Order of the Federal Environmental, Industrial and Nuclear Supervision Service (Rostechnadzor) No. 494 of 3 December 2020
Unofficial translation. Only the Russian original published in the official sources of the Russian Federation has legal force. This translation is provided for reference and does not replace the official document.
1. The Federal Norms and Rules in the field of industrial safety "Safety Rules for the Production, Storage and Use of Industrial Explosive Materials" (hereinafter - the Rules) have been developed in accordance with Federal Law No. 116-FZ of 21 July 1997 "On Industrial Safety of Hazardous Production Facilities" (Collected Legislation of the Russian Federation, 1997, No. 30, art. 3588; 2018, No. 31, art. 4860) (hereinafter - the Federal Law "On Industrial Safety of Hazardous Production Facilities").
2. These Rules establish requirements for the storage, transportation and use of explosive substances and articles based on them, used for industrial purposes in blasting operations (hereinafter - explosive materials, EM), and also for the manufacture of explosive substances at stationary production points and in mixing and charging machines, where other requirements are not established by the technical regulation of the Customs Union "On the Safety of Explosive Substances and Articles Based on Them" (hereinafter - TR CU 028/2012), adopted by Decision of the Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission No. 57 of 20 July 2012 (official website of the Eurasian Economic Commission www.tsouz.ru, 20 July 2012; official website of the Eurasian Economic Union www.eaeunion.org, 30 March 2017), which is binding on the Russian Federation in accordance with the Treaty on the Establishment of the Eurasian Economic Community of 10 October 2000 (Collected Legislation of the Russian Federation, 2002, No. 7, art. 632) and the Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union of 29 May 2014, ratified by Federal Law No. 279-FZ of 3 October 2014 "On the Ratification of the Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union" (Collected Legislation of the Russian Federation, 2014, No. 40, art. 5310). The Rules do not apply to facilities of enterprises operating in the sphere of the defence-industrial complex.
3. Organisations conducting work with industrial explosive materials shall have trained and certified workers: performers and persons in charge of the work.
4. Organisations conducting blasting operations shall obtain a permit to conduct work with industrial explosive materials.
5. All explosive substances and articles based on them belong to hazard class 1 and are divided into compatibility groups for storage and transportation (Appendix No. 3 to TR CU 028/2012) and into subclasses (Appendix No. 2 to TR CU 028/2012), and are classified according to the conditions of use (Appendix No. 1 to TR CU 028/2012).
6. Industrial explosive materials used in blasting operations shall have a permit for permanent use in accordance with Article 3 of TR CU 028/2012. To obtain a permit for permanent use, explosive materials shall undergo control tests and acceptance tests. Control tests shall be carried out with the participation of an expert organisation, the developer (if any) and the manufacturer to determine the conformity of the explosive materials with the requirements of TR CU 028/2012, the technical documentation, the declared technical indicators determining the consumer properties of the explosive materials, and the indicators necessary for assessing the safety of the explosive materials, and also to determine the possibility of carrying out acceptance tests. The test methods and the number of samples are determined by the manufacturer in agreement with the expert organisation. The results of the control tests of an explosive material shall be documented in a report. The control test report indicates: the time and place of the tests (the name of the laboratory, test site, testing area); the composition of the commission; the grades (types, kinds) and component composition of the explosive materials provided for by the technical documentation; the quantity (mass, dimensions) of the test specimens; the place and time of manufacture of the test specimens and the equipment used; the list of the tested indicators of the explosive materials, the procedures, equipment, instruments and measuring instruments used, and data on their verifications; the results of the tests of the technical indicators and of the indicators necessary for the safety assessment, for each of the explosive material specimens, with the numerical values indicated; conclusions on the conformity of the indicators of the explosive materials for which tests were carried out (for experimental indicators) or calculations were made, with those established in the technical documentation for the given explosive materials, and on the readiness to carry out acceptance tests. The control test report shall be signed by all members of the commission for carrying out the control tests. The composition of the commission shall be approved by an administrative document of the organisation in which the tests are carried out. Acceptance tests of explosive materials shall be carried out under the production conditions of organisations conducting blasting operations, to determine the possibility of obtaining a permit for their permanent use. Acceptance tests shall be carried out with the participation of representatives of the manufacturer, the developer (if any), the organisation in which the tests are carried out, the expert organisation that took part in the control tests, and the authorised body in the field of industrial safety. The organisation carrying out the acceptance tests of explosive materials shall submit the following documents: (a) the technical specifications, or the organisation standard, or the standard (for explosive substances and articles based on them of foreign manufacture - where such documents are available), and the application manual (instructions), agreed with the expert organisation (for the technical specifications or the organisation standard and the application manual (instructions)); (b) the programme and procedure for the acceptance tests; (c) the control test report. The programme and procedure for the acceptance tests shall include the following matters: the object of the tests and its characteristics; the purpose of the tests; the place where the tests are carried out, with a description of the specific production conditions under which they are carried out; the organisation, order and sequence of carrying out the tests; the volume of the trial batch of explosive materials for each grade (type, kind) of explosive materials and for each place where the tests are carried out; the time frames for carrying out the tests; the composition of the commission and the allocation of responsibility; the test procedures and their description; the measures for ensuring safety during the tests; the procedure to be followed in the event of misfires, incomplete detonations, burnouts or loss of quality of the explosive materials, and the procedure for investigating them to establish the causes of their occurrence; the procedure for documenting the test results, indicating the organisations to which the acceptance test report is sent. The programme and procedure for the acceptance tests shall be agreed by all organisations whose representatives are members of the commission for carrying out the acceptance tests. The results of the acceptance tests of an explosive material shall be documented in a report (a recommended template is provided in Appendix No. 1 to these Rules). The report shall indicate the specific test results, with conclusions on the possibility of using the explosive material under the relevant conditions. The report shall be signed by the chairperson and all members of the commission for carrying out the tests. If there are any comments, the members of the commission shall set them out in the report. The application for carrying out acceptance tests indicates: information about the applicant: the full and (if available) abbreviated name of the applicant organisation, the address of the location of the legal entity, the taxpayer identification number (hereinafter - TIN), the telephone, fax and (if available) e-mail address, and the position, surname, forename and (if available) patronymic of the head of the applicant organisation; the name of the explosive substances and articles based on them, the number of the technical specifications (organisation standard, standard), the class and subclass of transport hazard, the compatibility group, the UN serial number, the emergency measures code (EMC), the code of the Commodity Nomenclature of Foreign Economic Activity of the Customs Union (TN VED TS), the purpose, and the field and conditions of use; information about the developer of the explosive substances and articles based on them (the full and (if available) abbreviated name of the organisation, the address of the location of the legal entity, the TIN, the telephone, fax and (if available) e-mail address); information about the manufacturer of the explosive substances and articles based on them (the full and (if available) abbreviated name of the organisation, the address of the location of the legal entity, the TIN, the fax and (if available) e-mail address); information about the conditions, place, volumes and time frames for carrying out the acceptance tests. The applicant may apply to the federal executive authority in the field of industrial safety with a request to extend the period for carrying out the acceptance tests, while submitting information about the results of the work performed and the reasons for failing to meet the time frames. Amendments made to the technical specifications (organisation standard, standard) and the application manuals (instructions) are agreed with the expert organisation and are submitted, together with documents confirming the necessity, validity and safety of the amendments made, to the federal executive authority in the field of industrial safety. To agree the technical specifications (enterprise standard) and the application manuals (instructions) for explosive materials and amendments to them, the developer shall provide the expert organisation with confirmation of the established indicators of the explosive materials on the basis of the results of the tests carried out (for experimental indicators) or calculations. The safety expert review of the use of explosive materials is carried out to determine the conformity of the objects of the review with the requirements applicable to them and is based on the principles of independence, objectivity, comprehensiveness and completeness of the investigations, carried out using modern achievements of science and technology, and the soundness of the conclusions. The safety expert review of the use of explosive materials, and also the agreement of the technical specifications (enterprise standard) and the application manuals (instructions) for the use of explosive materials, by an expert organisation that is the developer or manufacturer of the given explosive materials, or by an expert organisation employing an expert who simultaneously carries out his labour activity in the developer organisation or the manufacturer organisation of the explosive materials, shall not be permitted. If non-conformity of the indicators of the explosive materials with the established requirements is identified during the control or acceptance tests, it shall be indicated in the test report. If, based on the results of the acceptance tests of the explosive materials, the technical specifications have required revision, the expert shall indicate these amendments in the expert opinion. When signing the control and acceptance test reports and preparing the expert opinion, the expert shall establish the completeness and the necessary set of the documents, the results of the tests carried out and the calculations relating to the object of the review. The expert opinion is prepared by the expert organisation that took part in the acceptance tests of the explosive materials. If the technical documentation provides for the possibility of using various components for the manufacture of one and the same grade (type, kind) of explosive materials, such a possibility shall be confirmed by the results of tests (or theoretical investigations). The justification of such a possibility shall be provided in the expert opinion. The conclusions of the expert opinion indicate: the grades (types, kinds, dimensions) of explosive materials provided for manufacture, taking into account the component composition, as indicated in the technical documentation; the specific conditions of use of the explosive materials; the conformity of the indicators of the explosive materials obtained as a result of the tests with the indicators established in the technical documentation; the conformity of the explosive materials with the requirements of TR CU 028/2012.
7. Upon the arrival of explosive materials at an explosive materials warehouse, they shall undergo incoming inspection in accordance with the documentation for the relevant kind of explosive materials. All explosive materials shall undergo testing: where doubts arise as to their good quality (based on external examination or in the event of unsatisfactory results of blasting operations - incomplete detonations, misfires); before the expiry of the guarantee period, if the possibility of extending the period is provided for by the documentation for the relevant explosive materials. The test results shall be documented in a report (a recommended template is provided in Appendix No. 2 to these Rules), with subsequent recording in the Register of Tests of Explosive Materials (a recommended template is provided in Appendix No. 3 to these Rules). The explosive materials test report indicates: the reason for carrying out the tests; the date of the tests; the composition of the commission; the data of the explosive materials (name, manufacturer, batch number, date of manufacture, guarantee storage period, date of arrival). Based on the test results, a conclusion shall be made on the conformity or non-conformity of the explosive materials with the requirements of the technical documentation. If the indicators obtained as a result of the tests do not conform to the indicators specified in the technical documentation, the explosive materials shall not be permitted for use and shall be destroyed. The use and storage of explosive materials with an expired guarantee period that have not undergone the period extension procedure shall be prohibited. In organisations conducting work with explosive materials, conditions for the testing of explosive materials shall be ensured. For these purposes, test sites or laboratories shall be equipped at the explosive materials warehouses. The test sites shall be equipped in accordance with the design at a distance that is safe from the place where the blasting operations are carried out to the explosive materials warehouse and other facilities. Tests of explosive materials may be carried out on prepared areas of the non-working benches of open pits, as well as in unused underground mine workings of ore mines (mines). When carrying out the tests, a danger zone shall be determined. The tests shall be carried out in accordance with the requirements of the technical documentation for the relevant explosive materials.
8. The drying, grinding, sieving and thawing of explosive substances shall be carried out in premises intended for these purposes and located on the territory of an explosive materials warehouse (in explosive materials preparation buildings), or on open areas with a canopy located on the territory of the test sites for the testing and destruction of explosive materials. The specified premises and areas shall be constructed in accordance with designs. When grinding, drying, sieving and thawing explosive materials on open areas located on the territory of the test sites for the testing and destruction of explosive materials, leaving the explosive materials unattended shall be prohibited.
9. The drying, grinding and sieving of explosive substances and the filling of casings in the open air may be carried out only in dry, windless weather, with sand and dust prevented from getting into the explosive substances.
10. Cartridges of explosive substances based on ammonium nitrate that have a moisture content of up to 1.5 per cent may be dried in the factory packaging. At a moisture content of more than 1.5 per cent, the cartridges are dried loose. The air temperature in the premises for drying explosive substances shall be not higher than 50 °C. Black powder shall be dried at a temperature not higher than 40 °C. When drying explosive substances, the tables and shelves on which they are laid out in the premises shall be located at a distance of not less than 1 m from heating surfaces (stoves, pipes, radiators).
11. For the drying of industrial explosive substances, air dryers (cabinets, chambers) with a heat-carrier (air) temperature of not higher than 60 °C for explosive substances sensitised with TNT, and, for explosive substances sensitised with nitroesters, with a temperature of not higher than 30 °C, may be used. The air heater with the blower shall be placed in an isolated room or in an annex.
12. The grinding of explosive substances containing hexogen and nitroesters shall be prohibited.
13. The thawing of explosive substances shall be carried out in the factory packaging in surface warehouses in heated premises at an air temperature not higher than 30 °C, or in underground explosive materials warehouses. To monitor the thawing, a record shall be kept of the time of arrival and issue of each batch.
14. For each destruction of explosive materials, a report shall be drawn up indicating the quantity and name of the destroyed explosive materials and the reasons for and method of destruction. The report is transferred to the explosive materials warehouse.
15. For the destruction of explosive materials, test sites shall be equipped at the explosive materials warehouses. The test sites shall be equipped in accordance with the design at a distance that is safe from the place where the blasting operations are carried out on the test site to the explosive materials warehouse and other facilities. The destruction of explosive materials may be carried out on prepared areas of the non-working benches of open pits, as well as in unused underground mine workings of ore mines (mines). When destroying explosive materials, a danger zone shall be determined.
16. The destruction of explosive materials shall be carried out by blasters under the control of the person in charge of the blasting operations.
17. Detonators, detonating cords and pyrotechnic relays shall be destroyed by methods that preclude their scattering.
18. Explosive materials that cannot be detonated shall be destroyed by burning. The destruction of detonators and articles containing them by burning shall be prohibited. The safe distances when burning explosive materials shall be calculated as for the detonation of the corresponding quantity of explosive substances.
19. The burning of explosive materials may be carried out only in dry, windless weather. In a single operation, not more than 20 kg of explosive materials may be burned.
20. Explosive substances, safety fuses and detonating cords shall be burned separately. When being burned, powders shall be spread out in tracks not more than 30 cm wide, with a layer thickness of up to 10 cm and a distance between them of not less than 5 m. Not more than three tracks of powder may be ignited simultaneously. Powders enclosed in casings shall be destroyed in accordance with the procedure established by the technical documentation.
21. The burning of explosive materials in their containers shall be prohibited. Before burning explosive substances, it shall be ensured that there are no means of initiation in them.
22. The ignition of a fire containing explosive materials shall be carried out by methods that ensure the withdrawal of workers to a safe distance (shelter), only after the completion of all preparatory work.
23. Approaching the burning site before the fire containing explosive materials has completely stopped burning shall be prohibited.
24. Only non-water-resistant explosive substances based on ammonium nitrate that do not contain nitroester or hexogen may be destroyed by dissolving in water. Dissolving may be carried out in barrels and other similar vessels; pollution of the environment shall not be permitted. The insoluble sediment shall be collected and destroyed by burning.
25. Upon completion of the destruction of explosive materials, the workers who carried out this work shall ensure the complete destruction of the articles containing explosive substances.
26. The emptied containers shall be thoroughly cleaned of residues of explosive substances. Containers unfit for use and containers with traces of exudate shall be destroyed by burning separately from the explosive materials.
27. The issue of explosive materials from the warehouse where there is exudation on the surface of the cartridges, the use of frozen-together explosive substances containing liquid nitroesters in excess of 15 per cent, and the performance of any actions with them not connected with thawing, shall be prohibited. Explosive materials with traces of exudation shall be issued from the warehouse only for destruction.
28. The receipt of explosive materials and their loading (unloading) shall be carried out at an explosive materials warehouse or at a specially designated guarded place (at a loading and unloading area) and under the control of an appointed person who has the right to be in charge of blasting operations, or of the manager of the explosive materials warehouse. Workers who have been familiarised, against signature, with the safety measures for handling explosive materials may be engaged in the operations for loading (unloading) explosive materials. The loading and unloading area, with the exception of areas located on the territory of explosive materials warehouses, in the shaft bottoms of mines, ore mines and adits, and in pit-head buildings, shall be equipped in accordance with the design. Persons who have no connection with the loading (unloading) of explosive materials shall not be admitted to the places of loading (unloading) of explosive materials. The place of loading (unloading), the safety measures, and also the procedure for loading (unloading) explosive materials in the shaft bottoms of mines, ore mines and adits, and in pit-head buildings, shall be determined by an administrative document of the mine (ore mine).
29. The organisation conducting work with explosive materials shall ensure control over the quantity of explosive materials upon their receipt. Leaving explosive materials unattended during loading and unloading operations shall be prohibited.
30. The loading and unloading area, with the exception of areas located on the territory of explosive materials warehouses, in the shaft bottoms of mines, ore mines and adits, and in pit-head buildings, shall: - be fenced with barbed wire at a distance of not less than 15 m from the place of loading (unloading) of vehicles. The height of the fence shall be not less than 2 m; - where explosive materials are present on the area, be lit during the hours of darkness with electric lighting. Knife switches of standard design may be located at a distance of not closer than 50 m from the place of loading (unloading) of explosive materials; - be provided with the necessary fire-fighting means; - have telephone communication with the organisation conducting work with explosive materials, the railway station (wharf, port), and the bodies of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation and of the Ministry of the Russian Federation for Civil Defence, Emergencies and Elimination of Consequences of Natural Disasters. The telephone shall be installed in the guard room, located not further than 50 m from the place of loading (unloading) of explosive materials; - be guarded for the entire period of the loading and unloading work. The places (areas) for the unloading, loading and standing of railway wagons with explosive materials shall be located away from residential and industrial buildings and from the main stationary railway tracks at a distance of not less than 125 m. The places of loading (unloading) of explosive materials in the shaft bottoms of mines, ore mines and adits, and in pit-head buildings, shall be lit and guarded for the entire period of the loading and unloading work by the forces and means of the organisation conducting work with explosive materials, the organisation operating the hazardous production facility, or the organisation with which a contract for the provision of security services has been concluded.
31. The joint transportation of explosive materials within a hazardous production facility is carried out only where the following requirements are met: (a) explosive materials of the same compatibility group but of different subclasses may be transported jointly, provided that safety measures are applied to them as to explosive materials of subclass 1.1; (b) explosive materials of compatibility group N may be transported with explosive materials of compatibility group S; means of initiation of compatibility group S may be transported jointly with means of initiation of compatibility group B. (c) the joint transportation, within a hazardous production facility, of explosive substances, means of initiation and perforating and blasting apparatus is permitted only with the written authorisation of the head (technical head) of the organisation conducting work with explosive materials, or of a person appointed by him, subject to compliance with the following conditions: loading of the vehicle to not more than two-thirds of its load capacity; placement of the packages or bags containing means of initiation in the front part of the vehicle body in tightly closing boxes with soft internal linings on all sides; separation of the packages containing explosive substances and the boxes containing means of initiation by methods that preclude the transmission of detonation from the latter; placement of group C powders and perforator charges in the factory packaging or in special boxes not closer than 0.5 m from other explosive materials; securing of the boxes and other containers with explosive materials by methods that preclude their striking and rubbing against one another.
32. In all other cases, the transportation of explosive materials of different compatibility groups within a hazardous production facility shall be carried out separately.
33. The transportation of explosive materials from the explosive materials warehouse to the places of work within a hazardous production facility shall be carried out along routes approved by the head (technical head) of the organisation operating the hazardous production facility.
34. The transportation of explosive materials within a hazardous production facility shall be carried out by serviceable transport that is equipped and intended for this purpose, with the exception of the case specified in paragraph 35 of these Rules. The presence in the transport of workers not connected with the delivery of explosive materials shall not be permitted.
35. In underground workings, the delivery of ammonium-nitrate explosive substances from the section storage points and the places of unloading of explosive materials to the places where blasting operations are carried out, in the buckets of load-haul-dump machines, is permitted, provided that the bucket is loaded to not more than two-thirds of its height. The bucket shall be cleaned of residues of the transported loads. The means of initiation shall be delivered separately.
36. The delivery of granular explosive substances containing TNT, hexogen and nitroesters under their own weight through pipes (cased boreholes) to the working horizons (underground points) of ore mines and mines shall be prohibited.
37. The transportation of explosive materials along the mine shaft during the lowering and raising of people shall be prohibited. During the loading, unloading and movement of explosive materials along the mine shaft, in the shaft bottom and in the pit-head building near the shaft, the presence of only the blaster, the distributor, the workers loading and unloading the explosive materials, the onsetter, the shaftman and the person responsible for the delivery of the explosive materials is permitted.
38. The lowering and raising of explosive materials along the mine shaft shall be carried out only after the dispatcher (the person on duty at the mine) has been notified thereof by the person appointed as responsible for the delivery (raising, lowering) of the explosive materials. Boxes and bags of explosive materials shall occupy not more than two-thirds of the height of the cage deck, but not higher than the cage doors. When lowering in mine cars, boxes and bags of explosive materials shall not protrude above the sides of the mine cars, and the mine cars themselves shall be firmly secured in the cage. Means of initiation shall be lowered and raised separately from explosive substances. Boxes and bags of detonators shall be placed in a single row by height.
39. During the lowering and raising of blasters with explosive materials and carriers with explosive substances along inclined workings in man-riding cars, there shall be not more than one blaster or carrier on each seat. The delivery of explosive substances by belt conveyors and rope chairlift roads is permitted in accordance with the procedure established at the mine (ore mine).
40. Several blasters with bags of explosive materials and carriers with bags of explosive substances may descend or ascend simultaneously in a single cage, at the rate of 1 m2 of the cage floor per person per deck. Each of the specified persons may carry with them not more than the quantity of explosive materials specified in paragraphs 51 and 52 of these Rules. The lowering and raising of blasters with explosive materials and carriers with explosive substances shall be carried out out of turn.
41. The transportation of explosive materials along underground workings shall be carried out at a speed of not more than 5 m/s (18 km/h). The operator shall start up and stop the hoisting machine, the winch and the locomotive smoothly, without jolts.
42. The transport of explosive materials in underground workings by vehicles shall be carried out subject to the following conditions: (a) loading and unloading operations with explosive materials may be carried out only at designated locations; (b) in emergency situations the location for loading and unloading operations is determined by the person responsible for the delivery of the explosive materials; (c) where transported in a single railway train, explosive substances and means of initiation shall be located in separate mine cars, separated by such a number of empty mine cars that the distance between the mine cars carrying explosive substances and the mine cars carrying means of initiation, and also between these mine cars and the locomotive, is not less than 3 m. The train shall not contain mine cars loaded, in addition to explosive materials, with other cargo. (d) where transported by rail, detonators and electric detonators shall be transported in mine cars lined internally with wood and closed with a solid lid made of non-combustible materials. In doing so, the boxes (cartons), and also the bags and cassettes containing detonators and electric detonators, shall be interleaved with soft material and arranged in a single tier by height; (e) the transport of explosive substances by trolley electric locomotives shall be carried out in mine cars closed with a solid lid made of non-combustible materials. Granulated explosive substances may be covered with non-combustible fabric; (f) vehicles (trains) carrying explosive materials shall have special light identification signs at the front and rear, with the meaning of which all workers shall be made familiar; (g) during the transport of explosive materials through mine workings, the drivers of oncoming vehicles and persons passing through these workings shall stop and give way to the vehicle carrying explosive materials; (h) the drivers of vehicles and all persons involved in the transport (delivery) of explosive materials shall be instructed in the safety measures; (i) during the transport of explosive materials by rail, no one shall be present on the train except the locomotive driver, the blaster or the dispenser, and also the workers involved in the transport of the explosive materials. The accompanying persons shall be located in a personnel mine car at the rear of the train. The train may be accompanied on foot, provided that its speed does not exceed the speed of movement of the accompanying persons; (j) the transport of explosive materials without accompanying persons is permitted in specially equipped mine cars, containers or other receptacles that are locked and sealed at the explosive materials warehouse;
43. The technical soundness of the vehicles used for the delivery of explosive materials shall be checked every shift.
44. When explosive substances are transferred through pipelines, the inspection of the vessels, pipes and shut-off valves shall be carried out in accordance with the procedure established by an administrative document of the operating organisation.
45. In underground workings, mine cars carrying explosive materials shall be formed into trains and delivered directly to the area where the blast is being prepared, or placed in specially equipped workings - holding points. Each place where explosive substances are concentrated shall be provided with not fewer than four fire extinguishers, and also with a fire nozzle, a fire hose or a flexible hose connected to the fire-fighting water main.
46. The signalling system between the electric locomotive driver and the accompanying persons during the transport of explosive substances through underground workings is approved by the head (technical head) of the organisation carrying out the blasting operations, or by a person appointed by him.
47. The lowering and raising of explosive materials during the sinking of prospecting shafts equipped with manual windlasses and winches shall be performed subject to the following conditions: (a) persons not involved in the blasting operations shall not be present at the face; (b) the lowering and raising of explosive materials shall be carried out by not fewer than two persons; (c) the windlass or winch shall be equipped with ratchet devices or automatically acting brakes, and the hitching hook with a safety lock; (d) the lowering and raising of explosive substances shall be carried out separately from the means of initiation.
48. The lowering and raising of explosive materials using winches along raise workings (raises) shall be carried out in accordance with the work organisation and the data sheet for the installation of the winch, approved by the head of the mine (ore mine).
49. Explosive substances and means of initiation shall be delivered by hand to the places where blasting operations are performed separately, in bags, cassettes or the manufacturer's packaging.
50. Means of initiation are carried only by blasters, and in doing so they shall be kept in the manufacturer's packaging or placed in bags with rigid cells (cassettes, boxes) lined internally with soft material. The delivery of explosive substances may be carried out by instructed workers under the supervision of blasters.
51. Where means of initiation and explosive substances are delivered by hand at the same time, a blaster may carry not more than 10 kg of explosive materials.
52. When carrying explosive substances in bags without means of initiation, a blaster may carry not more than 24 kg.
53. When carrying explosive substances in the manufacturer's packaging, their quantity shall be within the limits of the norms for the manual carrying of loads.
54. Motor transport used for the transport of explosive materials shall comply with the requirements of the legislation of the Russian Federation in the field of ensuring the safety of the carriage of dangerous goods, and also with the European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road of 30 September 1957 <1> (hereinafter - ADR). ——————————-- <1> Resolution of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 76 of 3 February 1994 "On the Accession of the Russian Federation to the European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road" (Collection of Acts of the President and Government of the Russian Federation, 1994, No. 7, Article 508).
55. The carriage of explosive materials by road, rail, sea, river and air transport is carried out in accordance with the carriage rules for these modes of transport.
56. The management of blasting operations includes the direct control of the technological processes associated with the handling of explosive materials, and also the development, coordination and approval of technical, design, methodological and other documents governing the procedure for performing blasting operations and work with explosive materials. Managers of blasting operations shall hold a qualification certificate - the Unified Blaster's Book with the right to manage the corresponding types of blasting operations, which is issued after passing an examination before the commission of the organisation that carried out the training, chaired by a representative of the territorial body of the federal executive authority in the field of industrial safety (hereinafter - the territorial body in the field of industrial safety).
57. A Unified Blaster's Book conferring the right to manage blasting operations may be obtained by persons who have higher or secondary vocational mining-technical education, or higher or secondary vocational education associated with the handling of explosive materials, in accordance with the procedure established by paragraphs 58 - 62 of these Rules.
58. A Unified Blaster's Book with the right to manage blasting operations of any type (types) without additional training may be obtained by the following persons: (a) who have graduated from higher educational institutions in the fields of study: "Oil and Gas Engineering"; "Mining" in the specialisations: Underground Mining of Bedded Deposits; Underground Mining of Ore Deposits; Opencast Mining; Mine and Underground Construction; Blasting Engineering; "Physical Processes of Mining or Oil and Gas Production" in the specialisations: Physical Processes of Mining Production; Physical Processes of Oil and Gas Production. (b) who have graduated from secondary specialised educational institutions in the specialities: Opencast Mining; Mine Construction; Underground Mining of Mineral Deposits, or in the fields of study and specialities corresponding to those indicated in sub-clauses "a" and "b" of this paragraph, in accordance with the legislation of the Russian Federation on education.
59. A Unified Blaster's Book conferring the right to manage blasting operations in one's own speciality without additional training may be obtained by the following persons: (a) who have graduated from higher educational institutions in the field of study "Geological Exploration Technologies" in the specialisations: Geophysical Methods of Prospecting and Exploration of Mineral Deposits; Geophysical Methods of Well Investigation; Technology and Techniques of Mineral Deposit Exploration; Seismic Exploration. (b) who have graduated from secondary specialised educational institutions in the specialities: Geophysical Methods of Prospecting and Exploration of Mineral Deposits; Technology and Techniques of Mineral Deposit Exploration, or in the fields of study and specialities corresponding to those indicated in sub-clauses "a" and "b" of this paragraph, in accordance with the legislation on education and other regulatory legal acts in this field.
