Table Of Content29.9 2:ST 7
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USDJ • NPS • 199j9
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Digitized by the Internet Archive
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http://archive.org/details/nationalparkservOOIeon
National Park Service Handbook
for the
Storage, Transportation,
Training for Explosives Use, and
Handling of Explosives
CONTENTS
Chapter 1 - GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
Federal Regulations
1
Explosives Use Program 4
Blasting Personnel 4
Training 8
Certification 10
Blasting Review Board 14
Specifications forContracts 14
Proper Tools for Good Blasting 17
Job Safety Analysis 18
Chapter2 - EXPLOSIVES
Theory ofExplosives 21
Mechanics ofBlasting 23
Properties of Explosives 24
Classification ofExplosives 27
Blasting Agentsand Ammonium Nitrate 30
Selection ofExplosives 32
Initiating Devices 35
Chapter 3 - STORAGE
Explosives Magazines 39
MagazineInspection 41
Magazine Construction 42
Storage Within Magazines 43
Inventory 53
Two-ComponentCap Sensitive Explosives 55
Storing Explosives in Remote Locations 55
Chapter4 -TRANSPORTATION
Transporting Explosives by MotorVehicle 57
Transporting Explosives with Pack Stock 75
Transporting Explosives with Trail Vehicles and ATVs 76
Transporting Explosives by Vessel 76
Transporting Explosives by Aircraft 77
Chapter5 - BLAST AREA SECURITY
AreaSecurity 85
Signing 85
SignalSystems 86
Area Inspections 87
Chapter 6 - INITIATION
Components Used in Electric Blasting 89
OhmsLaw 90
Electric Blasting Caps 90
Electric Blasting Circuits 91
Splicing 92
Primers 93
Exploding Bridgewire Detonators 95
DetonatingCord 95
Wiring 97
Firing Procedures 98
Blasting with Detonating Cord 101
Detaline DetonatingCord Systems 104
Nonelectric Initiation Systems 105
TheNonel System 105
Chapter 7 - LOADING BOREHOLES
PrimingCharge 107
Loading,Tamping,and Stemming 109
Delay Primers 110
Chapter 8 - BLAST DESIGN
Hole Patterns 113
Delay Patterns 114
Powder Factor 115
Burden-Spacing Calculations 115
BoreholeCoupling 116
Explosives Economic 116
Blast Design 119
Chapter 9 - GENERAL ROCK REMOVAL
Principles of Drilling 123
Importance ofDrilling and the Driller 125
BenchBlasting 125
Secondary Blasting 125
Lifters and Snakeholes 126
Charge Distribution 126
Trenching 126
Need forControlled Blasting 127
ShockEnergy/HeaveEnergy 129
Use ofEBCs in Utility and LightConstruction Industry 34
1
Use ofDetonating Cord 138
ANFO
RelationshipofBoostering toDetonation Velocity 139
....
UseofANFO in Utility andLightConstructionIndustry 142
UsedConveyorBelting Blasting Mats 143
Trenching (Track Drill) 144
Double Priming 145
Trench Shooting (Hand-held RockDrill) 146
Pit Shooting 146
Pole Hole Shooting 146
BoulderBreaking 147
StumpShooting 149
Hazard Tree Felling 150
Post Hole Shooting 154
Chapter 10 - GENERAL BLASTING
Blasting Mats 155
Sequential Blasting 155
Destruction ofExplosives (Non-Deteriorated Product) 157
Disposing ofDeteriorated or Damaged Explosives 158
Ground Vibration and AirBlast 160
Blasting Vibration and AirBlast 162
General Safety in Blasting Practices 165
Chapter 11 - SPECIALIZEDBLASTING TECHNIQUES
Avalanche Blasting 167
ii i
Military Weapons 176
Fireline Explosives 181
Burnol Backfiring Devices 194
Animal Carcass Removal with Explosives 195
Non-Detonating RockBreakingTool 196
AirGapping 198
Expansion Alternatives 199
ExpandingGrout 199
GLOSSARYOFFREQUENTLY USEDTERMS 203
REFERENCES 213
APPENDIX A
Blasting Specialties and Requirements forCertification 215
APPENDIX B
Standard Explosives Use Specification forContracts 217
INDEX 221
IV
FOREWORD
This guide for National Park Service blasters presents minimum requirements for using, storing,
and transporting explosives and blasting materials. These requirements are essential to ensure that
blasting activities are accomplished safely and to prevent theft of explosives materials. The guide
consolidates information needed to conduct normal National Park Service operations into one source,
but it is not intended to be all inclusive. There are many other supporting documents that should be
referred to by National Park Service blasters.
