Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the CouncilShow full title

2.1. Explosives U.K.

2.1.1. Definitions U.K.

2.1.1.1. The class of explosives comprises U.K.

(a)

explosive substances and mixtures;

(b)

explosive articles, except devices containing explosive substances or mixtures in such quantity or of such a character that their inadvertent or accidental ignition or initiation shall not cause any effect external to the device either by projection, fire, smoke, heat or loud noise; and

(c)

[F1 substances, mixtures and articles not mentioned in points (a) and (b) above, which are manufactured with the view to producing a practical explosive or pyrotechnic effect.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Substituted by Commission Regulation (EU) 2019/521 of 27 March 2019 amending, for the purposes of its adaptation to technical and scientific progress Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures (Text with EEA relevance).

2.1.1.2. For the purposes of this Regulation the following definitions shall apply: U.K.

An explosive substance or mixture is a solid or liquid substance or mixture of substances which is in itself capable by chemical reaction of producing gas at such a temperature and pressure and at such a speed as to cause damage to the surroundings. Pyrotechnic substances are included even when they do not evolve gases.

A pyrotechnic substance or mixture is a substance or mixture of substances designed to produce an effect by heat, light, sound, gas or smoke or a combination of these as the result of non-detonative self-sustaining exothermic chemical reactions.

An unstable explosive is an explosive substance or mixture which is thermally unstable and/or too sensitive for normal handling, transport and use.

An explosive article is an article containing one or more explosive substances or mixtures.

A pyrotechnic article is an article containing one or more pyrotechnic substances or mixtures.

An intentional explosive is a substance, mixture or article which is manufactured with a view to producing a practical, explosive or pyrotechnic effect.

2.1.2. Classification criteria U.K.

2.1.2.1. Substances, mixtures and articles of this class are classified as an unstable explosive on the basis of the flowchart in Figure 2.1.2. [F2 The test methods are described in Part I of the UN RTDG, Manual of Tests and Criteria.] U.K.

Textual Amendments

F2 Substituted by Commission Regulation (EU) No 487/2013 of 8 May 2013 amending, for the purposes of its adaptation to technical and scientific progress, Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures (Text with EEA relevance).

2.1.2.2. Substances, mixtures and articles of this class, which are not classified as an unstable explosive, shall be assigned to one of the following six divisions depending on the type of hazard they present: U.K.

(a)

Division 1.1 Substances, mixtures and articles which have a mass explosion hazard (a mass explosion is one which affects almost the entire quantity present virtually instantaneously);

(b)

Division 1.2 Substances, mixtures and articles which have a projection hazard but not a mass explosion hazard;

(c)

Division 1.3 Substances, mixtures and articles which have a fire hazard and either a minor blast hazard or a minor projection hazard or both, but not a mass explosion hazard:

(i)

combustion of which gives rise to considerable radiant heat; or

(ii)

which burn one after another, producing minor blast or projection effects or both;

(d)

Division 1.4 Substances, mixtures and articles which present no significant hazard:

• substances, mixtures and articles which present only a small hazard in the event of ignition or initiation. The effects are largely confined to the package and no projection of fragments of appreciable size or range is to be expected. An external fire shall not cause virtually instantaneous explosion of almost the entire contents of the package;

(e)

Division 1.5 Very insensitive substances or mixtures which have a mass explosion hazard:

• substances and mixtures which have a mass explosion hazard but are so insensitive that there is very little probability of initiation or of transition from burning to detonation under normal conditions;

(f)

[F1 Division 1.6 Extremely insensitive articles which do not have a mass explosion hazard:

• articles which predominantly contain extremely insensitive substances or mixtures;

• and which demonstrate a negligible probability of accidental initiation or propagation.]

2.1.2.3. Explosives, which are not classified as an unstable explosive, shall be classified in one of the six divisions referred to in paragraph 2.1.2.2 of this Annex based on Test Series 2 to 8 in Part I of the [F2 UN RTDG], Manual of Tests and Criteria according to the results of the tests laid down in Table 2.1.1: U.K.

Table 2.1.1
Criteria for explosives
a This comprises substances, mixtures and articles which are manufactured with a view to producing a practical, explosive or pyrotechnic effect.
Category	Criteria
Unstable explosives or explosives of Divisions 1.1 to 1.6	For explosives of Divisions 1.1 to 1.6, the following are the core set of tests that need to be performed:
	Explosibility: according to UN Test Series 2 (section 12 of the [F2 UN RTDG], Manual of Tests and Criteria). Intentional explosivesa shall not be subject to UN Test Series 2.
	Sensitiveness: according to UN Test Series 3 (section 13 of the [F2 UN RTDG], Manual of Tests and Criteria).
	Thermal stability: according to UN Test 3(c) (sub-section 13.6.1 of the [F2 UN RTDG], Manual of Tests and Criteria). Further tests are necessary to allocate the correct Division.

