -3.11E-07 1.14E-04 8.50E-02 83 800 OP 0.00E+00 6.66E-10 -3.71E-07 1. 40E-04 9.54E-02 83 800 146-in Seg,

74.

5 in Imp 0.00E+00 2.17E-11 9.72E-08 2.05E-04 8.29E-02 75 800 OP 0.00E+00 7.37E-11 9.84E-08 2.64E-04 9.94E-02 75 800 146-in Seg,

49.

6 in I mp 0.00E+00 -7.13E-10 1. 10E-06 -1.73E-04 1. 19E-01 74 800 OP 0.00E+00 -8.61E-10 1.37E-06 -2.12E-04 1.44E-01 74 800 146-in Seg,

24.

8 in Imp 0.00E+00 -6.99E-10 1.10E-06 -1.79E-04 1.16E-01 74 800 OP 0.00E+00 -1.06E-09 1. 62E-06 -2.91E-04 1. 40E-01 74 800 25

T able 5 – TNT Yield Equations for Solid Propellant Geometries with Variable Lengths, Side-on Impact in Sand12 Element Type, Length Curve a Coefficients b c d e Limits (ft/sec) Min Max 41-in Seg, 66 in I mp 0.00E+00 1.80E-10 -2.31E-07 1.

12E-04 1.84E-02 60 800 OP 0.00E+00 1.26E-10 -1.51E-07 8.

91E-05 1.66E-02 60 800 41-in Seg, 197 in I mp 0.00E+00 9.64E-11 -1.18E-07 7.

32E-05 3.69E-02 67 800 OP 0.00E+00 1.38E-10 -1.64E-07 9.

66E-05 3.51E-02 67 800 41-in Seg, 262 in I mp 0.00E+00 5.83E-11 -7.41E-08 6.

12E-05 4.15E-02 51 800 OP 0.00E+00 5.31E-11 -6.19E-08 6.

57E-05 4.22E-02 51 800 41-in Seg, 327 in I mp 0.00E+00 1.02E-10 -1.32E-07 8.

19E-05 4.19E-02 66 800 OP 0.00E+00 1.20E-10 -1.53E-07 1.

01E-04 4.18E-02 66 800 60-in Seg, 114 in I mp 0.00E+00 2.47E-11 -1.57E-08 4.

77E-05 4.04E-02 67 800 OP 0.00E+00 5.77E-11 -5.30E-08 7.

22E-05 3.87E-02 67 800 60-in Seg, 270 in I mp 0.00E+00 3.05E-11 -1.25E-08 4.

91E-05 5.48E-02 20 800 OP 0.00E+00 3.20E-11 -2.25E-09 5.

92E-05 5.79E-02 20 800 60-in Seg, 347 in I mp 0.00E+00 -1.76E-11 4.

94E-08 3.07E-05 6.04E-02 90 800 OP 0.00E+00 -3.11E-11 8.

10E-08 3.26E-05 6.57E-02 90 800 60-in Seg, 425 in I mp 0.00E+00 5.68E-11 -3.84E-08 5.

54E-05 6.17E-02 17 800 OP 0.00E+00 2.60E-11 1.49E-08 5.12E-05 6.75E-02 17 800 92-in Seg, 98 in I mp 0.00E+00 4.78E-10 -4.82E-07 1.

57E-04 4.40E-02 77 800 OP 0.00E+00 6.46E-10 -6.58E-07 2.

15E-04 4.24E-02 77 800 92-in Seg, 147 in I mp 0.00E+00 1.16E-10 -4.83E-08 6.

06E-05 5.82E-02 80 800 OP 0.00E+00 1.49E-10 -5.93E-08 6.

10E-05 6.50E-02 75 800 92-in Seg, 196 in I mp 0.00E+00 2.03E-10 -7.54E-08 7.

49E-05 7.14E-02 75 800 11 Devoid, W. and C. Wass, “Final PIRAT Yield Model for Impacting Solid Propellant, Revision 2”, Report No.

CSR3-00300-R2, A-P-T Research, Inc. Cocoa Beach, FL, 16 September 2011.

12 Devoid, W. and C. Wass, “Final PIRAT Yield Model for Impacting Solid Propellant, Revision 2”, Report No.

CSR3-00300-R2, A-P-T Research, Inc. Cocoa Beach, FL, 16 September 2011.

Element Type, Length Coefficients Limits (ft/sec) Curve a b c d e Min Max OP 0.00E+00 2.16E -10 -1.15E-07 7.66E-05 6.90E -02 72 800 92-in Seg, 245 in I mp 0.00E+00 3.14E -10 -1.76E-07 1.

04E-04 7.61E -02 72 800 OP 0.00E+00 -4.81E-11 1.24E-07 1.91E -05 7.12E -02 84 800 124-in Seg, 132 in I mp 0.00E+00 -1.35E-10 2.

57E-07 -8.15E-06 8.

11E-02 84 800 OP 0.00E+00 1.42E -10 -1.60E-08 5. 16E-05 8.02E -02 91 800 124” Seg, 199 in Imp 0.00E+00 1.90E -10 -1.71E-08 6.

61E-05 8.98E -02 91 800 OP 0.00E+00 5.29E -10 -3.28E-07 1. 27E-04 8.34E -02 85 800 124” Seg, 265 in Imp 0.00E+00 7.05E -10 -4.17E-07 1.

53E-04 9.59E -02 85 800 OP 0.00E+00 4.87E -10 -2.93E-07 1.25E-04 8.91E -02 71 800 124” Seg, 331 in Imp 0.00E+00 6.81E -10 -4.25E-07 1.

73E-04 1.03E -01 71 800 OP 0.00E+00 1.49E -10 -5.93E-08 6. 10E-05 6.50E -02 75 800 146” Seg, 165 in Imp 0.00E+00 5.74E -11 -3.12E-08 8.

80E-05 7.88E -02 72 800 OP 0.00E+00 1.24E -10 -8.57E-08 1. 23E-04 8.91E -02 72 800 146” Seg, 243 in Imp 0.00E+00 4.36E -10 -2.66E-07 1.

29E-04 8.82E -02 75 800 OP 0.00E+00 5.89E -10 -3.58E-07 1. 69E-04 1.03E -01 75 800 146” Seg, 320 in Imp 0.00E+00 5.34E -10 -3.19E-07 1.

41E-04 9.54E -02 72 800 OP 0.00E+00 8.78E -10 -6.10E-07 2. 36E-04 1.11E -01 72 800 146” Seg, 398 in Imp 0.00E+00 6.25E -10 -3.79E-07 1.

56E-04 1.00E -01 75 800 OP 0.00E+00 7.91E -10 -4.54E-07 1. 91E-04 1.21E -01 75 800 27

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