Safe and secure management of ammunition through the UN SaferGuard Programme
Photo: Erwan Morand.
In more than 100 countries, over the past five decades, poorly-managed ammunition stockpiles have resulted in explosions, often bringing about humanitarian disasters. Thousands of people have been killed, injured and displaced, and the livelihoods of entire communities have been disrupted.
In addition to the humanitarian and socio-economic consequences, unsecured or poorly managed ammunition stockpiles fuel insecurity. Massive diversion of ammunition to illicit markets has been a catalyst for armed conflict, organized crime and terrorism. Moreover, diverted ammunition is increasingly used to assemble improvised explosive devices.
Taken together, these consequences demonstrate the very serious safety and security challenges posed by inadequately-managed stockpiles.
In response to these concerns, the General Assembly requested the United Nations to develop guidelines for adequate ammunition management to ensure that the United Nations consistently delivers high-quality advice and support (A/RES/63/61).
As a result, the International Ammunition Technical Guidelines (IATG) were developed in 2011 and the UN SaferGuard Programme was established as the corresponding knowledge management platform.
The UN SaferGuard Programme, managed by the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs oversees the maintenance, updating and dissemination of the IATG.
Casualties of unplanned explosions at munitions sites (UEMS) 1979-2021
IATG Implementation Support Toolkit
The web-based applications in this toolkit support the implementation of the International Ammunition Technical Guidelines (IATG). The scientific background of the underlying formulae is summarized and referenced in IATG 1.80.
Ammunition experts are invited to use the resources on this website to implement best-practices that will improve the safety, security and efficiency in conventional ammunition stockpile management. These tools may also be used to communicate safety and security requirements to policy-makers and other stakeholders.
Risk Management
Technical Calculators
Calculators for Demolition
International Ammunition Technical Guidelines
The newly released Version 3 of the IATG are currently only available in English. Translations of Version 3 into Arabic, French and Spanish will become available in due course. The Office for Disarmament Affairs will continue to strive to make the IATG available in additional languages.
Please consult the AMAT Insights for a practical and detailed overview of the amendments made in IATG Version 3, the rationale behind them, and their expected impact.
Compiled English version of the IATG
- 01 - Introduction and Principles of Ammunition Management
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01.10 - Guide to the International Ammunition Technical Guidelines (IATG)
Version 3: EnglishVersion 2: French Portuguese Russian Spanish
Version 1: Arabic
01.20 - Index of risk reduction process levels (RRPL) within IATG
Version 3: English
Version 2: French Portuguese Russian Spanish
Version 1: Arabic
01.30 - Policy development and advice
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Version 1: Arabic
01.35 - Organisational Capabilities
Version 3: English
01.40 - Glossary of terms, definitions and abbreviations
Version 3: English
Version 2: French Portuguese Russian Spanish
Version 1: Arabic
01.50 - UN explosive hazard classification system and codes
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Version 1: Arabic
01.60 - Ammunition faults and performance failures
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01.70 - Bans and constraints
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01.80 - Formulae for ammunition management
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01.90 - Ammunition management personnel competences (new module)
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- 02 - Risk Management
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02.10 - Introduction to risk management principles and processes
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02.20 - Quantity and separation distances
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02.30 - Licensing of explosive facilities
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02.40 - Safeguarding of explosive facilities
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02.50 - Fire safety
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- 03 - Ammunition Accounting
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03.10 - Inventory management
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03.20 - Lotting and batching
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- 04 - Explosive Facilities (Storage) (Field and Temporary Conditions)
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04.10 - Temporary storage
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- 05 - Explosives Facilities (Storage) (Infrastructure and Equipment)
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05.10 - Planning and siting of explosives facilities
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05.20 - Types of buildings for explosives facilities
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05.30 - Traverses and barricades
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05.40 - Safety standards for electrical installations
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05.50 - Vehicles and mechanical handling equipment (MHE) in explosives facilities
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05.60 - Radio frequency hazards
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- 06 - Explosive Facilities (Storage) (Operations)
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06.10 - Control of explosives facilities
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06.20 - Storage space requirements
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06.30 - Storage and handling
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06.40 - Ammunition packaging and marking
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06.50 - Specific safety precautions (storage and operations)
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06.60 - Works services (construction and repair)
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06.70 - Inspection of explosives facilities
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- 07 - Ammunition Processing
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07.10 - Safety and risk reduction (ammunition processing operations)
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07.20 - Inspection of ammunition
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07.30 - Ammunition processing operations - Safety, risk reduction and mitigation
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- 08 - Transport of Ammunition
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08.10 - Transport of ammunition
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08.20 - Storage and handling of ammunition and explosives at airfields
Version 3: English
- 09 - Security of Ammunition
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09.10 - Security principles and systems
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- 10 - Ammunition Demilitarization and Destruction
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10.10 - Demilitarization and destruction and logistic disposal of conventional ammunition
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- 11 - Ammunition Accidents, Reporting and Investigation
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11.10 - Ammunition accidents: reporting and investigation
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11.20 - Clearance storage area explosions – EOD clearance
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- 12 - Ammunition Operational Support
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12.10 - Ammunition on multi-national operations
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12.20 - Small unit ammunition storage
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