60. A Unified Blaster's Book conferring the right to manage blasting operations in one's own speciality without additional training may be obtained by persons who have graduated from higher educational institutions in the following fields of study: Power Machinery Engineering; Applied Mechanics; Engineering Physics; Chemical Technology of Energy-Saturated Materials and Products; Aircraft Engineering; Design, Production and Operation of Rockets and Rocket-Space Complexes; Technical Operation of Aircraft and Engines.
61. In other cases, persons who have higher or secondary vocational mining-technical education, or higher or secondary vocational specialised education associated with the handling of explosive materials, are granted the right to manage blasting operations after additional training under a programme conferring the right to manage the corresponding types of blasting operations. Professional retraining in the fields of study indicated in paragraphs 58 - 60 for obtaining the right to manage blasting operations shall not be permitted.
62. A Unified Blaster's Book with the right to manage blasting operations for the performance of scientific or technical research may be obtained by research workers who hold academic degrees in the specialities: 01.04.14 - Thermal Physics and Theoretical Heat Engineering; 01.04.17 - Chemical Physics, Combustion and Explosion, Physics of Extreme States of Matter; 01.04.23 - High Energy Physics; 02.00.09 - High Energy Chemistry; 25.00.07 - Hydrogeology; 25.00.10 - Geophysics, Geophysical Methods of Mineral Prospecting; 25.00.11 - Geology, Prospecting and Exploration of Solid Minerals, Minerageny; 25.00.12 - Geology, Prospecting and Exploration of Oil and Gas Mineral Deposits; 25.00.13 - Mineral Processing; 25.00.14 - Technology and Techniques of Geological Prospecting Work; 25.00.15 - Technology of Drilling and Development of Wells; 25.00.16 - Mining and Oil-and-Gas Field Geology, Geophysics, Mine Surveying and Geometry of the Subsurface; 25.00.17 - Development and Operation of Oil and Gas Deposits; 25.00.18 - Technology of Development of Offshore Mineral Deposits; 25.00.20 - Geomechanics, Rock Destruction, Mine Aerogasdynamics and Mining Thermal Physics; 25.00.22 - Geotechnology (Underground, Opencast and Construction); 05.02.07 - Technology and Equipment of Mechanical and Physico-Technical Processing; 05.05.06 - Mining Machines; 05.07.03 - Strength and Thermal Regimes of Aircraft. 05.07.05 - Thermal, Electric-Rocket Engines and Power Plants of Aircraft; 05.07.06 - Ground Complexes, Launch Equipment, Operation of Aircraft; 05.07.07 - Monitoring and Testing of Aircraft and Their Systems; 05.07.09 - Dynamics, Ballistics and Motion Control of Aircraft.
63. The right to manage blasting operations and work with explosive materials shall be held: (a) in organisations carrying out blasting operations and (or) work with explosive materials - by all persons directly managing blasting operations and developing, coordinating and approving technical, design, methodological and other documents governing the procedure for performing blasting operations and work with explosive materials; (b) in mining industry organisations and underground construction organisations, oil or gas extraction organisations, and also in geological and geophysical organisations where blasting operations are carried out on a contract basis - by persons coordinating and approving technical, design, methodological and other documents governing the procedure for performing blasting operations and work with explosive materials.
64. Workers involved in the handling of explosive materials (blasters, managers of explosive materials warehouses, managers of charging workshops, managers of points for the manufacture and preparation of explosive substances, dispensers of explosive materials, laboratory assistants of explosive materials warehouses, workers servicing points for the mechanised preparation of explosive substances and points for the manufacture of explosive substances, operators of mixing-charging and charging machines, and other persons who by the nature of their activity are directly involved in the handling of explosive materials) shall undergo training and obtain a Unified Blaster's Book with an entry conferring the right to carry out the corresponding work with explosive materials.
65. The profession of blaster may be obtained only by male persons over 18 years of age who have education of not less than secondary general level and the following work experience: in mines hazardous by gas or dust - experience in underground work as a driftsman or a stope face worker of not less than two years; in all other blasting operations - work experience of not less than one year in a speciality corresponding to the work profile of the organisation. The right to perform other work involving the handling of explosive materials may be obtained only by persons over 18 years of age who have education of not less than secondary level.
66. The right to perform blasting operations is issued for the following types thereof: General types of blasting operations: blasting operations in underground workings and on the surface of coal and shale mines that are hazardous by gas or that work seams hazardous by dust explosions; blasting operations in underground workings and on the surface of coal and shale mines that are not hazardous by gas or that work seams not hazardous by dust explosions; blasting operations in underground workings and on the surface of ore mines (facilities of the ore-mining and non-ore industry) that are hazardous by gas or dust; blasting operations in underground workings and on the surface of ore mines (facilities of the ore-mining and non-ore industry) that are not hazardous by gas or dust; blasting operations at opencast mining sites; Special types of blasting operations: blasting operations during seismic exploration; blasting operations during perforation-blasting and other work in oil, gas, water and other wells; blasting operations for the loosening of frozen soils and in marshes; the blasting of ice; underwater blasting operations; the destruction of hot masses; the processing of materials (cutting, welding, hardening) by explosion energy; the demolition of buildings and structures, the breaking-up of foundations and sintered ore; the uprooting of stumps, the felling of timber, the loosening of frozen firewood and pulpwood, the clearing of jams during timber floating; blasting operations in fighting forest fires; blasting operations in underground workings and on the surface of oil mines; blasting operations during the driving of tunnels and the construction of the underground railway; blasting operations during the driving of mining-exploration workings; blasting operations during the destruction of explosive devices on the ground surface; blasting operations involving the use of explosive materials for scientific, research and educational purposes.
67. Blasters may be admitted to sit examinations in several types of work, provided that their training and industrial experience meet the established requirements. To obtain the right to perform a new type of blasting operations, a blaster shall undergo training under the corresponding programme.
68. Upon completion of training, workers involved in the handling of explosive materials sit an examination before the qualification commission of the organisation that carried out the training for the corresponding type of work, chaired by a representative of the territorial body of the federal executive authority in the field of industrial safety. The results of the examinations are recorded in minutes signed by the members of the qualification commission.
69. Orders, examination minutes and other documentation on the training of workers involved in the handling of explosive materials on special courses shall be maintained by the organisation in which the training was conducted.
70. One copy of the minutes is transferred to the territorial body of the federal executive authority in the field of industrial safety and is the basis for the registration of the Unified Blaster's Book.
71. Persons who hold the right to manage blasting operations may obtain the right to perform the corresponding type of blasting operations without training, after passing examinations before the qualification commission chaired by a representative of the territorial body of the executive authority in the field of industrial safety and completing the corresponding work placement.
72. In organisations using explosive materials for scientific-research, experimental and educational purposes, research staff, teaching staff and laboratory assistants who hold a Unified Blaster's Book and have completed a work placement lasting 10 working days under the guidance of an experienced worker may be admitted to work with explosive materials.
73. A blaster may be admitted to perform blasting operations independently, including after training for a new type of blasting operations, only after completing a work placement lasting one month under the guidance of an experienced blaster. The need for and the duration of the work placement of managers of blasting operations and of managers of explosive materials warehouses (production points) is determined by the corresponding training programmes.
74. The duration of the work placement for other persons who have been trained in working occupations involving the handling of explosive materials shall be not less than 15 working days.
75. The place for completing the work placement of workers involved in the handling of explosive materials, its periods and the supervisor are determined by an administrative document of the organisation carrying out the blasting operations.
76. Upon completion of training, before the work placement, blasters and other workers involved in the handling of explosive materials are issued a qualification certificate - the Unified Blaster's Book.
77. Assistants may be appointed to help the blaster. They shall be instructed and, under the direct guidance and supervision of the blaster, may perform work not involving the handling of means of initiation and primer cartridges.
78. Workers engaged in the delivery of explosive substances to the places where blasting operations are conducted and in the guarding of prohibited and hazardous zones shall be made familiar, against signature, with the safety measures for handling explosive materials.
79. Training under the programmes for the training of managers of explosive materials warehouses may be undergone by persons who hold the right to manage blasting operations, by blasters or by dispensers of explosive materials.
80. Short-term or mobile explosive materials warehouses may be managed, and the duties of a dispenser of explosive materials in geophysical work may be performed, by persons who hold a Unified Blaster's Book and have work experience as a blaster in the corresponding conditions of not less than one year.
81. Persons appointed as managers of explosive materials warehouses have no right to perform the duties of a manager of blasting operations or to conduct blasting operations.
82. Persons who have passed the examinations before the qualification commission chaired by a representative of the territorial body of the federal executive authority in the field of industrial safety are issued a qualification certificate - the Unified Blaster's Book <2> (the recommended template is provided in Appendix No. 4 to these Rules). ——————————-- <2> Unified Blaster's Books issued before the entry into force of this Order are valid.
83. Unified Blaster's Books are registered with the territorial bodies of the federal executive authority in the field of industrial safety.
84. The Unified Blaster's Book indicates the name of the territorial body of the federal executive authority in the field of industrial safety that registered the Unified Blaster's Book; the name of the organisation in which the training was conducted; the surname, first name and patronymic (if any) of the person who received this qualification certificate; the date of issue.
85. The Unified Blaster's Book is signed by a representative of the territorial body of the federal executive authority in the field of industrial safety and by a representative of the organisation in which the training was arranged. The certificate shall be certified by the seal of the territorial body of the federal executive authority in the field of industrial safety.
86. The series for filling in and recording Unified Blaster's Books is established by the federal executive authority in the field of industrial safety (Appendix No. 4 to these Rules). The numbers of Unified Blaster's Books are assigned by the territorial bodies of the federal executive authority in the field of industrial safety upon their registration in a special register.
87. The Unified Blaster's Book shall indicate the types of work (the type of blasting operations for which the right to manage or perform has been granted, other work involving the handling of explosive materials) which the person who has received the Unified Blaster's Book is admitted to perform.
88. Receipt of the Unified Blaster's Book is confirmed by a signature in a special register. The possession by a worker of more than one Unified Blaster's Book shall not be permitted.
89. When transferring to work in another organisation carrying out work with explosive materials, a worker retains the right to perform the type of work specified in the Unified Blaster's Book.
90. In the event of the loss of a Unified Blaster's Book, a duplicate may be issued by the territorial body of the executive authority in the field of industrial safety. To obtain a duplicate, a worker shall apply to the territorial body of the executive authority in the field of industrial safety. In doing so, the entry "duplicate" is made in the new Unified Blaster's Book.
91. Entries on work placements for all types of work involving the handling of explosive materials to which a worker is admitted shall be made in Unified Blaster's Books.
92. On the recommendation of the territorial body of the executive authority in the field of industrial safety, a Unified Blaster's Book may be withdrawn if the worker has committed a breach of the established procedure for the storage, transport, use or recording of explosive materials which led or could have led to an accident, an emergency or the loss of explosive materials.
93. Withdrawn Unified Blaster's Books are transferred to the territorial body of the executive authority in the field of industrial safety for destruction.
94. Duplicates of withdrawn Unified Blaster's Books are not issued.
95. Not less frequently than once every two years, the knowledge of the safety requirements by workers involved in the handling of explosive materials and holding a Unified Blaster's Book (with the exception of managers of explosive materials warehouses, of points for the production of explosive materials, and managers of blasting operations) shall be checked by a special commission of the organisation carrying out work with explosive materials, chaired by a representative of the territorial body of the federal executive authority in the field of industrial safety.
96. Workers who have not passed the knowledge check are deprived of the right to perform work involving the handling of explosive materials and may be admitted to a repeat knowledge check only after retraining (in a training organisation or independently), regarding which an administrative document shall be issued in the organisation carrying out work with explosive materials.
97. The results of periodic and unscheduled knowledge checks are recorded in minutes and signed by the members of the commission.
98. The procedure for maintaining and storing the documentation on knowledge checks is established by an administrative document of the organisation carrying out work with explosive materials.
99. Blasters, after a break in work in their profession exceeding one year, may be admitted to the independent performance of blasting operations only after passing an examination before the commission of the organisation carrying out work with explosive materials and a work placement lasting 10 working days.
100. When explosive materials, apparatus and equipment not previously used are received by an organisation carrying out work with explosive materials, all persons engaged in blasting operations and work with explosive materials shall be additionally made familiar, against signature, with the properties and features of the newly received explosive materials, apparatus and equipment.
101. Before issue, electric detonators, blasting cartridges and detonator caps shall be checked for the absence of damage to the casing, traces of corrosion, breaches of the insulation of the wires and other defects. Electric detonators shall also be checked by their electrical resistance. The use of means of initiation with damage and with an electrical resistance value not corresponding to the technical documentation shall be prohibited.
102. During the check, an electric detonator shall be placed in a lined metal pipe, behind a shield or in a device that precludes injury to persons in the event of an explosion. The wires of electric detonators, after checking their resistance, shall be short-circuited and remain in that position until the moment of connection to the blasting circuit. The check of wireless electric detonators is carried out with the aid of special equipment that ensures the safety of persons during the check. When performing this operation, there shall be not more than 100 electric detonators on the table of the person carrying out the check. The placement on the table of objects not relating to this type of work shall not be permitted.
103. Electric blasting circuits shall have sound insulation. The ends of the wires and the cores of the cables shall be carefully stripped, tightly connected (spliced), and the connections (splices) insulated by means of special clamps. In mines (ore mines) hazardous by gas or dust, the wires of electric detonators and of the electric blasting circuit shall be connected only using contact clamps.
104. The electric blasting circuit shall be a two-wire circuit. The use of water, earth, pipes, rails or ropes as one of the conductors shall be prohibited. Before the start of charging, the blaster shall inspect the electric blasting circuit and verify that it is sound.
105. In mines (ore mines) hazardous by gas or dust, only electric detonators with copper wires shall be used. This requirement also applies to the connecting and main wires (cables) of the electric blasting circuit.
106. The electric blasting circuit shall be assembled in the direction from the charge to the current source.
107. During the performance of blasting operations, a current of a strength not less than that established by the technical documentation for the product shall reach each electric detonator. After the assembly and inspection of the electric blasting circuit, its current conductivity shall be checked. When checking the current conductivity of the circuit, workers shall be located outside the hazardous zone.
108. Before the blasting of borehole and chamber charges, the total resistance of the entire electric blasting circuit shall be calculated and then measured from a safe place using electrical measuring instruments. Where the values of the measured and calculated resistances diverge by more than 10 per cent, the faults causing the deviations from the calculated resistance of the electric blasting circuit shall be eliminated. Where it is impossible to measure the resistance of the electric blasting circuit, the check may, with the permission of the manager of blasting operations, be limited to its current conductivity.
109. Voltage shall be applied to the electric blasting circuit from a safe place established by the data sheet or the design for the drilling-and-blasting (blasting) operations. The blasting device (apparatus) shall have special terminals for connecting the main leads of the electric blasting circuit. The main leads may be connected to the blasting device (exploder) only in the absence of persons in the hazardous zone. During a mass blast, voltage may be applied to the electric blasting circuit only on the command of the manager of blasting operations.
110. The ends of the wires of an assembled section of the electric blasting circuit shall be short-circuited until the moment of their connection to the wires of the next section of the electric blasting circuit. The ends of the main leads of the electric blasting circuit shall also be short-circuited until the moment of their connection to the terminals of the device or apparatus supplying the voltage for blasting. During perforation-blasting work, where the armour of the geophysical cable is used as one of the conductors of the electric blasting circuit, the ends of the wires of an assembled section of the electric blasting circuit shall be kept open and insulated until the moment of connection of the blasting device.
111. The connection of means of initiation to the detonating cord and the assembly of the blasting circuit may be carried out only after the completion of the direct charging and the removal to a safe distance of persons not involved in the assembly of the blasting circuit, and also of equipment.
112. The voltage shall be removed from all electrical installations, cables, contact and overhead wires and other sources of electrical energy (including sources of hazardous electromagnetic radiation) operating in the assembly zone of the electric blasting network before the assembly of the electric blasting network begins. Underground, the assembly zone of the electric blasting network shall include the workings in which such a network is assembled. On the ground surface, the assembly zone of the electric blasting network shall include the surface bounded by a contour that exceeds the contour of the electric blasting network by 50 m, irrespective of the suspension height of the electric current conductors, and, for perforation and blasting work in boreholes, by 10 m accordingly. Where it is impossible to remove the voltage from the electrical equipment or to switch off the sources of radio and other electromagnetic radiation, protective measures against stray currents shall be taken (the use of protected electric detonators, the exclusion of the reuse of connecting wires, the use of clamps to insulate wire twists, and devices for locking the electric blasting network), approved by an administrative document of the organisation carrying out the blasting work. When assembling electric blasting networks in underground workings, the local ventilation fans located within the hazardous zone, as well as the lighting electrical networks and signalling with a voltage of not more than 42 V, may be left switched on, provided that measures are taken to protect the electric detonators from the effect of stray currents. Where necessary, in the event of a large inflow of water in the shafts, the pumps may be left energised, in which case protective measures against stray currents shall be taken. When blasting by means of electric detonators resistant to stray currents and static electricity charges, special self-propelled equipment with lifting platforms may be used for charging and assembling the network in workings of large cross-section.
113. The organisation carrying out work with explosive materials shall establish a procedure for the storage, issue and maintenance of blasting instruments and devices, as well as control and measuring instruments. Blasting instruments (machines), before being issued to blasters, shall be checked in accordance with the operating instructions for compliance with the established technical characteristics. Blasting instruments (machines) and stationary blasting devices shall be stored in places that preclude access to them by unauthorised persons. The keys to the blasting instruments (machines) shall be held by the blaster during blasting work.
114. It shall be prohibited to carry out electric blasting directly from a power, contact or lighting network.
115. When charges are initiated by the electric method, contact of the wires of the electric detonators and of the electric blasting network with metal objects shall be precluded.
116. When blasting with the use of electric detonators, the blaster may leave the shelter after the blast only after ventilation, disconnection of the electric blasting network from the current source and its short-circuiting, but not earlier than 5 minutes.
117. If, when the voltage is applied, the blast does not occur, the blaster shall disconnect the electric blasting network from the instrument (current source), short-circuit its ends, take with him the key to the instrument (the box in which the blasting device is located) and only after that ascertain the cause of the misfire.
118. The blasting instruments of stationary blasting stations at coal and shale mines and geological exploration facilities that are hazardous in respect of gas or dust shall be checked at the places of their installation at least once every 15 days.
119. Work with detonating cord (cutting, joining of lengths to one another), with pyrotechnic relays, non-electric and electronic initiation systems shall be carried out in accordance with the instructions (manuals) for their use.
120. Crushing, breaks, fractures and other damage to the detonating cord, waveguides and wires shall not be permitted.
121. The blasting of the main and back-up networks of detonating cord shall in all cases be carried out from a single initiator.
122. When non-electric initiation systems are initiated by electronic detonators, electric detonators and detonator caps, these shall be positioned with the shaped-charge cavity facing the direction of propagation of the blasting impulse.
123. When blasting with these systems, the blaster may approach the blast site not earlier than 5 minutes. If the blast has not occurred, then not earlier than 15 minutes.
124. Remote blasting (radio blasting) may be carried out where technical documentation and the appropriate equipment are available (a radio station with a command unit and executive units with radio receivers).
125. The command unit with the radio transmitter shall be installed outside the hazardous zone. The executive unit with the radio receiver is installed in places having convenient access and is placed at a distance from the blast site that precludes its destruction by pieces of rock mass from the blast.
126. During a mass blast, the radio impulse may be transmitted only on the command of the person in charge of the blasting work, who shall verify the readiness of the executive units for the blast and the withdrawal of all persons beyond the limits of the hazardous zone.
127. When connecting the electric detonators to the terminals of the executive unit, the blaster shall verify that the executive unit is locked. The electric detonators are then connected to the blasting network.
128. Admission to the blast site is carried out with the permission of the person in charge of the blasting work not earlier than 10 minutes after information on the locked state of the executive unit.
129. Primers with detonators shall be prepared at the places where work is carried out or in special premises near the places where work is carried out, established by an administrative document of the organisation carrying out the blasting work. The preparation (assembly) of primers with detonating cord (without detonators) may be carried out in the explosive materials preparation building at the explosive materials store.
130. When preparing primers from cartridged explosives, the detonator (including an electric detonator, a detonator of a non-electric initiation system, or an electronic detonator) shall be inserted into the cartridge to its full depth and secured, and the needles used to form the recesses shall be made of materials that do not produce sparks and do not corrode from interaction with explosives. Primers from pressed or cast explosives initiated by detonators (including electric detonators, detonators of a non-electric initiation system, or electronic detonators) may be prepared only from cartridges (blocks) with factory-made sockets. Widening or deepening an existing socket shall be prohibited. It shall be prohibited to pull out a detonator (including an electric detonator, a detonator of a non-electric initiation system, or an electronic detonator) installed in a primer.
131. When preparing primers from cartridged explosives with the use of detonating cord, the end of the detonating cord in the cartridge shall be tied in a knot, folded at least double or wound around the explosives cartridge.
132. Unused primers shall be destroyed in accordance with the requirements of these Rules by blasting in the procedure established by an administrative document of the organisation carrying out the blasting work.
133. Electric detonators and detonator caps shall, before being issued to blasters, be assigned and marked with individual indices (the index of the organisation carrying out the blasting work, the index of the blaster, and the territorial code). Where a factory individual marking index is present, the assignment and marking of individual indices shall not be required. 133.1. Each organisation carrying out blasting work shall draw up a working instruction on the marking of individual indices on electric detonators and detonator caps. 133.2. The working instruction shall comply with the requirements of these Rules and shall also take into account the features of the technical means used and the conditions of blasting work in the organisation. The instruction shall reflect the places where work is carried out, the procedure for marking individual indices, for storing the means of initiation bearing marked individual indices and the devices for marking individual indices, and for returning these means of initiation. 133.3. The working instruction that has been developed shall be approved by the head (technical head) of the organisation carrying out the blasting work. 133.4. For marking individual indices on electric detonators and detonator caps by the crimping method, devices approved for use in accordance with the established procedure shall be used. 133.5. Work on marking individual indices shall be carried out in accordance with the operating instruction (manual) of the crimping device. 133.6. The marking of individual indices by the crimping method shall be carried out where there is a guarding device (screen) that ensures the safety of the operator in the event of an explosion of the article. 133.7. The crimping device shall be fixed to a base (a table or a pedestal). 133.8. When the crimping method of marking individual indices is used, the base of the crimping device (the table or pedestal), the device itself and the screen shall be earthed. The earthing resistance shall be not more than 100 ohms. 133.9. The marking of individual indices on electric detonators by means of crimping-type devices shall be performed 1.0 - 3.0 mm below the lower crimp groove of the factory crimping of the shell (the junction of the detonator cap with the electric igniter). 133.10. The marking of individual indices on detonator caps shall be carried out before the manufacture of igniter tubes. When crimping-type devices are used, the marking of individual indices may be carried out simultaneously with the crimping of the mouth of the detonator cap around the safety fuse (the manufacture of the igniter tube). 133.11. The individual indices shall be marked in such a way as to ensure the unambiguous reading of the symbols (letters and figures) without impairing the tightness of the electric detonator and the integrity of the shell of the detonator cap. In the event of cracks appearing in the outer casing of the articles, they shall be destroyed in accordance with the requirements of these Rules. 133.12. When individual indices are marked on the means of initiation directly in the underground explosive materials distribution chamber, the working table of the distributor, fenced off from the explosive materials storage places, may serve as the location of the crimping device. This requirement is optional if the blasting means and explosives are stored in metal cabinets. 133.13. When several crimping devices are installed on a table, they shall be separated from one another by wooden partitions with a thickness of not less than 10 cm or by metal sheets with a thickness of not less than 5 mm. 133.14. Six indices shall be marked on the shells of electric detonators and detonator caps: two numerical indices designate the code of the constituent entity of the Russian Federation (Table No. 2 of Appendix No. 27 to these Rules); two letter indices to the left of the numerical ones designate the number of the organisation (assigned by the territorial body of the federal executive authority in the field of industrial safety in accordance with Table No. 1 of Appendix No. 27 to these Rules depending on the number of the organisation); two letter indices to the right of the numerical ones designate the number of the blaster (assigned by the organisation in accordance with Table No. 1 of Appendix No. 27 to these Rules depending on the ordinal number of the blaster). 133.15. When blasting work is carried out by a group of blasters, the individual index of the senior blaster responsible under the order-waybill for the explosive materials may be marked on the means of initiation. 133.16. An individual letter index shall be determined for each blaster, and it shall be prohibited to assign it to another blaster. 133.17. Means of initiation with an incorrectly marked individual index, as well as those with illegible symbols, shall be destroyed. Means of initiation bearing a marked individual index shall also be destroyed in the event of the dismissal of the blaster from the organisation or his transfer to other work. 133.18. The marking of individual indices on electric detonators and detonator caps shall be performed at the explosive materials store, except in the following cases: when servicing blasters in underground explosive materials distribution chambers, the marking of individual indices on the means of initiation may be carried out directly in the distribution chamber; in the case of one-off, occasional or seasonal blasting work, the marking of individual indices on the means of initiation may be performed in separate adapted premises, tents or under a canopy, and, in the case of work of a mobile nature, in the open air outside the hazardous zone and not closer than 25 m to the place of storage of the explosive materials. 133.19. Blasters, distributors and heads of explosive materials stores appointed to carry out this work by an administrative document of the organisation carrying out the blasting work shall be admitted to the operation of marking individual indices on the means of initiation. 133.20. Persons admitted to the marking of individual indices on the means of initiation shall study the working instruction and undergo a briefing with a signature in the briefing log.
134. Explosive materials delivered to the work sites shall be kept in bags, cassettes, factory packaging or other containers. When blasting work is carried out in underground mine workings, the shift stock of explosive materials may be stored near the blasting work sites in separate metal boxes and containers (safes) equipped in accordance with the requirements of paragraphs 538 and 540 of these Rules and fitted with locks. Explosives, means of initiation and primers delivered to the work sites shall be placed separately. In doing so, conditions precluding the transmission of detonation shall be observed. The means of initiation shall be taken as the active charge.
135. It shall be prohibited to leave explosive materials at the work sites, as well as charged blastholes and boreholes, without constant supervision (guarding). The procedure for supervision (guarding) shall be established by an administrative document of the organisation carrying out the blasting work.
136. When blasting work is carried out in open-pit mining, the explosive materials and charged boreholes located on the block shall be guarded with compulsory artificial lighting during hours of darkness. Where mobile diesel power stations are used for lighting purposes, they shall be installed outside the restricted zone and equipped with spark arresters. Where necessary, the explosive materials shall be protected from atmospheric precipitation. When blasting work is carried out in populated areas or inside buildings (structures), the explosive materials shall be kept under guard in an isolated room.
137. Explosive materials may be stored prior to charging at the work sites in the quantity required for carrying out the blasting work outside the restricted zone and in the quantity of the shift requirement within the restricted zone, except in the case of mass blasts, when the quantity of explosive materials to be charged may be kept under guard within the restricted zone. The conditions and procedure for the storage of explosive materials for particular types of blasting work are established by paragraph 516 of these Rules. At mine shafts and the mouths of adits (tunnels) during their driving, explosive materials in the quantity of the shift requirement may be placed in cabins or under canopies at a distance of not less than 50 m from the mine shaft or the mouth of the adit (tunnel), and from buildings and structures on the ground surface.
138. Blasting work near the hazardous zone of which there are located electric power facilities (power stations, power transmission lines and substations), atomic energy use facilities, transport infrastructure facilities (railways and motorways and stations, ports, wharves, airports), trunk pipeline transport facilities, and communication and utility lines, shall be carried out in agreement with the organisations operating these facilities.
139. The blasting station shall be located outside the hazardous zone. Where it is impossible to meet this requirement, shelters shall be provided. The locations of the shelters and their design shall be determined in the drilling and blasting (blasting) work project or the datasheet. Artificial or natural shelters shall protect the persons carrying out the blasting work from the effect of the blast, including toxic gases. The approaches to the shelter shall not be obstructed.
140. When handling explosive materials, the precautionary measures provided for by the instructions (manuals) for their use, and the safety and fire-safety measures, shall be observed.
141. It shall be prohibited to use open flames and to smoke closer than 100 m to the location of explosive materials. Only blasters carrying out fuse blasting may have igniting accessories, and only guards may have firearms. It shall be prohibited to charge boreholes drilled by fire-drilling rigs earlier than 24 hours after the completion of drilling.
