General Questions Explosives Flashcards
Who is affected by the Federal Explosives Law
All persons who import, manufacture, deal in, purchase, use, store or possess explosive materials.
Those who ship, transport or cause to be transported, or receive explosives.
What changes were brought about by the Safe Explosives Act?
Mandated that all persons who wish to receive or transport explosive materials must first get a Federal explosives license or permit.
Imposed new restrictions on who may lawfully receive and possess explosive materials.
Prohibited/ineligible to receive an Explosives Federal License or permit.
Under indictment for, or who has been convicted in any court, of a crime punishable by imprisonment for term over 1 year.
fugitive from justice
unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance.
adjudicated a mental defective or has been committed to a mental hospital.
is an alien
dishonorable discharge
renounced US citizenship.
Classes of persons to whom the distribution of explosives materials by licensees is prohibited
Under indictment for, or who has been convicted in any court, of a crime punishable by imprisonment for term over 1 year.
fugitive from justice
unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance.
adjudicated a mental defective or has been committed to a mental hospital.
is an alien
dishonorable discharge
renounced US citizenship
under 21 years of age
What other distributions of explosive materials by licensees and permittees are prohibited?
is not a licensee
is not a holder of a user permit
is not a holder of a limited permit who resides in the same State where distribution is made.
licensee believes they intend to transport materials into a State where the purchase, possession, or use of explosives is prohibited.
is in any state where such explosive materials would be in violation of any State law or ordinance applicable.
Does federal law prohibit certain persons from receiving or possessing explosive materials?
Under indictment for, or who has been convicted in any court, of a crime punishable by imprisonment for term over 1 year.
fugitive from justice
unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance.
adjudicated a mental defective or has been committed to a mental hospital.
is an alien
dishonorable discharge
renounced US citizenship.
May a licensed manufacturer, importer, or dealer distribute explosive materials to non-licensees or non-permittees?
No, all must first get a Federal Explosives License.
Is there a penalty for purchasers giving false information at the time of purchase of explosive materials?
Yes, false information or misrepresented ID is a maximum 10 years imprisonment and/or fine max $250,000
what is the requirement of reporting the theft or loss of explosive material
within 24 hours of discovery of the theft or loss
via telephone 800-461-8841 (8a-5p)
888-283-2662 after hours and weekends.
ATF form 5400.5 “Report of Theft or Loss-Explosives Form.
reported to appropriate local authorities.
Can ATF conduct warrantless inspections of licensees’ and permittees’ records of explosives materials, inventory and mazine?
Yes during business hours except for limited permit holders.
Is black powder subject to regulation under Federal explosives law?
No-for not exceeding 50 pounds intended for sporting, recreational, or cultural purposes in antique firearms.
Yes-for persons engaged in business of importing, dealing, manufacturing in black power in any qty must have a Federal explosives license.
are binary explosives subject to regulation under Fed explosives laws?
not until the compounds are mixed.
public highway
any public street, public alley, or public road, including privately financed, constructed, or maintained road that is regularly and and openly travelled by the general public.
private roads that are marked and barricaded that prevents access by the general public are not and are exempt from table of distance requirements.
shock tube
regulated - High explosive
can be stored as Low explosive when not attached to a detonator.
What is the role of the I.O.I in the Explosives industry?
Regulating and educating the explosive industry through licensing, permitting, and inspecting members of the explosive industry.
Interview applicants for explosive licenses or permits and conduct inspections of licenses and permits is to make sure explosives do not fall into the wrong hands.
What are some explosives products that the aisle I will encounter in the explosives industry?
Hi explosives: detonators and dynamite
Lower explosives: black powder and display fireworks
Blasting agents: ANFO and desensitized Emulsion.
Also called lead line or trunk line. Hollow core dusted with HMX and aluminum powder.
Shock tube
Manufactured in various grains per foot. Contain a solid core of PETN, RDX, or HMX.
Detonating cord.
Shock tube
Also called lead line or trunk line. Hollow core dusted with HMX and aluminum powder.
Detonating cord
Manufactured in various grains per foot.
Contains a solid core of PETN, RDX, or HMX.
