The Ammonium Nitrate Materials (High Nitrogen Content) Safety Regulations 2003

A. DESCRIPTION OF THE DETONATION RESISTANCE TEST FOR RELEVANT AMMONIUM NITRATE MATERIAL E+W+S

1.  Before being tested for resistance to detonation, the whole mass of the sample of the relevant ammonium nitrate material is to be thermally cycled five times in accordance with the following method (Note 1) for the application of thermal cycles: E+W+S

(1) Principle and definition

In a watertight box heat the sample from ambient temperature to 50 °C and maintain at this temperature for a period of one hour (phase at 50 °C). Then cool the sample until a temperature of 25 °C is achieved and maintain at that temperature for one hour (phase at 25 °C). The combination of the successive phases at 50 °C and 25 °C forms one thermal cycle. After being subjected to the required number of thermal cycles, the test sample is held at a temperature of 20 ± 3 °C pending the execution of the detonation test.

(2) Apparatus

(i) A water bath, thermostated in a temperature range of 20 to 51 °C with a minimum heating and cooling rate of 10 °C/h, or two water baths, one thermostated at a temperature of 20 °C, the other at 51 °C. The water in the bath(s) is continuously stirred; the volume of the bath should be large enough to guarantee ample circulation of the water.

(ii) A stainless steel box, watertight all around and provided with a thermocouple in the centre. The outside width of the box is 45 (± 2) mm and the wall thickness is 1.5 mm (see Drawing 1). The height and length of the box can be chosen to suit the dimensions of the water bath, e.g. length 600 mm, height 400 mm.

(3) Procedure

Place a quantity of ammonium nitrate material sufficient for a single detonation into the box and close the cover. Place the box in the water bath. Heat the water to 51 °C and measure the temperature in the centre of the material. One hour after the temperature at the centre has reached 50 °C cool the water. One hour after the temperature at the centre has reached 25 °C heat the water to start the second cycle. In the case of two water baths, transfer the box to the other bath after each heating/cooling period.

2.  The material must be subjected to the test of resistance to detonation in a horizontal steel tube under the following conditions: E+W+S

(a) A seamless steel tube of length: 1,000 mm at least, and nominal external diameter: 114 mm at least, and nominal wall thickness: 5 mm at least.

(b) Booster: the type and mass of the booster chosen should be such as to maximize the detonation pressure applied to the sample in order to determine its susceptibility to the transmission of detonation.

(c) Test temperature: 15-25 °C.

(d) Witness lead cylinders for detecting detonation: 50 mm diameter and 100 mm high placed at 150 mm intervals and supporting the tube horizontally.