142. Work with black powders and powders of compatibility group C in the premises for their storage shall be carried out in footwear having no metal parts on the soles and heels. Tools and other metal equipment shall be made of materials that do not produce sparks. Only screwdrivers may be made of steel.
143. Powdered explosives based on ammonium nitrate in cartridges and in bags shall, before use, be kneaded without impairing the integrity of the casing. It shall be prohibited to use explosives moistened above the norms established by standards (technical specifications) and specified in the instructions (manuals) for use.
144. Caked powdered explosives that cannot be kneaded and that do not contain hexogen or liquid nitro-esters shall be crushed in accordance with the requirements of these Rules, after which they may be used only in mines (pits) that are not hazardous in respect of gas or that work seams (ore bodies) not hazardous in respect of dust explosions, and also in work on the ground surface.
145. Caked powdered explosives containing hexogen or liquid nitro-esters shall be used without kneading or crushing and only in blasting work on the ground surface.
146. In mines that are hazardous in respect of gas or that work coal seams hazardous in respect of dust explosions, it shall be prohibited to use cartridged explosives with a damaged casing.
147. When carrying out blasting work and work with explosive materials, activities shall be carried out to ensure the safety of workers and to prevent the poisoning of persons by explosives dust and by the toxic products of blasts.
148. When carrying out blasting work in sulphide-bearing ores, activities shall be carried out to prevent the ignition and explosion of sulphide dust and to preclude the hazardous interaction of explosive materials with sulphide-bearing rocks and in-borehole waters.
149. Blasting work shall be carried out by blasters under the direction of a person appointed by an order of the organisation carrying out the blasting work (the person in charge of the blasting work), on the basis of written work orders (tasks for the performance of work), with acknowledgement of them against signature, and the corresponding order-waybills (a recommended template is given in Appendix No. 18 to these Rules).
150. When several blasters work simultaneously within a common hazardous zone, one of them shall be appointed as the senior. He shall give his instructions by voice or by signals approved by an administrative document of the organisation carrying out the blasting work.
151. The clothing of persons directly handling explosive materials shall not accumulate charges of static electricity.
152. Blasting work shall be carried out in accordance with the technical documentation drawn up in accordance with the established procedure (drilling and blasting (blasting) work projects, datasheets, schemes). The workers carrying out the drilling and blasting work shall be acquainted with such documents against signature. This documentation shall be kept for not less than a year.
153. Projects (technical projects) for drilling and blasting (blasting) work shall be drawn up for the blasting of borehole, chamber and pot charges, for blasting work at construction sites, the demolition of buildings and structures, dredging and ice-clearing work, work on marshes, underwater blasting work, the blasting of hot rock masses, perforation and blasting work, seismic exploration work and other types of special blasting work. Other blasting work, except in cases specially stipulated in these Rules, may be carried out on the basis of datasheets.
154. An organisation carrying out blasting work using mass blasts, with the exception of special and experimental mass blasts in underground workings, shall have a standard drilling and blasting (blasting) work project, which is the base document for the development of datasheets and drilling and blasting (blasting) work projects, including projects for mass blasts carried out under specific conditions. The standard drilling and blasting (blasting) work project shall be prepared taking into account the approved project for working the deposit, the results of experimental and industrial blasts, scientific and technical developments, best production practice in blasting work under similar conditions, and the requirements of these Rules. The organisation carrying out the blasting work shall inform the territorial body of the executive authority in the field of industrial safety about the mass blasts being carried out.
155. Drilling and blasting (blasting) work projects shall contain decisions on the safe organisation of the work, indicating the main parameters of the drilling and blasting work, the methods of initiating the charges, the calculations of the blasting networks, the designs of the charges and primers; data on the method of charging, the anticipated consumption of explosive materials, on the determination of the restricted zone and the method of guarding it, on the determination of the hazardous zone and the guarding of this zone taking into account the facilities located within it (buildings, structures, utilities), on the locations of persons and equipment, on the procedure for the delivery and placement of explosive materials during the preparation and conduct of blasts, on the procedure for admitting persons after a blast, the ventilation of the blasting work area and other safety measures supplementing, under specific conditions, the requirements of these Rules.
156. The blasting datasheet shall include: (a) a layout of the blastholes or external charges; the names of the explosive materials; data on the method of charging, the number of blastholes, their depth and diameter, the mass and design of the charges and primers, the sequence and number of stages of blasting the charges, the material of the stemming and its length; a diagram of the assembly of the blasting (electric blasting) network indicating the length (resistance), the delays, and the diagram and time of ventilation of the faces; (b) the value of the radius of the hazardous and restricted zones; (c) instructions on the places of shelter of the blaster during the performance of the blasting work, which shall be located outside the hazardous zone; (d) instructions on the positioning of guard or cordon posts, the location of safety devices, warning and prohibition signs enclosing access to the hazardous and restricted zones and to the blast site. In addition, for mines (pits) hazardous in respect of gas or dust, the datasheet shall specify the quantity and layout of special means for preventing gas (dust) explosions, as well as special measures for carrying out blasting work in the conditions of mines (pits) hazardous in respect of gas or dust. Datasheets are drawn up on the basis of and taking into account the results of not less than three trial blastings. Instead of trial blastings, the results of blasts carried out under similar conditions may be used. In individual cases, owing to an unforeseeable change in the parameters of the face (shape, size) or in the number and depth of blastholes or boreholes as a result of mining and geological phenomena, a reduction in the mass and number of charges compared with the indicators provided for by the datasheet may be permitted with the permission of the manager exercising direct supervision of the blasting work.
157. Projects and datasheets for drilling and blasting (blasting) work shall be approved by the technical head of the organisation carrying out the blasting work, or by a person appointed by an administrative document of the organisation, and, where blasting work is carried out under a contract, shall be approved by the technical head of the contractor organisation and agreed with the technical head of the customer organisation or by appointed persons.
158. One-off blasts of charges in blastholes to bring the contour of a working to the dimensions provided for by the project, to remove overhangs, to level the face and the floor of the working, to widen the working during re-support and trial blasting, and for the purpose of eliminating misfires, may be carried out on the basis of schemes. The scheme is drawn up and signed by the person in charge of the blasting work and, in mines hazardous in respect of gas or dust, shall be approved by the technical head of the mine. The scheme specifies the arrangement of the blastholes, the mass and design of the charges, the locations of the posts and the shelter of the blaster, and the necessary additional safety measures. The blaster shall be acquainted with the scheme against signature.
159. When blasting work is carried out, before the start of charging, from the moment of delivery of the explosive materials to the work sites, a restricted zone is introduced, within which it shall be prohibited for persons not involved in charging to be present. Passage into the restricted zone is permitted only in the company of the person in charge of the blasting work. The dimensions of the restricted zone shall be determined in the drilling and blasting (blasting) work project (datasheet). In open-pit mining, the restricted zone shall be not less than 20 m from the nearest charge. It extends both to the working platform of the bench on which charging is carried out and to the benches situated below and above, measured horizontally from the nearest charges. In underground workings, the restricted zone shall be determined by calculation based on the action of the air shock wave from the blast of the maximum possible quantity of explosives established in accordance with paragraph 820 of these Rules, and shall be not less than 50 m. The restricted zone extends to all workings communicating with the blasting work site.
160. The hazardous zone shall be determined by calculation in the drilling and blasting (blasting) work project or datasheet and shall be introduced: from the start of laying the primers when blasting with the use of electric detonators in the primers; before the start of installing pyrotechnic relays (delay elements) or detonators into the network when blasting with the use of detonating cords; from the moment of connecting the waveguides of the sections to the trunk line when non-electric initiation systems with low-energy waveguides are used in the primers; from the moment of connecting the blasting network of the sections to the trunk network when blasting with the use of electronic initiation systems.
161. Posts ensuring their guarding shall be stationed at the boundaries of the restricted and hazardous zones, with the exception of the boundary of the hazardous zone in underground workings with an outgoing ventilation air current along which the blast products are directed. It shall be prohibited to assign to the post attendants work not connected with the performance of their direct duties. The entrances to the hazardous zone in underground workings with an outgoing ventilation air current along which the blast products are directed shall be fenced off with notice boards bearing inscriptions prohibiting entry into the hazardous zone and stationed at a distance at which the content of the toxic blast products decreases to safe concentrations. These distances shall be determined experimentally on the basis of the results of air sampling, with the maximum quantity of explosives blasted in the face. In underground blasting work, the replacement of the guard posts of the restricted zone with notice boards bearing inscriptions prohibiting entry into the restricted zone may be permitted, provided that the absence of unauthorised persons in the restricted zone is ensured.
162. Where the facilities of another organisation fall within the hazardous zone, its head shall be notified in writing at least one day in advance of the place and time of the blasting work, and all persons shall be withdrawn from these facilities beyond the limits of the hazardous zone, with written notification of this to the person in charge of the blasting work.
163. When blasting work is carried out, the giving of audible signals and, during hours of darkness (when blasting work is carried out on the surface), of light signals to notify persons is required. The giving of signals by voice, as well as with the use of explosive materials, shall be prohibited. The meaning and order of the signals: (a) the first signal is the warning signal (one prolonged). The signal is given upon the introduction of the hazardous zone; (b) the second signal is the firing signal (two prolonged). Upon this signal the blast is carried out; (c) the third signal is the all-clear (three short). It means the end of the blasting work. The signals shall be given by the blaster or by a specially appointed worker of the organisation carrying out the blasting work.
164. The methods of giving and the purpose of the signals, and the time of the blasting work, shall be brought to the attention of the workers and, in the case of blasting work on the ground surface, of the residents of the populated areas and the workers of the enterprises adjoining the hazardous zone.
165. The admission of persons to the blast site after the blast has been carried out may be permitted by the person supervising the blasting work, or, on his instruction, by the blaster, only after it has been established that work at the blast site is safe (the absence of residues of explosive materials, the absence of misfires, the complete restoration of visibility, the reduction of the concentration of toxic blast products in the air to the established maximum permissible concentrations, the absence of loosened rock blocks and other areas of instability of the rocks at the blast site).
166. The surface at the mouth of the blastholes, boreholes and other workings to be charged shall be cleared of rock fragments, drill cuttings and foreign objects. Before charging, the blastholes and boreholes shall be cleared of drill cuttings.
167. Tamping rods shall be made only of materials that do not produce sparks.
168. A primer cartridge fitted with an electric detonator shall be positioned first from the collar of the shot hole (borehole). Where non-electric initiation systems with low-energy signal tubes are used, the positioning of the primer in the shot hole (borehole) shall be carried out in accordance with the instructions for their use. When charging without the use of mechanised means, the primer cartridge with an electric detonator may be positioned first from the bottom of the shot hole. In this case the bottom of the electric detonator shell shall be directed towards the collar of the shot hole. In coal and shale mines, such positioning of a primer cartridge with an electric detonator in the shot hole may be used only where there is no gas emission and explosive dust, and where electric detonators are available with a wire length exceeding the depth of the shot holes by not less than 0.6 m.
169. It shall be prohibited to force a jammed primer through. Where it is not possible to remove the jammed primer, the charging of the shot hole (borehole) shall be stopped; the primer shall be detonated together with the other charges.
170. During the preliminary loosening of the coal mass by blasting with extended or distributed charges in shot holes or boreholes more than 5 m long, and where hydraulic stemming is present in the shot hole (borehole), detonating cord may be used as an additional means of initiation without leading it out of the shot hole (borehole).
171. In mines hazardous in respect of gas or dust, distributed charges may be used in rock faces of workings in which there is no release of combustible gases, and only in cut holes.
172. If part of the charge is spilled during charging, the shot hole (borehole, sleeve) shall be topped up and the charge shall be detonated together with the other charges.
173. It shall be prohibited to pull out or pull the detonating cord, the signal tubes of non-electric initiation systems, or the wires of electronic detonators and electric detonators inserted into the primers. Kinking of the ends of the detonating cord and of the signal tubes of non-electric initiation systems that project from the charges shall not be permitted.
174. In mines (ore mines) hazardous in respect of gas or dust, the blasting of charges without stemming shall be prohibited.
175. When filling shot holes (boreholes) with stemming material or installing locking devices, precautionary measures shall be observed that preclude any effect, including chemical effect, capable of causing unauthorised detonation of the explosive substance and the means of initiation located in the shot hole (borehole). In doing so, the electric wire, the detonating cord and the signal tubes shall have slack. Combustible material shall not be used as stemming for shot holes and boreholes.
176. Stemming shall be placed in shot holes and boreholes by means of stemming machines in accordance with their operating instructions (manuals). Where borehole charges of Group D explosive substances (except black powder) and detonating cord or non-electric initiation systems are used, stemming material may be delivered to the block being charged by dump trucks (load-haul-dump machines) fitted with spark arresters and carrying fire extinguishers. In doing so, running over the detonating cord, the wires and the signal tubes shall be prevented.
177. The charging of shot holes (boreholes) and the assembly of the blasting network at a height of more than 2 m may be carried out only from equipped lifting platforms (staging), from platforms adjoining the face, from the platforms of lifting mechanisms, or with the use of load-haul-dump equipment where this is permitted by the technical documentation for that equipment. In doing so, the safety of the work, the correct positioning of the charges and the assembly of the blasting network shall be ensured. The charging of shot holes (boreholes) at a height of more than 2 m from ladders shall be prohibited.
178. When blasting external charges, they shall be positioned so that the detonation of one does not disturb the adjacent charges. Where this is not possible, blasting shall be carried out only simultaneously (using electric detonators or detonating cord). It shall be prohibited to cover an external charge or detonating cord with stones, crushed rock or other lumpy material.
179. Where the depth of blast boreholes exceeds 15 m, duplication of the in-borehole network shall be mandatory. The need to duplicate the network where electronic initiation systems are used, and when conducting blasting operations in underground workings, is determined by the drilling-and-blasting (blasting) design.
180. Where it is necessary to blast a group of charges covered by protective devices, the charges shall be detonated simultaneously or with a total delay of not more than 200 ms.
181. During a thunderstorm, the conduct of blasting operations using electric blasting shall be prohibited, both on the earth's surface and in mine workings driven from the surface. If the electric blasting network was assembled before the onset of the thunderstorm, then, before the thunderstorm, blasting shall be carried out, or the section wires shall be disconnected from the trunk wires, the ends shall be carefully insulated, and people shall be removed beyond the danger zone or into shelter.
182. It shall be prohibited to carry out blasting operations (work with explosive materials) where the lighting of the workplace is insufficient.
183. When blasting shot-hole and external charges to break up oversized lumps on muck piles, the charging and the assembly of the blasting (electric blasting) network may be carried out only from top to bottom.
184. It shall be prohibited in all cases to drill out the remaining parts of shot holes ("sockets"), regardless of whether or not they contain residues of explosive materials.
185. When carrying out blasting operations by the method of chamber and small-chamber charges, after the springing of the shot hole or borehole, new charging may be carried out no earlier than 30 minutes afterwards.
186. The blasting of chamber charges may be carried out using detonating cord, electric detonators or non-electric initiation systems. Two primers shall be placed in each charging chamber; the blasting or electric blasting network shall be duplicated in the same way as the main blasting is carried out. Primers in chamber charges shall be placed in rigid, strong casings (boxes, cases). In workings where chamber charges are to be located, the electrical wiring shall be removed before charging.
187. In complex mining and geological conditions (unstable rocks (soils), freezing of boreholes, quicksands), when blasting charges with detonating cord or non-electric initiation systems, boreholes may be charged immediately after drilling, provided that the safety actions approved by an administrative document of the organisation carrying out the blasting operations are carried out. Drilling rigs not fitted with a charging attachment shall be moved away from the borehole to a distance of not less than 10 m.
188. Blasting operations on the earth's surface that pose a threat to the safety of air traffic (where the flight path of an aircraft falls within the danger zone in respect of the scatter of pieces of rock mass or the air shock wave) shall be carried out only after their conduct has been agreed in accordance with the established procedure.
189. Organisations carrying out blasting operations shall have instructions for the elimination of misfired charges of explosive substances, approved by an administrative document of the organisation carrying out the blasting operations. Instructions for the elimination of misfired charges of explosive substances shall be drawn up in accordance with the requirements of these Rules and having regard to local features, including the mining-geological and mining-technical conditions, the methods of blasting operations, the methods of blasting, and the explosive substances and means of initiation used. The instructions shall contain: the main actions to prevent misfired charges; the procedure for detecting unexploded charges; methods for eliminating misfires for each type of blasting operation; the size of the radius of the danger zone during the elimination of a misfire, the procedure for marking it on the ground and in underground workings, and for guarding it; the organisation of the work to eliminate misfires; the procedure for the collection, recording and destruction of residues of explosive materials removed during the elimination of a misfire; and actions for the safety of the work. All officials and workers involved in the preparation and conduct of blasting operations shall be familiarised, against signature, with the instructions for the elimination of misfired charges of explosive substances developed at the organisation carrying out the blasting operations.
190. The absence of detonation of a charge, part of a charge or a group of charges after an initiating impulse has been sent into the blasting network (hereinafter - a misfire) shall be recorded in the Misfire Registration Log for Blasting Operations (a recommended template is given in Appendix No. 5 to these Rules). In all cases where charges cannot be detonated for reasons of a technical nature (for example, faults in the blasting network that cannot be remedied within the shift), they are treated as misfires. Misfires are subdivided into: a misfire of one charge of explosive substances or of several charges connected to different sections of the blasting network, where, among the charges connected to one and the same section, not more than one charge has misfired (hereinafter - a single misfire); a misfire of part (two or more) of the charges of explosive substances to be blasted, where all or some of the misfired charges are connected to one and the same section of the blasting network (hereinafter - a group misfire); a misfire of all charges of explosive substances to be blasted, or a misfire of the charges of one or more blocks (faces) where several blocks (faces) combined into a single blasting network are blasted (hereinafter - a mass misfire). According to external signs, misfires are divided into: open ones, detectable by external examination (the presence of explosive materials in the blasted rock mass, a characteristic pile of rock mass, an undestroyed rock massif); concealed ones, which cannot be detected by external signs when examining the face after the blast. According to the frequency of occurrence, misfires are divided into: random ones, occurring irregularly and differing in the causes of their occurrence; systematic ones, occurring frequently and having the same causes of occurrence.
191. For the timely detection of misfired charges and the prevention of their unauthorised explosions, all places of blasting operations shall be thoroughly examined after the blasts have been carried out.
192. When a misfire is detected on the earth's surface, the blaster shall place a distinctive sign at the unexploded charge, and in underground conditions shall mark the face of the working with a cross or install a sign prohibiting entry, and in all cases shall notify the person in charge of the blasting operations thereof.
193. Work associated with the elimination of misfires shall be carried out in accordance with the Instructions approved by an administrative document of the organisation carrying out the blasting operations, under the direction of the person in charge of the blasting operations.
194. At the sites of misfires, any work not associated with the elimination of misfires shall be prohibited.
195. The wires of a detected electric detonator in a misfired charge shall be short-circuited.
196. The operator of loading equipment who has detected a misfire (or suspects a misfire) shall: immediately stop all work on loading (reloading) rock mass; instruct operators, locomotive drivers and dump-truck drivers to move rolling stock and transport equipment beyond the danger zone; place a distinctive sign at the unexploded charge; notify the dispatcher of the detection of the misfire and summon the person in charge of the blasting operations (the mining foreman, the shift supervisor); and, until the arrival of the technical supervision personnel, personally or through an assistant, exercise control to ensure that no work is carried out within the established danger zone. The time of detection of the misfire, the safety measures taken, and the details of the person to whom the detection of the misfire was reported are entered in the shift handover log.
197. The scraper-winch operator, the timberman, the development miner, the miner, the driller and other workers of an underground ore mine (mine) who have detected a misfire shall: stop all work, remove people from the danger zone, mark the working with a cross and immediately notify the shift mining foreman.
198. Upon receipt of a report of the detection of a misfire, the dispatcher of the open-pit mine (ore mine, mine, opencast mine) shall immediately notify the technical manager of the organisation (the mine, the ore mine, the open-pit mine, the opencast mine) or the person acting in his place thereof, and also, where blasting operations are carried out under a contract, the technical manager of the organisation carrying out the blasting operations or the person acting in his place, and shall take the necessary measures to stop all work not associated with the elimination of the misfire within the danger zone in the area of the misfire.
199. When eliminating a misfired external charge, a new charge shall be placed on it and blasting shall be carried out in the usual manner.
200. The elimination of unexploded shot-hole charges may be carried out by blasting charges in auxiliary shot holes drilled parallel to the misfired ones at a distance of not closer than 30 cm. The number of auxiliary shot holes, their locations and their direction shall be determined by the person in charge of the blasting operations. To establish the direction of the misfired shot holes, stemming material may be removed from the shot hole to a length of up to 20 cm from the collar. When blasting without stemming, misfired charges may be detonated by inserting an additional primer cartridge into the shot hole. On the earth's surface, and also in underground workings not hazardous in respect of gas or dust, where the wires of electric detonators projecting from a misfired shot-hole charge are detected, the blaster may, from a safe place, check the conductivity of the bridge wire of the electric detonator using instruments approved for this purpose and detonate the misfired charge in the usual manner. In mines hazardous in respect of gas or dust, this method may be used to eliminate only unexposed misfired charges whose lines of least resistance have not decreased. When eliminating misfires, it shall be prohibited to pull out or pull the safety fuse or detonating cord, or the wires of electric detonators or the signal tubes of non-electric blasting systems inserted into the primers.
201. In faces where hydraulic monitors are installed, misfires in shot holes may be eliminated with a jet of water under the supervision of the blaster or the person in charge of the blasting operations. At the moment of the direct elimination of the misfire, no people shall be present in the face and the starting of the water shall be carried out remotely. In doing so, measures shall be taken to catch the electric detonator from the washed-out primer.
202. When breaking up metal and metal structures, the elimination of misfired shot-hole charges shall be carried out by removing the stemming, inserting a new primer into the shot hole and subsequently detonating it.
203. The elimination of misfired borehole charges may be carried out: (a) by detonating the misfired charge where the misfire occurred as a result of a breach of the integrity of the external blasting network (if the line of least resistance of the misfired charge has not decreased). If, on inspection, the possibility of a hazardous scatter of pieces of rock mass or of the effect of the air shock wave during the blast is revealed, the detonation of the misfired charge shall be prohibited; (b) by dismantling the rock at the location of the borehole with the misfired charge, removing the latter by hand. When blasting using detonating cord with a charge of an ammonium-nitrate-based explosive substance that does not contain powders, nitric esters or hexogen, the dismantling of the rock near the misfired charge may be carried out with an excavator (a loader or other bucket-type machine), precluding any direct effect of the bucket on the explosive materials; (c) by detonating a charge in a borehole drilled parallel at a distance of not less than 3 m from the borehole with the misfired charge; (d) when blasting compatibility-group D explosive substances (except black powder) using detonating cord - by washing the charge out of the borehole;
204. Where it is not possible to eliminate the misfire by the methods listed, it shall be eliminated in accordance with a specially developed design approved by the head (technical manager) of the organisation carrying out the blasting operations, or by a person appointed by him.
205. The elimination of misfired chamber charges shall be carried out by dismantling the stemming, followed by inserting a new primer and stemming and blasting in the usual manner (if the line of least resistance of the misfired charge has not decreased). If, when checking the line of least resistance, the possibility of a hazardous scatter of pieces of rock mass or of the effect of the air shock wave during the blast is revealed, the detonation of the misfired charge shall be prohibited. In this case, the stemming shall be dismantled, followed by the removal of the explosive substances. Until the misfire is eliminated, such charges shall be guarded. In cases where additional workings need to be driven to eliminate a misfired chamber charge, this work shall be carried out in accordance with a specially developed design approved by the head (technical manager) of the organisation carrying out the blasting operations, or by a person appointed by him.
206. After the detonation of the charge intended for the elimination of the misfire, the blasted mass shall be thoroughly examined and the explosive materials shall be collected. Only after this may workers be admitted to further work, observing the precautionary measures determined by the person in charge of the blasting operations. The explosive materials found shall be destroyed.
207. The elimination of charges that have misfired during mass blasts shall be carried out in accordance with specially developed designs approved by the head (technical manager) of the organisation carrying out the blasting operations, or by a person appointed by him.
208. A charge that has misfired in a borehole (shot hole) during seismic survey operations shall be removed and, after the cause of the misfire has been eliminated, lowered again to the specified depth. It shall be prohibited to knock out a jammed charge. Where it is not possible to remove the misfired charge, it shall be eliminated by detonating an additional overlay charge lowered onto it. In other cases, the elimination of the misfire shall be carried out in accordance with a design that takes account of the specific conditions.
209. In the event of a misfire of the perforating (blasting) apparatus, the blasting wires shall be disconnected from the current source and, after it has been raised, from the blasting trunk line, and short-circuited. A misfired perforating (blasting) apparatus raised from the borehole shall be checked by the blaster. In doing so, the means of initiation shall be removed and their conductors short-circuited, and the apparatus shall be delivered to the charging workshop. Residues of explosive substances remaining in the apparatus as a result of an incomplete explosion shall be collected and destroyed in accordance with the established procedure. Where it is not possible to remove the means of initiation from the perforating-blasting apparatus, it may be destroyed on site in accordance with a design approved by the technical managers of the customer and the contractor or by authorised persons. In the event of the perforating-blasting equipment becoming stuck in the borehole, the destruction of the charged apparatus, or the work associated with raising it to the surface, shall be carried out in accordance with a plan (a set of actions) agreed with the customer.
210. Misfired charges during ice blasting and underwater blasting operations may be removed no earlier than 15 minutes after the last blast. Where it is not possible to remove the misfired charge, a new charge with a mass of not less than 25 per cent of the mass of the misfired charge shall be attached to it, followed by detonation in the water.
211. When blasting a hot rock mass, approach to a misfired charge may be made after 15 minutes have elapsed and at a temperature below 80 °C, and provided that no decomposition of the ammonium nitrate is observed. The elimination of a misfired charge of explosive materials in a shot hole shall be carried out by washing out with water.
212. The elimination of misfired charges during stump grubbing shall be carried out by removing the stemming from the shot hole (the undercut) by hand, placing a new charge on the misfired one and re-blasting.
213. Where the work to eliminate a misfire cannot be completed within the given shift, its continuation may be entrusted to the blaster of the next shift, with appropriate instruction and a note in the blasting work order (naryad-putevka) issued to him. In this case, the admission of workers to the site after the elimination of the misfire shall be authorised by the person in charge of the blasting operations for the shift.
214. Before beginning the charging of shot holes and boreholes when carrying out blasting operations in underground workings, the ventilation of the face shall be ensured, the rock mass previously blasted at the face shall be removed, and people not involved in carrying out the blasting operations shall be led out beyond the prohibited (danger) zone, to places specified by the passport (design) of the drilling-and-blasting (blasting) operations; in doing so, safe working conditions for the blaster shall be ensured. Workers involved in the handling of explosive materials for industrial use shall be provided with self-rescuers.
215. Charging and blasting in underground workings shall be carried out under the control of the person in charge of the blasting operations (of the shift, of the section).
216. The blasting of charges shall be prohibited if, at a distance of less than 20 m from the place where they are placed, there is uncleared broken rock mass, mine cars or objects obstructing the working over more than 1/3 of the area of its cross-section, where there are no free passages.
217. The conduct of blasting operations at a distance of less than 30 m from an explosive materials store, a section point or a distribution chamber shall be prohibited, as shall the presence of people in the listed places of storage of explosive materials during blasting operations carried out at a distance closer than 100 m from them. This distance is measured from the place of blasting to the nearest chamber (cell) containing explosive materials.
218. The admission of people to a working (face) after blasting operations is carried out provided that the air in the workings complies with the standards specified in the Federal Norms and Rules in the field of industrial safety "Safety Rules for Mining Operations and the Processing of Solid Minerals", approved by Order of Rostechnadzor No. 505 of 8 December 2020 (registered by the Ministry of Justice of Russia on 21 December 2020, registration No. 61651), and in the Federal Norms and Rules in the field of industrial safety "Safety Rules in Coal Mines", approved by Order of Rostechnadzor No. 507 of 8 December 2020 (registered by the Ministry of Justice of Russia on 18 December 2020, registration No. 61587).
