EXPLOSIVES REGULATIONS

Of

THE COLORADO STATE 

DIVISION OF

OIL AND PUBLIC SAFETY

7 C.C.R. 1101-9
7 CCR 1101-9  Explosives Regulations, Division of Oil and Public Safety
INTRODUCTION

Statutory Authority:	Section 9-7-105, C.R.S. (2004)

Repeal:			All prior rules for explosive materials are hereby repealed.

Effective Date:	These rules shall be effective December 1, 2008.

CHAPTER I
SCOPE & DEFINITIONS

1.2	Definitions
The following publications and codes are hereby incorporated by this reference in accordance with section 24-21-104(12.5), C.R.S.:
•	Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Department of Justice, Publication ATF P 5400.7 (11/07), Federal Explosives Law and Regulations - 2007.

•	Title 49 CFR - Parts 100-177 (inclusive) Parts 390-397
U.S. Department of Transportation (Revised October 1, 2004)
•	National Electric Code, 2008 Edition, National Fire Protection Association
•	Institute of Makers of Explosives Safety Library Publication No. 22 (February 2007)
•	Institute Of Makers Of Explosives Safety Library Publication No. 20 (July 2001)
These rules incorporate the editions and revisions specified.  Subsequent editions and revisions have not been incorporated by this reference.  The publications incorporated by this reference may be examined and a copy of them may be obtained upon request and payment of the cost of reproduction during regular business hours from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, Division of Oil and Public Safety, 633 17th St, Suite 500, Denver, CO 80202, and may also be inspected at the state depository libraries.
Stemming: Inert material placed in a borehole on top of or between separate charges of explosive material, used for the purpose of confining explosive materials or to separate charges of explosive material in the same borehole. 
CHAPTER III
EXPLOSIVES PERMIT

3.3	Revocation, Suspension, or Denial of Permits.

(A) The Division of Oil and Public Safety shall not issue a permit to any individual who:
 (3) Is currently charged with, or has a charge pending for a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year;

(B) The Division of Oil and Public Safety shall deny or revoke and not renew the permit of any individual, who is currently charged with, has a charge pending or has been convicted of any of the following offenses:
(1) A crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year;

3.6   Permit Application

(D) Payment of the application fee for a period of 36 months according to the following table must accompany each application for a permit. 

Type I		$180.00		
Type II		$225.00		
Type III	 	$375.00		

(M)	In addition to the application form, all new Type I applicants, all Type I applicants requesting a change in classification of their permit, and all Type I applicants who have not renewed their permit within 60 days after expiration will be required to obtain a score of not less than 90% on a written examination …

3.8.3	A person holding a Type II permit to use explosives or blasting agents shall maintain a record of all explosives material transactions …

3.9	Permit Changes

(C) The location of an explosives storage facility is changed or added and the address of the new location shall be provided. 

CHAPTER IV
STORAGE OF EXPLOSIVE MATERIALS
4.1	Classes of Explosive Materials

 (B) Low Explosives - Explosive materials which can be caused to deflagrate when confined (e.g., black powder, igniters, igniter cords, fuse lighters, and “special fireworks” - defined as Class B (1.3) explosives by US Department of Transportation Regulations in 49 CFR).
 (C) Blasting Agents - Example: Ammonium Nitrate/Fuel Oil mixture, non-cap-sensitive slurry/water gels and emulsion products.

4.4	Storage Magazine Construction by Type
Type 2 Storage

(A) Outdoor Magazines
Exterior Construction:  The exterior and covers or doors shall be constructed of ¼ inch sheet metal and shall be lined with 2 inches of hardwood. Magazines with top openings shall have lids with water-resistant seals or which overlap the sides by at least one inch when in a closed position.

(B) Indoor Magazines
General:  Indoor magazines shall be fire-resistant and theft-resistant if the buildings in which they are stored provide protection from the weather and from bullet penetration. No indoor magazine may be located in a residence or dwelling. The indoor storage of high explosives may not exceed a quantity of 50 pounds.  More than one indoor magazine may be located in the same building if the total quantity of all explosives materials stored does not exceed 50 pounds. 

Type 4 Storage

(B) Indoor Magazines

General:  Indoor magazines shall be fire-resistant and theft-resistant They need not be weather-resistant if the buildings in which they are stored provide protection from the weather. No indoor magazine may be located in a residence or dwelling. The indoor storage of low explosives may not exceed a quantity of 50 pounds. More than one indoor magazine may be located in the same building if the total quantity of all explosive materials stored does not exceed 50 pounds. Detonators that will not mass detonate shall be stored in separate magazines and the total number of detonators may not exceed 5,000.

