The explosives research detonation area (ERDA) consists of an open area cleared to 0.5kg of non-fragmenting munitions and a containment building cleared to 1kg of fragmenting or non-fragmenting munitions. The containment building can be instrumented to record pressures, and straw-boards can be used to assess fragment size, penetration and distribution for fragmenting munitions. The open area can accommodate high-speed video for recording the shock wave propagation and other explosive phenomena.