What are the evacuation distances for a Small IED (5 pounds or less)?

• A. Mandatory 70 feet; Preferred 1200 feet
• B. Mandatory 320 feet; Preferred 1900 feet
• C. Mandatory 150 feet; Preferred 1850 feet
• D. Mandatory 500 feet; Preferred 3000 feet

Answer: (A)

For small IEDs, safety is built on a two-zone approach: a mandatory minimum exclusion zone and a larger recommended safety buffer. The mandatory distance is what must be cleared immediately to avoid exposure to the most dangerous effects of the blast, including blast overpressure and direct fragmentation. For a device of five pounds or less, this minimum is 70 feet. The preferred distance is a larger, planning-buffer distance used when conditions permit, aiming to protect against secondary debris, structural collapse, and windborne fragmentation, and for small devices this is about 1,200 feet. So the best choice reflects a quick, enforceable minimum with a generous safety buffer for additional protection. Other distance figures don’t match this small-device guidance, either by underestimating the mandatory zone or by using a spacing that isn’t aligned with typical small-device safety planning.