§ 1910.109 Explosives and blasting agents.
(a) Definitions applicable to this section—(1) Blasting agent. Blasting agent—any material or mixture, consisting of a fuel and oxidizer, intended for blasting, not otherwise classified as an explosive and in which none of the ingredients are classified as an explosive, provided that the finished product, as mixed and packaged for use or shipment, cannot be detonated by means of a No. 8 test blasting cap when unconfined.
(2) Explosive-actuated power devices. Explosive-actuated power device—any tool or special mechanized device which is actuated by explosives, but not including propellant-actuated power devices. Examples of explosive-actuated power devices are jet tappers and jet perforators.
(3) Explosive. Explosive—any chemical compound, mixture, or device, the primary or common purpose of which is to function by explosion, i.e., with substantially instantaneous release of gas and heat, unless such compound, mixture, or device is otherwise specifically classified by the U.S. Department of Transportation; see 49 CFR chapter I. The term “explosives” shall include all material which is classified as Class A, Class B, and Class C explosives by the U.S. Department of Transportation, and includes, but is not limited to dynamite, black powder, pellet powders, initiating explosives, blasting caps, electric blasting caps, safety fuse, fuse lighters, fuse igniters, squibs, cordeau detonant fuse, instantaneous fuse, igniter cord, igniters, small arms ammunition, small arms ammunition primers, smokeless propellant, cartridges for propellant-actuated power devices, and cartridges for industrial guns. Commercial explosives are those explosives which are intended to be used in commercial or industrial operations.
Note 1:
Classification of explosives is described by the U.S. Department of Transportation as follows (see 49 CFR chapter I):
(i) Class A explosives. Possessing, detonating, or otherwise maximum hazard; such as dynamite, nitroglycerin, picric acid, lead azide, fulminate of mercury, black powder, blasting caps, and detonating primers.
(ii) Class B explosives. Possessing flammable hazard, such as propellant explosives (including some smokeless propellants), photographic flash powders, and some special fireworks.
(iii) Class C explosives. Includes certain types of manufactured articles which contain Class A or Class B explosives, or both, as components but in restricted quantities.
(iv) Forbidden or not acceptable explosives. Explosives which are forbidden or not acceptable for transportation by common carriers by rail freight, rail express, highway, or water in accordance with the regulations of the U.S. Department of Transportation, 49 CFR chapter I.
(4) Highway. Highway—any public street, public alley, or public road.
(5) [Reserved]
(6) Magazine. Magazine—any building or structure, other than an explosives manufacturing building, used for the storage of explosives.
(7) Motor vehicle. Motor vehicle—any self-propelled vehicle, truck, tractor, semitrailer, or truck-full trailers used for the transportation of freight over public highways.
(8) Propellant-actuated power devices. Propellant-actuated power devices—any tool or special mechanized device or gas generator system which is actuated by a smokeless propellant or which releases and directs work through a smokeless propellant charge.
(9) [Reserved]
(10) Pyrotechnics. Pyrotechnics—any combustible or explosive compositions or manufactured articles designed and prepared for the purpose of producing audible or visible effects which are commonly referred to as fireworks.
(11) [Reserved]
(12) Semiconductive hose. Semiconductive hose—a hose with an electrical resistance high enough to limit flow of stray electric currents to safe levels, yet not so high as to prevent drainage of static electric charges to ground; hose of not more than 2 megohms resistance over its entire length and of not less than 5,000 ohms per foot meets the requirement.
(13) Small arms ammunition. Small arms ammunition—any shotgun, rifle, pistol, or revolver cartridge, and cartridges for propellant-actuated power devices and industrial guns. Military-type ammunition containing explosive-bursting charges, incendiary, tracer, spotting, or pyrotechnic projectiles is excluded from this definition.
(14) Small arms ammunition primers. Small arms ammunition primers—small percussion-sensitive explosive charges, encased in a cup, used to ignite propellant powder.
(15) Smokeless propellants. Smokeless propellants—solid propellants, commonly called smokeless powders in the trade, used in small arms ammunition, cannon, rockets, propellant-actuated power devices, etc.
(16) Special industrial explosives devices. Special industrial explosives devices—explosive-actuated power devices and propellant-actuated power devices.
(17) Special industrial explosives materials. Special industrial explosives materials—shaped materials and sheet forms and various other extrusions, pellets, and packages of high explosives, which include dynamite, trinitrotoluene (TNT), pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN), hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-s-triazine (RDX), and other similar compounds used for high-energy-rate forming, expanding, and shaping in metal fabrication, and for dismemberment and quick reduction of scrap metal.
(18) Water gels or slurry explosives. These comprise a wide variety of materials used for blasting. They all contain substantial proportions of water and high proportions of ammonium nitrate, some of which is in solution in the water. Two broad classes of water gels are (i) those which are sensitized by a material classed as an explosive, such as TNT or smokeless powder, (ii) those which contain no ingredient classified as an explosive; these are sensitized with metals such as aluminum or with other fuels. Water gels may be premixed at an explosives plant or mixed at the site immediately before delivery into the borehole.