4.5  	Location of Magazines

 (C) Outdoor magazines in which blasting agents are stored shall be located no closer to inhabited buildings, passenger railways, or public highways than the minimum distances specified in the American Table of Distances for Storage of Explosive Materials in 4.6.
 (D) Ammonium nitrate and magazines in which blasting agents are stored shall be located no closer to magazines in which high explosives or other blasting agents are stored …

4.6	American Table of Distance For the Storage of Explosive Material
EXPLANATORY NOTES ESSENTIAL TO THE APPLICATION
OF THE AMERICAN TABLE OF DISTANCES FOR
STORAGE OF EXPLOSIVE MATERIALS

NOTE 3	“Blasting agents” means any material or mixture, consisting of fuel and oxidizer, intended for blasting, not otherwise defined as an explosive provided that the finished product as mixed for use or shipment, cannot be detonated by means of a No.8 test blasting cap …

NOTE 12	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 should be separated from each other by not less than the distances shown …

CHAPTER V
TRANSPORTATION OF EXPLOSIVES

5.1	General Provisions

(C) Requirements for the transportation of explosives, blasting agents, and blasting supplies to blasting areas by non-motorized means shall be:
(1) Explosives and blasting agents shall be carried in day boxes, original containers or shall be placed in bags or containers that are water-resistant, and constructed of non-sparking and nonconductive material.

CHAPTER VI
USE OF EXPLOSIVE MATERIALS 

6.1	General Provisions

(I) The blaster shall suspend all blasting operations and remove all persons from the blast site during the approach and progress of an electrical storm.

(U) A record of each blast shall be kept. All records including seismograph reports shall be retained at least five years and shall be available for inspection by the Division of Oil and Public Safety, and shall contain at least the following minimum data as applicable:
(1) Person for whom blasting operations are conducted;
(2)	Name, permit number, and signature of the blaster;
(3)	Exact location or address of the blast, date and time of detonation;

(18)Seismograph records, where required*; 
 (19)Sketch of blast pattern including number of holes, burden and spacing distance, delay pattern, and if decking is used, a hole profile*.

*not required for special use permit operations.
6.4	Safety Fuse Initiation of Blasts

 (I)	The length of safety fuse shall be in accordance with the manufacturers’ recommendations. In no case shall the length of fuse be less than three feet and the safety fuse shall not have a burn time of less than120 seconds at the time of initiation. 

6.5	Non-electric Initiation of Blasts

(A) Blasters shall be familiar with and follow the manufacturer’s warnings and instructions,   especially hook-up and safety precautions.
(N) Before firing the shot, the blaster shall visually inspect and verify that all connections in the initiation system are made in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations.  

6.7	Electronic Initiation of Blasts

(L)	The handling or use of electronic detonators shall be discontinued during the approach and progress of an electrical storm. Personnel must be withdrawn from the blast area to a safe location.

6.9	Misfires

 (E) When electric detonators have been used, workers shall not return to the blast area for at least thirty minutes. All wires shall be carefully traced and a search made for unexploded charges.

6.10	Blasting Vibration and Air-over Pressure Standards

(A) In all blasting operations….
(3)	Over pressure (air blast) limitation.

CHAPTER VII
AVALANCHE CONTROL
7.2	Training Requirements
(4)	Explosives Regulations of The Colorado Division of Oil and Public Safety for preparing, handling, and using hand charges to include:
 (g) Deployment of initiated hand charges;

7.3	Use of Explosives 
(C) Hand Charges
(3) Initiation of Hand Charges
(a)	The lighting of fuse shall be done with hot wire lighters or pull-wire lighters. 

(D)  Avalauncher and Launcher 
(1) All personnel assigned to work on an avalauncher crew shall be trained in the following:
(a) All operating instructions;
(b) Safety precautions;
(c) Emergency procedures;
7.5	Transportation
(B) Requirements for the transportation of explosives, blasting agents and blasting supplies by motorized vehicles on job sites shall be:
(12)Detonators may not be transported in the same vehicle with other explosives unless:
 (b) The detonators and explosives are placed in suitable locked containers and separated by 4 inches of hardwood, and the detonators are totally enclosed or confined by the hardwood construction; or
(C) Requirements for the transportation of explosives on passenger tramways when the public is present shall be:
(2) Transportation of explosives on non-enclosed passenger tramways shall require the following:
(a) 	Explosives shall be attended at all times;
(b) 	Warning signs indicating that explosives are currently being transported on the tramway and passengers may ride the tramway at their own discretion shall be clearly posted at the tramway entrance;
(c)	Passengers shall not be allowed to ride the passenger tramway in the 	opposing direction of the explosives;
(d)	A minimum distance of two hundred 200 feet shall be maintained in front of and behind the chair transporting explosives and chairs transporting the public;
(e)	The amount of explosives being transported shall not exceed twenty (20) pounds;

CHAPTER IX
BLACK POWDER EXPLOSIVES 
9.1	General Provisions	
(A) Black powder shall be stored in shipping containers as required by regulations of the U.S. Department of Transportation, 49 CFR, Section 173.60 as currently published.  A copy of this Code is on file and can be viewed by contacting the Division of Oil and Public Safety, Explosives Section, 633 17TH Street, Suite 500, Denver, CO  80202.	
(B) Black powder intended for personal use shall be sold and stored according to the Uniform Fire Code (sections 77.202, 77.203, and 77.203a). A copy of this code can be viewed by contacting the Division of Oil and Public Safety.