Basics, HD, HCC

Question 1

What is an explosive?

Answer 1

A solid or liquid substance (or mixture of substances) which is capable by chemical reaction of producing gas at such a temperature and pressure and at such a speed as to cause damage to the surroundings. Pyrotechnic substances are included even when they do not evolve gases

Question 2

What is hazard division 1.1?

Answer 2

Substances and articles which have a mass explosion hazard

Question 3

What is hazard division 1.2?

Answer 3

Substances and articles which have a projection hazard but not a mass explosion hazard

Question 4

What is hazard division 1.3?

Answer 4

Substances and articles, which have a fire hazard and either a minor blast hazard or a minor projection hazard or both, but not a mass explosion hazard.

Question 5

What is hazard division 1.4?

Answer 5

Substances and articles which present no significant hazard

Question 6

What is hazard division 1.5?

Answer 6

Very insensitive substances which have a mass explosion hazard

Question 7

What is hazard division 1.6?

Answer 7

Extremely insensitive articles which do not have a mass explosion hazard

Question 8

What is compatibility group A?

Answer 8

Primary explosive substance

Question 9

What is compatibility group B?

Answer 9

Article containing a primary explosive substance and not containing two or more effective protective features. Some articles, such as detonators for blasting, detonator assemblies for blasting and primers, cap-type, are included, even though they do not contain primary explosives

Question 10

What is compatibility group C?

Answer 10

Propellant explosive substance or other deflagrating explosive substance or article containing such explosive substance

Question 11

What is compatibility group D?

Answer 11

Secondary detonating explosive substance or black powder or article containing a secondary detonating explosive substance, in each case without means of
initiation and without a propelling charge, or article containing a primary explosive substance and containing two or more effective protective features

Question 12

What is compatibility group E?

Answer 12

Article containing a secondary detonating explosive substance, without means of initiation, with a propelling charge (other than one containing a flammable liquid or gel or hypergolic liquids)

Question 13

What is compatibility group F?

Answer 13

Article containing a secondary detonating explosive substance with its own means of initiation, with a propelling charge (other than one containing a
flammable liquid or gel or hypergolic liquids) or without a propelling charge

Question 14

What is compatibility group G?

Answer 14

Pyrotechnic substance, or article containing a pyrotechnic substance, or article containing both an explosive substance and an illuminating, incendiary, tear or smoke-producing substance (other than a water-activated article or one containing white phosphorus, phosphides, a pyrophoric substance, a flammable liquid or gel, or hypergolic liquids)

Question 15

What is compatibility group H?

Answer 15

Article containing both an explosive substance and white phosphorus

Question 16

What is compatibility group J?

Answer 16

Article containing both an explosive substance and a flammable liquid or gel

Question 17

What is compatibility group K?

Answer 17

Article containing both an explosive substance and a toxic chemical agent

Question 18

What is compatibility group L?

Answer 18

Explosive substance or article containing an explosive substance and presenting a special risk (e.g. due to water-activation or presence of hypergolic liquids,
phosphides or a pyrophoric substance) and needing isolation of each type

Question 19

What is compatibility group N?

Answer 19

Articles containing only extremely insensitive detonating substances

Question 20

What is compatibility group S?

Answer 20

Substance or article so packed or designed that any hazardous effects arising from accidental functioning are confined within the package unless the package
has been degraded by fire, in which case all blast or projection effects are limited to the extent that they do not significantly hinder or prohibit fire fighting or other
emergency response efforts in the immediate vicinity of the package

Question 21

What is the scientific name for TNT?

Answer 21

Trinitrotoluene

Question 22

What can compatibility group K be mixed with?

Answer 22

Compatibility Group K articles must always be transported and stored separately from all articles of other compatibility

Question 23

What are three types of explosion?

Answer 23

Mechanical, Chemical, Nuclear

Question 24

What are the two main types of chemical explosives?

Answer 24

Detonating (high explosive) and deflagrating (low explosive)

Question 25

What is explosive detonation?

Answer 25

The chemical decomposition is propagated by an explosive shock wave traversing the explosive material at speeds greater than the speed of sound within the substance

Question 26

What is explosive deflagration?

Answer 26

The decomposition of the explosive material is propagated by a flame front which moves slowly through the explosive material at speeds less than the speed of sound within the substance.

Question 27

What is explosive sensitivity?

Answer 27

Sensitivity refers to the ease with which an explosive can be ignited or detonated, i.e., the amount and intensity of shock, friction, or heat that is required

Question 28

What is a pyrotechnic substance?

Answer 28

A Pyrotechnic substance is a substance or a mixture of substances designed to produce an effect by heat, light, sound, gas or smoke or a combination of these as the result of non-detonative self-sustaining exothermic chemical reactions

Question 29

What is a pyrophoric solid?

Answer 29

A solid which, even in small quantities, is liable to ignite within five minutes after coming into contact with air

Question 30

What does a a chemical marker or taggant in plastic explosives do?

Answer 30

It is dispersed throughout the whole of the plastic explosive during manufacture, the marker emits a
chemical vapour which enables the detection of the smallest sample of plastic explosive, using specialised equipment.

Question 31

What are the 3 chemical detection agents in plastic explosives?

Answer 31

EGDN (ethylene glycol dinitrate) 0.2% by mass
DMNB (2,3-Dimethyl-2,3-dinitrobutane) 1.0% by mass
p-MNT (para-Mononitrotoluene ) 0.5% by mass

Question 32

What is the aim of the MARPLEX convention?

Answer 32

To deter misuse by terrorists of plastic explosives by
requiring that a prescribed chemical detection agent or ‘marker’ be incorporated into the manufacture of plastic explosives and imposing on States Parties an obligation to control the possession and transfer of existing stocks of unmarked plastic explosives.

Question 33

What event was the MARPLEX convention convened because of?

Answer 33

The bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland in December 1988. The bomb on Flight 103, which resulted in the deaths of 270 people, was comprised of approximately 250g of plastic explosive
hidden in a cassette player loaded into a cargo hold

Question 34

The first marking requirements from the MARPLEX convention is the chemical agent within the plastic explosive. What is the second?

Answer 34

Less than 10 years must have elapsed since the manufacture of the marked plastic explosive
(s72.33(3)). That is, a marked plastic explosive cannot be more than 10 years old.

Question 35

What explosives are exempt from the MARPLEX convention law?

Answer 35

• explosives with a water gel base
• ammonium nitrate based explosives
• detonation cord
• explosives described as Types A, B, C and E and classified in the United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods – Model Regulations (commonly known as the UN Model Code).