(19) DOT specifications. Regulations of the Department of Transportation published in 49 CFR chapter I.
(b) Miscellaneous provisions—(1) General hazard. No person shall store, handle, or transport explosives or blasting agents when such storage, handling, and transportation of explosives or blasting agents constitutes an undue hazard to life.
(2) [Reserved]
(c) Storage of explosives—(1) General provisions. (i) All Class A, Class B, Class C explosives, and special industrial explosives, and any newly developed and unclassified explosives, shall be kept in magazines which meet the requirements of this paragraph.
(ii) Blasting caps, electric blasting caps, detonating primers, and primed cartridges shall not be stored in the same magazine with other explosives.
(iii) Ground around magazines shall slope away for drainage. The land surrounding magazines shall be kept clear of brush, dried grass, leaves, and other materials for a distance of at least 25 feet.
(iv) Magazines as required by this paragraph shall be of two classes; namely, Class I magazines, and Class II magazines.
(v) Class I magazines shall be required where the quantity of explosives stored is more than 50 pounds. Class II magazines may be used where the quantity of explosives stored is 50 pounds or less.
(vi) Class I magazines shall be located away from other magazines in conformity with Table H-21.
Table H-21—American Table of Distances for Storage of Explosives 1-5
[As revised and approved by the Institute of Makers of Explosives, June 5, 1964]
| Explosives | Distances in feet when storage is barricaded: Separation of magazines | |
|---|---|---|
| Pounds over | Pounds not over | |
| 2 | 5 | 6 |
| 5 | 10 | 8 |
| 10 | 20 | 10 |
| 20 | 30 | 11 |
| 30 | 40 | 12 |
| 40 | 50 | 14 |
| 50 | 75 | 15 |
| 75 | 100 | 16 |
| 100 | 125 | 18 |
| 125 | 150 | 19 |
| 150 | 200 | 21 |
| 200 | 250 | 23 |
| 250 | 300 | 24 |
| 300 | 400 | 27 |
| 400 | 500 | 29 |
| 500 | 600 | 31 |
| 600 | 700 | 32 |
| 700 | 800 | 33 |
| 800 | 900 | 35 |
| 900 | 1,000 | 36 |
| 1,000 | 1,200 | 39 |
| 1,200 | 1,400 | 41 |
| 1,400 | 1,600 | 43 |
| 1,600 | 1,800 | 44 |
| 1,800 | 2,000 | 45 |
| 2,000 | 2,500 | 49 |
| 2,500 | 3,000 | 52 |
| 3,000 | 4,000 | 58 |
| 4,000 | 5,000 | 61 |
| 5,000 | 6,000 | 65 |
| 6,000 | 7,000 | 68 |
| 7,000 | 8,000 | 72 |
| 8,000 | 9,000 | 75 |
| 9,000 | 10,000 | 78 |
| 10,000 | 12,000 | 82 |
| 12,000 | 14,000 | 87 |
| 14,000 | 16,000 | 90 |
| 16,000 | 18,000 | 94 |
| 18,000 | 20,000 | 98 |
| 20,000 | 25,000 | 105 |
| 25,000 | 30,000 | 112 |
| 30,000 | 35,000 | 119 |
| 35,000 | 40,000 | 124 |
| 40,000 | 45,000 | 129 |
| 45,000 | 50,000 | 135 |
| 50,000 | 55,000 | 140 |
| 55,000 | 60,000 | 145 |
| 60,000 | 65,000 | 150 |
| 65,000 | 70,000 | 155 |
| 70,000 | 75,000 | 160 |
| 75,000 | 80,000 | 165 |
| 80,000 | 85,000 | 170 |
| 85,000 | 90,000 | 175 |
| 90,000 | 95,000 | 180 |
| 95,000 | 100,000 | 185 |
| 100,000 | 110,000 | 195 |
| 110,000 | 120,000 | 205 |
| 120,000 | 130,000 | 215 |
| 130,000 | 140,000 | 225 |
| 140,000 | 150,000 | 235 |
| 150,000 | 160,000 | 245 |
| 160,000 | 170,000 | 255 |
| 170,000 | 180,000 | 265 |
| 180,000 | 190,000 | 275 |
| 190,000 | 200,000 | 285 |
| 200,000 | 210,000 | 295 |
| 210,000 | 230,000 | 315 |
| 230,000 | 250,000 | 335 |
| 250,000 | 275,000 | 360 |
| 275,000 | 300,000 | 385 |
1 “Natural barricade” means natural features of the ground, such as hills, or timber of sufficient density that the surrounding exposures which require protection cannot be seen from the magazine when the trees are bare of leaves.
2 “Artificial barricade” means an artificial mound or revetted wall of earth of a minimum thickness of three feet.