2.1.2.4. If explosives are unpackaged or repacked in packaging other than the original or similar packaging, they shall be retested. U.K.

[F3 2.1.3. Hazard Communication U.K.

Label elements shall be used for substances, mixtures or articles meeting the criteria for classification in this hazard class in accordance with Table 2.1.2.

Table 2.1.2

Label elements for explosives

Classification	Unstable Explosive	Division 1.1	Division 1.2	Division 1.3	Division 1.4	Division 1.5	Division 1.6
GHS Pictograms
Signal Word	Danger	Danger	Danger	Danger	Warning	Danger	No signal word
Hazard Statement	H200: Unstable Explosive	H201: Explosive; mass explosion hazard	H202: Explosive; severe projection hazard	H203: Explosive; fire, blast or projection hazard	H204: Fire or projection hazard	H205: May mass explode in fire	No hazard statement
Precautionary Statement Prevention	P201 P250 P280	P210 P230 P234 P240 P250 P280	P210 P230 P234 P240 P250 P280	P210 P230 P234 P240 P250 P280	P210 P234 P240 P250 P280	P210 P230 P234 P240 P250 P280	No precautionary statement
Precautionary Statement Response	P370 + P372 + P380 + P373	P370 + P372 + P380 + P373	P370 + P372 + P380 + P373	P370 + P372 + P380 + P373	P370 + P372 + P380 + P373 P370 + P380 + P375	P370 + P372 + P380 + P373	No precautionary statement
Precautionary Statement Storage	P401	P401	P401	P401	P401	P401	No precautionary statement
Precautionary Statement Disposal	P501	P501	P501	P501	P501	P501	No precautionary statement

NOTE 1: Unpackaged explosives or explosives repackaged in packaging other than the original or similar packaging shall include all of the following label elements: U.K.

(a)

the pictogram: exploding bomb;

(b)

the signal word ‘ Danger ’ ; and

(c)

the hazard statement: ‘ Explosive; mass explosion hazard ’

unless the hazard is shown to correspond to one of the hazard categories in Table 2.1.2, in which case the corresponding symbol, the signal word and/or the hazard statement shall be assigned.

NOTE 2: Substances and mixtures, as supplied, with a positive result in Test Series 2 in Part I, Section 12, of the UN RTDG, Manual of Tests and Criteria, which are exempted from classification as explosives (based on a negative result in Test Series 6 in Part I, Section 16 of the UN RTDG, Manual of Tests and Criteria) still have explosive properties. The user shall be informed of these intrinsic explosive properties because they have to be considered for handling — especially if the substance or mixture is removed from its packaging or is repackaged — and for storage. For this reason, the explosive properties of the substance or mixture shall be communicated in Section 2 (Hazards identification) and Section 9 (Physical and chemical properties) of the Safety Data Sheet and other sections of the Safety Data Sheet, as appropriate.] U.K.

Textual Amendments

F3 Substituted by Commission Regulation (EU) 2016/918 of 19 May 2016 amending, for the purposes of its adaptation to technical and scientific progress, Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures (Text with EEA relevance).

2.1.4. Additional Classification Considerations U.K.

2.1.4.1. The classification of substances, mixtures and articles in the explosives hazard class and further allocation to a division is a very complex, three step procedure. Reference to Part I of the [F2 UN RTDG], Manual of Tests and Criteria is necessary. U.K.

The first step is to ascertain whether the substance or mixture has explosive effects (Test Series 1). The second step is the acceptance procedure (Test Series 2 to 4) and the third step is the assignment to a hazard division (Test Series 5 to 7). The assessment whether a candidate for ‘ammonium nitrate emulsion or suspension or gel, intermediate for blasting explosives (ANE)’ is insensitive enough for inclusion as an oxidising liquid (section 2.13) or an oxidising solid (section 2.14) is answered by Test Series 8 tests.

[F1 Some explosive substances and mixtures are wetted with water or alcohols, diluted with other substances or dissolved or suspended in water or other liquid substances to suppress or reduce their explosives properties. They may be a candidate for classification as desensitised explosives (see Section 2.17).]