219. The conduct of blasting operations when driving workings with opposing faces and when holing through workings is carried out in compliance with the following conditions: (a) when the faces approach to within a distance of 15 m, before beginning the charging of shot holes in one of the opposing faces, all people not involved in carrying out the blasting operations shall be removed from these faces to a safe distance, and a guard post shall be placed at the entrance to the opposite face. The simultaneous blasting of shot-hole charges in opposing faces shall be prohibited. The size of the pillar between the opposing faces shall be determined. For each separate blasting of charges in shot holes, a blasting work order (naryad-putevka) shall be issued to the blaster. The work shall be carried out in the presence of the person in charge of the blasting operations. (b) blasting shall be carried out only after people have been led out of the opposite face and a guard post has been placed to prevent the admission of people into this working; (c) the guard post preventing the access of people into the opposite working may be removed only with the permission of the person in charge of the blasting operations; (d) when the size of the pillar between the opposing faces reaches 7 m, the work shall be carried out from one face only. In doing so, advance shot holes shall be drilled 1 m deeper than the depth of the shot holes being charged; (e) where the pillar thickness is 3 m, in mines and ore mines hazardous in respect of gas or dust, in the workings being holed through, a gas measurement shall be taken before each blasting and measures shall be taken to ensure the stable ventilation of these workings and to prevent a dust explosion. In the faces being holed through in coal and oil mines hazardous in respect of gas, automatic methane monitoring devices shall be installed.
220. In workings being driven in parallel in coal and oil mines, where the distance between the workings is 15 m or less, the blasting of charges in each face shall be carried out only after people have been led out of the face of the parallel working and guard posts provided for by the drilling-and-blasting passports have been placed. People need not be led out of the parallel working whose face lags behind by a distance of more than 50 m from the face where blasting is carried out.
221. When carrying out blasting operations in a longwall working a steeply dipping coal seam, the presence of a magazine shall be mandatory, the dimensions of which shall be sufficient to accommodate the blasted coal, to allow the necessary quantity of air to reach the longwall, and to allow the free passage of people.
222. During the layer-by-layer breaking of coal, the presence of people in the stope under a flexible cover, decking or interlayer pack shall not be permitted when blasting operations are being carried out in one of the faces. When blasting in longwalls, chambers and the upper niches of longwalls, and also in ventilation drifts on coal seams of steep and inclined dip, the blaster may be present in workings with the outgoing air stream, provided that the requirements of these Rules are complied with and that the actions to prevent the poisoning of people by toxic gases specified in the drilling-and-blasting passports are carried out.
223. Blasting operations in artificially frozen rocks or in zones of compressed air (caissons) shall be carried out only in accordance with specially developed designs.
224. When sinking and deepening mine shafts, blasting may be carried out only from the surface or from an operating level. The persons carrying out the blasting shall be located in a working with a fresh air stream.
225. Primer cartridges may be made on the surface in premises (charging booths) specially equipped in accordance with the design documentation, located not closer than 50 m from the shaft, buildings and structures.
226. The lowering and raising of primers in buckets that discharge through the bottom shall be prohibited. Lowering and raising in tipping buckets may be carried out where there are serviceable interlock devices that prevent the bucket from being raised above the upper receiving platform of the shaft. The speed of lowering and raising shall not exceed 1 m/s when moving without guides and 2 m/s when moving along guides.
227. The lowering of primer cartridges into the shaft shall be carried out in special bags (boxes) separately from explosive substances, accompanied by the blaster. In doing so, only persons engaged in the charging and the pump operator shall be present at the shaft bottom. On the working platform and the tensioning frame, persons engaged in guiding the buckets through the funnels may be present. Other work on these platforms during the charging of shot holes shall be prohibited.
228. The electric blasting network in a watered shaft bottom shall be assembled by means of aerial wires. The posts for installing the wires shall be of such a height that the water does not reach the aerial. In doing so, the electric detonators shall have end wires of a length that allows them to be connected to the aerial wires without additional connections.
229. The blaster shall assemble the electric blasting network only after all workers have left the face (except those responsible for giving signals and servicing the sinking platform).
230. A flexible cable in a moisture-proof sheath, which shall not descend below the sinking platform, shall be used as the trunk wires.
231. After the assembly of the blasting network has been completed and all people have gone up to the surface, all the trapdoors in the shaft shall be opened.
232. The conduct of blasting operations in the vicinity of underground and surface structures shall be carried out in accordance with the drilling-and-blasting (blasting) design agreed with the organisation operating these structures.
233. When sinking mine shafts in urban conditions and where there is a large inflow of water, primer cartridges may be made on the first platform from the shaft bottom or on a specially arranged platform.
234. When driving tunnels using electric blasting, the voltage shall be removed from all the tunnelling equipment before the start of charging. The making of primer cartridges directly on the platforms of the tunnel lining erector or the shield shall be prohibited.
235. When driving out upper adits from raises, simultaneous blasting in opposite faces shall be prohibited.
236. Blasting operations in calottes are carried out in accordance with the drilling-and-blasting (blasting) design agreed with the head of the organisation carrying out the tunnel construction work. Simultaneous blasting in both wings of the calotte shall be prohibited.
237. When carrying out blasting operations in mines and ore mines hazardous in respect of gas or dust, before each charging of shot holes, before their blasting and when examining the face after blasting, a measurement of the methane concentration across the entire cross-section of the face shall be taken. It shall be prohibited to carry out blasting operations where the methane content is 1 per cent or more in the faces and in the adjoining workings over a length of 20 m from them, and also at the place of shelter of the blaster. A measurement of the methane concentrations at the place of shelter of the blaster shall be taken before each connection of the electric blasting network to the blasting device.
238. Blasting operations in coal mines and ore mines hazardous in respect of gas or dust are carried out only in the faces of workings that are continuously and stably ventilated, and where the necessary dust-explosion protection measures are taken. In workings with a high methane emission, only intrinsically safe blasting devices shall be used as the current source. Workings with a high methane emission include: - all workings in extraction districts on seams hazardous in respect of dust, with a relative methane content of 10 m3/t or more and an absolute gas content of 3 m3/min or more; - all workings in extraction districts on seams not hazardous in respect of dust, with a relative methane content of 15 m3/t or more and an absolute content of 3 m3/min or more. In the most complex conditions (during shock blasting, the clearing of coal-pass workings, the breaking up of oversized rock pieces, the blast-induced caving of the roof in stopes, underground blasting to weaken hard-to-cave roofs in extraction districts, the elimination of misfires), blasting operations shall be carried out in the presence and under the direction of a person appointed as responsible for the safe conduct of blasting operations in the shift (in the section).
239. Blasting operations in workings in which there is gas emission or explosive dust may be carried out subject to compliance with a special regime established by an administrative document of the organisation carrying out the blasting operations. This document shall specify the name of the face, the type of explosive substance and blasting means used, the established time for carrying out blasting operations, including the start of charging, the ventilation time, the time for examining the face, the places for leading people out and the place of shelter of the blaster, and the presence of people on the path of the outgoing air stream.
240. The following shall be prohibited: (a) partial drilling-out of gas-bearing coal seams in the blind faces of development workings driven by the blasting method through the surrounding rock; (b) preliminary loosening of the coal massif in extraction faces ahead of shearers and ploughs. This requirement does not apply to unmanned coal extraction, hydraulic blasting, or the complete breaking of coal and rock in zones of geological disturbances.
241. The selection of the appropriate explosive materials shall be carried out depending on the blasting conditions and the need to create a safety environment, in accordance with the requirements listed below.
242. Class II non-safety explosive substances may be used: (a) for the driving of horizontal, inclined, rise and vertical workings, and for the deepening of mine shafts from the operating horizons of mines, under the following conditions: the absence in the faces of coal seams, coal bands, or methane emission; flooding of the face of the shaft being deepened with water, before firing, to a height of at least 20 cm, measured from the highest point of the face; a spacing from any point of the face to the coal seam (when approaching it) of at least 5 m, measured along the normal. After the seam has been crossed by the face of the working, the distance from any point of the face to the seam shall be more than 20 m, measured along the length of the working. in a working supported with monolithic support, in which work on the isolation of the seam is being carried out, after the crossing of coal seams and coal bands; (b) in faces driven from the surface, of prospecting shafts or shafts of mines and ore mines that are hazardous with respect to gas or dust, including where these faces cross seams hazardous with respect to sudden outbursts of coal, rock and gas, subject to the following conditions: flooding of the face with water, before firing, to a height of at least 20 cm, measured from the highest point of the face. Where a shaft is driven through artificially frozen rocks or where there is no inflow of water, other measures shall be taken instead of flooding the face of the shaft. firing shall be carried out from the surface, with no persons in the shaft and at a distance of at least 50 m from it; (c) during concussion blasting in workings driven through outburst-prone rock, provided that water-spray curtains are used in combination with mist-forming curtains. The firing of charges shall be carried out from the surface or from refuge chambers, with no persons in the mine; (d) when carrying out work on the weakening of the roof rock of the coal massif in seams hazardous with respect to sudden outbursts of coal and gas, provided that safety actions approved by an administrative document of the organisation carrying out blasting operations are implemented; (e) when using borehole charges to create safety cushions above the shield in areas hazardous with respect to breakthrough of clay and slurry; (f) for the preliminary weakening of hard-to-cave roof in mechanised extraction faces.
243. When carrying out the work listed in paragraph 242 of these Rules, depending on the strength of the rock and the blasting conditions, the following explosive substances shall be used: when driving horizontal and inclined workings listed in sub-clause (a) (except for the deepening of shafts) and sub-clause (c), through rock with a strength coefficient f of less than 7, and also when weakening hard-to-cave rock of any strength - explosive substances that do not contain sensitisers more sensitive than TNT; when driving horizontal and inclined workings listed in sub-clause (a) (except for the deepening of shafts) and sub-clause (c), through rock with a strength coefficient f from 7 to 10, the use of explosive substances containing hexogen or nitric esters is permitted only in the cut holes. In all the other shot holes, explosive substances that do not contain sensitisers more sensitive than TNT shall be used; when driving horizontal and inclined workings through rock with a strength coefficient f = 10 or more, the use of any explosive substances is permitted; when firing under the conditions listed in sub-clauses (b), (d), (e) of paragraph 242 of these Rules, and also when deepening shafts, the use of any explosive substances is permitted.
244. Class III safety explosive substances may be used: (a) in the faces of workings driven only through rock, including through outburst-prone rock, where methane is emitted and there is no explosive dust; (b) in the faces of shafts driven only through rock, during their deepening from the operating horizons and where methane is emitted in them; (c) when opening seams hazardous with respect to sudden outbursts of coal and gas, before the seam is exposed, provided that water-spray curtains are used and that there is a rock barrier between the seam and the face of the working over the entire cross-sectional area of the working. The size of the barrier (measured along the normal) shall be at least 2 m when opening steep seams and at least 1 m when opening flat seams.
245. Class IV safety explosive substances are used: (a) in the coal and mixed faces of workings driven along coal seams hazardous with respect to dust explosions, where there is no methane emission in these workings; (b) in the coal and mixed faces of horizontal, inclined and rise (up to 10°) workings driven along seams hazardous with respect to gas or dust, in which there is no increased methane emission during blasting operations; (c) during concussion blasting, including camouflet blasting, the opening of coal seams after they are exposed, and the subsequent driving of workings over a length of at least 20 m; (d) in stone drifts with floor ripping of the rock; (e) in stone drifts with roof ripping of the rock, where the relative methane content of the extraction section is less than 10 m3/t; (f) when firing through rock in the mixed faces of workings driven along seams hazardous with respect to sudden outbursts of coal and gas, where the rock face is in advance; (g) for the ripping of the side rock f > 4 in the mixed faces of workings with increased methane emission during blasting operations, provided that preliminary extraction of the coal is carried out without the use of blasting operations; (h) during the blast extraction of coal in longwalls; (i) when driving rise workings (chutes) in seams with a dip angle exceeding 45°, along pre-drilled boreholes of a diameter of at least 500 mm ensuring ventilation of the workings by means of the general mine depression.
246. Class V safety explosive substances are used: (a) in the coal and mixed faces of horizontal, inclined and rise (up to 10°) workings with increased methane emission during blasting operations. In mixed faces, along the coal and along the rock, one and the same explosive substance shall be used; (b) in the coal and mixed faces of rise (10° and more) workings in which methane is emitted, where they are driven with pre-drilled boreholes ensuring ventilation of the workings by means of the general mine depression; (c) in the niches of longwalls not classified as faces with increased methane emission; (d) in stone drifts driven with roof ripping of the rock, where the relative methane content of the extraction section is 10 m3/t or more; (e) for the roof and mixed ripping of the side rock with f = 4 and less, in the mixed faces of workings with increased methane emission during blasting operations, provided that the coal is extracted beforehand without the use of blasting operations.
247. Class VI safety explosive substances are used: (a) in the upper niches of longwalls with increased methane emission; (b) in the coal faces of rise (10° and more) workings in which methane is emitted, where they are driven without pre-drilled boreholes; (c) in the faces of workings driven through disturbed massif (including in the faces of workings driven adjacent to disturbed massif), where methane is emitted in them. The depth of the shot holes shall be no more than 1.5 m, and the mass of the shot-hole charge of cartridged explosive substance shall be no more than 0.6 kg; (d) for the roof and mixed ripping of the rock with f = 4 and less in ventilation drifts driven following the longwall.
248. Class VII safety explosive substances are used for the following types of special blasting operations: (a) the elimination of hang-ups of rock mass in coal-pass workings; (b) the breaking of oversize blocks with external charges; (c) the blast cutting of wooden props during roof caving.
249. In all the faces of workings, except for those driven by concussion blasting, and also when carrying out special work, safety explosive substances of an even higher class than those specified in paragraphs 242 - 247 of these Rules may be used.
250. In the faces of workings where there is gas emission or explosive coal dust, only safety electric detonators of instantaneous and short-delay action may be used. In doing so, the following conditions shall be observed: (a) the total maximum delay time of short-delay electric detonators, taking into account the scatter in the actuation time, shall not exceed 220 ms when Class IV explosive substances are used, and 320 ms for Classes V and VI; (b) in development workings driven along coal, and in the shearer niches of extraction faces without a machine cut, all the charges in the coal face shall be fired from a single current pulse of the exploder; (c) where the length of the coal face is more than 5 m, it is permitted to divide it along its length into sections and to carry out the firing in each of them separately, subject to compliance with the requirements of paragraph 255 of these Rules; (d) in development workings driven along coal with ripping of the side rock, the firing of charges in the shot holes along the coal and rock may be carried out either separately or simultaneously (as a single face or with one of them in advance), and separate firing shall be carried out only with the permission of the mine manager, with the number of cycles being no more than one along the coal and one along the rock, except in cases of creating advance cuts at the beginning of the driving of workings, but no more than 5 m.
251. The simultaneous issue to a shotfirer, for carrying out blasting operations, of explosive substances of different classes, and also of safety and non-safety electric detonators, including those of short-delay and delayed action, for different faces shall be prohibited, if in one of them electric detonators with a greater delay or explosive substances of a lower class are used.
252. The places of shelter for shotfirers shall be located in workings ventilated by a fresh air current by means of the general mine depression, and shall be situated at a distance from the blast site of at least: (a) in horizontal and inclined (up to 10°) development workings, when breaking oversize blocks with external charges, and also during blast-induced roof caving in longwalls - 150 m; (b) in inclined, including rise (more than 10°), development workings - 100 m, but obligatorily in a horizontal working and no closer than 10 m from the mouth of the working or its junction with another working; (c) in longwalls (slices) with an angle of occurrence up to 18° - 50 m; (d) in longwalls (slices) with an angle of occurrence of 18° and more - 50 m, but no closer than 20 m from the junction with the longwall (slice) at the drift; (e) in extraction faces of the chamber type, and also during the extraction of coal pillars - 200 m; (f) in shield faces - 50 m, but no closer than 20 m from the travelling raise; (g) during the passing of coal and rock in rise workings - 150 m; (h) during the driving of shafts (prospecting shafts) from the surface - 50 m.
253. The places of shelter of the shotfirer, the locations of the guard posts and of other persons shall in all cases be determined in the designs, specifications or diagrams of drilling and blasting operations, taking into account that the distance from the place of shelter of the shotfirer to the guard posts located behind the shotfirer shall be at least 10 m, and from the location of the guard posts to the location of the remaining persons - also at least 10 m. Blasting operations in dead-end workings with a length of more than 100 m along coal or with a mixed face shall be carried out where there is a permanent firing line laid up to the firing station at the place of shelter of the shotfirer.
254. The charging and firing of the charges of each cycle, including during separate firing along the coal and rock, are permitted only after the face has been ventilated, the methane content has been measured, the blasted coal has been cleared, and actions on dust explosion protection of the face and of the workings adjoining it over a distance of at least 20 m have been carried out. In all cases, the depth of the cut along the coal shall be no more than 2 m.
255. In extraction faces on coal seams hazardous with respect to gas or dust, except for those hazardous with respect to sudden outbursts, it is permitted to divide the extraction face along its length into sections fired separately. The charging and firing of charges in each section are permitted after the firing of the charges in the previous section, the clearing of the broken coal, the supporting of the face and the taking of measures to prevent explosions of gas and coal dust.
256. When starting development and cutting workings along coal and rock from other workings, over a length of 5 m from the junction, a reduction in the length of the shot holes and of the charges of explosive substances shall be provided for, to reduce the danger of disturbance of the support, collapse of the rock, and also damage to cables and pipelines.
257. In the rock and mixed faces of development workings, where there is gas emission, electric detonators of instantaneous and short-delay action may be used. In doing so, the maximum delay time shall be established taking into account the requirements of paragraph 250 of these Rules. The firing of the set of charges in the face is permitted to be carried out separately, but in no more than three passes. The charging of the shot holes in each separate pass shall be carried out after firing in the previous one and after the taking of measures ensuring the safety of blasting and other work in the face.
258. When driving workings through rock in which there is no methane emission, firing may be carried out using electric detonators of instantaneous, short-delay and delayed action with a delay time of up to 2 s, without restriction on the number of passes and of the delay series skipped.
259. In the faces of workings in which there is gas emission or explosive coal dust, except for stone drifts with roof ripping, electric detonators of short-delay action with a delay interval of no more than 60 ms (by nominal value) may be used. In stone drifts with roof ripping, only electric detonators of instantaneous action may be used.
260. Electric detonators of delayed action may be used for the firing of charges in faces where the use of Class II non-safety explosive substances is permitted, where there is no gas emission and no explosive dust.
261. In workings where the use of non-safety explosive substances and electric detonators of delayed action is permitted, it is permitted to use in one face, and to issue to one shotfirer, non-safety explosive substances of different power, or non-safety and safety explosive substances, provided that the explosive substances of lower power are placed only in the perimeter shot holes. When driving such workings in the direction of coal seams or coal bands hazardous with respect to gas or dust, from a distance of 5 m (measured from them along the normal), and also over a distance of 20 m after crossing them (measured along the length of the working), the use of safety explosive substances and of electric detonators of instantaneous and short-delay action shall be mandatory, with observance of the safety measures provided for by these Rules for faces hazardous with respect to gas or dust.
262. It shall be prohibited to place in one shot hole explosive substances of different classes, and, with a continuous charge, more than one primer cartridge.
263. The minimum depth of the shot holes when firing along coal and rock shall be 0.6 m.
264. A charge consisting of two or more cartridges of explosive substance shall be inserted into the shot hole simultaneously. The primer may be inserted separately.
265. As stemming, when carrying out blasting operations in mines and ore mines hazardous with respect to gas or dust, clay, a mixture of clay and sand, and water stemming in the shot holes in combination with sealing stemming of clay or a mixture of clay and sand or similar materials shall be used.
266. When firing along coal and along rock, the minimum amount of stemming for all stemming materials shall be: (a) at a shot-hole depth of 0.6 - 1.0 m - half the depth of the shot hole; (b) at a shot-hole depth of more than 1 m - 0.5 m; (c) when firing charges in boreholes - 1 m.
267. The distance from a charge of explosive substances to the nearest surface shall be at least 0.5 m in coal and at least 0.3 m in rock, including when firing charges in an oversize rock block. Where Class VI explosive substances are used when firing along coal, this distance is permitted to be reduced to 0.3 m.
268. The minimum permissible distances between adjacent shot-hole charges shall correspond to the values given in Appendix No. 6 to these Rules. In rock with f > 10, the distance between adjacent shot-hole charges shall be determined by the design (specification) of drilling and blasting (blasting) operations.
269. In seams hazardous with respect to dust, before each firing in faces driven along coal or along coal with ripping of the side rock, stone dusting or wetting of the settled coal dust with water with the addition of a wetting agent shall be carried out, both at the face and in the working adjoining the face, over a distance of at least 20 m from the charges being fired. In extraction faces on seams hazardous with respect to dust explosion, when firing along coal in the corners or niches of longwalls, stone dusting or wetting of the face area with water using wetting agents shall likewise be carried out.
270. Blasting operations in coal mines with oil shows shall be conducted taking into account the requirements of paragraphs 300 - 305 of these Rules.
271. Concussion blasting shall be carried out during the working of seams hazardous with respect to sudden outbursts of coal, rock and gas, and also in threatened seams where the current forecast or the forecast during opening has produced values of "hazardous", in a defined regime aimed at protecting persons from the consequences of outbursts, including: (a) when driving horizontal, inclined (driven from top to bottom) and rise workings with an inclination angle up to 10° inclusive, and also for the breaking of coal in extraction faces; (b) when opening outburst-prone coal seams with a thickness of more than 0.1 m; (c) when opening threatened coal seams, if the forecast has established hazardous values of the outburst-hazard indicators or if no forecast was carried out before opening; (d) when opening sandstones at a depth of 600 m and more, if the forecast has established that the sandstone is outburst-prone or if no outburst-hazard forecast was carried out before opening; (e) when driving workings through outburst-prone sandstones. The requirements of these Rules concerning concussion blasting also apply to in-seam and out-of-seam (advance) torpedoing intended to prevent sudden outbursts of coal and gas. Blasting operations when opening seams, and also in extraction and development workings within protected zones, are permitted to be carried out without observance of the regime provided for concussion blasting.
272. The selection of the parameters of the specification of drilling and blasting operations for workings driven along coal seams and rock hazardous with respect to sudden outbursts shall ensure the complete breaking of the coal (rock) over the entire cross-sectional area of the working. If the required configuration of the face is not achieved during concussion blasting, repeated concussion blasting shall be carried out along the contour of the working. In places of geological disturbances, firing along coal and rock shall be carried out simultaneously. The driving of workings with a mixed face with advance blast breaking of the coal is permitted where the rock face lags behind by no more than 5 m. The driving of workings with a mixed face with advance blast breaking of the rock shall be carried out only in seams with a thickness of up to 0.8 m.
273. It shall be prohibited to use machines, mechanisms and hand percussion tools for the trimming of the face after concussion blasting.
274. For each face where concussion blasting is used, a working instruction establishing the procedure, the technology of such blasting and the safety measures shall be drawn up and approved by an administrative document of the organisation carrying out blasting operations. The instruction shall provide for the recording of the telephone conversations of the responsible person in charge of concussion blasting who is located on the surface.
275. The persons in charge of blasting operations who are involved in carrying out concussion blasting, and the workers of the sections in which concussion blasting is carried out, shall be familiarised, against signature, with the specification of drilling and blasting operations and the instruction on concussion blasting.
276. Concussion blasting is carried out during non-working shifts or inter-shift breaks. The period of time for concussion blasting, the procedure for carrying out concussion blasting and the persons responsible for its performance shall be approved by an administrative document of the organisation carrying out blasting operations. Where a horizon is prepared at an operating mine by specialised organisations, such a procedure is established by a joint administrative document of the specialised organisation and the customer's organisation. During the performance of concussion blasting, a log of concussion blasting for the mine shall be kept. Information on the place and time of carrying out concussion blasting shall be communicated, in the form of announcements no later than one shift before the start of blasting, to all workers engaged in the underground workings.
277. When carrying out concussion blasting, a hazardous zone shall be established, which includes all the workings of the mine located along the path of movement of the return ventilation air current from the place of blasting, and also all the workings with a fresh air current from the face to the place of shelter of the shotfirer. Before the start of charging, in all the workings of the mine located within the hazardous zone, the electric power shall be switched off. The switching on of the electric power is permitted only after the methane content in the atmosphere of the workings has been checked after blasting and where there is no damage to the electrical equipment and cables. When concussion blasting is being carried out, it shall not be permitted to switch off the local ventilation fans, and also the instruments for automatic monitoring of the methane content and the sensors used for monitoring the outburst-prone zones of coal seams. In the faces of workings in which the electric power cannot be switched off before the start of charging of the shot holes (owing to their possible flooding), the voltage shall be removed before the start of assembly of the firing circuit.
278. When opening thick steep seams, blasting operations are permitted only for the exposure of the coal seam (the removal of the rock barrier). The section of the rock barrier immediately in front of the seam shall be eliminated in a single firing. The regime of concussion blasting in the face of the opening working shall be introduced from a distance of at least 4 m and may be cancelled after the face of the working has been moved away to a distance of at least 4 m along the normal from the coal seam. The opening of coal seams shall be performed in the following sequence: approach of the face of the opening working to the seam, exposure and crossing of the seam, moving away (retreat) from the seam. The distances to the place of shelter from which blasting is carried out when opening outburst-prone and threatened coal seams by horizontal and inclined workings shall be: in the sections of approach to the seam and of moving away from it - 600 m; in the section of crossing of particularly outburst-prone seams - from the surface; in the other cases - 1000 m. These distances are determined from the point of confluence of the current issuing from the face being fired with the fresh current, measured against the direction of movement of the fresh current. The place of shelter from which blasting is carried out when opening outburst-prone and threatened coal seams during the deepening of vertical shafts from the operating horizons shall be located: in the section of crossing - on the surface, 50 m from the shaft; in the sections of approach and moving away - at the operating horizon, but no closer than 200 m from the shaft being deepened, provided that isolated removal of the return air current is ensured in accordance with the manual for the relevant coal basin. Where it is impossible to fulfil the specified conditions, blasting shall be carried out from the surface. In the coal and mixed faces of workings driven along outburst-prone coal seams, when firing charges only along the coal or along the coal and rock simultaneously, and also along the rock without advance extraction of the coal, when driving workings through outburst-prone rock and when opening such rock, the distance to the shelter of the shotfirer shall be at least 600 m from the face, but no closer than 200 m from the point of confluence of the air current issuing from the face being fired with the fresh current. Persons not involved in carrying out blasting operations shall be located in the fresh air current at a distance of at least 1000 m from the face being fired. When firing charges along the rock in faces where advance extraction of an outburst-prone coal seam has been performed, the distance to the place of shelter of the shotfirer shall be at least 200 m from the point of confluence of the air current issuing from the face being fired with the fresh current.
279. The working in which concussion blasting is carried out shall, before the blasting operations, be cleared of mine cars and other objects obstructing it by more than 1/3 of the cross-sectional area, over a distance of at least 100 m from the face.
280. Before carrying out concussion blasting, the ventilation devices located within the hazardous zone, and also the stoppings installed to prevent the penetration of gas to other sections or horizons of the mine, shall be inspected by a worker appointed by an administrative document of the mine. If a defect of a ventilation device is discovered, concussion blasting shall be prohibited until it is eliminated.
281. Where, in a face in which concussion blasting is used, there are advance shot holes and boreholes not intended for placing explosive substances, they shall be filled with clay or another non-combustible material over a length exceeding the depth of the shot holes (boreholes) being charged by at least 1 m. The firing of charges in such shot holes (boreholes) shall be prohibited.
282. For the preparation and conduct of concussion blasting, an immediate person in charge of concussion blasting at the face and a responsible person in charge of concussion blasting on the surface shall be appointed. Concussion blasting shall be carried out by a shotfirer in the presence of the immediate person in charge of concussion blasting at the face. Permission to carry out concussion blasting is given by telephone by the person in charge of concussion blasting from the surface of the mine.
283. After the completion of concussion blasting, the inspection of the working shall be carried out with the permission of the person in charge of concussion blasting from the surface, after that person has received information on the methane content in the face in which the blasting was carried out, but not earlier than 30 minutes after the blast and at a methane concentration of less than 2 per cent. The inspection of the face shall be carried out by the person in charge of concussion blasting at the face and by the shotfirer.
284. The person in charge of concussion blasting at the face, who measures the methane content, when advancing towards the face to inspect it after concussion blasting, shall be located at a distance of 3 m ahead of the shotfirer. Upon detection of a methane concentration of 2 per cent and more, they shall immediately return to a working with a fresh air current. In case of a possible outburst of coal (rock) and gas, actions for degassing of the workings shall be approved in advance by the mine manager.
285. For carrying out concussion blasting, permanent firing lines of special cables shall be laid to the faces of the development workings.
286. The initiation of charges during concussion blasting in coal and mixed faces and along outburst-prone rock shall be effected by safety electric detonators of instantaneous and short-delay action with a delay time of no more than 220 ms. When opening seams before they are exposed by concussion blasting, the delay time of the short-delay electric detonators shall be no more than 320 ms.
287. In the event of a misfire of one or more charges, they shall be eliminated within the period of time allotted for concussion blasting.