Dynamite
Nitroglycerin base with other sensitizers present.
Extreme caution should be used with deteriorated dynamite.
Nitroglycerin base with other sensitizers present extreme caution should be used with deteriorated product
Dynamite
TNT
all explosives are rated in pounds of TNT.
Used in military applications and cast boosters.
Cast boosters
Contain TNT or a combination of TNT & PETN (pentolite).
Very long shelf life and excellent water resistance.
Used to boost other explosives, or can be used alone.
Plastic explosives
Manufactured in blocks and sheets
Flexible. Usually contains PETN.
Must contain a detection taggant.
Shaped charges
Linear and conical shapes. Used for specialty cutting applications.
Oil well perforators
A type of shaped charge. Used in the oil and gas drilling industry. Highly specialized to the application.
ANFO
Ammonium nitrate and fuel oil
Bagged or bulk product
Very cost effective
Water gels, emulsion and slurry explosives
Water resistant blasting agent. Bulk or package the product.
Black powder
50 pound exemption under specific conditions.
Used in antique firearms, reenactments, etc.
Also used in fireworks industry
Safety fuse
Solid black powder core. Also called canon fuse.
Display fireworks
Aerial shells, salutes, cakes, candles, set pieces, waterfalls, etc.
Contain black powder, flash powder, other pyrotechnic compositions.
Flash powder
Sensitive to heat, friction, static.
Used in fireworks and stage pyrotechnics.
Not regulated by ATF until mixed.
Igniters
Commonly used in the fireworks industry.
Regulated items!
Binary explosives
Not regulated by ATF until mixed.
May require a manufacturers license, depending on use.
High explosives
Detonators, also known as blasting caps or caps.
Dynamite
Low explosives
Black powder and display fireworks
ANFO And emulsions
Blasting agents
Define explosive
Title 18 U. S. C. Chapter 40 Defines explosive as any chemical compound, mixture, or device, the primary or common purpose of which is to function by explosion.
Define explosion
The sudden and violent escape of gases from a central point accompanied by high temperature, violent shock and loud noise
Three types of explosions
Mechanical explosion
Nuclear explosion
Chemical explosion.
Mechanical explosion
Purely physical and not chemical
Involves the conversion of a substance such as water into gas in the form of steam. Example would be a water heater that overheats without a pressure release valve. The result would be an explosion from the build up of steam.
Nuclear explosion
Involves
Fission - the splitting of the nucleus of Atoms
Fusion- The joining of the nuclei of items under great force.
Chemical explosion
Instant conversion of a solid or liquid compound into gases having a much greater volume than the original compound. Consist of an exothermic [heat] reaction that is set off and propagated by a shockwave, loud noise is often a byproduct.
Chemical explosives or unstable substances or mixtures of substances capable of undergoing sudden and violent decomposition or break up. Such as TNT and nitroglycerin or composite explosives like ANFO And flash powder.
Low explosives
Characterized by deflagration (Rapid burning) And produce gasses slowly and in large amounts.
Typically move at sub sonic speed below 3300 f/s
LE typically need some type of container to explode
High explosives
Decompose from an unstable solid or liquid compound or mixture to a more stable gas instantaneously. This is called detonation.
Heat in large quantities of gases travel outward at supersonic speeds over 3300 F/S and with enough force to shatter materials in close proximity. This is referred to as brisance Or the ability of an explosive to rip, tear, or break materials in close proximity.
Explosive train
And ordered combination of explosives necessary to achieve an explosion; initiation is the first step in the explosive train.
Initiation
Is the first step in an explosive train
The imposition of heat or shock insufficient amounts that starts [or initiates] The deflagration or detonation reaction
Low order detonation
the incomplete consumption of the explosive or complete consumption, but at lower than optimum velocity, usually because of deteriorated explosives or human error [poor priming techniques].
High order detonation
The complete consumption of the explosive at its optimum [highest] velocity.
Sympathetic detonation
High order destinations can result in the initiation of one explosive from the shockwave of another detonation In close proximity.
Velocity of detonation [VOD]
Explosive work or explosive power is directly related to the functioning velocity of an explosive.
VOD is the speed at which the shock wave passes through a column of explosives.
