CES Regulatory Compliance & Guidelines 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under ATF regulations, what is the minimum required thickness of steel for a Type 1 (permanent) aboveground magazine?
- 1/4 inch (Correct answer)
- 3/8 inch
- 1/2 inch
- 1 inch
Correct answer: 1/4 inch
27 CFR 555 Subpart K specifies that Type 1 aboveground magazines must be constructed with at least 1/4-inch steel on the exterior.
Question 2: The American Table of Distances (ATD) used for explosives storage is published by which organization?
- ATF
- OSHA
- Institute of Makers of Explosives (IME) (Correct answer)
- National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
Correct answer: Institute of Makers of Explosives (IME)
The IME publishes the American Table of Distances, which establishes the minimum required separation distances between explosive storage and inhabited buildings, highways, and other magazines.
Question 3: Under 27 CFR 555, a Type 2 magazine (portable, aboveground) is limited to storing no more than how many pounds of high explosives?
- 100 lbs
- 500 lbs (Correct answer)
- 1,000 lbs
- 5,000 lbs
Correct answer: 500 lbs
Type 2 portable aboveground magazines are limited to storing 500 lbs or less of high explosives under ATF regulations.
Question 4: Which type of ATF-approved magazine may be used for temporary field storage of explosive materials at a blasting site?
- Type 1 only
- Type 2 only
- Type 4 or Type 5
- Type 3 (portable, outdoor) (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Type 3 (portable, outdoor)
Type 3 magazines are portable outdoor magazines approved for temporary field storage at jobsites where blasting is ongoing.
Question 5: NFPA 495 (Explosive Materials Code) addresses which aspect of magazine separation from each other?
- Magazines must be separated by at least 50 ft regardless of quantity
- Inter-magazine distances are based on quantity-distance tables to prevent sympathetic detonation (Correct answer)
- Magazines must be on opposite sides of a highway
- No minimum separation is required between magazines on the same licensed premises
Correct answer: Inter-magazine distances are based on quantity-distance tables to prevent sympathetic detonation
NFPA 495 uses quantity-distance (Q-D) tables to specify inter-magazine separation distances that reduce the risk of sympathetic detonation.
Question 6: Which of the following is NOT a required feature of an ATF-compliant Type 1 permanent aboveground magazine?
- Bullet-resistant walls
- Ventilation openings of limited size to prevent entry
- A sprinkler system for fire suppression (Correct answer)
- A hardwood floor or non-sparking interior floor surface
Correct answer: A sprinkler system for fire suppression
Type 1 magazines require bullet-resistant construction, ventilation, and non-sparking floors, but sprinkler systems are not required and could be hazardous with certain explosives.
Question 7: Detonators (blasting caps) must be stored separately from other explosive materials. What is the minimum separation distance required by ATF regulations between a detonator magazine and other explosive storage?
- Detonators may be stored in the same magazine if kept in a separate compartment
- Detonators must be stored in a separate magazine at least 50 feet away
- Distance is determined by the American Table of Distances for inter-magazine spacing (Correct answer)
- No separation is required if total quantity is under 25 lbs
Correct answer: Distance is determined by the American Table of Distances for inter-magazine spacing
The inter-magazine distance between detonator and explosive storage is governed by the ATD quantity-distance tables, not a fixed 50-foot rule.
CES Regulatory Compliance & Guidelines 3
Under ATF regulations, what is the minimum required thickness of steel for a Type 1 (permanent) aboveground magazine?