Washington Administrative Code

(1) Smoke and fumes. The blaster in charge must wait a minimum of fifteen minutes to allow smoke and fumes to clear before returning to the shot.(2) Muck pile. Workers cannot return to work until the muck pile has been watered down.[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040…

Note:The following requirements apply when primers are made up at a central primer house for use in high speed tunneling:(1) Primers.(a) Only enough primer must be made for each round of blasting.(b) Primers must be placed in separate containers and bins, categorized by the degre…

Transportation of explosives on public highways are:(1) Regulated by:(a) United States Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) (49 C.F.R., Parts 100 - 199);(b) The Washington utilities and transportation commission.(2) Administered and enforced by the Washington state patrol.[Sta…

The transportation rules in this chapter apply to:(1) On job sites and off highway roads.(2) Privately financed, constructed, or maintained roads.Note:These rules do not apply to state or interstate highway systems.[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, and 49…

No one may:(1) Smoke or carry matches, or any other flame producing device, while in or near a vehicle transporting explosives.(2) Carry firearms or ammunition while in or near a vehicle transporting explosives, except guards or commissioned law enforcement officers.(3) Drive, lo…

Only authorized personnel properly trained in the safe handling of explosives will be allowed in vehicles transporting explosives, provided seat belts are available for all occupants.[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060. WSR 06-19-074, § 296-52-680…

Materials and supplies cannot be placed in the cargo space of vehicles or conveyance containing:(1) Explosives;(2) Detonating cord; or(3) Detonators.Note:It is okay to transport safety fuses and properly secured nonsparking equipment in cargo spaces.[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.1…

All vehicles used for transporting explosives must:(1) Be strong enough to carry the load without difficulty;(2) Be in good mechanical condition;(3) Have a tight floor in the cargo compartment(s);(4) Not have any exposed spark producing metal inside the vehicle, which could come …

(1) Locations of use. While loaded with explosives, open top vehicles must only be used on:(a) The job site; or(b) Roads that are closed to public travel.(2) Containers. Explosives being transported in open top vehicles or trailers must be transported in:(a) The original U.S. DOT…

All vehicles transporting explosives material must have placards. They must:(1) Be displayed as specified by U.S. DOT;(2) Remain on the vehicle until all explosives have been removed.[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, and 49.17.060. WSR 17-16-132, § 296-52…

(1) Fire extinguishers.(a) Driver training. The driver must be trained to use the fire extinguishers on the vehicle;(b) Equipment specifications. Vehicles used for transporting explosive materials must be equipped with fire extinguishers according to the gross vehicle weight:(i) …

(1) Authorized explosives transportation. Explosives may only be transported by a:(a) Licensed manufacturer;(b) Blaster;(c) Purchaser, seller, or their designated representative; or(d) Contract carrier for hire who complies with all requirements for transportation of hazardous ma…

(1) Fuse type detonators, detonators with a safety fuse, or detonators with a metal clad mild detonating fuse, cannot be transported in the same vehicle or trailer with other explosives, unless they comply with U.S. DOT hazardous material regulations for:(a) Packaging;(b) Separat…

In underground blasting operations, explosives and blasting agents must be hoisted, lowered, or transported in a powder car.(1) State approval. A state-approved powder car or conveyance must be used underground.(2) Two-unit compartments. Compartments for transporting detonators a…

Hoist operators must be notified before explosives or blasting agents are transported in a shaft conveyance.[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, and [49.17].050. WSR 02-03-125, § 296-52-68080, filed 1/23/02, effective 3/1/02.]

(1) Explosives and blasting agents. These requirements must be followed when transporting explosives and blasting agents underground:(a) Companion items.(i) Explosives or blasting agents cannot be transported in the same shaft conveyance with other materials, supplies, or equipme…

Detonators must not be stored in magazines where other explosives are stored.[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, and [49.17].050. WSR 02-03-125, § 296-52-69005, filed 1/23/02, effective 3/1/02.]

