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Oklahoma Administrative Code (Last Updated: March 11, 2021) |
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TITLE 460. Department of Mines |
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Chapter 25. Oklahoma Explosives and Blasting Rules and Regulations |
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Subchapter 1. General Requirements |
SECTION 460:25-1-5. Definitions
Latest version.
- In addition to terms defined, the following words or terms, when used in this Chapter, shall have the following meaning:"American Table of Distances"(also known as Quantity Distance Tables) means American Table of Distance for Storage of Explosives as revised and approved by the Institute of the Makers of Explosives, latest revision."Approved storage facility"means a facility for the storage of explosive materials conforming to the requirements of this part and covered by a license or permit issued under authority of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms."Blast area"means the area in which concussion (shock wave), flying material or gases from an explosion may cause injury to persons."Blast site"means the area where explosive material is handled during loading, including the perimeter formed by the loaded blast holes and 50 feet in all directions from loaded holes."Blasting agent"means a blasting agent is any material or mixture consisting of a fuel and oxidizer used for blasting, but not classified as an explosive and in which none of the ingredients is classified as an explosive provided the furnished (mixed) product cannot be detonated with a No. 8 test blasting cap when confined. A common blasting agent presently in use is a mixture of ammonium nitrate (general) and carbonaceous combustibles, such as fuel oil or coal, and may either be procured as premixed and packaged from explosives companies or mixed in the field."Blasting Agent"(as referenced by law) means any material or mixture consisting of a fuel and oxider, intended for blasting, not otherwise classified as an explosive, provided that the finished product, as mixed and packaged for use or shipment, cannot be detonated when unconfined by means of a test blasting cap containing two (2) grams of a mixture eighty percent (80%) mercury fulminate and twenty percent (20%) potassium chlorate, or a cap of equivalent strength. Blasting agent shall not include explosives in the forms prescribed in the official United States Pharmacopoeia; fireworks as defined by Section 1622 of Title 68 of the Oklahoma Statutes; or small arms ammunition and components therefore, which are subject to the Gun Control Act of 1968 (Title 18, Chapter 44, U.S. Code) and regulations promulgated thereunder."Blasting cap"means a metallic tube closed at one end, containing a charge of one or more detonating compounds, and designed for and capable of detonation from the sparks or flame from a safety fuse inserted and crimped into the open end. Blasting caps are now known as nonelectric detonators."Block holing"means the breaking of boulders by firing a charge of explosives that has been loaded in a small diameter drill hole."Certified Blaster"means a person who shall be able to understand and give written and oral orders and be capable of carrying out the required duties. The person is required to furnish satisfactory evidence of competency in handling explosives and performance in a safe manner the type of blasting that will be required. The person must be knowledgeable and competent in the use of each type of blasting method used. The person must have a current blasting certificate issued by a state recognized school or equivalent."Conveyance"means any unit for transporting explosives or blasting agents, including but not limited to trucks, trailers, rail cars, barges, and vessels."Detonating cord"means a flexible cord containing a center core of high explosives."Detonator"means any device containing an initiating or primary explosive that is used for initiating detonation. The term includes, but is not limited to electric detonators of instantaneous and delay types, detonators for use with safety fuses, detonating cord delay connectors, and non-electric detonators of instantaneous and delay types that consist of detonating cord, shock tube, or an other replacement of electric leg wires."Electric blasting cap"means a blasting cap designed for and capable of detonation by means of an electric current."Electric blasting circuitry"means as follows:(A) Bus wire. An expendable wire, used in parallel or series circuits, to which are connected the leg wires of electric blasting caps.(B) Connecting wire. An insulated expendable wire used between electric blasting caps and the leading wires or between the bus wire and the leading wires.(C) Leading wire. An insulated wire used between the electric power source and the electric blasting cap circuit.(D) Permanent blasting wire. A permanently mounted insulated wire used between the electric power source and the electric blasting cap circuit."Electric delay blasting caps"means caps designed to detonate at a predetermined period of time after energy is applied to the ignition system."Explosive"means as follows:(A) Any chemical compound, mixture, or device, the primary or common purpose of which is to function by explosion; that is, with substantially instantaneous release of gas and heat, unless such compound, mixture or devise is otherwise specifically classified by the U.S. Department of Transportation.(B) All material which is classified as Class I. Class I is as follows:(i) Division 1.1 - Class A explosives (dynamite, cast boosters, cap sensitive emulsions, water gels and slurries, Class A detonators).(ii) Division 1.2 - Class A or Class B explosives (Division 1.2 will generally be some sort of ammunition or materials that have a projection hazard).(iii) Division 1.3 - Class B explosives (generally propellants or explosives that have a fire hazard and a mass detonation hazard).(iv) Division 1.4 - Class C explosives (Class C detonators, safety fuse, and other Class C explosives).(v) Division 1.5 - Blasting agents {ANFO, non cap sensitive emulsions, water gels, slurries, packaged blasting agents (wethole materials.)}.(vi) Division 1.6 - No applicable class. {Currently there are no commercial explosives in Division 1.6}."Explosives"(as referenced by law) means any chemical compound or mechanical mixture that is commonly used or which is intended for the purpose of producing an explosion and which contains any oxidizing and combustive units or other ingredients in such proportions, quantities, or packing that an ignition by fire, by friction, by concussion, by percussion, by chemical reaction, or by detonation of any part of the compound or mixture may cause gaseous pressures capable of producing destructive effects on contiguous objects or of destroying life or limb Provided, that dynamite, nitroglycerin, gunpowder, blasting powder and trinitrotoluene shall be deemed explosives without further proof of their nature. It shall also include all material which is classified as explosive by the United States Department of Transportation. The term "explosive" shall not include in the forms prescribed by the official United States Pharmacopeia; fireworks as defined by Section 1622 of Title 68 of the Oklahoma Statutes; or small arms ammunition and components therefor, which are subject to the Gun Control Act of 1968 (Title 18, Chapter 44, U.S. Code) and regulations promulgated thereunder."Fuse lighters"means special devices for the purpose of igniting safety fuse."Magazine"means any building or structure, other than an explosives manufacturing building, used for the storage of explosives."Misfire"means an explosive charge which fails to detonate completely."Mud-capping"(sometimes known as adobe blasting, or dobying) means the blasting of boulders by placing a quantity of explosives against a rock, boulder, or other object without confining the explosives in a drill hole."Nonelectric delay blasting cap"means a blasting cap with an integral delay element in conjunction with and capable of being detonated by a detonation pulse or signal from miniaturized detonating cord."Person"means any individual, firm, copartnership, corporation, company, association, joint stock association, and includes any trustee, receiver, assignee or personal representative thereof."Primary blasting"means the blasting operation by which the original rock formation is dislodged from its natural location."Primer"means a unit, package or cartridge used to initiate other explosives or blasting agents and that contains a detonator or a detonating cord to which is attached a detonator designed to initiate the cord."Safety fuse"means a flexible cord containing an internal burning medium by which fire is conveyed at a continuous and uniform rate for the purpose of firing blasting caps."Secondary blasting"means the reduction of oversized material by the use of explosives to the dimension required for handling, including mudcapping and blockholing."Semiconductive hose"means 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 requirements."Springing"means the creation of a pocket in the bottom of a drill hole by the use of a moderate quantity of explosives in order that larger quantities or explosives may be inserted therein."Stemming"means suitable inert incombustible material or device used to confine or separate explosives in a drill hole, or to cover explosives in mud-capping."Water gels, or slurry explosives"means 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: (1)Those which are sensitized by a material classed as an explosive, such as TNT or smokeless powder, and (2)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 bore hole.