Detonation velocities range from 3300 to 30,000 ft./s [1100 to 9000 m/s].
Exothermic or thermal effect
High explosives [detonations] produce extreme but brief heat. Resultant fires are rare
Low explosives [Deflagrations] Produce lower temperatures but for longer periods. Resultant fires are more common.
Identify the effects of an explosion
Exothermic or thermal effect
Positive blast pressure [expressed in pounds per square inch or psi]
Negative blast pressure
Blast physics [Blast mitigation]
Over pressure effects on the human body
Fragmentation/shrapnel
Low explosives
Consists of propellant such as black or smokeless powder and pyrotechnics such as black powder
Sensitive to heat, shock, friction and static. They are flame sensitive and deflagrate upon initiation.
Grain size FFg, FFFg. More f’s smaller the grain size.
Safety or time fuse
Is a low explosive
Has a black powder core
Pyrotechnic fuse and quick match
Is a low explosive
Used to initiate pyrotechnics.
Composed of black powder and surrounded by yarn and varnish [pyrotechnic fuse] or paper [quick match]
Smokeless powder
Is a low explosive
Typically use as a propellant powder for modern small arms ammunition and military projectiles but also [like black powder] a filler for pipe bombs.
Sensitive to flame, heat, and static.
Flash powder
Considered a low explosive but classified under that CFR as a high explosives for storage purposes
Used in display fireworks (aerial salutes), Military artillery simulators and noise/flash diversion Ary devices (flash bangs).
Primary high explosives are used in
Detonators/blasting caps and are used to initiate secondary high explosives.
Extremely sensitive to initiation by friction, shock, static electricity, heat (flame), Or combination of these.
Electronic blasting caps/detonators
High explosive and are used as initiators.
What is the net explosive weight of Booster, dynamite, emotions, ANFO
Gross weight. 100%
net explosive weight of detonators
1.5 pounds of HE per 1000
Net explosive weight of detonating cord
9 pounds of HE per 1000 feet (50 to 60 grains/feet) (For others sizes, grains per feet divided by 6.7 equals pounds per 1000 feet). For example 1000 feet of 20 green cord equals 20÷6.7=2.985
Net weight of safety fuse
3 pounds of LE per 1000 feet
Net weight of shock tube
1 ounce HE per 5000 feet
Net weight of igniters
.5 pounds LE per 2000
weight of cakes and candles
25% of net weight
Weight of display shells
50% of net weight
Whistles, comets, tails or other inserts less than or equal to 1 inch diameter with thin cardboard tubes
25% of net weight
Whistles, comets, tails or other inserts less than or equal to 1 inch in diameter with thick cardboard tubes
50% of net weight
Stars (bulk) wait
100% of net weight
Lances (60 seconds)
35 gram per lance
Quick match weight
2.9 gm per foot
Conversion of 1 grain
.065 grams
Conversion 1 gram
Equals 0.035 ounce
28.35 grams
Equals 1 ounce
453.6 grams
Equals 1 pound
1 kg
Equals 2.2 pounds
Weight in kg x 2.2 = pounds
Or theft and losses of explosive materials required to be reported to ATF
Yes, within 24 Hours of discovery. Report by telephone and on ATF form 5400.5. Report to local authorities.
Can ATF conduct warrantless inspections of licensees infirmities records of explosives materials, stocks of such material and magazines?
Except for limited permit holders, any ATF officer made without a warrant, enter during business hours the premises including places of storage, of any license or permit for the purpose of inspecting or examining any records or documents required to be kept by the law and regulations and then explosive must be kept or start at the premises.
When can ATF conduct inspections of limited permit holders?
For limited permit holders, and ATF officer may inspect the places of storage for explosive material I’ll be there in applicant for a limited permit or at the time of renewal of such permit, but in no event Shell such inspection occur more than once every three years.
Is Blackpowder subject to regulation under federal explosives law?
Black powder is explosive material for purposes of federal explosives laws and regulations. However the lies amps from regulation commercially manufactured black powder in quantities not exceeding 50 pounds intended to be used solely for sporting, recreational, or cultural purposes and antique firearms, or antique devices exempted from the term”destructive device“