All Division 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, and 1.4 explosives, special industrial explosives, and any newly developed unclassified explosives, must be kept in magazines that meet the requirements of RCW 70.74.120 and this chapter, unless the explosives are:(1) In the manufacturing process;(2) B…

Explosives exempt from these storage requirements are:Type of ExplosiveExempted AmountStocks of: • Small arms ammunition,Quantities less than 750,000• Propellant-actuated power cartridges, and • Small arms ammunition primers Smokeless powderQuantities less than 150 poundsBlack po…

Explosives, except as specified in WAC 296-52-69015, and detonators in quantities of more than one thousand must be stored in permanent Type 1 magazines or approved and licensed magazines.Note 1:Components storage.Any two components which when mixed and become capable of detonati…

All explosive manufacturing buildings and magazines that store explosives or blasting agents (except small arms ammunition and smokeless powder), must meet the requirements as specified in:(1) Table H-20, Distances for Storage of Explosives;(2) Table H-21, Distance Table for Sepa…

(1) Storage materials. Magazines cannot be used for storage of metal tools or any commodity other than:(a) Explosives;(b) Blasting agents;(c) Blasting supplies.(2) Black powder.(a) Black powder must be stored separately from other explosives in a magazine.(b) Kegs must be stored …

More than 300,000 pounds of explosive materials or 20,000,000 of detonators cannot be stored in the same storage magazine.[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, and [49.17].050. WSR 02-03-125, § 296-52-69035, filed 1/23/02, effective 3/1/02.]

Any person who stores explosive material must notify the local fire safety authority, who has jurisdiction over the area where the explosive material is stored.(1) The local fire safety authority must be notified:(a) Orally, on the first day explosive materials are stored;(b) In …

Before beginning repair activities that could cause sparks or fire:(1) All explosives must be removed from the magazine under repair and placed in another magazine or a safe distance away;(2) Explosives must be properly guarded until they are returned to the magazine;(3) The floo…

(1) A qualified person must be: (a) Responsible for the magazine at all times;(b) At least twenty-one years old;(c) Held responsible for the enforcement of all safety requirements.(2) Explosives must:(a) Be accounted for at all times;(b) Be kept in a locked magazine when not in u…

(1) Weekly inspection.(a) The person or company responsible for the contents of the magazine must inspect the magazine at least every seven days to determine whether there has been an unauthorized:(i) Attempted entry into the magazine; or(ii) Removal of explosives from the magazi…

(1) Firearms. Only qualified guards and qualified law enforcement officers are allowed to carry firearms inside or within fifty feet of a magazine.(2) Area maintenance. The area surrounding magazines must:(a) Be kept clear of rubbish, brush, dry grass, or trees, except live trees…

(1) Explosives must be immediately destroyed, according to the manufacturer's recommendations, whenever they are suspected of deteriorating to the point they are:(a) Unstable;(b) Dangerous;(c) Leaking nitroglycerine.(2) Only a licensed blaster may destroy explosives.[Statutory Au…

(1) Storage. Explosives recovered from misfires must be placed in a separate licensed magazine until they can be disposed of according to the manufacturer's recommendations.(2) Detonator use. Detonators suspected of being defective cannot be reused.(3) Disposal. The blaster in ch…

(1) Location. Temporary storage for explosives at blast sites must be located away from:(a) Inhabited buildings;(b) Railways;(c) Highways;(d) Other magazines.(2) Separation distance. A distance must be maintained between magazines and the blast site. This distance must be a minim…

(1) Separation distance. When two or more storage magazines are located on the same property, each magazine must comply with the minimum quantity of explosives and separation distance requirements for:(a) Magazines (Table H-21);(b) Inhabited buildings, railways, and highways (Tab…

(1) Storage.Note:You may store blasting agents with nonexplosive blasting supplies.(a) When stored with explosives, blasting agents or ammonium nitrate must be stored as required in magazine construction.(b) When computing the total quantity of explosives, the mass of blasting ag…

(1) Storage.(a) Ammonium nitrate storage requirements do not apply to:(i) The transportation of ammonium nitrates while under the jurisdiction of and in compliance with U.S. DOT regulations (see 49 C.F.R., Part 173);(ii) The storage of ammonium nitrates while under the jurisdicti…