Certain physical hazards (due to explosive properties) are altered by dilution, as is the case for desensitised explosives, by inclusion in a mixture or article, packaging or other factors.

The classification procedure is set out in the following decision logic (see Figures 2.1.1 to 2.1.4).

Figure 2.1.1

Overall scheme of the procedure for classifying a substance, mixture or article in the class of explosives (Class 1 for transport)

Figure 2.1.2

Procedure for provisional acceptance of a substance, mixture or article in the class of explosives (Class 1 for transport)

[F1 Figure 2.1.3 Procedure for assignment to a division in the class of explosives (Class 1 for transport) U.K.

( ¹ ) See Chapter 3.3 of the UN RTDG, Model Regulations for details .] U.K.

[F4 Figure 2.1.4 Procedure for the classification of ammonium nitrate emulsion, suspension or gel (ANE)] U.K.

Textual Amendments

F4 Substituted by Commission Regulation (EU) No 286/2011 of 10 March 2011 amending, for the purposes of its adaptation to technical and scientific progress, Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures (Text with EEA relevance).

2.1.4.2. Screening procedure U.K.

Explosive properties are associated with the presence of certain chemical groups in a molecule which can react to produce very rapid increases in temperature or pressure. The screening procedure is aimed at identifying the presence of such reactive groups and the potential for rapid energy release. If the screening procedure identifies the substance or mixture to be a potential explosive, the acceptance procedure (see section 10.3 of the [F2 UN RTDG], Manual of Tests and Criteria) has to be performed.

[F4 Note: U.K.

Neither a series 1 type (a) propagation of detonation test nor a series 2 type (a) test of sensitivity to detonative shock is required if the exothermic decomposition energy of organic materials is less than 800 J/g. For organic substances and mixtures of organic substances with a decomposition energy of 800 J/g or more, tests 1 (a) and 2 (a) need not be performed if the outcome of the ballistic mortar Mk.IIId test (F.1), or the ballistic mortar test (F.2) or the BAM Trauzl test (F.3) with initiation by a standard No 8 detonator (see Appendix 1 to the UN RTDG, Manual of Tests and Criteria) is ‘ no ’ . In this case, the results of test 1 (a) and 2 (a) are deemed to be ‘ - ’ .]

[F1 2.1.4.3. The acceptance procedure for the hazard class ‘explosives’ need not be applied if:] U.K.

(a)

There are no chemical groups associated with explosive properties present in the molecule. Examples of groups which may indicate explosive properties are given in Table A6.1 in Appendix 6 of the [F2 UN RTDG], Manual of Tests and Criteria; or

(b)

The substance contains chemical groups associated with explosive properties which include oxygen and the calculated oxygen balance is less than - 200;

The oxygen balance is calculated for the chemical reaction:

C_xH_yO_z+ [x+ (y/4)-(z/2)] O₂ → x CO₂ + (y/2) H₂O

Using the formula:

Oxygen balance = -1 600 [2x + (y/2)-z]/molecular weight;

(c)

[F1 For an organic substance, or a homogenous mixture of organic substances, containing a chemical group (or groups) associated with explosive properties:

• the exothermic decomposition energy is less than 500 J/g, or

• the onset of exothermic decomposition is 500 °C or above

as indicated in Table 2.1.3.

[F5 Table 2.1.3
Decision to apply the acceptance procedure for the hazard class ‘ Explosives ’ for an organic substance or a homogenous mixture of organic substances
Decomposition energy (J/g)	Decomposition onset temperature (°C)	Apply acceptance procedure? (Yes/No)
< 500	< 500	No
< 500	≥ 500	No
≥ 500	< 500	Yes
≥ 500	≥ 500	No

The exothermic decomposition energy may be determined using a suitable calorimetric technique (see section 20.3.3.3 of the UN RTDG, Manual of Tests and Criteria ).] ]

(d)

For mixtures of inorganic oxidising substances with organic material(s), the concentration of the inorganic oxidising substance is:

• less than 15 % by mass, if the oxidising substance is assigned to Categories 1 or 2;

• less than 30 % by mass, if the oxidising substance is assigned to Category 3.

Textual Amendments

F5 Inserted by Commission Regulation (EU) 2019/521 of 27 March 2019 amending, for the purposes of its adaptation to technical and scientific progress Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures (Text with EEA relevance).

2.1.4.4. In the case of mixtures containing any known explosives, the acceptance procedure has to be performed. U.K.