288. When opening seams by concussion blasting, the use of spaced (two-tier) charges of explosive substances is permitted, subject to the following conditions: (a) the initiation of charges is effected by electric detonators of instantaneous and short-delay action; (b) in shot holes with spaced charges, the delay in the bottom charge shall be greater than in the first charge from the collar; (c) when using Class III and IV explosive substances permitted for the relevant conditions, the length of the stemming between the spaced charges shall be at least 0.75 m, and the mass of the first charge from the collar of the shot hole shall be no more than 1.2 kg; When using Class II explosive substances, the length of the stemming between the spaced charges shall be at least 1 m, and the mass of the first charge of explosive substances from the collar of the shot hole shall be no more than 1 kg; (d) the length of the shot holes with spaced charges shall be at least 3 m.
289. The opening and crossing of seams by means of drilling and blasting operations shall be carried out where the thickness of the rock barrier between the face of the working and a steep seam (coal band) is at least 2 m, and for flat, inclined and steeply inclined seams - at least 1 m along the normal to the seam. Before the crossing of steep and steeply inclined seams after the hydraulic washing-out of the coal massif, the thickness of the rock barrier between the face of the opening working and the washed-out cavity shall be at least 1.2 m. The shot holes for firing the charges of the final cut, to remove the rock barrier after hydraulic washing-out, shall not be drilled up to the washed-out cavity, stopping 0.5 m short of it.
290. Concussion blasting in the faces of development workings driven along steep or steeply inclined outburst-prone seams prone to spilling shall be carried out with the prior installation of advance support or with advance breaking of the side rock, or with reinforcement of the coal seam. When drawing up the specifications of drilling and blasting operations, in the case of the use of advance support, the upper row of shot holes shall be located at a distance of at least 0.5 m from the advance support.
291. When blasting borehole charges (torpedoing), the following additional safety measures shall be taken: in seam torpedoing (hydraulic-explosive treatment of the seam) - the flooding of inclined boreholes with water, with their continuous replenishment, as well as the use of water-spray curtains created by the explosive atomisation of water from polyethylene vessels, in accordance with the legislation of the Russian Federation in the field of industrial safety; in advance (out-of-seam) torpedoing - stemming made of a moistened mixture of carbamide with potassium chloride in a ratio of 3:1, or stemming made of water placed in a special polyethylene ampoule, with the use of sealers, as well as the use of a water-air or water-spray curtain in accordance with the legislation of the Russian Federation in the field of industrial safety.
292. Shock blasting at the faces of workings that are ventilated separately but arranged in such a way that the blasting of charges at some faces may lead to damage to the electric blasting networks laid to other faces shall be carried out: with the simultaneous supply of a current pulse to all faces; at different times, with charging and blasting at each subsequent face or group of faces after blasting at the preceding faces and the taking of measures ensuring the safety of the blasting operations.
293. The drilling of shot holes in coal for shock blasting shall be carried out only by the rotary method. The drilling of shot holes in rock may be carried out with the use of percussion and rotary-percussion tools.
294. Areas of the seam shall be brought to a rockburst-safe state by camouflet blasting, observing the following sequence of operations: - assessment of the rockburst hazard of the marginal parts at the blasting locations; - determination of the parameters of the camouflet blasting (the length of the shot holes, the mass of the charge, the distances between the shot holes); - assessment of the effectiveness of the camouflet blasting. At coal shaft mines, these operations shall be carried out in accordance with the instruction on the safe conduct of work at shaft mines that mine seams hazardous in terms of rockbursts.
295. Camouflet blasting shall be carried out in accordance with a specially developed design approved by the head (the technical head) of the organisation carrying out the blasting operations, or by a person appointed by them.
296. In coal seams prone to rockbursts, before blasting operations are carried out at extraction and development faces, as well as during the working of pillars, people shall be removed from the blasting location to a safe distance, but not less than 200 m, and shall be located in the fresh-air stream.
297. When driving workings with converging faces, starting from a distance of 15 m between them, blasting operations shall be carried out at only one of the faces, and the other face shall be stopped.
298. The length of the internal stemming in camouflet blasting in boreholes up to 10 m long shall be determined by the drilling-and-blasting (blasting) design and shall be not less than half the length of the borehole. In boreholes more than 10 m long, the value of the internal stemming shall be not less than 5 m. When water stemming is used, including from polyethylene ampoules with water, the shot holes are filled from the mouth side with clay stemming over a length of not less than 1 m.
299. At rockburst hazard categories I - II of the rocks, blasting operations for breaking coal or rock in extraction and development workings may be carried out after the area has been brought to a rockburst-safe state.
300. In oil shaft mines, blasting operations are carried out: only at faces ventilated by a fresh-air stream, where the concentration of hydrocarbon gases and vapours of liquid hydrocarbons does not exceed the norms established by the safety rules for the development of oil fields by the mine method; with the use of permitted explosives not below Class III; by blasting charges with permitted electric detonators of instantaneous and short-delay action. The maximum delay time of short-delay electric detonators shall not exceed 220 ms (taking into account the scatter in actuation time); with the use of a protective medium in the productive seams. The use of external charges and detonating cord may be permitted when driving workings in rocks that do not contain oil and where there are no gas emissions in them.
301. Before charging the shot holes, and also before blasting the charges, a measurement of the content of hydrocarbon gases and vapours of liquid hydrocarbons shall be carried out at the face, in the workings adjoining the face over a length of 20 m, and at the location of the blaster.
302. During blasting operations in the productive seams, the person in charge of the blasting operations shall make an entry in the blaster's work order-route sheet concerning the authorisation of the blasting operations.
303. It shall be prohibited to charge and blast shot holes from which light oil or gas is being released. They shall be plugged with clay. All light-oil seepages at the face and in the working over a length of 20 m from it shall be removed, and the places where they are found shall be covered with sand.
304. The charging conditions, the mass of the charges of explosives, and the length of the stemming shall comply with the following requirements: in the productive seam, it shall be prohibited to use shot holes less than 1 m deep; in shot holes from 1 to 1.5 m deep, the charge shall occupy not more than half of their length, and the remaining part of the shot hole shall be filled with stemming; in shot holes more than 1.5 m deep, the charge shall occupy not more than 2/3 of their length, and the stemming shall fill the entire remaining free part of the shot hole; cartridges of explosives shall be inserted into the shot hole in accordance with the requirements of paragraph 264 of these Rules; where there are several exposed surfaces at the face, the line of least resistance from any point of the charge to the nearest exposed surface shall be not less than 0.5 m in the productive seam and not less than 0.3 m in rock. The minimum distance between adjacent shot-hole charges shall comply with the requirements of paragraph 268 of these Rules.
305. Each face in the productive seam shall be equipped with two sprinklers installed on the fire-fighting water main at a distance of not more than 8 m from the face. The water sprayers shall be put into operation 5 minutes before the blasting of the charges.
306. Blasts, after which more time is required for ventilation and the resumption of work in the mine (shaft mine, section) than is provided for by the ventilation schedule of the mine workings approved by the head (the technical head) of the mine (the shaft mine) under the day-to-day organisation of work (hereinafter - mass blasts in underground conditions), are divided by their purpose into: (a) technological blasts - for breaking the main rock mass, cutting it off, and undercutting (trimming), as well as for caving crown pillars and pillars within the sub-level; (b) special blasts - for caving the crown pillars of chambers and the inter-chamber pillars over the entire height of the level, for eliminating voids within a block (group of blocks), and for eliminating emergency situations; (c) experimental blasts for determining the parameters of drilling-and-blasting operations in mass blasts.
307. The standard designs for technological blasts and the designs for special and experimental mass blasts provide: a brief mining-geological description of the mineral deposit being developed, and a justification for the choice of drilling equipment and explosive materials; the methodology and general calculations of the parameters of the drilling and blasting operations; information on the design of the charges and primers; a justification for the choice of the means of mechanisation of the blasting operations and of the blasting and control-and-measuring instruments; diagrams of the blasting networks; methodologies for calculating the blasting networks, the ventilation time, and the danger zones, including at the stages of preparation and conduct of the blasts; solutions for the safe organisation of the drilling-and-blasting operations; activities for the safe conduct of the operations, including the conditions of use and the types of protective devices, as well as solutions on matters of ensuring the safety of the operations in the specific mining-technical situation, including those connected with the presence of prohibited zones.
308. The standard designs for drilling-and-blasting (blasting) operations and the designs for special and experimental mass blasts shall be approved by the head (the technical head) of the organisation carrying out the blasting operations, or by the person deputising for them. Where blasting operations are performed by contractor organisations, these designs shall be approved by the heads (the technical heads) of the customer's and the contractor's organisations, or by the persons deputising for them, with a specific indication of the duties of the parties on matters of ensuring the safety of the operations and the safekeeping of the explosive materials.
309. The design for a technological mass blast shall consist of a technical calculation, including general data and technical indicators, among them the tables of the parameters of the mass blast; the attached calculation and organisational-administrative documents, graphic documentation, and the schedule for conducting the mass blast. The information that shall be contained in the technical calculation and in the schedule for conducting the mass blast, as well as the recommended forms for completion, are given in Appendix No. 7 and Appendix No. 8 to these Rules. Changes and additions that take into account the specific features of the blasting operations and ensure their safety may be introduced into this information. In the general part, information shall be set out on the purpose of the mass blast, on the time and place of its conduct, and on the person in charge of the blasting operations. The technical calculation gives general systematised data and information on the blast, as well as specific parameters in a specially compiled table. The schedule for conducting the blast shall contain, set out in the order of performance, information on the organisation of the work for the preparation and conduct of the mass blast and for ensuring the safe admission of workers into the underground workings, including in the area of the blast. Graphic and organisational-administrative materials are attached to the design for the mass blast, such as plans for the block, the panel, and the horizon; the necessary sections; diagrams of the arrangement of the workings to be charged; diagrams of the blasting network and ventilation; the necessary calculations; a certificate of technical readiness to carry out the mass blast (a recommended template is given in Appendix No. 9 of these Rules), approved by the technical head of the organisation (the mine, the shaft mine, the construction facility); and a list of the persons appointed to perform the work for the preparation and conduct of the mass blast.
310. In the design for a special mass blast, in addition to the information and indicators listed in paragraphs 307 - 309 of these Rules, the following shall be indicated: the parameters and the condition of the caving object, the condition of the charging cavities (boreholes), the exposure area of the crown pillars and of the hanging block; the condition of the undercut, of the inter-chamber pillars, of the neighbouring blocks, and of the approach mine workings; the height of the caving of the rocks, and the condition of the adjacent blocks. The following shall be taken into account: the topography of the terrain, the presence of surface and underground structures, the possible zones of hazardous displacements (caving zones), and the presence of bodies of water and water-bearing horizons. The following materials are attached to the design for a special mass blast: plans by horizon or extracts from them indicating the danger zones according to the factors of the hazardous impact of air shock waves and toxic gases; plans and sections by sub-level (block, panel) with corrected geological and mine-surveying data; diagrams of the arrangement of the boreholes, shot holes, and chambers; diagrams of the blasting (electric blasting) network and of the delay intervals; a ventilation diagram with a calculation of the ventilation time; a certificate of technical readiness to carry out the mass blast; a list of the persons appointed to conduct the work for the preparation and conduct of the mass blast, including separately in the prohibited zone; a plan for the servicing by the emergency rescue unit of the work for the preparation, conduct, and elimination of the consequences of the mass blast; a general plan of the surface with the danger zones marked for the period of the blast and the guard posts for the danger zones; plans of the upper and lower haulage horizons with the boundaries of the danger zones marked for the time of charging and with the locations of the posts; a ventilation diagram of the shaft mine (of the adjacent shaft mines); geological sections along the "object - charge" line (where the objects are located in the zone of the seismic effect of the blast). The graphic materials shall reflect the condition of the workings and objects at the moment of the compilation of the design for the mass blast and shall be executed in accordance with the requirements for mine-surveying operations. In the schedule for conducting the special mass blast (a recommended template is given in Appendix No. 8 to these Rules), the procedure and the time limits for carrying out the other measures for ensuring the safety of the operations, taking into account the specific conditions, shall be indicated.
311. The design for an experimental mass blast, depending on its purpose, shall contain solutions on the matters to be reflected, respectively, in the design for a technological mass blast or in the design for a special mass blast.
312. An order (directive) on conducting a mass blast shall be issued by the head of the organisation (the mine, the shaft mine). In the orders (directives) on conducting mass blasts, in each individual case, the responsible person in charge of the blast shall be designated.
313. On completion of the drilling of the boreholes (shot holes) and the driving of the mine chambers, a mine survey of the rock mass to be destroyed (the sub-level, panel, block) shall be carried out, and plans (sections) shall be compiled indicating the actual position of the workings to be charged.
314. A sub-level (block, panel) prepared for a mass blast is inspected by a commission appointed by the head of the mine (shaft mine, construction facility). The results of the inspection shall be reflected in a certificate approved by the technical head of the mine (shaft mine, construction facility) (a recommended template is given in Appendix No. 9 to these Rules).
315. On receipt of the order (directive) on conducting the mass blast, the responsible person in charge of the mass blast shall familiarise themselves with the certificate of readiness for the blast and shall then arrange for the workers to be familiarised with the documents and duties relating to the blast, and shall conduct briefings on the safe performance of the operations, including in the handling of explosive materials. With the participation of the heads of the relevant services of the operating organisation, the responsible person in charge of the blast determines the procedure and the time limits for performing the work provided for by the blast design, and the responsible persons, and prepares the necessary administrative documents.
316. The technical head of the mine, the shaft mine, or the construction facility and the responsible person in charge of the blast develop and agree with the commander of the servicing emergency rescue unit a plan for the servicing of the mass blast by the forces of the emergency rescue units.
317. The formation of the charges shall be performed in accordance with the established requirements for the safety of the operations. In doing so, the actual charging indicators are indicated in the table of the parameters of the mass blast.
318. The velocity of the air flow in the area where the charging device is located and at the charging locations shall comply with the established requirements for the ventilation of the underground workings.
319. The admission of the persons in charge of the blasting operations and of the workers into the underground workings after a mass blast shall be carried out only after their condition has been checked by the emergency rescue units and after the normal mine atmosphere has been restored in all the workings of the shaft mine.
320. Permission for the admission of people to work in the area of the blast is issued by the responsible person in charge of the blast after the necessary data have been received from the representative of the emergency rescue unit.
321. During the first working shift after a mass blast, the section heads or their deputies shall personally check the condition of the faces in the section.
322. After the blast, the workings in the area where the mass blast is conducted and the workings adjoining this area shall be kept under enhanced monitoring for a period the duration of which is established by the technical head of the mine (the shaft mine or the construction facility). The persons in charge of the blasting operations shall monitor the stability of the support, the roof, and the sides of the working, as well as the mine atmosphere. When signs of danger are detected, the people shall be withdrawn to safe places, and the dispatcher and the head (of the mine, the shaft mine, the construction facility) shall be notified of this.
323. During the drawing of the broken rock produced by the mass blast, monitoring shall be carried out of the presence of explosive materials in it.
324. The anticipated zone of surface caving (according to the mine-surveying data) shall be fenced off from access by people.
325. During operation, only the workers carrying out the blasting operations, the driver of the vehicle, and the person in charge of the blasting operations may be present at the blasting-point station.
326. Radio stations used to provide communication and the operation of synchronisation systems during blasting operations may be installed at the blasting-point station in a special isolated compartment of the body or in the cab of the vehicle. In this compartment, it shall be prohibited to store and transport electric detonators and to perform any work with them.
327. During the manufacture of the charges and the charging of the borehole, the blasting-point station may be located within the danger zone. In doing so, operation in transmission mode shall be prohibited.
328. The introduction of the electric blasting main line into the compartment where the radio station (the decoder of the blast synchronisation system) is installed is permitted if the part of the main line laid in the body of the blasting-point station is made of a screened two-wire cable with earthing of the screen.
329. For the blasting main line and the auxiliary lines, the use of wires without the plugs intended for connection to the equipment shall be prohibited. The plugs shall differ in appearance or in marking so as to prevent erroneous connection.
330. The instantaneous main line (the vertical-time main line) shall differ noticeably in appearance from the electric blasting main line.
331. Boreholes drilled in stable rocks and charged without stemming shall be kept under constant guard until the blasting operations are carried out.
332. It shall be prohibited to lower charges into boreholes using drilling tools, poles, or other objects not fitted with devices ensuring the safety of this operation. The need for gauging the boreholes before lowering the charge is determined by the blasting design.
333. If the charge has not reached the bottom of the borehole, it shall be extracted and, for the time of the reworking of the borehole, moved away from it to a safe distance. Where the extraction of the charge is impossible, it shall be blasted.
334. During seismic survey operations, blasting is carried out on the command of the operator of the seismic station in agreement with the person in charge of the blasting operations.
335. It shall be prohibited to re-drill boreholes with misfired charges or after the blasting of a misfired charge.
336. Blasting designs for seismic surveying on water basins shall, in the cases provided for by the legislation of the Russian Federation, be agreed with the interested organisations and the federal executive authorities.
337. Perforating and blasting operations may be carried out only in prepared boreholes documented by a certificate of the established form.
338. Explosive materials and charged perforating and blasting apparatus delivered to the site of the blasting operations shall be stored in a specially designated place at a distance of not less than 50 m from the mouth of the borehole. When explosive materials and perforating and blasting apparatus are stored in a mobile charging workshop (the laboratory of the perforator station), it shall be located no closer than 20 m from the mouth of the borehole.
339. The disassembly of perforating and blasting apparatus, of devices with charges of explosives, and of means of initiation assembled at the manufacturing plants shall be prohibited. It shall be prohibited to cut detonating cord from the coil after it has been laid in the detonation circuit of the apparatus.
340. Each perforating and (or) blasting apparatus, before assembly, shall be checked for serviceability. The assembly and charging of perforating and blasting apparatus shall be carried out in accordance with the operating documentation: - in mobile charging workshops and in the laboratories of perforator stations; - in adapted and equipped premises located no closer than 20 m from the borehole; - on open areas prepared for work in the relevant weather conditions. In doing so, tables with a non-metallic (rubber) covering and with side rails shall be installed. The length of the table shall be not less than the length of the perforating and blasting apparatus being assembled or of its section. On the table there shall be clamps (fixtures) for securing the perforating and blasting equipment during assembly. At the assembly location of the perforating and blasting equipment, explosive materials may be present in a quantity not exceeding that necessary for the assembly of one apparatus.
341. For the transport of assembled perforating and blasting apparatus, vehicles having devices for securing them shall be used. It shall be prohibited to transport and store perforating and blasting apparatus with means of initiation installed in them.
342. The integrity check (the measurement of the resistance or conductivity) of the assembled electric blasting network of a perforating and blasting apparatus may be carried out only after the perforating and blasting equipment has been lowered to a depth of not less than 50 m from the mouth of the borehole (in offshore operations - of the subsea wellhead equipment).
343. The charging of the torpedo is permitted only after all the preparatory work for the torpedoing has been completed at the borehole and after the borehole has been checked with a gauge.
344. Charged perforating and blasting apparatus with a mass of more than 10 kg shall be carried by hand with the use of fixtures that prevent them from falling.
345. Means of initiation shall be installed in a perforating and blasting apparatus only directly at the mouth of the borehole, before the lowering of the apparatus. The installation of means of initiation in a perforating and blasting apparatus in the laboratory of the perforator station (the mobile charging workshop) is permitted where a blocking device that prevents the accidental actuation of the perforating and blasting equipment is used, and also in cases where means of initiation protected against the influence of stray currents are used. During the installation of electric means of initiation in the perforating and blasting equipment, accidental contact of the conductors of the means of initiation with surrounding metal objects shall not be allowed.
346. The lowering of perforating and blasting apparatus without the prior gauging of the borehole shaft, with measurement of the hydrostatic pressure and of the temperature of the drilling mud, which shall not exceed the maximum permissible value for the perforating and blasting apparatus used, shall be prohibited.
347. Perforating or blasting operations in boreholes shall be prohibited: (a) during a snowstorm, a thunderstorm, blizzards, and heavy fog (with visibility of less than 50 m), except in cases where the work is performed in the enclosed premises of the drilling rigs; (b) in dry boreholes that are gassing or absorbing mud, without the use of lubricators.
348. The lowering and raising of perforating and blasting apparatus in the borehole on a geophysical cable shall be carried out only with the ends of the conductors of the electric blasting network insulated.
349. Perforating and blasting apparatus with a mass of more than 50 kg or a length of more than 2 m shall be raised above the mouth of the borehole and lowered by means of lifting mechanisms.
350. If a perforating and blasting apparatus does not pass into the borehole to the specified depth, it shall be extracted. During the extraction of the apparatus, only the workers carrying out the blasting operations, the person in charge of the blasting operations, and the persons working on the lifting mechanism shall be present at the borehole.
351. Unused perforating and blasting apparatus shall be delivered to the charging workshop or the store of explosive materials.
352. Perforating and blasting operations in offshore boreholes shall be carried out with a favourable weather forecast for the time necessary for their conduct. The permissible parameters of the wind speed and the sea state are determined by the technical characteristics of the offshore drilling rigs and of the vehicles used for the delivery of the workers, the explosive materials, and the logging-perforating stations.
353. On receipt of a storm warning during perforating (blasting) operations, the perforating or blasting apparatus lowered into the borehole shall be fired in the specified interval before the onset of the storm.
354. The blasting machine shall be connected to the electric blasting network only for the time of the blasting and shall be disconnected from it immediately after the blast. In the event of a misfire, the surface ends of the electric blasting network are first short-circuited and then opened and insulated. Cased perforating and blasting apparatus that has misfired and has been raised from the borehole is disconnected from the geophysical cable, and only after this are the causes of the misfire established. Where necessary, their unloading is carried out. In caseless perforating and blasting apparatus, the conductor of the means of initiation shall first be disconnected from the current lead and extracted from the perforating and blasting equipment. Where unloading is impossible, the destruction of the perforating and blasting apparatus is carried out.
355. Activities for the prevention of the explosion of combustible gases shall be included in the blasting design for marshland. When blasting with the use of electric detonators, primers in a special casing that does not transmit pressure to the detonator when the primer is pressed with a stemming rod shall be used.
356. In marshland, the charging of boreholes (shot holes) when blasting with detonating cord is permitted directly following the drilling. Not more than two cartridges of explosives without means of initiation may be inserted simultaneously into a borehole (shot hole).
357. The assembly of the electric blasting network in water-logged conditions may be performed only with the use of antenna wires.
358. When forming trench charges, the distance between the excavator (the trencher) and the crane placing the explosive materials into the trench shall be not less than 1.1 of the sum of the slewing radii of the excavator bucket with the dipper arm extended and of the slewing of the crane, while the distance between the crane and the bulldozer performing the stemming shall be not less than 1.1 of the slewing radius of the crane.
359. When the charging of linear charges takes more than 24 hours, the primers are placed on the day of the blast.
360. In complex mining-geological conditions, when blasting charges of group D explosives, other than black powder, with non-electric initiation systems and with detonating cord, the placement of elongated horizontal charges (trench charges, slot charges) directly following the driving of the mine workings is permitted. The lag of the charge behind a multi-bucket excavator shall be not less than 5 m, and behind a single-bucket excavator - 10 m.
361. The blasting of ice shall be carried out only in accordance with blasting designs agreed, in the cases provided for by the legislation of the Russian Federation, with the interested organisations and the federal executive authorities.
362. Charges (explosives with means of initiation installed) shall be blasted from the middle of the river towards the banks, from the steep bank towards the gentle one, in the direction against the current.
363. When breaking ice, one blaster may carry out not more than 10 ignitions of igniter tubes in one operation. The length of the safety fuse (the igniter tube) of the charges set shall be calculated so that the safety of the operations and the withdrawal of the blaster from the charges to a safe distance are ensured.
364. In exceptional cases, the throwing of charges onto floating ice floes, areas of slush-ice compaction, or ice jams directly from the structure being protected or from the bank is permitted. Such work shall be performed only by a blaster who has practical experience in ice-breaking operations of not less than two seasons. The charges shall be thrown one at a time.
365. When blasting the ice cover with underwater charges, they shall be lowered into an ice-hole (a hole) on twine and similar means. It shall be prohibited to lower charges through thawed patches and washouts from the ice.
366. Directly before the lowering of the charge into the water, the dimensions of the ice-hole (the hole) and the depth of the water shall be checked.
367. When blasting ice from a vessel, explosive materials may be issued only where there is a written directive from the master of the vessel at the request of the person in charge of the blasting operations.
368. Underwater blasting operations on rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water shall be carried out only in accordance with blasting designs agreed, in the cases provided for by the legislation of the Russian Federation, with the interested organisations and the federal executive authorities. When divers are used in these operations, the relevant requirements of the labour protection rules for diving operations shall be complied with.
369. The placement of charges (explosives with means of initiation installed) and the assembly and checking of the blasting network shall be carried out by blasters. The supporting and auxiliary workers taking part in the conduct of the underwater blasting operations shall be briefed, against signature, on the safety measures for the handling of explosive materials.
370. Underwater blasting operations are carried out from the bank (from ice, hydraulic structures, mooring structures, and others), from a vessel (a floating crane, a floating drilling rig, and others), or from a self-propelled small craft (a ship's boat, a boat, a launch, and others). Where it is impossible to deliver charges directly to the diver from a vessel or from the bank, a self-propelled small craft shall be used for these purposes, with which constant, stable two-way communication shall without fail be established, and which shall be in the constant field of view of the person in charge of the underwater blasting operations. The self-propelled small craft shall be capable of being controlled by oars and shall be equipped for the conduct of underwater blasting operations.
371. For placement, charges, explosives, or means of initiation shall be handed directly into the hands of the diver by the blaster or by the person in charge of the underwater blasting operations, and the diver shall without fail be in the water at least up to the chest. Only one charge at a time shall be handed into the hands of the diver. Where it is necessary to hand several small charges, with a total mass of up to 20 kg, to the diver, they shall be placed in a basket with cells. In this case, the diver shall place the charges, starting from the remote area in the direction of the vessel (the floating craft) from which the diver's descent is carried out. The handing of charges and means of initiation for placement to a diver in the water by the signal line or by any other line (rope), as well as the lowering of them on electric wires or on detonating cord, shall be prohibited.
372. The diver, the charges and the blasting network shall be marked with buoys (floats). Carrying out underwater blasting operations without two-way voice communication with the diver shall be prohibited. Approaching within 20 m of the place where charges are installed and the blasting network is laid, or of the place where the diver is located underwater, in a self-propelled small vessel with the engine running, shall be prohibited. For this purpose, oarsmen and oars shall be used.
373. The total mass of charges on board a self-propelled small vessel during underwater blasting operations shall not exceed 40 kg. If explosive substances are transported separately from means of initiation, the total mass is limited by the carrying capacity of the vessel. Charges and explosive substances shall be placed in the stern so as to prevent their movement during transport. Means of initiation shall be placed separately from charges or explosive substances. Transporting other loads together with charges, explosive substances and means of initiation shall be prohibited, with the exception of tools, instruments and devices for carrying out underwater blasting operations, and diving equipment. Altering the design of charges or primers during their transport or installation on a self-propelled small vessel shall be prohibited.
374. Work on laying the charges shall be commenced only after the person in charge of the underwater blasting operations has ascertained that within the boundaries of the danger zone there are no vessels, floating craft, persons in the water or underwater vehicles not involved in the conduct of the underwater blasting operations. Cordon posts shall be positioned at the boundaries of the danger zone. To secure the boundaries of the danger zone on the water, the cordon posts shall be provided with high-speed floating craft. During the conduct of underwater blasting operations, the passage of vessels (floating craft) into the danger zone shall be closed. In the case of blasting operations carried out on rivers, the cordon and signals upstream and downstream of the river shall be positioned at a distance of not less than 500 m from the established boundary of the danger zone. The minimum safe distance for persons in the water during underwater blasting operations with applied charges is: for a mass of up to 50 kg - 1000 m; for a mass of more than 50 kg - 2000 m.
375. To protect the blasting network against breaks caused by the force of the current, the charges shall additionally be connected to one another by ends (ropes) of a shorter length than the length of the connecting wires. Checking the serviceability of the electric blasting network, connecting it to the current source and firing the charges may be carried out only after the divers installing the charges have been raised from the water and all vessels (floating craft) have been moved beyond the boundaries of the danger zone.
376. After a charge has been installed, the wires or detonating cord shall be secured by the diver near the charge. When the diver has fully emerged from the water, the person in charge of the underwater blasting operations shall inspect him and ascertain that the diver has not carried out on his equipment any wires, detonating cord or explosive materials. For the same purpose, the diving ladder (stage) shall be raised from the water. The designated blaster may apply voltage to the electric blasting network only on the command of the person in charge of the underwater blasting operations. The charges shall be fired from the middle of the river towards the banks, from the steep bank to the gently sloping bank, in the direction against the current.