Table H-20Table of Distances for Storage of ExplosivesQuantity of ExplosiveDistances (in Feet)(In Pounds)Inhabited BuildingsPublic Highways with Traffic Volume 3,000 or Less Vehicles Per DayPassenger Railways and Public Highways: With Traffic Volume of More Than 3,000 Vehicles Pe…

Note:This table applies to the permanent storage of commercial explosives only. It does not apply to: 1. Explosives handling; 2. Explosives transportation; 3. Temporary storage of explosives; 4. Bombs, projectiles, or other heavily encased explosives.Magazines containing detonato…

Table H-22table of separation distances of ammonium nitrate and blasting agentsfrom explosives or blasting agents1Donor weightMinimum separation distance of receptor when barricaded2 (ft.)Minimum thickness of artificial barricades5 (in.)Pounds overPounds not overAmmoniumnitrate3B…

Explosives manufacturing plants that have buildings and magazines, where workers are regularly employed, must meet the quantity and separation distance requirements of Table H-23, intraexplosives plant quantity and distance table.(1) Explosives manufacturing buildings. Explosives…

(1) Use Table H-24 for magazines that are restricted to:(a) Division 1.2 or 1.3;(b) Division 1.4, low explosives;(c) Low explosives classified by BATF.(2) Detonators cannot be stored with low explosives.Table H-24TABLE OF DISTANCES FOR STORAGE OF LOW EXPLOSIVESPoundsFrominhabited…

Net weight offireworks(pounds)Distance between magazine and inhabited building, passengerrailway, or public highway(feet)Distancebetweenmagazine(feet) 0-1,0001501001,001-5,0002301505,001-10,000300200Above 10,000Use Table H-20 Note 1:The net weight is the weight of all pyrotechnic…

Construction of explosive storage magazines must comply with the requirements of this part and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (BATF) regulations.Note:Construction requirements for blasting agent bulk storage bins are located in WAC 296-52-67140, Bulk storage bins.[S…

A Type 1 storage facility must be:(1) A permanent structure such as:(a) A building;(b) An igloo;(c) An army-type structure;(d) A tunnel; or(e) A dugout.(2) Bullet resistant, fire resistant, weather resistant, theft resistant, and well ventilated.[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.01…

(1) All building-type storage facilities must:(a) Be constructed of masonry, wood, metal, or a combination of these materials;(b) Have no openings except for entrances and ventilation;(c) Have the ground around the facility slope away for drainage.(2) Wall construction.(a) Masonr…

These storage facilities must:(1) Be constructed of reinforced concrete, masonry, metal, or a combination of these materials.(2) Have an earth mound covering of at least twenty-four inches on the top, sides, and rear unless the magazine meets the requirements of WAC 296-52-70010 …

A Type 2 storage facility must:(1) Be a box, trailer, semi-trailer, or other mobile facility. When an unattended vehicular magazine is used, the wheels must be removed or it must be effectively immobilized by kingpin locking devices or other methods approved by the department.(2)…

(1) Exterior, doors, and top openings.(a) The exterior and doors must be constructed of at least 1/4-inch steel and lined with a minimum of three-inch hardwood.(b) Magazines with top openings must have lids with water resistant seals or lids that overlap the sides by a minimum of…

(1) Detonators in quantities of one thousand or less;(2) Ammonium perchlorate rocket motors in 62.5 gram amounts or greater, but not to exceed fifty pounds in total weight of explosives; or(3) Diversionary devices intended for law enforcement use only, but not to exceed fifty pou…

Storage facilities for detonators in quantities of one thousand or less:(1) Must be fire resistant and theft resistant;(2) Must be locked in an uninhabited building;(3) May be less than one cubic yard;(4) Must be painted red and have an identification label in case of fire.[Statu…

(1) Sides, bottoms, and covers must be constructed with a minimum of number 12 gauge metal and lined with a nonsparking material.(2) Hinges and hasps must be attached so they cannot be removed from the outside.(3) One steel padlock, which does not need to be protected by a steel …

A Type 4 storage facility must:(1) Be a building, an igloo, an army-type structure, a tunnel, a dugout, a box, a trailer, semi-trailer, or other mobile facility;(2) Be fire resistant, weather resistant, and theft resistant;(3) Have the ground around the facility slope away for dr…