VARIANCE
This document contains rules for procurement, possession, storage, transportation, and use ofex-
plosives materials within the National Park Service.
Understanding that conditions may exist in operations where certain standards will not have prac-
tical application, a regional blasting officer or his/her authorized representative may, pursuant to this
document, and appropriate administrative requirements of the service blasting officer and industries
standards, and upon request of application, and after adequate investigation by the service blasting
officer or his authorized representative, permit a variation from these requirements when other means
ofproviding an equivalent measure ofprotection can afford. Such variation granted shall be limited to
the particular case or cases covered in the application for variance and may be revoked for cause.
Variance application may be submitted in a memo format and approved in same.
In regard to the many requirements for explosives use, as well as the service, variation, and com-
plexities encountered, we cannot anticipate all conditions in which explosives may be employed. The
information in this handbook is considered reliable, but blasters should make their own tests to deter-
mine the applicability ofinformation orthe suitability ofany product and/or method described fortheir
own particular purpose.
Therefore, it is the park blaster-in-charge who is ultimately responsible for all purchasing, trans-
portation, storage, and handling of explosives materials, ensuring the most safe and efficient use of
explosives and their components.
PREFACE
The purpose ofthis handbook is to provide a brief, clear and handy guide to all explosive
users in the National Park Service with a quick reference point to answer questions and
explain regulations and procedures for all explosives related activities within their scope
ofresponsibilities.
This document was first conceived in 1984 along with a Task Force to develop a policy
statement, NPS-65. A program that was deemed necessary from the Department ofthe
Interior, to regulate and standardize all explosives programs within the National Park
Service.
This Field Operations Manual briefly describes the operational policies and procedures of
the National Park Service. Its purpose is to provide supervisory personnel with a
reference to guide them in conducting productive, efficient and safe explosives operations
uniformly throughout the service
.
Maintenance personnel have the primary duty ofcarrying out the Departments explosives
related responsibilities and providing to all those who maintain the facilities in the
service. Please use this manual often as a reference to ensure that all explosives related
activities under your control are performed in keeping with the guidelines developed
herein.
To the revised edition 1999 a section on Directive Orders NPS-65 has been included.
WRITTEN BY: James J Leons NPS
Edited by: Carol Cross, Engineering Tech. NPS
Diane Liggett, NPS
WASO
Executive Contributor: James M. McCarthy, P.E.
This manual could not have been developed without the assistance ofthe following:
Jack Gartner, NPS Retired
Mike Shields, NPS Retired
Steve Griswold, NPS
Greg Holmquist, NPS
John Ballard, NPS Retired
William Brown, NPS
Alan Sumeriski, NPS
NPS
JeffBallard,
Rick Watson, NPS
David Karplus, NPS
Tim Ludington, NPS
Ed Billington, NPS
David Larsen, NPS
VI
DIRECTORS ORDER #65: EXPLOSIVES USE AND BLASTING SAFETY
Approved: /s/ Denis P. Galvin
for Director, National Park Service
Effective Date: May 25, 1999
Sunset Date: May 25, 2003
NPS Guideline 65 is superseded and replaced by this Director's Order.
Purpose and Scope
I.
This Director's Order sets forth the policy and required procedures governing blasting
operations within the National Park Service (NPS) to ensure a safe workplace and safe
work practices.
As used herein, "blasting operations" includes the purchase, transportation, storage,
handling, use and disposal of commercial explosive materials, blasting equipment and
avalanche ammunition (artillery and recoilless rifle); it does not refer to military
ordnance, historic black-powder weapons firing, or fireworks displays.
This Director's Order applies to all blasting operations conducted within the boundaries
of the NPS, whether conducted by NPS or other Federal personnel, commercial
contractors, or others (including utility companies).
II. Authorities
Authority to issue this Director's Order is contained in the NPS Organic Act (16 USC 1 through
4) and Part 245 of the Department of the Interior Manual (DM). NPS blasting operations are
subject to the provisions of 18 USC 841 through 848 (Importation, Manufacture, Distribution
and Storage of Explosive Materials), 29 USC 668 (Occupational Safety and Health Act, Federal
DM DM
Agency Safety Programs), and 410 1 14-60 and 485 1.
III. Instructions/Requirements/Responsibilities
1. Explosives Use and Blasting Safety Requirements
1.1 All blasting operations will comply with this Director's Order, the NPS Handbook
for the Storage, Transportation, and Use of Explosives (the Explosives Handbook), and all other
applicable Federal, state and local laws and regulations.
1.2 NPS employees involved in blasting operations, including monitoring or inspecting,
will be trained and certified prior to performance of such duties.
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