General Questions Explosives

Question 1

Who is affected by the Federal Explosives Law

Answer 1

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.

Question 2

What changes were brought about by the Safe Explosives Act?

Answer 2

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.

Question 3

Prohibited/ineligible to receive an Explosives Federal License or permit.

Answer 3

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.

Question 4

Classes of persons to whom the distribution of explosives materials by licensees is prohibited

Answer 4

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

Question 5

What other distributions of explosive materials by licensees and permittees are prohibited?

Answer 5

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.

Question 6

Does federal law prohibit certain persons from receiving or possessing explosive materials?

Answer 6

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.

Question 7

May a licensed manufacturer, importer, or dealer distribute explosive materials to non-licensees or non-permittees?

Answer 7

No, all must first get a Federal Explosives License.

Question 8

Is there a penalty for purchasers giving false information at the time of purchase of explosive materials?

Answer 8

Yes, false information or misrepresented ID is a maximum 10 years imprisonment and/or fine max $250,000

Question 9

what is the requirement of reporting the theft or loss of explosive material

Answer 9

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.

Question 10

Can ATF conduct warrantless inspections of licensees’ and permittees’ records of explosives materials, inventory and mazine?

Answer 10

Yes during business hours except for limited permit holders.

Question 11

Is black powder subject to regulation under Federal explosives law?

Answer 11

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.

Question 12

are binary explosives subject to regulation under Fed explosives laws?

Answer 12

not until the compounds are mixed.

Question 13

public highway

Answer 13

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.

Question 14

shock tube

Answer 14

regulated - High explosive

can be stored as Low explosive when not attached to a detonator.

Question 15

What is the role of the I.O.I in the Explosives industry?

Answer 15

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.

Question 16

What are some explosives products that the aisle I will encounter in the explosives industry?

Answer 16

Hi explosives: detonators and dynamite

Lower explosives: black powder and display fireworks

Blasting agents: ANFO and desensitized Emulsion.

Question 17

Also called lead line or trunk line. Hollow core dusted with HMX and aluminum powder.

Answer 17

Shock tube

Question 18

Manufactured in various grains per foot. Contain a solid core of PETN, RDX, or HMX.

Answer 18

Detonating cord.

Question 19

Shock tube

Answer 19

Also called lead line or trunk line. Hollow core dusted with HMX and aluminum powder.

Question 20

Detonating cord

Answer 20

Manufactured in various grains per foot.

Contains a solid core of PETN, RDX, or HMX.

Question 21

Dynamite

Answer 21

Nitroglycerin base with other sensitizers present.

Extreme caution should be used with deteriorated dynamite.

Question 22

Nitroglycerin base with other sensitizers present extreme caution should be used with deteriorated product

Answer 22

Dynamite

Question 23

TNT

Answer 23

all explosives are rated in pounds of TNT.

Used in military applications and cast boosters.

Question 24

Cast boosters

Answer 24

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.

Question 25

Plastic explosives

Answer 25

Manufactured in blocks and sheets Flexible. Usually contains PETN. Must contain a detection taggant.

Question 26

Shaped charges

Answer 26

Linear and conical shapes. Used for specialty cutting applications.

Question 27

Oil well perforators

Answer 27

A type of shaped charge. Used in the oil and gas drilling industry. Highly specialized to the application.

Question 28

ANFO

Answer 28

Ammonium nitrate and fuel oil Bagged or bulk product Very cost effective

Question 29

Water gels, emulsion and slurry explosives

Answer 29

Water resistant blasting agent. Bulk or package the product.

Question 30

Black powder

Answer 30

50 pound exemption under specific conditions. Used in antique firearms, reenactments, etc. Also used in fireworks industry

Question 31

Safety fuse

Answer 31

Solid black powder core. Also called canon fuse.

Question 32

Display fireworks

Answer 32

Aerial shells, salutes, cakes, candles, set pieces, waterfalls, etc. Contain black powder, flash powder, other pyrotechnic compositions.

Question 33

Flash powder

Answer 33

Sensitive to heat, friction, static. Used in fireworks and stage pyrotechnics. Not regulated by ATF until mixed.

Question 34

Igniters

Answer 34

Commonly used in the fireworks industry. Regulated items!

Question 35

Binary explosives

Answer 35

Not regulated by ATF until mixed. May require a manufacturers license, depending on use.