3 “Barricaded” means that a building containing explosives is effectually screened from a magazine, building, railway, or highway, either by a natural barricade, or by an artificial barricade of such height that a straight line from the top of any sidewall of the building containing explosives to the eave line of any magazine, or building, or to a point 12 feet above the center of a railway or highway, will pass through such intervening natural or artificial barricade.
4 When two or more storage magazines are located on the same property, each magazine must comply with the minimum distances specified from inhabited buildings, railways, and highways, and in addition, they should be separated from each other by not less than the distances shown for “Separation of Magazines,” except that the quantity of explosives contained in cap magazines shall govern in regard to the spacing of said cap magazines from magazines containing other explosives. If any two or more magazines are separated from each other by less than the specified “Separation of Magazines” distances, then such two or more magazines, as a group, must be considered as one magazine, and the total quantity of explosives stored in such group must be treated as if stored in a single magazine located on the site of any magazine of the group, and must comply with the minimum of distances specified from other magazines, inhabited buildings, railways, and highways.
5 This table applies only to the permanent storage of commercial explosives. It is not applicable to transportation of explosives, or any handling or temporary storage necessary or incident thereto. It is not intended to apply to bombs, projectiles, or other heavily encased explosives.
(vii) Except as provided in subdivision (viii) of this subparagraph, class II magazines shall be located in conformity with Table H-21, but may be permitted in warehouses and in wholesale and retail establishments when located on a floor which has an entrance at outside grade level and the magazine is located not more than 10 feet from such an entrance. Two class II magazines may be located in the same building when one is used only for blasting caps in quantities not in excess of 5,000 caps and a distance of 10 feet is maintained between magazines.
(viii) When used for temporary storage at a site for blasting operations, class II magazines shall be located away from other magazines. A distance of at least one hundred and fifty (150) feet shall be maintained between class II magazines and the work in progress when the quantity of explosives kept therein is in excess of 25 pounds, and at least 50 feet when the quantity of explosives is 25 pounds, or less.
(ix) This paragraph (c) does not apply to:
(a) Stocks of small arms ammunition, propellant-actuated power cartridges, small arms ammunition primers in quantities of less than 750,000, or of smokeless propellants in quantities less than 750 pounds;
(b) Explosive-actuated power devices when in quantities less than 50 pounds net weight of explosives;
(c) Fuse lighters and fuse igniters;
(d) Safety fuses other than cordeau detonant fuses.
(2) Construction of magazines—general. (i) Magazines shall be constructed in conformity with the provisions of this paragraph.
(ii) Magazines for the storage of explosives, other than black powder, Class B and Class C explosives shall be bullet resistant, weather resistant, fire resistant, and ventilated sufficiently to protect the explosive in the specific locality. Magazines used only for storage of black powder, Class B and Class C explosives shall be weather resistant, fire-resistant, and have ventilation. Magazines for storage of blasting and electric blasting caps shall be weather resistant, fire-resistant, and ventilated.
(iii) Property upon which Class I magazines are located and property where Class II magazines are located outside of buildings shall be posted with signs reading “Explosives—Keep Off.”
(iv) Magazines requiring heat shall be heated by either hot-water radiant heating with the magazine building; or air directed into the magazine building over either hot water or low pressure steam (15 p.s.i.g.) coils located outside the magazine building.
(v) The magazine heating systems shall meet the following requirements:
(a) The radiant heating coils within the building shall be installed in such a manner that the explosives or explosives containers cannot contact the coils and air is free to circulate between the coils and the explosives or explosives containers.
(b) The heating ducts shall be installed in such a manner that the hot-air discharge from the duct is not directed against the explosives or explosives containers.
(c) The heating device used in connection with a magazine shall have controls which prevent the ambient building temperature from exceeding 130 °F.
(d) The electric fan or pump used in the heating system for a magazine shall be mounted outside and separate from the wall of the magazine and shall be grounded.
(e) The electric fan motor and the controls for electrical heating devices used in heating water or steam shall have overloads and disconnects, which comply with subpart S of this part. All electrical switch gear shall be located a minimum distance of 25 feet from the magazine.
(f) The heating source for water or steam shall be separated from the magazine by a distance of not less than 25 feet when electrical and 50 feet when fuel fired. The area between the heating unit and the magazine shall be cleared of all combustible materials.
(g) The storage of explosives and explosives containers in the magazine shall allow uniform air circulation so product temperature uniformity can be maintained.
(vi) When lights are necessary inside the magazine, electric safety flashlight, or electric safety lanterns shall be used.
(3) Construction of Class I magazines. (i) Class I magazines shall be of masonry construction or of wood or of metal construction, or a combination of these types. Thickness of masonry units shall not be less than 8 inches. Hollow masonry units used in construction required to be bullet resistant shall have all hollow spaces filled with weak cement or well-tamped sand. Wood constructed walls, required to be bullet resistant, shall have at least a 6-inch space between interior and exterior sheathing and the space between sheathing shall be filled with well-tamped sand. Metal wall construction, when required to be bullet resistant, shall be lined with brick at least 4 inches in thickness or shall have at least a 6-inch sandfill between interior and exterior walls.