[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 49, Volume 2]
[Revised as of October 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 49CFR173.57]

[Page 449]
 
                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION
 
 CHAPTER I--RESEARCH AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF 
                             TRANSPORTATION
 
PART 173--SHIPPERS--GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR SHIPMENTS AND PACKAGINGS--Table of Contents
 
    Subpart C--Definitions, Classification and Packaging for Class 1
 
Sec. 173.57  Acceptance criteria for new explosives.

    (a) Unless otherwise excepted, an explosive substance must be 
subjected to the Drop Weight Impact Sensitivity Test (Test Method 
3(a)(i)), the Friction Sensitivity Test (Test Method 3(b)(iii)), the 
Thermal Stability Test (Test Method 3(c)) at 75  deg.C (167  deg.F) and 
the Small-Scale Burning Test (Test Method 3(d)(i)), each as described in 
the Explosive Test Manual (UN Recommendations on the Transport of 
Dangerous Goods, Manual of Tests and Criteria (see Sec. 171.7 of this 
subchapter)). A substance is forbidden for transportation if any one of 
the following occurs:
    (1) For a liquid, failure to pass the test criteria when tested in 
the Drop Weight Impact Sensitivity Test apparatus for liquids;
    (2) For a solid, failure to pass the test criteria when tested in 
the Drop Weight Impact Sensitivity Test apparatus for solids;
    (3) The substance has a friction sensitiveness equal to or greater 
than that of dry pentaerythrite tetranitrate (PETN) when tested in the 
Friction Sensitivity Test;
    (4) The substance fails to pass the test criteria specified in the 
Thermal Stability Test at 75  deg.C (167  deg.F); or
    (5) Explosion occurs when tested in the Small-Scale Burning Test.
    (b) An explosive article, packaged or unpackaged, or a packaged 
explosive substance must be subjected to the Thermal Stability Test for 
Articles and Packaged Articles (Test method 4(a)(i)) and the Twelve 
Meter Drop Test (Test Method 4(b)(ii)), when appropriate, in the 
Explosive Test Manual. An article or packaged substance is forbidden for 
transportation if evidence of thermal instability or excessive impact 
sensitivity is found in those tests according to the criteria and 
methods of assessing results prescribed therein.
    (c) Dynamite (explosive, blasting, type A) is forbidden for 
transportation if any of the following occurs:
    (1) It does not have uniformly mixed with the absorbent material a 
satisfactory antacid in a quantity sufficient to have the acid 
neutralizing power of an amount of magnesium carbonate equal to one 
percent of the nitroglycerin or other liquid explosive ingredient;
    (2) During the centrifuge test (Test Method D-2, in appendix D to 
this part) or the compression test (Test Method D-3 in appendix D to 
this part), a non-gelatin dynamite loses more than 3 percent by weight 
of the liquid explosive or a gelatin dynamite loses more than 10 percent 
by weight of the liquid explosive; or
    (3) During the leakage test (Test Method D-1 in appendix D to this 
part), there is any loss of liquid.

[Amdt. 173-224, 55 FR 52617 Dec. 21, 1990, as amended at 58 FR 51532, 
Oct. 1, 1993; 64 FR 51918, Sept. 27, 1999]