Question 36

High explosives

Answer 36

Detonators, also known as blasting caps or caps. Dynamite

Question 37

Low explosives

Answer 37

Black powder and display fireworks

Question 38

ANFO And emulsions

Answer 38

Blasting agents

Question 39

Define explosive

Answer 39

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.

Question 40

Define explosion

Answer 40

The sudden and violent escape of gases from a central point accompanied by high temperature, violent shock and loud noise

Question 41

Three types of explosions

Answer 41

Mechanical explosion Nuclear explosion Chemical explosion.

Question 42

Mechanical explosion

Answer 42

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.

Question 43

Nuclear explosion

Answer 43

Involves Fission - the splitting of the nucleus of Atoms Fusion- The joining of the nuclei of items under great force.

Question 44

Chemical explosion

Answer 44

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.

Question 45

Low explosives

Answer 45

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

Question 46

High explosives

Answer 46

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.

Question 47

Explosive train

Answer 47

And ordered combination of explosives necessary to achieve an explosion; initiation is the first step in the explosive train.

Question 48

Initiation

Answer 48

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

Question 49

Low order detonation

Answer 49

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].

Question 50

High order detonation

Answer 50

The complete consumption of the explosive at its optimum [highest] velocity.

Question 51

Sympathetic detonation

Answer 51

High order destinations can result in the initiation of one explosive from the shockwave of another detonation In close proximity.

Question 52

Velocity of detonation [VOD]

Answer 52

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].

Question 53

Exothermic or thermal effect

Answer 53

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.

Question 54

Identify the effects of an explosion

Answer 54

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

Question 55

Low explosives

Answer 55

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.

Question 56

Safety or time fuse

Answer 56

Is a low explosive Has a black powder core

Question 57

Pyrotechnic fuse and quick match

Answer 57

Is a low explosive Used to initiate pyrotechnics. Composed of black powder and surrounded by yarn and varnish [pyrotechnic fuse] or paper [quick match]

Question 58

Smokeless powder

Answer 58

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.

Question 59

Flash powder

Answer 59

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).

Question 60

Primary high explosives are used in

Answer 60

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.

Question 61

Electronic blasting caps/detonators

Answer 61

High explosive and are used as initiators.

Question 62

What is the net explosive weight of Booster, dynamite, emotions, ANFO

Answer 62

Gross weight. 100%

Question 63

net explosive weight of detonators

Answer 63

1.5 pounds of HE per 1000

Question 64

Net explosive weight of detonating cord

Answer 64

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

Question 65

Net weight of safety fuse

Answer 65

3 pounds of LE per 1000 feet

Question 66

Net weight of shock tube

Answer 66

1 ounce HE per 5000 feet

Question 67

Net weight of igniters

Answer 67

.5 pounds LE per 2000

Question 68

weight of cakes and candles

Answer 68

25% of net weight

Question 69

Weight of display shells

Answer 69

50% of net weight

Question 70

Whistles, comets, tails or other inserts less than or equal to 1 inch diameter with thin cardboard tubes

Answer 70

25% of net weight

Question 71

Whistles, comets, tails or other inserts less than or equal to 1 inch in diameter with thick cardboard tubes

Answer 71

50% of net weight

Question 72

Stars (bulk) wait

Answer 72

100% of net weight

Question 73

Lances (60 seconds)

Answer 73

35 gram per lance

Question 74

Quick match weight

Answer 74

2.9 gm per foot

Question 75

Conversion of 1 grain

Answer 75

.065 grams

Question 76

Conversion 1 gram

Answer 76

Equals 0.035 ounce

Question 77

28.35 grams

Answer 77

Equals 1 ounce

Question 78

453.6 grams

Answer 78

Equals 1 pound

Question 79

1 kg

Answer 79

Equals 2.2 pounds Weight in kg x 2.2 = pounds

Question 80

Or theft and losses of explosive materials required to be reported to ATF

Answer 80

Yes, within 24 Hours of discovery. Report by telephone and on ATF form 5400.5. Report to local authorities.

Question 81

Can ATF conduct warrantless inspections of licensees infirmities records of explosives materials, stocks of such material and magazines?

Answer 81

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.

Question 82

When can ATF conduct inspections of limited permit holders?

Answer 82

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.

Question 83

Is Blackpowder subject to regulation under federal explosives law?

Answer 83

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“