377. Before carrying out underwater blasting operations and upon their completion, an inspection of the bottom of the water area shall be conducted using video recording, performed by divers or underwater vehicles. Upon completion of the inspection, a report shall be drawn up.
378. The underwater inspection of the blast site is carried out on the command of the person in charge of the underwater blasting operations after he has established that work at the blast site is safe. If for any reason the blast has not occurred, cancelling the warning signals shall not be permitted until the person in charge of the underwater blasting operations has ascertained that the blast cannot occur. Approaching or swimming up to the blast site may take place no earlier than 15 minutes afterwards, irrespective of the type of means of initiation used.
379. In the event of misfires or the discovery of misfired charges by the diver (underwater vehicle) during the underwater inspection of the blast site, action shall be taken in accordance with the requirements of the Rules and the instruction on the elimination of misfired charges. Work with misfired charges shall be performed by the same diver who installed them. If a misfired charge cannot be fired immediately, the location of the charge underwater shall be marked by any means.
380. Carrying out underwater blasting operations during a thunderstorm, or when the water surface is disturbed above 2 points (on the sea state scale) or the wind force exceeds 4 points (on the Beaufort scale), shall be prohibited. If it is impossible to fire the charge before the onset of a thunderstorm or the deterioration of weather conditions, the ends of the firing line shall be carefully insulated and lowered to the bottom on a plant-fibre rope having dielectric properties, with a buoy (float). Until the blasting operations are resumed, persons and the supporting floating craft shall be removed beyond the boundaries of the danger zone.
381. Blasting operations on metal shall be performed in accordance with blasting operations designs and in accordance with the requirements of these Rules.
382. The structures of the premises and areas where the processing of metals is carried out shall be designed to withstand the explosion of the maximum permissible charge. Such premises and areas shall be commissioned by commissions of the organisations and shall be inspected annually, with a report drawn up on the possibility of further operation.
383. The appliances intended for lifting and moving the process tooling with the charges mounted on it for the processing of metals shall be equipped with two brakes acting independently of each other, and with limit switches for automatic stopping. The lifting appliances shall be earthed and shall have serviceable insulation.
384. The preparation of charges for the processing of metals shall be carried out in a specially equipped room. In these rooms, a shift stock of explosive materials may be placed, but not more than 10 kg of explosive substances and a corresponding quantity of means of initiation. The keys to the room, for the period during which explosive materials are in it, shall be kept only by the blaster.
385. Each armoured pit shall have two separate exits. The mass of the cover for the armoured pit and its design shall preclude the possibility of displacement or destruction of the cover during explosions. Before the armoured pit is put into operation, and also after repair or replacement of even part of the armour plates of the cover or the walls, the armoured pit shall be tested for strength by firing, three times, charges of a doubled mass (relative to the maximum charge mass used). After each firing, the armoured pit shall be ventilated.
386. Charging blast-holes having a temperature above 80 °C with charges without protective casings shall be prohibited.
387. For blasting in hot rock masses, only the appropriate explosive substances of group D, other than black powder, may be used. The electric method of blasting shall be prohibited.
388. At a temperature in the blast-hole (borehole, sleeve) of up to 80 °C, charging without a thermal-insulating casing may be carried out. In this case, the primer shall additionally be wrapped in parchment, kraft-cellulose or wrapping paper. The reliability of the wrapping of the primer shall be tested by placing an ignition tube in the blast-hole. If the detonator explodes in less than 5 minutes, the thickness of the wrapping shall be increased.
389. At a temperature above 80 °C, the entire charge shall be placed in a common thermal-insulating casing. Blasting shall be carried out by means of an ignition tube with a safety fuse length of not less than 60 cm, placed together with the mouth of the detonator cap in a single insulating casing. Twisting and coiling the safety fuse inside the insulating casing of the primer cartridge and in the common casing shall be prohibited. Charging and firing charges in blast-holes at a temperature exceeding 200 °C shall be prohibited.
390. Using external charges in hot rock masses with a temperature exceeding 80 °C shall not be permitted.
391. At a temperature in the blast-hole below 80 °C, not more than five charges may be charged and fired simultaneously, and at a temperature exceeding 80 °C - not more than one.
392. In all cases, charging and stemming shall be carried out by two blasters in the presence of the person in charge of the blasting operations. Before charging, the person in charge of the blasting operations shall measure the temperature and only after that grant permission for charging. If within 4 minutes the blasters have not managed to complete the charging of all the blast-holes, the person in charge of the blasting operations shall give the command for the immediate cessation of charging and the removal of persons to a safe distance.
393. The blasting operations designs shall specify the direction of felling of the object being demolished, and also the actions in the event of its incomplete demolition.
394. Charging blast-holes (boreholes) that have opened up voids in the mass of the object being demolished shall be prohibited.
395. The first signal shall be given before the installation of primers with electric detonators, and, when blasting with detonating cord, non-electric initiation systems or using electronic initiation systems - before the start of the assembly of the blasting network. The "all-clear" signal is given only by order of the person in charge of the blasting operations responsible for carrying out the blast, after he has inspected the blast site.
396. Where there are boilers, pipelines and other objects under pressure in the danger zone, the pressure shall be reduced to the limits established in agreement with the organisation operating these objects.
397. Blasters or teams of blasters working separately on stump grubbing shall be positioned no closer than 500 m from one another and shall know precisely the locations and directions of movement of their neighbours. Individual blasters and teams of blasters working on stump grubbing and belonging to the same organisation may be positioned at a distance of not less than 300 m from one another, provided that they advance in the same direction and that their withdrawal to shelter is precisely coordinated.
398. Drilling (undermining) stumps with charges prepared for blasting shall be prohibited.
399. When blasting frozen-together firewood and pulpwood, only permissible explosive substances may be used for their loosening. In doing so, the following conditions shall be mandatorily met: (a) the use of electric detonators as means of initiation; (b) ensuring the safety of movement of the blasters over the firewood (covering the gaps between the stacks and dumps); (c) carrying out the necessary fire-prevention actions before the start of charging.
400. During the clearing of timber jams in log floating, the blasting procedure is established by the person directly in charge of the blasting operations.
401. During the extinguishing of forest fires, explosive substances and means of initiation may be dropped from helicopters, provided that the means of initiation are packed in special containers intended for these purposes, and provided that the safety measures approved by an administrative document of the organisation carrying out the blasting operations during the extinguishing of the fire are applied.
402. Blasting operations for the extinguishing of a peat (underground) fire may be carried out no closer than 10 m from the edge of the fire.
403. When loosening frozen-together ore, coal, shale, ore concentrates or metal shavings, using explosive substances containing nitric esters shall be prohibited. When loosening metal shavings, electric blasting shall not be permitted. Loosening ammonium-nitrate-based mineral fertilisers by blasting shall not be permitted.
404. Blasting operations in the protection zone of an open or closed (buried) trunk pipeline shall be carried out only where there is the written consent of the organisation operating the pipeline. In this case, the performing authority for the blasting operations shall submit the blasting operations design for approval to the organisation operating the pipeline.
405. The use of the fire and electric-fire methods of initiation shall be prohibited, with the exception of blasting operations for the breaking of ice, the clearing of ice jams and the breaking of hot rock masses. 405.1. Electric-fire blasting shall be carried out taking into account the relevant requirements provided for the electric method of blasting. 405.2. Ignition tubes and control tubes shall be lit with a smouldering match, a length of safety fuse or special devices. A tube may be lit with a match only when firing a single charge. 405.3. In fire blasting, the lengths of the safety fuse in the ignition tubes shall be calculated so that the withdrawal of the blaster from the charges to a safe distance is ensured. 405.4. The length of each ignition tube shall be not less than 1 m; the end of the safety fuse shall protrude from the blast-hole by not less than 25 cm. 405.5. When lighting five or more ignition tubes, a control tube shall be used to monitor the time spent on ignition. The control tube shall be lit first; the length of its safety fuse shall be not less than 60 cm shorter than the shortest of the ignition tubes used, but not less than 40 cm. After the lighting of the ignition tubes has been completed or after the explosion of the detonator cap of the control tube (the burning-through of the control length of fuse), and also if the control length goes out, the blasters shall immediately withdraw to a safe distance or to shelter. 405.6. When blasting on the ground surface, the control tube shall be placed no closer than 5 m from the ignition tube lit first, and not on the withdrawal route of the blasters. 405.7. In charges made of powder, the safety fuse of the ignition tube shall not come into contact with the explosive substances of the charge. 405.8. Splicing the safety fuse shall be prohibited. When duplicating ignition tubes, they shall be lit simultaneously. 405.9. Ignition tubes and control tubes shall be manufactured by blasters and explosive materials dispensers in a separate room of the explosive materials preparation building; in an underground store - in the chamber for the manufacture of ignition tubes. The person manufacturing ignition tubes and control tubes shall be positioned behind a barrier (screen) preventing his injury in the event of an explosion. For blasting operations of a duration of not more than six months, with the permission of the head (technical head) of the organisation conducting the blasting operations, the manufacture of ignition tubes and control tubes may be carried out in separate rooms adapted for this purpose, in tents, under a canopy or, for work of a mobile nature, in the open air. Operations for the manufacture of the tubes shall be carried out on tables that have edging and are covered with tarpaulin over a soft lining or with rubber not less than 3 mm thick. 405.10. When manufacturing ignition tubes and control tubes, there shall be no more than one box of detonator caps, with a corresponding number of lengths of safety fuse, on the table of the person carrying out this work. The cutting of the safety fuse shall be carried out when there are no detonator caps on the table. The manufactured ignition tubes shall be sorted by length, coiled into a circle and placed on shelves. The control tubes shall be tied with twine. They may be kept on the same shelves. Each control tube shall have a distinguishing mark clearly visible to the naked eye. 405.11. Before the manufacture of an ignition (control) tube, each detonator cap shall be inspected for the cleanliness of the inner surface of the shell and the absence of any particles inside it. If particles are present, they are removed only by lightly tapping the open mouth of the detonator cap against a fingernail. Removing specks from the shell of the detonator cap by inserting any devices into it, or by blowing, shall be prohibited. 405.12. The safety fuse shall be inserted into the detonator cap until it comes into contact with the cup of the latter, with a straight movement and without rotation. 405.13. The securing of the safety fuse in a detonator cap with a metal shell shall be carried out by uniformly crimping the edge of the shell at the mouth by means of a special instrument (a marking head). During crimping, pressing on the part of the detonator cap where the explosive composition is located shall be prohibited. 405.14. Pulling out or pulling on the safety fuse secured in the detonator cap shall be prohibited. 405.15. The blaster shall keep count of the charges that have exploded. If it is impossible to fulfil this requirement or some charge has not exploded, approaching the blast site may take place no earlier than 15 minutes after the last explosion; where there are no misfires - 5 minutes after the last explosion.
406. Organisations conducting blasting operations using explosions of two or more borehole, pocket or chamber charges assembled into a common blasting network, irrespective of the length of the working being charged, and also of single charges in workings of a length of more than 10 m (hereinafter - mass blast), shall have a standard drilling and blasting (blasting) operations design.
407. The standard drilling and blasting operations design sets out: a situation plan indicating the boundaries of the quarry field, the construction objects, buildings, structures, power transmission lines and utilities located within the maximum danger zone; brief geological and hydrogeological characteristics of the rocks and minerals, their classification by strength, fracturing, drillability and blastability; technological conditions (the width of the working areas, the height of the benches); methods and general calculations of the parameters of the drilling and blasting operations; the justification for the choice of the diameters of the blast-holes and boreholes, of the explosive substances and means of initiation, of the means of mechanisation of the drilling and blasting operations, and of the blasting and control-and-measuring instruments; the methods of blasting; the diagrams of the blasting network; the designs of the charges and primers (intermediate detonators); the method of calculating the delay intervals and the adopted intervals; the parameters of the arrangement of the boreholes on the benches; the consumption coefficients and calculated blast indices (the specific consumption of explosive substances, the yield of rock mass per 1 linear metre of borehole); the method of calculating safe distances, and a standard sheet for the breaking of oversized rock. The standard design shall be approved by the head (technical head) of the organisation conducting the blasting operations, or by the person deputising for him. Where the blasting operations are performed by contractor organisations, the specified design shall be approved by the heads (technical heads) of the customer's and the contractor's organisations or by the persons deputising for them, with specific indication of the duties of the parties on matters of ensuring the safety of the work and the security of the explosive materials.
408. On the basis of the standard design, a drilling and blasting (blasting) operations design (a mass blast design) for specific conditions is developed, consisting of: (a) a technical calculation with a diagram of the arrangement of the boreholes and graphic materials; (b) a table of the parameters of the blasting operations; (c) a schedule for conducting the mass blast. The information that shall be contained in the technical calculation, the table of the parameters of the blasting operations and the schedule for conducting the mass blast, and also the recommended forms for completion, are given in Appendix No. 10, Appendix No. 11 and Appendix No. 12 to these Rules. Amendments and additions may be made to the specified information that take into account the specific features of carrying out the blasting operations and ensure their safety.
409. Under identical mining-engineering and hydrogeological conditions, where a standard design is available, mass blasts may be carried out in accordance with designs for the drilling of blocks and tables of the parameters of the blasting operations, with diagrams of the actual arrangement of the boreholes, subject to the mandatory drawing up of schedules for conducting such blasts.
410. In an organisation conducting blasting operations, a document shall be developed defining the procedure for the preparation and conduct of mass blasts, which is approved by the technical head of the organisation conducting the blasting operations, or by the person deputising for him. The procedure for the preparation and conduct of mass blasts with the involvement of contractor organisations shall be defined by a joint document of the customer and the contractors. The procedure for the preparation and conduct of mass blasts shall provide for measures for notification of mass blasts to the workers of the organisation conducting the blasting operations and of the organisations located near the places where the blasting operations are conducted, to the local self-government bodies (where necessary) and to the population.
411. The technical calculation and the diagram of the arrangement of the boreholes shall consist of an explanatory note with calculations and of graphic documentation. These documents are drawn up taking into account the actual mining, geological and hydrogeological conditions, and also the instructions of the mine surveying service and the results of previous blasts. For drawing up the diagrams, horizon plan-boards may be used, on the extract copies of which the points of location of the boreholes are indicated. The points of location of the boreholes shall be set out on site.
412. After the drilling of the boreholes, a mine survey of the drilled block is carried out and a plan is drawn up indicating the actual position of the benches and boreholes. A table of the parameters of the blasting operations, in which the calculated data are indicated, is plotted on the plan or is drawn up as a separate document. During or upon completion of the charging, the actual parameters shall be entered in the table.
413. After the mine survey, the prepared block is handed over for the further performance of the work to the blasting section or shop, or to a production subdivision of the contractor organisation, in accordance with a report (a recommended form is given in Appendix No. 13 to these Rules). If the drilling and blasting operations are performed by a single section (shop), a report is not drawn up.
414. On the basis of the procedure for the preparation and conduct of mass blasts established in the organisation conducting the blasting operations, a schedule for conducting the specific mass blast shall be drawn up, which shall be approved by the technical head of the organisation or by a person appointed by an administrative document of the organisation. Where the blasting operations are performed by the contractor method, the schedule for conducting the specific mass blast shall be approved by the technical heads of the customer's and the contractor's organisations or by persons appointed by administrative documents of the organisations.
415. The schedule for conducting the specific mass blast shall indicate the responsible person in charge of the mass blast.
416. The responsible person in charge of the mass blast shall arrange for the workers to be familiarised with the documentation on the blast and shall communicate to them the procedure for its preparation and conduct and the necessary safety measures.
417. Upon completion of the assembly of the blasting network, the responsible person in charge of the mass blast, and, when several blocks are fired simultaneously, the blasters specially appointed as responsible for the charging and preparation for the blast of the individual blocks, check the conformity of the assembly of the blasting network to the design switching diagrams, the reliability of the joints and connections, and the correctness of the installation of the delay elements. Any defects found shall be eliminated.
418. Stable two-way communication shall be ensured between the responsible person in charge of the mass blast and the blasters responsible for the charging and preparation for the blast of the individual blocks, and the senior blaster.
419. A mass blast from two or more blasting stations may be permitted only where there are means of stable radio communication between the responsible person in charge of the mass blast, the blasting stations and the senior blasters.
420. The responsible person in charge of the mass blast gives the instruction to give the firing signal only after receiving reports from the persons responsible for the charging and preparation for the blast of the blocks, for the guarding of the danger zone and the positioning of posts, and for the removal of persons from the territory of the danger zone, having reviewed the completed table of the parameters of the blasting operations and having ascertained the performance of the actions listed in the schedule for conducting the mass blast.
421. No earlier than 15 minutes after the blast, the responsible person in charge of the mass blast arranges the inspection of the blasted blocks, with the adoption of measures preventing the poisoning by gases of the inspecting workers.
422. After the inspection of the blast site for the absence of misfires of the borehole charges and the reduction of the concentration of toxic blast products in the air to the established norms, the responsible person in charge of the mass blast gives the instruction to give the "All-clear" signal. On this signal, the posts guarding the danger zone are withdrawn. The admission of workers to their workplaces after mass blasts have been carried out is permitted after the responsible person in charge of the mass blast has received a message from a representative of the auxiliary mine rescue team or of the professional emergency rescue unit (service) on the reduction of the concentration of toxic blast products in the air to the established maximum permissible concentrations (MPC), but no earlier than 30 minutes after the blast, the dispersal of the dust cloud and the full restoration of visibility, and the inspection of the blast site(s).
423. The results of the mass blasts carried out shall be subject to systematic analysis for the purpose of taking decisions on refining the parameters and further improving the drilling and blasting operations.
424. Explosive materials shall be stored in rooms and places intended for this purpose that meet the established requirements. The arrangement of the storage of explosive materials shall preclude their loss, and the storage conditions - their spoilage.
425. Explosive materials of different compatibility groups shall be stored separately - in separate storehouses or rooms. The following may be stored together: 1) black (compatibility group D) and smokeless (compatibility group C) powders, in accordance with the requirements applicable to the most sensitive of them; 2) safety fuse, the means of igniting it and powders, signal and powder cartridges and signal rockets (compatibility group G), with explosive materials of compatibility groups B, C and D; 3) detonating cord of compatibility groups D and S, with means of initiation of compatibility groups B and S. 4) means of initiation of compatibility group S and means of initiation of compatibility group B; 5) shaped charges of compatibility group S, with shaped charges of compatibility group D.
426. The places of storage of explosive materials, apart from mobile stores, the places of placement of explosive materials at the sites of blasting operations and the places of shift storage located near the places where blasting operations are conducted, shall be commissioned by a commission for assessing the conformity of the place of storage to the established requirements and the design documentation, which shall include representatives of the owner organisation and of the territorial body of the executive authority in the field of industrial safety. The acceptance shall be documented by a report.
427. Complexes of structures and buildings intended for the storage of explosive materials, and also of structures of auxiliary purpose, located on a common territory (surface, semi-recessed explosive materials stores), chambers and cells for the storage of explosive materials and auxiliary chambers with mine workings leading to the store (underground, recessed explosive materials stores), and other places of storage of explosive materials shall be equipped in accordance with designs approved in accordance with the established procedure, and shall be operated in accordance with the requirements of these Rules.
428. According to their location relative to the ground surface, explosive materials stores are divided into surface, semi-recessed, recessed and underground stores. Surface stores are those the foundations of whose storehouses are located at ground level; semi-recessed - stores the storehouse buildings of which are recessed into the ground below the ground surface by not more than the cornice; recessed - stores in which the thickness of the ground above the storehouse is less than 15 m, and underground - accordingly more than 15 m.
429. Depending on the period of operation, stores are divided into permanent - three years or more, temporary - up to three years, and short-term - up to one year. The periods of operation of an explosive materials store are calculated from the moment of delivery of the explosive materials.
430. The operation of short-term stores may be extended for one subsequent term, subject to repeated acceptance by a commission.
431. At explosive materials stores, ammonium nitrate shall be stored in separate storehouses (on separate areas), chambers and cells.
432. Organisations carrying out work with explosive materials shall have, for each permanent, temporary and short-term stationary explosive materials store, and also for the dispensing chambers, Data Sheets (a recommended form is given in Appendix No. 19 to these Rules) reflecting the maximum actual load of the store. One copy of the Data Sheet shall be kept at the workplace of the manager of the explosive materials store. Additions may be made to the form of the Data Sheet that correspond to the actual conditions of storage of explosive materials at the explosive materials store and ensure the completeness of the accounting of the explosive materials.
433. The illumination in all places where explosive materials are stored and where work with them is carried out shall ensure normal working conditions. At the places where work with means of initiation is carried out, the illumination shall be not less than 30 lx.
434. Explosive materials at the stores shall be placed on racks or decks (pallets) in factory packaging or other containers. The placement of unpacked containers with explosive materials in an unclosed state shall not be permitted.
435. In rooms for the storage of explosive materials, the floors shall be without cracks and even, and the walls - whitewashed or painted.
436. At explosive materials stores, the racks for explosive substances and means of initiation and the stacks for explosive materials shall be positioned at not less than 20 cm from the walls and at not less than 10 cm from the floor. Sacks and boxes with explosive substances shall be placed on decks (pallets). The height of a stack shall not exceed 2 m. Across the width of a stack, not more than two sacks (boxes) may be placed, so that the counting of the packages is freely ensured. When using means of mechanisation of loading and unloading operations, boxes and sacks with explosive substances may be stored in packs on pallets, including in sling containers, up to two tiers in height. The order of placement of pallets and sling containers shall be determined by the design. The maximum height of the stacks shall not exceed 2.6 m. Between the stacks, including those with sling containers, and the racks, passages shall be left with a width of, respectively, not less than 1.3 and 1 m.
437. On racks, boxes, sacks and other packages containing explosive materials shall be placed no more than two high, and in stacks (sling containers) - in accordance with the requirements of standards (technical specifications). Opened packages containing explosive materials of groups B and C shall be placed only in a single layer in height. The height of the upper shelves of racks for such explosive materials shall not exceed 1.7 m, and for others - 2 m. The distance between each two shelves shall be such that gaps of not less than 4 cm remain between the boxes (sacks) containing explosive materials and the shelves above them. Across the width of a shelf, placing boxes in more than two rows shall be prohibited, and when placed against walls where there is no passage - in more than one row. The heads of iron nails and bolts used to secure shelves in explosive materials storehouses shall be fully recessed. The boards of rack shelves shall be laid with gaps of up to 3 cm. The bottom shelf shall be solid.
438. Near the chambers, racks and stacks in an explosive materials store, plates shall be displayed indicating the names of the explosive substances, means of initiation or perforating and explosive apparatus, their quantity, batch number, date of manufacture and the guaranteed storage period (the extended storage period, where the extension is provided for by the documentation for the relevant explosive materials).
439. Electric detonators, electric igniter tubes and electric igniters, and also articles with explosive substances containing them, in stores and other places of storage of explosive materials shall be kept only in factory or specially intended packaging (containers).
440. Igniter tubes and control tubes shall be manufactured in a room of the explosive materials preparation building that is separated from the explosive substances preparation room by a permanent wall of non-combustible materials or by a wall that is plastered and coated with non-combustible paint where combustible materials are used. The table on which igniter tubes and control tubes are manufactured shall, where several blasters work, be divided along its entire length by transverse wooden partitions ensuring safe work on the manufacture of the tubes. The floors of rooms at the places of manufacture and storage of igniter tubes and control tubes (control lengths of safety fuse) shall have a soft covering. Prepared igniter tubes shall be stored in the storehouses of the explosive materials store (in the distribution chamber) in metal or wooden boxes (cabinets) faced on the outside with metal sheets, and in cassettes with a soft lining inside. The boxes shall be closed with lids.
441. In scientific, research and educational organisations, explosive materials shall be stored in special safe-stores (safe-rooms). Storage of explosive materials in one room but in different safes is permitted. In this case, no more than 10 kg of explosive substances or 500 detonators and 300 m each of detonating cord and safety fuse may be stored in each safe. A safe for storing means of initiation shall be lined inside with a soft material, earthed and placed at a distance that is safe with respect to the transmission of detonation from the safe containing explosive substances, but no closer than 2 m to it. In this case, the joint storage (in one safe) of newly manufactured explosive materials together with explosive materials for which permits are held shall not be permitted. Such safe-stores (safe-rooms) and rooms with safes shall have non-combustible walls and floor slabs. In adjacent rooms there shall be no workplaces with the permanent presence of people. These rooms shall be partitioned off from neighbouring rooms by a permanent brick or concrete wall not less than 25 cm thick. The door in the room shall be made of a material with a fire resistance limit of not less than 45 minutes. The room shall be equipped with fire and security alarm systems.
442. During the repair of explosive materials storage places, they shall be cleared of explosive substances, means of initiation, perforating and explosive apparatus, which shall be temporarily placed in other storehouses (on sites). If a storehouse is divided into parts by a permanent wall, then, for the duration of the repair of one part, explosive materials may be stored in the other.
443. Surface permanent stores shall meet the following requirements: have a fire-fighting reservoir (tank, borehole, pumps, hydrants). The need to provide a fire-fighting reservoir (tank, borehole) in the conditions of the Far North shall be determined in the design, taking into account the specific conditions; storehouses shall be located so that free approach and access to each of them is ensured; the distances between individual storehouses, between other buildings and structures on the store territory, and to facilities outside the territory shall comply with the requirements of fire safety and of Chapter XII of these Rules; stores shall be fenced and have a prohibited zone with a width from the fence of not less than 50 m. Warning signs shall be installed at the boundaries of the prohibited zone.
444. Storehouses for explosive substances, means of initiation, perforating and explosive apparatus; sites for storing explosive materials in containers; the building (room) for the issue of explosive materials; the building for the preparation of explosive materials; the laboratory; receiving ramps and other facilities connected with the receipt, storage and shipment of explosive materials shall be located on the store territory within the fence. Charging machines loaded with explosive substances may be placed on a specially designated site on the territory of the explosive materials store for a period of not more than two days. Storehouses (storage sites) for ammonium nitrate, emulsion storehouses, surface points for the production and/or preparation of explosive substances, and also the storehouses of explosive-substance components relating to them may be located both on the territory of the explosive materials store and in the prohibited zone.
445. The range for the testing and destruction of explosive materials and the burning of packaging; the guardhouse; the administrative and amenity building; the maintenance and refuelling points for mechanisation equipment; boiler houses, tanks for petroleum products; water-supply and sewerage pumping stations; transformer substations shall be located beyond the prohibited zone of the store. A shed, container, racks or canopy for storing packaging, components and spent perforator modules (perforating and explosive apparatus) may be placed within the prohibited zone no closer than 25 m from the store fence.
446. Facilities not belonging to the explosive materials store (buildings, structures) and populated areas shall be located outside the danger zone, determined in accordance with the requirements of Chapter XII of these Rules.
447. The distance from the fence to the nearest storehouse shall be not less than 40 m. In mountainous areas this distance may be reduced in agreement with the territorial body of the executive authority in the field of industrial safety. The fence shall be made of barbed wire, wood, brick, stone or metal. The height of the fence shall be not less than 2 m. Along the top of a fence made of wood, brick, stone or metal, barbed wire (tape) in four strands or spiral barbed wire (tape) in a single row shall be stretched over metal rods not less than 0.5 m high. Gates and a wicket gate, locked with locks, shall be provided in the fence.
448. On the store territory and in the prohibited zone around it, trees and shrubs shall be cut down, and dry grass, thickets, brushwood and readily flammable objects removed.
449. In cases of the seasonal delivery of explosive materials, work of a mobile nature, and also in the areas of the Far North, the storage of explosive materials and ammonium nitrate in containers on open sites is permitted. Sites for containers may be constructed on the territory of explosive materials stores and as independent stores with container sites. Containers shall be in good order, locked with locks, sealed (stamped) and numbered. When operations for the issue of explosive materials to blasters and the receipt from them of unused explosive materials are carried out at such an explosive materials store, the placement of explosive materials in the containers from which the issue (receipt) was carried out shall comply with the requirements for the placement of explosive materials in explosive materials storehouses established by these Rules.
450. When explosive substances are stored in containers on sites, their placement in two tiers is permitted. Between the rows of containers, passages shall be left with a width ensuring the passage of hoisting and transport mechanisms.
451. When unpackaged ammonium nitrate arrives at an explosive materials store, it may be stored in bunkers having devices for its mechanised loading and unloading. The storage period of ammonium nitrate in a bunker without reloading or loosening shall not exceed 10 days.
