Cal. Code Regs. tit. 8 § 5252

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 44, November 1, 2024

Section 5252 - Quantity and Distances Table for the Storage of Explosive Materials

(a) The quantity of explosive materials that may be kept or stored in any magazine shall conform to Table EX-1, Table of Distances, which sets forth the minimum distance that a magazine may be located from the nearest inhabited building or other magazine.

(b) The quantity and distance table is not applicable to any magazine if the nearest inhabited building is effectually screened from the magazine by a natural barrier, which:

(1) Is 40 feet or more in height at any point, above a straight line drawn from the top of any sidewall of the magazine to any part of the inhabited building; and

(2) Has a natural thickness of not less than 200 feet at the point where it is intersected by the straight line.

(c) All types of blasting caps in strength through No. 8 shall be rated at 1 1/2 pounds of explosives per 1,000 caps. For strengths higher than No. 8 cap, consult the manufacturer.

(d) For quantity and distance purposes detonating cord up to 60 grains per foot shall be calculated as equivalent to 9 pounds of high explosives per 1,000 feet. Heavier detonating cord shall be rated proportionately.

(e) When two or more storage magazines are located on the same property, each magazine must comply with the minimum distances specified from inhabited buildings, railways, and highways; and, in addition, they shall be separated from each other by not less than the distances shown for "Separation of Magazines," except that the quantity of explosive materials contained in cap magazines shall govern in regard to the spacing of said cap magazines from magazines containing other explosive materials. If any two or more magazines are separated from each other by less than the specified "Separation of Magazines" distances, then such two or more magazines, as a group, must be considered as one magazine, and the total quantity of explosive materials stored in such group must be treated as if stored in a single magazine located on the side of any magazine of the group, and must comply with the minimum of distances specified from other magazines and inhabited buildings.

TABLE EX-1 AMERICAN TABLE OF DISTANCES FOR STORAGE OF EXPLOSIVES MATERIALS

As Revised and Approved by the Institute of Makers of Explosives--June 1991

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TABLE EX-2

Table of Separation Distances of Ammonium Nitrate and Blasting Agents from Explosives or Blasting Agents⁽¹⁾

Donor Weight		Minimum Separation Distance of Acceptor when Barricaded (ft.)
Pounds Over	Pounds Not Over		Ammonium Nitrate⁽²⁾	Blasting Agent	Minimum Thickness of Artificial Barricades (in.)
	100		3	11	12
100	300		4	14	12
300	600		5	18	12
600	1,000		6	22	12
1,000	1,600		7	25	12
1,600	2,000		8	29	12
2,000	3,000		9	32	15
3,000	4,000		10	36	15
4,000	6,000		11	40	15
6,000	8,000		12	43	20
8,000	10,000		13	47	20
10,000	12,000		14	50	20
12,000	16,000		15	54	25
16,000	20,000		16	58	25
20,000	25,000		18	65	25
25,000	30,000		19	68	30
30,000	35,000		20	72	30
35,000	40,000		21	76	30
40,000	45,000		22	79	35
45,000	50,000		23	83	35
50,000	55,000		24	86	35
55,000	60,000		25	90	35
60,000	70,000		26	94	40
70,000	80,000		28	101	40
80,000	90,000		30	108	40
90,000	100,000		32	115	40
100,000	120,000		34	122	50
120,000	140,000		37	133	50
140,000	160,000		40	144	50
160,000	180,000		44	158	50
180,000	200,000		48	173	50
200,000	220,000		52	187	60
220,000	250,000		56	202	60
250,000	275,000		60	216	60
275,000	300,000		64	230	60

NOTES:

(1) Separation distances to prevent explosion of ammonium nitrate and ammonium nitrate-based blasting agents by propagation from nearby stores of high explosives or blasting agents referred to in the Table as the "donor". Ammonium nitrate, by itself, is not considered to be a donor when applying this Table. Ammonium nitrate, ammonium nitrate-fuel oil or combinations thereof are acceptors. If stores of ammonium nitrate are located within the sympathetic detonation distances of explosives or blasting agents, one-half the mass of the ammonium nitrate should be included in the mass of the donor.

(2) The distances in the Table apply to ammonium nitrate that passes the insensitivity test prescribed in the definition of ammonium nitrate fertilizer promulgated by The Fertilizer Institute, and ammonium nitrate failing to pass said test shall be stored at separation distances determined by competent persons.

TABLE EX-3 Types of Storage Facilities

	Class of Explosive Materials Which May be Stored Therein
Storage Type	For Transportation (D.O.T.)	Old Classification	New Classification
Type 1	Division 1.1 Mass Explosion Hazard	Class A	High or Low Explosive
(Permanent)	Division 1.2 Projection Hazard	Class B	High or Low Explosive
	Division 1.3 Predominantly Fire Hazard	Class C	High or Low Explosive
	Division 1.4 No Significant Fire Hazard	Blasting Agent	Blasting Agent
	Division 1.5 Blasting Agent
Type 2	Same as above	Same as above	Same as above
(Portable)
Type 3	Same as above	Same as above	Same as above
("Day Box" for Temporary Storage)
Type 4	Division 1.3 Predominantly Fire Hazard	Class B	Low Explosive
	Division 1.4 No Significant Fire Hazard	Class C	Low Explosive
	Division 1.5 Blasting Agent	Blasting Agent	Blasting Agent
	^*Electric Blasting Cap	Electric Blasting Cap	Electric Blasting Cap
Type 5	Division 1.5 Blasting Agent	Blasting Agent	Blasting Agent

* As a result of tests with electric blasting caps, it has been determined that these blasting caps are not subject to sympathetic detonation. Therefore, a Type 4 storage facility meets the necessary requirements for storage of blasting caps that do not mass detonate.

Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 8, § 5252

1. Repealer and new section filed 10-17-75; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 75, No. 42).
2. Amendments filed 7-16-76; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 76, No. 29).
3. Amendment filed 9-18-80; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 80, No. 38).
4. Amendment of section heading, section and NOTE, including transfer of section 1938, App B, Plate B-14, table 1 to replace former Table EX-1; transfer of section 5253 Table EX-2 to new section 5252 Table EX-2; and transfer of section 1938, App B, Plate B-14a to new Table EX-3, filed 7-11-2003; operative 8-10-2003 (Register 2003, No. 28).

Note: Authority cited: Section 142.3, Labor Code. Reference: Section 142.3, Labor Code; and Section 12006, Health and Safety Code.

1. Repealer and new section filed 10-17-75; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 75, No. 42).
2. Amendments filed 7-16-76; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 76, No. 29).
3. Amendment filed 9-18-80; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 80, No. 38).
4. Amendment of section heading, section and Note, including transfer of section 1938, App B, Plate B-14, table 1to replace former Table EX-1; transfer of section 5253 Table EX-2 to new section 5252 Table EX-2; and transfer of section 1938, App B, Plate B-14ato new Table EX-3, filed 7-11-2003; operative 8-10-2003 (Register 2003, No. 28).