Gravel Gertie

Gravel Gertie is a room designed for safe inspection, handling or dismantling of nuclear weapons. Since a nuclear detonation is initiated with conventional explosives, there is a risk that these explosives might detonate during handling of nuclear weapons and spread dangerous quantities of radioactive material without causing a nuclear detonation. A Gravel Gertie has sturdy walls but a relatively weak roof topped by approximately 7 meters of gravel. If an accident during the handling of a nuclear weapon causes a conventional explosion, the weak roof will collapse, causing the gravel to fall down and cover the remains of the weapon. This should prevent the leaking of radioactive materials. Naturally, Gravel Gertie offers no protection against nuclear detonation.

Gravel Gertie is named after a character in Dick Tracy comics.

External links

http://cryptome.org/pantex-gertie/pantex-gertie.htm (pictures of the type of rooms discussed)