452. In permanent and temporary stores, the unsealing of packaging, and also the issue to blasters and the receipt of unused explosive substances, means of initiation, perforating and explosive apparatus, shall be carried out in the vestibules of storehouses, in the preparation building or the issue building of explosive materials. The storage of explosive materials in these rooms shall be prohibited.
453. When an explosive materials issue building is provided at an explosive materials store (for carrying out operations for the issue of explosive materials to blasters and the receipt from them of unused explosive substances, means of initiation, perforating and explosive apparatus), this building shall be situated near the entry (entrance) to the store, but no closer than 20 m from the explosive materials storehouses, and shall be constructed of non-combustible materials. Where the simultaneous issue of explosive materials and means of initiation is necessary, the issue building shall be divided into two parts by a solid non-combustible permanent (brick or concrete) wall not less than 25 cm thick: for explosive substances and for means of initiation. This building shall be equipped with vestibules for the separate issue and receipt of explosive substances and means of initiation. The total quantity of explosive materials of all names (articles) located in this room during the issue shall not exceed 3 thousand kg, including detonators - not more than 10 thousand units. The storage of explosive materials in this room shall be prohibited.
454. The manufacture (preparation) of primers with detonating cord at explosive materials stores shall be carried out in a separate building - the explosive materials preparation building.
455. Work on marking individual indices on means of initiation and checking the resistance of electric detonators shall be carried out in rooms separate from the explosive materials storage places - in the vestibules of storehouses, in the preparation building or the issue building of explosive materials.
456. Work with detonators and electric detonators (issue and receipt, marking of individual indices, checking of resistance and other operations) shall be carried out on a special table with raised edges, covered with tarpaulin over felt or with a semi-conducting rubber plate not less than 3 mm thick with a resistance of not more than 105 Ohm/m. To eliminate the hazardous effect of static electricity charges on electric detonators, the table shall be earthed, and the resistance of the earthing electrode shall not exceed 100 Ohm.
457. Storehouses containing explosive materials shall be locked with locks and sealed (stamped). In explosive materials stores with round-the-clock issue and receipt of explosive materials and the permanent duty of issuers, the sealing or stamping of storehouses need not be carried out.
458. Each explosive materials storehouse shall be ventilated and protected against the penetration of precipitation. Explosive materials storehouses shall be provided with natural supply-and-exhaust ventilation.
459. Permanent and temporary explosive materials stores shall have two types of lighting - working and standby (emergency).
460. The temperature in the storehouses of stores and in containers holding ammonium-nitrate-based explosive substances shall not exceed 30 °C.
461. Loading and unloading operations with explosive materials at stores shall be performed by mechanisms whose lifting capacity is not less than the nominal gross mass of the packaged explosive materials, and also by hand. The load-hoisting winches of lifting machines (and, on jib cranes, also the boom-hoisting winches) shall be equipped with two brakes. When working inside the storehouses of an explosive materials store, lifting mechanisms with internal combustion engines shall be fitted with an exhaust gas neutralisation system and spark arresters, and the electrical equipment (electric forklifts, electric hoists) shall meet the electrical safety requirements for premises of class B-IIa.
462. The explosive materials storehouses of permanent stores shall be constructed of non-combustible materials. When frame-and-fill walls and partitions are constructed, lean concrete or slag may be used as the fill. The walls of frame-and-fill and log explosive materials storehouses and the partitions shall be coated with a non-combustible composition or plastered on the inner and outer sides. Wooden ceilings in explosive materials storehouses shall be plastered or coated with a non-combustible composition. In areas with a dry climate, the erection of cob storehouses, and also storehouses of unfired or adobe brick, is permitted. The roofs of storehouses shall be constructed of non-combustible materials or coated with a non-combustible composition inside and outside. Each of the storehouses shall have an attic space (with reinforced-concrete floor slabs, the provision of attic spaces is not mandatory). In attic spaces, the storage of any objects or materials shall be prohibited. For access to the attic, a staircase installed on the outside of the building shall be provided. Attic entrances shall be locked with a lock and sealed or stamped.
463. The floors in storehouses shall be wooden, concrete, asphalted or cob.
464. In storehouses intended for the issue of explosive materials in small batches, at least one vestibule shall be provided. The vestibule shall have dimensions of 2 x 2 m and be constructed of non-combustible materials. The entrance through the vestibule shall be equipped with at least two double-leaf doors opening outwards: one of them leads from the outside into the vestibule, the second - from the vestibule into the storehouse. The outer door shall be solid, faced with roofing steel. The second door shall be a lattice door, wooden or metal. In storehouses having ramps and means of mechanising loading and unloading work, the provision of vestibules is not mandatory, but both doors shall be installed.
465. The number of entrances to an explosive materials storehouse shall be determined on the basis that the maximum distance from the storehouse entrance to the most remote point of one room along the passages is not more than 15 m, and where loading and unloading work is mechanised - 25 m.
466. The windows of storehouses shall be fitted with steel gratings made of rod not less than 15 mm in diameter, which shall be welded at each intersection, forming cells of not more than 150 x 150 mm. The ends of the rods shall be embedded in the wall to a depth of not less than 80 mm. The gratings shall be coated with light-coloured paint. The glass of windows facing the sunny side shall be matt or coated with white paint. The ratio of the light-transmitting surface of the windows to the floor area shall be from 1:25 to 1:30.
467. If the distance from the places of storage or processing of explosive materials to protected facilities is less than the values provided for in Chapter XII of these Rules, then the provision of embankments is mandatory. In this case, the safe distances are calculated in the same way as for the case of a buried charge.
468. Embankments shall be formed only from plastic or loose soils. The use of stone, crushed stone and combustible materials for forming embankments shall be prohibited. In the areas of the Far North, the forming of embankments from local materials is permitted, provided that the stores are built at distances safe (in terms of the scatter range of soil fragments) from residential buildings and structures.
469. Embankments shall be 1.5 m higher than the upper level of a stack (rack) of explosive materials. The width of embankments at the top shall be not less than 1 m. The width of embankments at the bottom is determined by the angle of natural repose of the soil from which the embankment is formed.
470. For the provision of exits where a storehouse is fully embanked, the embankments shall have a gap, in front of which a protective embankment shall be placed. The length of the protective embankment shall be taken such that a straight line drawn in plan from the nearest corner of the building through the nearest end point of the crest of the main embankment and continued further passes through the crest of the protective embankment.
471. The requirements for electrical installations (switchgear, substations, emergency power sources), the category of electrical consumers and the provision of reliability are determined in the design, taking into account regulatory documents.
472. The electrical installations of explosive materials stores, including power and lighting networks, shall be provided with protection against current leakage and short-circuit currents, and also against electric shock to people. The earthing of the electrical installations of explosive materials stores shall be carried out in accordance with the design.
473. The explosive materials store, the approaches to it and the explosive materials storehouses shall be lit. The lighting may be arranged along the perimeter of the fencing.
474. The working lighting of an explosive materials store shall be provided by lamps (luminaires) with a voltage of up to 230 V. The type of emergency lighting of the store is determined in the design. As emergency lighting for the store's storehouses, mining battery lamps or torches with dry batteries (with metal casings - in rubber covers) may be used. The use of hand-held portable lamps powered from the mains shall be prohibited in all rooms of the store. If the issue of explosive materials is carried out only during daylight hours, electric lighting of the storehouses is not mandatory.
475. Switches, fuses, distribution boards and plugs shall be installed outside the building in closed boxes or in an isolated room, which shall be provided with fire-fighting equipment.
476. For the lighting network inside storehouses, cables with a sheath that does not propagate combustion shall be used.
477. The fastening of cables to the walls and ceiling of rooms shall be carried out at intervals of not more than 0.8 m for horizontal and 2 m for vertical laying. For the joining and connection of cables, special couplings shall be used.
478. All surface and semi-buried stores shall be provided with telephone communication with the operating organisation, the fire service and the internal affairs body. Where it is not possible to provide telephone communication, the store may be provided with radio communication with the listed subscribers. The communication facilities shall be located outside explosion- and fire-hazardous rooms. The need to equip stores and storehouses with security and fire alarm systems shall be determined in the design.
479. On the territory of stores, sources of open flame, sparking and overheating of equipment, and also the operation of equipment unattended, shall not be permitted.
480. All stores shall be equipped with fire-fighting equipment, the range, quantity and location of which are established by the design.
481. To protect against forest and ground fires, the turf within a distance of not less than 5 m around each building shall be removed; around the store territory, at a distance of 10 m from the fence, ditches with a width at the top of not less than 1.5 m and a depth of not less than 0.5 m shall be provided, or a strip 5 m wide shall be ploughed to destroy vegetation. In permafrost conditions, the need to take such measures is determined by the design. In rocky and gravelly soils, the provision of a ditch or a ploughed strip is not mandatory.
482. In each store, instructions shall be displayed on the procedure for the actions of the store workers and its guards in the event of a fire, on the maintenance of fire-fighting equipment and its use. The store workers shall be familiarised with the instructions against signature.
483. Where there are facilities with stove heating, spark-arresting meshes shall be installed on the chimneys.
484. All mechanisms fitted with internal combustion engines and used in transport and loading-and-unloading operations with explosive materials, and also fire engines, shall be fitted with spark arresters.
485. Explosive materials stores shall have lightning protection, the arrangement and maintenance of which are determined by the requirements of Chapter XIII of these Rules.
486. Unused structures, sheds, dugouts and other similar premises may be adapted for use as the storehouses of temporary stores. These premises shall be ventilated and protected against the ingress of rain and snow into them. The fireboxes of stoves present in buildings adapted for use as storehouses shall be walled up.
487. In temporary stores: (a) the floors may be wooden, concrete or cob; (b) wooden walls and roofs shall be coated with a fire-retardant composition; (c) the fencing may be made of poles, wattle, boards and other similar materials, the height of the fence being not less than 2 m; (d) the provision of fire-fighting reservoirs (tanks, boreholes) is not mandatory; (e) the provision of vestibules is not mandatory, and the doors may be single-leaf; (f) the working lighting inside the storehouses may be provided by mining battery lamps or torches with dry batteries (with metal casings - in rubber covers); (g) in the premises being adapted, the existing dimensions of doors and windows may be retained. With the exception of the requirements listed in paragraphs 486 - 488 of these Rules, the same requirements apply to temporary stores as to permanent ones.
488. Temporary explosive materials stores established within the city limits may be located in the dry, ventilated cellars of unused structures or in rooms specially buried to a depth of up to 2.5 m with a top fill of not less than 2 m. Explosive substances, means of initiation, perforating and explosive apparatus shall be stored in rooms separated from each other and from the explosive materials preparation room by a brick (concrete) wall not less than 25 cm thick.
489. For carrying out work of a short-term nature, the storage of explosive materials is permitted in short-term stores: containers, unused structures, sheds, dugouts and similar structures.
490. At short-term explosive materials stores, the requirements of paragraphs 486 and 487 of these Rules shall be complied with. In this case, the provision of lightning protection, storehouse lighting, telephone communication, a ditch (fire-break strip) around the store fence and the clearing of trees from the prohibited zone around the explosive materials store are not mandatory. The fence of short-term stores may be installed at a distance no closer than 20 m from the nearest wall of the storehouse. The height of the fence shall be not less than 1.5 m. The prohibited zone around short-term explosive materials stores shall have a width of not less than 20 m. The wooden walls of the storehouses of short-term stores shall be coated on the outside and inside, as a fire-retardant composition, with a lime-salt solution in three layers. The roof, ceiling and attic floor structures of the store shall be non-combustible or also coated with a fire-retardant composition.
491. During the short-term storage of explosive materials in unused structures, in one storehouse the quantity of explosive substances shall not exceed 3 t of explosive substances and 10 thousand units of detonators with a corresponding quantity of detonating cord and safety fuse (means of igniting the safety fuse). The detonators shall be placed in a metal or wooden box lined inside with felt and on the outside with metal sheets. The box shall be installed at a distance no closer than 2 m from the explosive substances and locked with a lock.
492. When carrying out blasting work at seas, rivers, lakes and reservoirs, explosive materials may be stored on vessels specially equipped for this purpose.
493. The determination of the suitability of such vessels and the acceptance of rooms (storehouses) shall be carried out by commissions in accordance with the established procedure.
494. Storehouses for explosive materials may be arranged only on vessels in good order that have appropriate rooms for the storage of these materials. The use of non-self-propelled vessels as explosive materials storehouses when carrying out blasting work at sea shall be prohibited.
495. A vessel intended for the storage of explosive materials shall have separate rooms for explosive substances, means of initiation, perforating and explosive apparatus, with separate entrances.
496. For the mooring of a vessel, a place shall be selected that is remote from piers, residential, industrial and other buildings and structures by a safe distance and, in all cases, outside the navigable channel.
497. Vessels that previously served for the carriage of petroleum products, acids, potassium chlorate or other readily flammable substances shall be cleaned of them and washed with alkaline water before the loading of explosive materials.
498. Explosive materials shall be stowed and secured so that, in the event of a list of the vessel, rolling, impact or running aground, the possibility of their falling or striking is excluded.
499. In the event of a fire or a danger arising to the vessel, the possibility of the further storage of explosive materials is decided by the master.
500. When a vessel carrying explosive materials is moored at the shore, unauthorised persons shall not be allowed to approach it along the shore closer than 50 m. For this purpose, the shore mooring is fenced off from the land side with a fence (poles, barbed wire or rope). The ends of the fence shall extend into the water at a distance of not less than 3 m from the shore.
501. Vessels intended for the storage of explosive materials shall be equipped with lightning protection.
502. On vessels carrying out special work using explosive materials at sea, on lakes, reservoirs and rivers (dredging, diving, oceanographic, geophysical and other), and also on vessels of polar navigation using explosive materials to clear a passage through ice, other cargoes may be carried simultaneously with the explosive materials.
503. The storage of explosive materials directly on the deck of a vessel is permitted only on river vessels or vessels putting to sea for a period of not more than three days, provided that the explosive substances, means of initiation, perforating and explosive apparatus are stored in special containers separately from each other. The containers shall be securely fixed.
504. The lighting of explosive materials storehouses on technical vessels shall be electric, with the wiring, lighting fittings and switches located outside the storehouses. Battery lamps may be used as emergency lighting.
505. The loading of explosive materials on vessels carrying out special work shall be carried out only after the loading of other cargoes. The detonators shall be loaded last.
506. During navigation, the ship's explosive materials storehouses shall be under the constant observation of the workers carrying out the blasting work. When the vessel is moored in port, a guard shall be posted at the explosive materials storehouse.
507. On the return of the vessel from a voyage, all explosive materials shall be taken ashore and handed over to an explosive materials store.
508. For work of a mobile nature (including work on the blasting of ice, seismic survey work, perforating and blasting work, the fighting of forest fires, the destruction of explosive objects), the storage of explosive materials on specially equipped vehicles, trailers, carts and sledges (mobile stores) is permitted.
509. A mobile store shall be a sturdy van body (container) installed and permanently fixed on a vehicle, cart, trailer or sledge. A mobile explosive materials store may be self-propelled or non-self-propelled.
510. When the van body is made of wood, it shall be impregnated with a fire-retardant composition. For the internal lining, materials shall be used that do not cause sparks and are not capable of forming hazardous compounds with the cargo being carried.
511. A box (compartment) for means of initiation shall be placed in the front part of the van body. This box (compartment) shall be lined inside with a soft material (felt, rubber, foam rubber). The design of the box (compartment) shall exclude the transmission of detonation to the explosive substances in the event of an unforeseen explosion of the means of initiation. A workplace for the manager of the explosive materials store (issuer) shall also be provided in the van body.
512. The loading (unloading) of explosive substances shall be carried out through a door located on the right-hand or rear part of the van body. The doors shall be provided with mortise locks and devices preventing them from opening in the event of the locks disengaging, and also equipped with an alarm led to the cab of the vehicle and triggered when a door is opened.
513. When the van body is fitted with luminaires, the lamp fittings shall be placed in the ceiling. The electrical wiring shall be external, laid in a protective casing. Electrical wiring inside the body shall not be permitted.
514. When the van body is equipped with windows, they shall be provided with metal gratings. The windows in the front wall of the van body shall be arranged at the level of the rear window of the vehicle cab.
515. The motor transport used for equipping mobile explosive materials stores shall meet the requirements of the legislation of the Russian Federation in the field of the carriage of dangerous goods, and also the ADR. The towing of a mobile non-self-propelled explosive materials store when explosive materials are present in it shall be prohibited.
516. When carrying out blasting work to protect facilities from damage by ice drift and flood waters, the short-term storage of explosive materials on special sites for a period of not more than 30 days is permitted. For geophysical and other one-off blasting work, the short-term storage of explosive materials on special sites for a period of up to 90 days is permitted. In all cases, the explosive materials shall be placed on a wooden decking not less than 20 cm high above the ground and under a canopy or tarpaulin covering.
517. When explosive materials are stored on sites, the means of initiation shall be placed on separate sites or in tents located at a distance that is safe against the transmission of detonation of explosive substances, on the assumption that the means of initiation are treated as an active charge.
518. The total capacity of an underground (buried) store and the capacity of individual chambers (cells) shall be determined by the design, taking into account the limitations established by the second sub-paragraph of this paragraph. In coal and shale mines, the capacity of the store, excluding the capacity of the distribution chambers, shall not exceed a seven-day supply of explosive substances and a fifteen-day supply of means of initiation. The capacity of a chamber in chamber-type stores shall not exceed 2000 kg of explosive substances, and in cell-type stores no more than 400 kg of explosive substances may be stored in each cell.
519. Underground, explosive materials shall be stored in specially equipped workings - chambers or cells, which shall be arranged so that an explosion of explosive materials in one of them cannot cause detonation of explosive materials in the adjacent ones.
520. An underground store shall consist of workings in which the chambers or cells for storing explosive materials are located, as well as the approach workings and the auxiliary chambers.
521. The auxiliary chambers include chambers: for checking and marking electric detonators; for issuing explosive materials; for housing the means of mechanisation of blasting operations; for storing cassettes and bags; for housing electrical distribution devices and fire-fighting means. The listed chambers may be located in the dead ends of the workings approaching the store.
522. Blasting, monitoring and measuring instruments and devices, as well as cassettes and bags, in underground and buried explosive-materials stores shall be stored on special racks or in cabinets.
523. Each explosive-materials store shall be equipped with a direct telephone line to the dispatcher.
524. In underground stores, battery-powered loaders or other means of mechanisation of loading and unloading operations may be used only in an explosion-proof design.
525. District storage points for explosive materials shall be operated in accordance with instructions approved by the administrative documents of the organisation carrying out blasting operations with explosive materials.
526. The location of underground explosive-materials stores shall meet the following conditions: (a) the distance from any nearest point of the store to the mine shaft and the shaft-bottom workings, as well as to the ventilation doors whose destruction may deprive the whole mine or considerable sections of it of the inflow of fresh air, shall be not less than 100 m for a chamber-type store and 60 m for a cell-type store; (b) the distance from the nearest cell or chamber to the workings used for the constant passage of people shall be not less than 25 m for a chamber-type store and not less than 20 m for a cell-type store; (c) the distance from the store to the surface shall be not less than 30 m for a chamber-type store and not less than 15 m for a cell-type store; (d) the workings in which the chambers or cells for storing explosive materials (storage facilities) are located shall be connected to the main workings by not less than three approach workings, rectilinear or curvilinear, forming right angles with one another. The workings approaching the store shall end in dead ends not less than 2 m long and with a cross-sectional area of not less than 4 m2; (e) the width of the main working of the explosive-materials store in which loaders are used shall ensure their movement with a 90° turn and shall have dimensions exceeding the maximum dimensions of the loading and unloading mechanisms with their loads, including on curved sections, by not less than 60 cm on each side in width and 50 cm in height from the luminaires; (f) each store shall have two exits for people. During the construction of the underground railway and tunnels, as well as during the driving of underground mining-prospecting workings, temporary explosive-materials stores with one exit may be maintained where the store capacity does not exceed 1 t of explosive substances; (g) during the construction of the underground railway, the construction of tunnels and the driving by geological organisations of underground mining-prospecting workings, the distance from the nearest cell or chamber to the mine shaft, to the chambers and workings along which the main supply lines are laid (water-drainage and ventilation pipes, cables), and from the workings used for the passage of people, shall be not less than 15 m; (h) where there are rail tracks in the explosive-materials store, their electrical insulation from the mine-wide tracks shall be ensured. The connection of the workings in which the chambers (cells) are located to the main workings by a smaller number of approach workings is permitted, provided that steel doors localising an explosion in the storage facilities are installed between the storage facilities and the entries. The design and the installation locations of such doors are determined by the design. The location of explosive-materials stores between the workings of the main directions, the inclines, the gravity inclines and the manways associated with them shall not be permitted.
527. All workings of the explosive-materials store shall be supported with non-combustible support and shall be whitewashed or painted with non-combustible paint. In stable rocks, the support of the approach workings is not obligatory.
528. The store shall be ventilated with a stream of fresh air. The quantity of air supplied to the store shall ensure a fourfold hourly exchange in all workings. It shall be prohibited to direct the air stream leaving the store into workings with a fresh air stream.
529. An underground explosive-materials store shall be provided with primary and automatic fire-extinguishing means. At a distance of 10 m from each entrance to the store, a fire hydrant is installed on the fire-and-sprinkler pipeline. Next to it, a box with a fire hose and a fire nozzle is located. At the beginning of the workings approaching the chambers or cells of the store, fire doors shall be provided.
530. In the approach workings and in the explosive-materials stores of mines (pits) hazardous in respect of gas or dust, electrical equipment of an explosion-protected design shall be used, and in other mines (pits) of a mine-normal design. The electrical wiring for lighting in the stores and the approach workings may be made with armoured cable in a lead or polyvinyl-chloride sheath, or with flexible rubber cables with non-combustible insulation and sheath. For supplying the lighting installations, a voltage (line-to-line) not exceeding 220 V shall be used. The lighting network shall be protected against current leakage. The approach workings and the auxiliary chambers shall be lit by luminaires suspended from the roof of the working, while the chambers (cells) for storing explosive materials shall be lit by oblique light from the approach working through a transom located above the door.
531. When underground explosive-materials stores are equipped with an automatic security alarm system, the output of the signal to the console of the duty officer (dispatcher) of the organisation (mine, pit) shall be ensured.
532. In coal and shale mines working seams hazardous in respect of dust explosions, in the workings approaching the explosive-materials stores and the distribution chambers, an automatic explosion-suppression system acting in both directions of movement, or stone-dust or water barriers, shall be installed on both sides, and the workings themselves shall be periodically stone-dusted or cleaned of the deposited dust.
533. In the stores, at the entrance door and in the chamber for issuing explosive materials, telephones shall be installed.
534. The procedure for storing explosive materials and for maintaining and guarding the underground distribution chambers shall be the same as in the underground explosive-materials stores. In this case, explosive substances and means of initiation shall be stored in compartments separated from one another by a brick, concrete or similar wall not less than 25 cm thick. The maximum capacity of an individual distribution chamber in underground workings shall not exceed 2000 kg of explosive substances and the corresponding quantity of means of initiation. In the distribution chamber, a place for issuing explosive materials to the blasters shall be provided.
535. Distribution chambers shall be arranged no closer than 200 m from the places where people board passenger cars and where mined rock is loaded (unloaded). Distribution chambers with a capacity of up to 1000 kg of explosive substances may be arranged at a widening of the level workings, ventilated with a fresh air stream by means of the mine-wide depression, and shall be enclosed by a full-height brick, concrete or similar wall not less than 25 cm thick. A distribution chamber with a capacity of more than 1000 kg of explosive substances shall be located in a specially designated working, ventilated in the same way as explosive-materials stores, at a distance of not less than 25 m from the workings used for the constant passage of people.
536. Distribution chambers shall be supported with non-combustible support and shall have stationary lighting. The approach workings, over a length of not less than 5 m, shall also be supported with non-combustible support. In the working approaching the distribution chamber, there shall be metal doors - a solid one (fire door) and a lattice one with a window for issuing and receiving explosive materials. The doors shall have locking devices. For placing explosive materials in the distribution chambers, racks shall be arranged, and for storing blasting machines, wires, monitoring and measuring instruments, polyethylene bags and ampoules for hydraulic stemming, boxes shall be installed; explosive substances in factory packaging may be stored in stacks. On the side of the incoming air stream, a telephone shall be installed and a point for storing fire-protection means shall be equipped at the distribution chamber.
537. A district storage point for explosive materials shall be a working or part of a working enclosed by lattice walls (partitions), in which special metal cabinets (boxes) or lockable containers with explosive materials are installed. The door of the point shall be locked with an internal lock. The maximum capacity of an individual district storage point is no more than 1000 kg of explosive substances and the corresponding quantity of means of initiation.
538. At district storage points, metal safes or boxes made of metal sheets not less than 2 mm thick, as well as mine cars fitted with metal covers, may be used as cabinets (containers) for explosive materials. These containers with explosive materials, divided by partitions, shall be located directly in the working or installed in niches.
539. Where explosive materials are stored jointly at district storage points for explosive materials, the cabinet (box) shall be divided into not less than three compartments: for placing explosive substances and detonating cord; for storing blasting and monitoring-and-measuring instruments and wires; and for cassettes (bags) with means of initiation. All walls of the compartment for storing means of initiation shall be covered on the inside with soft material.
540. The metal cabinets installed at the district storage points for storing explosive materials shall be earthed. In this case, the contact resistance shall not exceed 2 Ohm. In rocks with high resistivity, the value of the contact resistance is established by a local instruction.
541. It shall be prohibited to carry out blasting operations closer than 30 m from explosive-materials stores, distribution chambers or district storage points for explosive materials where explosive substances (means of initiation) are present in them.
542. The mouths of the workings leading to a buried store shall be equipped with double doors opening outwards. The outer door shall be solid, of metal or of wood clad with roofing steel, and the inner one shall be lattice.
543. If the distance from the entrance to a buried store to the nearest chamber for storing explosive materials is more than 15 m, the store shall have two exits. The store shall be ventilated in accordance with the requirements for underground stores.
544. In front of the mouth of the working leading to a buried store, a protective embankment shall be built, with a height exceeding the height of the working by 1.5 m. The length of the protective embankment shall be not less than three times the width of the working, measured along the crest of the embankment, and the width not less than 1 m along the crest. The dimensions of the embankment at the base are determined by the angle of natural repose of the soil.
545. The chambers intended for storing explosive materials and the workings approaching them shall be supported with non-combustible support or with wooden support treated with a fire-retardant compound.
546. The electrical equipment of buried explosive-materials stores shall comply with the requirements of paragraph 530 of these Rules. The switching on and off of the lighting of the workings of a buried store shall be carried out from the surface.
547. In the absence of stationary sources of electrical energy, with the permission of the head (technical head) of the operating organisation or of a person appointed by him, individual mine battery lamps may be used for lighting in a buried store.
548. The storage facilities of buried explosive-materials stores are not equipped with lightning protection where the thickness of the covering layer is more than 10 m.
549. Where there are rail tracks and pipelines in the store, they shall be insulated from the rails and pipes laid on the ground surface.
550. The territory of buried explosive-materials stores shall be enclosed in such a way that the exits are located inside the fence.
551. Guard posts shall be located both at the entrance to the store and at the mouth of the ventilation workings and at the emergency exit, if these are not visible from the post located at the entrance to the store.
552. Other requirements for the arrangement of buried stores shall comply with those imposed on surface permanent stores.
553. Explosive materials delivered to the storage places shall be accepted by quantity and mass, entered into the records, and placed in the storage facilities or on the sites.
554. The organisation shall keep records of the receipt and expenditure of explosive materials at the explosive-materials stores in the Book of Records of the Receipt and Expenditure of Explosive Materials and in the Book of Records of the Issue and Return of Explosive Materials (the recommended forms are given in Appendices No. 14 and No. 15 to these Rules) <3>. ------------ <3> Books started before this Order enters into force shall be filled in until they are completed. Additions ensuring the completeness of the records of explosive materials may be made to those Books. The procedure for recording explosive substances manufactured at the places of blasting operations during the charging of boreholes (blastholes), or at points for producing explosive substances from non-explosive components, shall be established by an administrative document of the organisation (mine, pit, quarry, opencast mine). In the forms of records developed on the basis of this document, there shall be indicated the quantity of the manufactured explosive substance and the quantity of components expended for its preparation; the quantity of explosive substances charged into the boreholes (blastholes); the quantity of explosive substances returned to the store. The recording of ammonium nitrate held at the explosive-materials stores is in all cases carried out in the same manner as for explosive materials. In the passports of the explosive-materials stores, the storage places of ammonium nitrate are shown as a separate line.
555. The individual factory numbers of items containing explosive substances, as well as the individual marking indices of the means of initiation, shall be registered in the Book of Records of the Issue and Return of Explosive Materials when issued to the blasters.
