An Investigation of the Relationship between EMP Grounding Practices and MIL-STD-188-124

This program was performed to assist and advise the Defense Nuclear Agency DNA in identifying facility grounding, bonding, and shielding measures appropriate for electromagnetic pulse EMP protection and for electromagnetic interference EMI control, i.e., electromagnetic compatibility EMC. Presently, the specific philosophy and requirements for achieving EMP protection are distributed throughout several documents. From a review of this EMP literature, a consolidated summary of the EMP grounding and shielding philosophy, requirements, and rationale was developed. Since the requirements for achieving power safety, lightning protection, and generalized EMC have recently been set forth in MIL-STD-188-124, the rationale for its specific requirements which are different from the EMP requirements are also presented. Based on this summary of the EMP requirements and on the rationale for the Standards requirements, the areas in which differences exist were defined. The specific EMC and EMP requirements in these difference areas are presented. The relationships between the two sets of requirements in each difference area and the reasons for the differences were investigated and are discussed in detail. As a result of these investigations, both specific changes in MIL-STD-188-124 and potential approaches are recommended to resolve the differences for the differences which are not as easily resolved, specific further investigations are recommended.