22nd/03/2006

Qualification of energetic materials: The GEMO test procedures are on line

GEMO (Groupe d’Etude des Modes Opératoires: Test procedure study group) has been created by DGA (Délégation Générale pour l’Armement: the French Procurement Defence Agency) in 1971 in order to prepare test procedures used for the qualification, assessment and control of explosive materials and products, that are standardised and commonly agreed between the various actors (designers, manufacturers, users, stakeholders...).

GEMO is chaired and managed by the munitions safety office of DGA/Inspectorate and ETBS. It is a trade association of experts from DGA (the French armament procurement agency), civil administrations and armament industry.

The group activities are divided into 4 main topics, themselves divided into technological fields:

  Statistics and metrology

  Physico-chemical properties and analyses

  Safety and vulnerability

  Performances

Having the test procedures on line makes easier their release to all potential users (such as industrials, civil governmental organisations, DGA directorates, etc.). It also gives to other organisations working in the field of explosives, the opportunity to benefit from the activities of the group.

Since GEMO was created, 1032 test procedures were published among which 88 are on line today. At the end, all of the 694 procedures currently applicable will be available on the site.

In addition to test procedures, the ixarm website also describes the organisation and functioning of the GEMO and gives guidance on how to get all the available information.

Patrick LAMY
Head of munitions safety office (DGA/INSP)

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