556. The Book of Records of the Receipt and Expenditure of Explosive Materials shall be numbered, laced and fastened with the stamp or seal of the territorial body of the federal executive authority in the field of industrial safety (with the stamp of an inspector of the territorial body of the federal executive authority in the field of industrial safety). The Book shall be kept by the managers and distributors of the explosive-materials stores. Explosive materials of each designation shall be recorded separately. For each designation of explosive materials, the following are entered in the book: the day and month of receipt; from where and under which documents they were received; the date of manufacture and the batch number; the receipt for the day; the total receipt since the beginning of the month; the day and month of expenditure; to where and under which documents they were issued; the number of the issued batch; the expenditure for the day; the total issued since the beginning of the month. The balance of explosive materials for each designation shall be calculated and entered in the book at the end of the current day; in doing so, entries shall be made only for those explosive materials whose quantity has changed (receipt from the manufacturing plants, issue for blasting operations, return of unused explosive materials, destruction of explosive materials) during the past day.
557. The Book of Records of the Issue and Return of Explosive Materials shall be numbered, laced and fastened with the stamp or seal of the territorial body of the executive authority in the field of industrial safety (with the stamp of an inspector of the territorial body of the federal executive authority in the field of industrial safety). The Book of Records of the Issue and Return of Explosive Materials is drawn up at the stores and distribution chambers from which explosive materials are issued to the blasters and the balances of explosive materials are received from them. It shall also be kept by the store manager and the distributors. The Book of Records of the Issue and Return of Explosive Materials shall contain: the date of issue of explosive materials to the blaster; the surname and initials of the blaster who received the explosive materials; the date and number of the order-route sheet; the designation of the issued explosive materials; the number of the batches and items; the quantity of the issued explosive materials; the signature of the blaster confirming receipt of these explosive materials; the quantity of the expended explosive materials; the quantity of the returned explosive materials with the numbers of the batches and items; the signature of the distributor (store manager) confirming receipt of the returned explosive materials.
558. At the end of each day, the quantity and the designations of explosive materials expended shall be calculated, and their expenditure shall be recorded below the line (the explosive materials issued minus those returned). The quantity of explosive materials expended during the day shall be recorded daily in the Book of Records of the Receipt and Expenditure of Explosive Materials. If no issue or return of explosive materials was carried out during the day, the corresponding columns in the Book of Records of the Issue and Return of Explosive Materials are not filled in; in this case, the basis for entering data on the returned explosive materials in the Book of Records of the Issue and Return is the order-route sheet that has been completed (bearing the signatures of the blaster and the person in charge of the blasting operations confirming the actual expenditure of explosive materials for their intended purpose) after the end of the blasting operations and submitted to the store. If the completed order-route sheet has not been submitted to the store, including because the blasting operations last more than a day, the data on the quantity of explosive materials expended by the blaster during the current day are not entered in that book. Information on the explosive materials expended by the blaster is entered in the Book of Records of the Issue and Return of Explosive Materials on the date of submission of the completed order-route sheet.
559. The order-waybill (the recommended form is given in Appendix No. 17 to these Rules) is used to formalise the release of explosive materials from one storage place to another and shall be issued to the recipient for presentation at the store together with the power of attorney for receiving explosive materials. Additions ensuring the completeness of the records of explosive materials may be made to the order-waybill form. The order-waybill shall contain the name of the recipient (explosive-materials store, district point, deliverer) and the date of release of explosive materials; the designations of the explosive materials; the quantity of explosive materials requested; the quantity of explosive materials released; the date of manufacture and the batch number; the signature of the person who issued and the signature of the person who received the explosive materials. After dispatch of the explosive materials, the store manager (distributor) shall keep one copy of the order-waybill at the store and issue the other to the recipient as an accompanying document. When explosive materials are transferred from one explosive-materials store to another belonging to the same organisation, the store manager, having released the explosive materials, shall leave one copy at the store and issue one copy to the recipient as an accompanying document. When explosive materials are delivered from store to store, the deliverer who received the explosive materials and the store manager (distributor) who issued the explosive materials shall sign the order-waybill for the receipt and issue of the explosive materials. The release of explosive materials to deliverers from the store for transport to the district storage points and to the places of blasting operations shall also be carried out under order-waybills. In such cases, the order-waybill may be signed by the person in charge of the blasting operations on the shift. The store manager (distributor), having released the requested explosive materials, shall keep one copy of the order-waybill at the store and issue the other to the deliverer as an accompanying document".
560. The movement of explosive materials at the district storage points shall be recorded in the Book of Records of the Receipt and Expenditure of Explosive Materials (the recommended form is given in Appendix No. 16 to these Rules). Additions ensuring the completeness of the records of explosive materials may be made to that Book. For each designation of explosive materials, the following are entered in the book: the date and the shift on which the explosive materials were received; the surname and initials of the person who delivered the explosive materials; the number and date of the order-waybill; the quantity of received explosive substances and means of initiation, with the item numbers indicated; the signatures of the persons who delivered and received the explosive materials; the number of the order-route sheet; the quantity of issued explosive substances and means of initiation, with the item numbers indicated; the signatures of the persons who received and issued the explosive materials; the quantity of returned explosive substances and means of initiation, with the item numbers indicated; the signatures of the persons who handed over and accepted the returned materials; the balance of explosive substances and means of initiation, with the item numbers indicated, at the district point at the end of the shift.
561. The order-route sheet for carrying out blasting operations (the recommended form is given in Appendix No. 18 to these Rules) serves for the issue of explosive materials to the blasters. The order-route sheet indicates: the surname, first name and patronymic (if any) of the blaster; the date and place of the blasting operations (the designation of the workings, benches and other objects); the number of charges in the blastholes (boreholes) to be blasted; the mass of the charges in the blastholes (boreholes); the quantity of explosive substances and means of initiation written out; the quantity of explosive substances and means of initiation issued; the number of blasted charges in the blastholes (boreholes), with the mass of the charges indicated; the quantity of expended explosive substances and means of initiation; the total expenditure of explosive materials; the balance of explosive materials, certified by the signature of the store manager or distributor; the surnames and initials of the workers engaged in the delivery of explosive materials. Additions ensuring the completeness of the records of explosive materials may be made to the order-route sheet form. The order-route sheet shall be signed by the person in charge of the blasting operations appointed by an administrative document of the organisation carrying out blasting operations. In mines and pits hazardous in respect of gas or dust, in addition, the order-route sheet shall be signed by the head of the ventilation service or the person deputising for him and shall be approved by the technical head of the mine (pit) or the person deputising for him. After the blasting operations, the blaster in whose name the order-route sheet was issued and the person in charge of the blasting operations on the shift shall confirm by their signatures on the order-route sheet the actual expenditure of explosive materials for their intended purpose. On completion of the blasting operations, the balances of explosive materials shall be handed over by the blasters personally to the person responsible for the issue and receipt of explosive materials (the distributor, the manager of the explosive-materials store). On completion of the blasting operations, the completed order-route sheet shall be handed over by the blasters personally to the person responsible for the issue and receipt of explosive materials (the distributor, the manager of the explosive-materials store). The transfer of the order-route sheet to other persons and the unjustified delay in its submission constitute a violation of the established procedure. Explosive materials shall not be issued to blasters who have not accounted for the expenditure of the explosive materials previously received. At the store, the order-route sheet is the basis for entering the issued explosive materials in the Book of Records of the Issue and Return of Explosive Materials, and, when completed after the end of the work, for writing them off in the Book of Records of the Receipt and Expenditure of Explosive Materials.
562. In the receipt-and-expenditure documents, including the Book of Records of the Receipt and Expenditure of Explosive Materials and the Book of Records of the Issue and Return of Explosive Materials, entries in pencil, smudges and erasures of entries shall not be permitted, and corrections shall be made by inserting new figures. Each correction shall be explained and signed by the person who made it.
563. The receipt-and-expenditure documents listed in paragraphs 554 - 561 shall be kept for not less than three years.
564. At the explosive-materials store, there shall be specimen signatures of the persons entitled to sign order-route sheets and order-waybills for the release of explosive materials, as well as specimen signatures of the persons entitled to confirm the actual expenditure of explosive materials. The specimen signatures shall be certified by the head of the organisation carrying out work with explosive materials or by a person appointed by him. The release of explosive materials under those documents signed by other persons shall be prohibited.
565. The procedure for recording explosive materials in the distribution chambers shall be similar to that established for the explosive-materials stores.
566. To receive explosive materials that have arrived at a railway station, a wharf or another transport point, the head (technical head) of the organisation carrying out work with explosive materials shall send a worker responsible for the receipt, with a power of attorney, and a guard.
567. The organisation carrying out work with explosive materials shall keep records of the receipt and expenditure of explosive materials on the basis of the receipt-and-expenditure documents submitted by the managers of the explosive-materials stores.
568. The correctness of the recording, storage and availability of explosive materials at the stores shall be checked monthly by persons appointed by an administrative document of the organisation carrying out work with explosive materials. It is permitted not to unpack unopened boxes, sacks, packets, cartons and containers where the seal and the packaging are sound and intact.
569. The number of electric detonators, detonator caps, pyrotechnic relays and other means of initiation in opened boxes shall be checked outside the storage facility or in the vestibule of the storage facility, in a separate chamber. In this case, the items shall be laid out on tables meeting the established requirements.
570. If a shortage or surplus of explosive materials is detected during a check, this shall be immediately reported to the head of the organisation carrying out work with explosive materials, to the territorial body of the federal executive authority in the field of industrial safety and to the internal affairs bodies.
571. These Rules establish the requirements for the arrangement and operation of stationary points for the production of granular and water-containing explosive substances for industrial use, and of emulsions for the production of these explosive substances (hereinafter - "production points"), and of points for preparation for use (the unpacking of factory-produced explosive substances and their loading into charging (mixing-and-charging) machines and transport machines) of factory-produced explosive substances. These Rules apply to all points for the production and preparation of granular and water-containing explosive substances for industrial use (hereinafter - explosive substances) located on the surface and in the underground workings of pits and mines.
572. The requirements of this Chapter of the Rules do not apply to the production of explosive substances in mobile mixing-and-charging machines. The requirements for the arrangement of charging, delivery and mixing equipment intended for the mechanisation of blasting operations are given in Chapter XIV of these Rules.
573. At the explosive-substance production points, explosive substances of the following compositions may be produced: cold-mixed mixtures of granular ammonium nitrate with liquid and solid petroleum, powdered or otherwise-originating non-explosive combustibles; cold-mixed mixtures of granular ammonium nitrate with granular or flaked TNT; cold-mixed mixtures of granular ammonium nitrate with granular (flaked) TNT and liquid and solid petroleum, powdered or otherwise-originating non-explosive combustibles; water-containing suspension mixtures, emulsions and emulsion explosive substances based on a solution of ammonium nitrate, or its solution with additions of calcium or sodium nitrate or urea, with powdered and liquid non-explosive combustibles.
574. In the design and construction of an explosive substances production and (or) preparation facility, the safe distances in terms of the damaging effect of an explosion, determined by calculation, shall be taken into account. For the calculation of the safe distances, the maximum quantity of explosive (explosion-hazardous) substance present at the explosive substances production and (or) preparation facility and capable of simultaneous explosive decomposition in emergency situations is taken. Ammonium, sodium and calcium nitrate and sodium nitrite, in pure form and in solution, are not taken into account in the design loading. In emulsion production, in cases where, between the emulsification apparatus and the mixing-charging machine, measures to prevent the transmission of the explosive process and a device to protect the emulsion tanks of the mixing-charging machine against the direct impact of fragments in the event of possible destruction of the emulsification apparatus are provided, the mass of the emulsion in the mixing-charging machine is not taken into account when calculating safe distances.
575. In prominent places in buildings and work rooms, signs shall be posted indicating the locations of fire extinguishers, the locations of the activation buttons of the fire-extinguishing system and of the fire detectors, as well as signs indicating the hazard category of the production processes.
576. Where phases and operations of different hazard categories of one and the same production are located in one and the same building (room), appropriate protective devices against the spread of fire (a fire wall, drencher deluge, protection of openings) shall be provided at each phase.
577. The phase of preparing sodium nitrite solution shall be located in a separate isolated room of the building for the preparation of components and the preparation of oxidiser solution, with the arrangement of a separate entrance and a separate unloading area.
578. In buildings and rooms where the formation of dust of combustible and fire- and explosion-hazardous substances is possible, the use of structures with uncontrolled voids shall not be permitted. The floors of production rooms shall be seamless and have drains to settling tanks. The floors and building structures in the rooms for the storage and preparation of oxidisers and oxidiser-based explosive substances shall additionally have an acid-resistant coating.
579. The approved loading standards for each building, room and workplace where explosive substances, semi-finished products or components of explosive substances may be present shall be posted in these buildings and rooms or near the workplaces in the form of plates, and, where possible, the loading standards shall be duplicated in oil paint on the walls of the room near the workplaces. The locations of fire- and explosion-hazardous products shall be marked with lines applied to the floor in contrasting paint.
580. Before a non-working shift, the process equipment of the facility shall be freed of explosive substances and their components in accordance with the working instruction, the electric power shall be switched off, and the buildings of the facility shall be locked, sealed and placed under guard. Where it is necessary to keep part of the equipment in operating condition, constant supervision of this equipment shall be ensured. When the facility is shut down for a period of more than two days, the equipment and the building as a whole shall be completely freed of explosion-hazardous products.
581. Production waste shall, at the end of the work shift, be removed from the room and sent to a temporary storage area or for destruction. The frequency of destruction of the waste shall be established by the process regulations. The containers for collecting sweepings and waste shall have features distinguishing them from the containers holding conforming products. The place where the containers are installed shall be marked. It shall be prohibited to place in one container sweepings or waste of products that react with one another.
582. It shall be prohibited to store in production rooms items and materials not directly used in the given production. All apparatus, equipment, assemblies, parts, instruments, tools and other items that have become unserviceable, that have been in contact with explosive substances and that are subject to repair or destruction shall first be thoroughly cleaned of product contamination and washed. The performance of the cleaning shall be confirmed by a report.
583. The accumulation of dust of products and oxidiser solutions on equipment, the walls of the building and ventilation pipes, and especially on the rubbing and colliding parts of equipment, on the floor and on equipment having a heated surface (steam pipelines, heating appliances), shall not be permitted. The methods and time periods for cleaning the rooms and cleaning the equipment of dust, solutions and adhering products shall be provided for in the process documentation and instructions.
584. Where pipelines enter rooms with the release of fire- and explosion-hazardous dust, blind partitions are installed in the ducts, with sealing at the points where the pipelines pass through, to prevent the penetration of dust into the heating-network ducts. The design shall provide for the possibility of completely emptying the pipelines connecting the process apparatus to the supply and storage tanks.
585. Work tables for work involving the processing of explosive substances shall be smooth, without gaps, have raised edges, have no protruding parts, and be covered with an electrically conductive, earthed material.
586. On the territory of explosive substances production and (or) preparation facilities, the use of open flame shall be prohibited. It shall be prohibited to bring into any rooms of explosive substances production and preparation facilities means of initiation and blasting, firearms, smoking accessories, or sources of fire (matches, lighters). In fire- and explosion-hazardous rooms, the use of electric heating appliances shall be prohibited.
587. Surface explosive substances production and (or) preparation facilities shall be located on separate sites or on the territory of an explosive materials warehouse, and also in the restricted zone of an explosive materials warehouse, at a safe distance from the storehouses of explosive substances and means of initiation, calculated on the basis of detonation transmission on the assumption that the production facilities and preparation facilities of explosive substances are taken as active charges. The territory of surface explosive substances production and (or) preparation facilities shall in all cases have separate fencing. The territory allocated for locating explosive substances production and (or) preparation facilities at an explosive materials warehouse shall have a separate entry and exit. In prominent, well-lit places on the production territory, buildings, work rooms and equipment, there shall be posted signs and safety symbols and warning posters corresponding to the nature of the work performed and intended to draw the attention of workers to possible danger and indicating the actions to prevent it, and a diagram of the movement of pedestrians and vehicles over the territory. The placement of an explosive substances production and preparation facility on a single site is permitted. In this case, the safe distances between the buildings and structures of these facilities are taken in accordance with the requirements set out in Chapter XII of these Rules.
588. The internal safe distances between buildings in which explosive substances are produced or prepared, and also between these buildings and explosive materials storehouses, are calculated on the basis that detonation is not transmitted.
589. The siting of explosive substances production and preparation facilities above mine workings is permitted where measures excluding subsidence of the ground surface (backfilling, caving) are ensured. The siting of surface explosive substances production and preparation facilities above operating mine workings, and also in the vicinity of mountains and steep slopes hazardous with respect to avalanches and mudflows, shall not be permitted.
590. Where it is necessary to locate an explosive substances production or preparation facility on terrain with peat deposits, to prevent the spread of fire in the event of peat ignition, the fence of the facility shall be located no closer than 200 m from the edge of the peat layer, and fire-prevention actions agreed with the State Fire Service authorities shall be provided for.
591. The territory of explosive substances production and preparation facilities located on separate sites shall be fenced and guarded along the outer perimeter. The requirements for the fencing and guarding are determined by the design.
592. Within the hazardous zone of surface explosive substances production and (or) preparation facilities located on separate sites, only production and auxiliary buildings, structures and utilities relating to this production may be located. The external safe distances from buildings in which explosive substances, as well as emulsion, are manufactured or processed shall be determined by calculation based on the action of the air shock wave, as for explosive materials warehouses. In this case, the mass of the emulsion shall be taken with account of the TNT equivalent.
593. On the territory of a surface emulsion production facility, its temporary storage in mobile tanks (mixing-charging machines) is permitted at a distance safe with respect to the transmission of detonation from one another. Explosive substances may be stored in charging machines at a specially designated area on the territory of a surface stationary explosive substances preparation and (or) manufacturing facility; in this case, the storage period shall not exceed two days.
594. The distances from production buildings to auxiliary buildings and structures without the permanent presence of people, and also the distance between auxiliary buildings and structures, are determined in accordance with the construction norms and rules.
595. The protection of buildings and structures and of outdoor installations against direct lightning strikes and its secondary effects shall be carried out with account of the requirements of these Rules. The networks of all types of communication and signalling to which buildings equipped with lightning protection are connected shall not be permitted to be run as overhead lines (wires, suspended cables).
596. The trunk sections of the networks shall be laid in telephone cable ducts, and the distribution network in armoured cable.
597. In the production rooms of a building in which explosive substances are manufactured or processed, there shall be not less than two evacuation exits ensuring the possibility of evacuating people in the event of a danger of explosion or fire.
598. The temporary storage of combustible and non-combustible containers previously holding explosive substances and oxidisers during a work shift is permitted to be arranged under a canopy on the outer side of the explosive substances production building that has no window openings. The temporary storage of containers in the work room is permitted, based on a two-hour requirement, in specially designated places without obstructing passageways and emergency exits.
599. The temporary presence of mobile vehicles near a production building is permitted only during the period of loading and unloading operations.
600. In the buildings of explosive substances production and preparation facilities, with the exception of buildings in which explosive substances are directly produced or prepared, it is permitted to locate fitting workshops for minor routine repairs (without welding equipment), as well as rooms for the temporary presence of duty fitters and electricians. These rooms shall be located in a separate compartment of the building, separated from the production rooms by a fire wall.
601. The total loading of a building in which explosive substances are produced or prepared, taking into account the explosive substances located in a wagon, a mixing-charging machine or another vehicle and in storage tanks, shall not exceed 60 t.
602. Underground explosive substances production and (or) preparation facilities shall be located in mine workings that are adapted or specially driven for these purposes and that are not hazardous with respect to gas and dust, and their placement on the territory of underground explosive materials warehouses is also permitted. All chambers and compartments of the facility shall be ventilated with a stream of fresh air ensuring a fourfold air exchange. It shall be prohibited to direct the air current leaving the facility into workings with a fresh air current.
603. Separately equipped explosive substances production and (or) preparation facilities are located in stable, non-water-bearing rocks, no closer than: 50 m from the places where people board passenger wagons and the places of loading (unloading) of rock mass; 100 m from the mine shaft, the shaft-bottom workings and the ventilation doors regulating the supply of fresh air to the whole mine or to significant sections; 30 m from the surface; 25 m from workings serving for the permanent passage of people.
604. Separately equipped underground explosive substances production and (or) preparation facilities shall have a main and a reserve exit for people, in which case the main one may serve as the main access drive, and the reserve one may be equipped as an auxiliary access drive. One of the access drives may be used for the delivery of petroleum products and their storage in tanks, provided that free passage for people is ensured.
605. Separately equipped explosive substances production and (or) preparation facilities shall have areas for testing and (or) destruction by burning or blasting of various fire- and explosion-hazardous waste, sweepings, production rejects and explosive substances that have become unfit for use and do not meet the requirements of the regulatory and technical documentation. The location of the area shall be selected on the basis of ensuring the safety of the buildings and structures of the explosive substances production and (or) preparation facility, of settlements, other protected objects, transport routes and engineering utilities. The distances from the objects to the blasting and burning sites shall be determined by the design. For the delivery of explosion-hazardous products to the area, vehicle accesses and pedestrian approaches shall be provided. The territory of the areas and the surrounding ground within a distance of 10 m shall be cleared of vegetation and extraneous readily flammable items. The testing of explosive substances and the destruction of waste shall not be carried out simultaneously.
606. The territory of the areas shall be fenced. An area located outside the fencing of the facility shall have an external warning zone 25 m wide, with warning notices installed along it every 100 m of its length.
607. The siting of the areas on peaty soils shall not be permitted.
608. Around the perimeter of the destruction (testing) plots, a ditch 1 m deep and 3 m wide at the top shall be constructed, or a strip 5 m wide shall be ploughed. In conditions of permafrost rocks, the need to take such measures shall be determined by the design. In rocky and gravelly soils, the construction of a trench or a ploughed strip is not obligatory.
609. To ensure safe conditions for conducting the work, the area shall have: a dugout or shelter for people; a dugout or shelter for the explosive materials being tested (the waste being destroyed). The entrances to the dugouts (shelters) shall face the direction opposite to the site of burning or explosion.
610. The need to equip the areas with telephone communication and audible signalling is determined by the design.
611. For conducting the testing of explosive substances and the destruction of waste at explosive substances production and (or) preparation facilities located on the territory of, or in the restricted zone of, explosive materials warehouses, the ranges for the testing and destruction of the explosive materials of the warehouses at which the facility is located may be used.
612. Transport routes for the conveyance of explosive materials on the territory of surface production (preparation) facilities shall be located at distances of: not less than 15 m from buildings (rooms) in which explosive substances are manufactured or processed; not less than 3 m from buildings, if the routes are intended for access to these buildings; not less than 50 m from buildings where there are open fireboxes and sources of open flame or where work with open flame is carried out (forges, boiler houses, welding workshops), and also from storehouses of combustible and readily flammable substances; not less than 15 m from auxiliary buildings located on the territory of the facility; not less than 6 m from all other buildings, if the construction norms and rules do not require a greater separation.
613. Entry into the buildings and rooms of surface production (preparation) facilities where the manufacture and processing of explosive substances are carried out is permitted for transport equipped in accordance with the requirements of paragraph 54 of these Rules.
614. Direct access to the loading or unloading devices of explosive substances production and preparation facilities is permitted for mixing-charging machines, as well as for other types of motor transport specially equipped and approved for the conveyance of explosive materials and components in emulsion production.
615. When railway wagons are delivered to the buildings of surface production (preparation) facilities in which the release of explosive substance dust is possible, the approach of a locomotive to these buildings is permitted no closer than 10 m. The delivery of one railway wagon (gondola wagon, flat wagon) with explosive substances for unloading the products to the building of a surface explosive substances preparation facility is permitted.
616. The movement of wagons is permitted only with the doors closed and locked with a hasp. The speed of movement of railway rolling stock carrying dangerous goods on the territory of the facility shall not exceed 15 km/h. The shunting of wagons shall be carried out without jolts and abrupt stops.
617. The charging room for battery forklifts, as well as the permanent parking area for charging machines (mixing-charging machines, transport-charging machines), shall be located outside the territory of surface explosive substances production and preparation facilities, at a distance no closer than 50 m from the explosive substances preparation and (or) production building.
618. Transport devices, lifting and conveying machines used at explosive substances production facilities and preparation facilities for transport and process operations involving fire- and explosion-hazardous products shall be of explosion-protected design.
619. For driving mechanisms and machines installed in explosion-hazardous zones of all classes, it is permitted to install electric motors without explosion-protection means, with them removed from the room containing the explosion-hazardous zone (installation in a machine room). In this case, a gland seal of the drive shaft shall be provided at the point where it passes through the wall.
620. For transport devices, lifting and conveying machines operating in fire- and explosion-hazardous rooms and outdoor installations, the following shall be provided: the exclusion of electrical discharges and spark formation; ensuring the leak-tightness of the lubricated assemblies of the machines and the exclusion of product ingress into them; the exclusion of stagnant zones, caking, accumulation, crust formation and pinching of the product; the use of structural materials for manufacturing the elements of the machines with account of the nature of the aggressive action of the substances being conveyed, the features of the process operations and the requirements of safety practice.
621. Conveyors (belt, chain, screw) conveying fire- and explosion-hazardous substances shall have interlocking devices ensuring stoppage in the event of slippage, breakage of the traction elements or jamming of the screw.
622. Conveyors conveying fire- and explosion-hazardous substances and having inclined or vertical sections of the route shall have safety devices preventing the spontaneous movement of the traction element or of the conveyed load.
623. When explosive substances are moved from one building of surface production (preparation) facilities to another by conveyor transport, the product shall be arranged in portions (individual items) at a distance that excludes the transmission of detonation from one building to another.
624. The use of pneumatic conveying for transporting explosive substances from building to building of surface production (preparation) facilities is permitted where combustion and detonation arresters are installed. The use of pneumatic conveying for transporting explosive substances between storehouses and buildings shall not be permitted.
625. The control of the movement of lifting machines and mechanisms used for moving fire- and explosion-hazardous products shall be by floor-level control.
626. The rail tracks of underground production facilities shall be electrically insulated from the general-mine (pit) tracks.
627. The delivery of manufactured explosive substances from an underground production (preparation) facility to the working faces is permitted by means of general-mine transport specially equipped for these purposes.
628. For delivery to a lower level, a borehole for transferring explosive substances may be equipped in an underground production (preparation) facility. The transfer is carried out into bunkers or mine cars (charging-transport machines) located on the lower level and equipped for the conveyance or storage of explosive substances in bulk. For the storage and dispensing of explosive substances, the transfer point on the lower level shall be equipped in accordance with the requirements for district explosive materials storage points or issue chambers.
629. The mechanical part of conveying machines (conveyors, transporters, elevators) intended to operate in explosion-hazardous rooms in which, owing to the conditions of the process, dust and vapours of explosion-hazardous substances are released, shall exclude spark formation.
630. The speeds and accelerations (decelerations) during the conveyance of loads are adopted in accordance with the technical data of serially produced lifting and conveying equipment. Control and automation of process operations. Communication and signalling
631. In buildings in which explosive substances are manufactured or processed, the use of instruments with radioisotopes of the appropriate explosion-protection marking is permitted, provided that the radioactive source is placed in an explosion-resistant container.
632. On the outer side of doors and gates (on the street side), of exits from zones of all classes, for explosive media of all temperature classes and groups, the installation of electrical equipment of dust- and moisture-protected design is permitted.
633. In buildings and rooms in which explosive substances are produced or prepared, non-contact sensors of various types may be installed. In this case, the secondary instruments shall be located in rooms whose atmosphere does not contain explosive substances, and be connected to the sensors by intrinsically safe circuits.
634. To television cameras and camera units, to the electromagnetic actuators of hydraulic valves and the photo units of fire-extinguishing automation systems and other movable current consumers, as well as for the local mounting of fixed current consumers, the supply of cable with rubber or plasticate sheathing (or hoses) with flexible copper conductors is permitted for operating conditions in zones of all explosion-hazard classes. In places where mechanical damage to cables is possible, the latter shall be protected by steel pipes, angle steel or another equivalent method of protection. Intrinsically safe circuits may be made of non-armoured cables.
635. In production buildings (rooms) where work with oxidisers or their solutions is carried out, the laying of copper impulse and command tubes shall be prohibited; it shall also be prohibited to use cables armoured with galvanised armour and with an exposed lead sheath. The process of preparing oxidiser solutions shall be provided with continuous automatic monitoring of level and temperature and with signalling of deviations from their limit values.
636. The laying of plastic impulse tubes is permitted in explosion-hazardous zones of all classes, provided that the surrounding environment does not destroy the plastic.
637. Explosive substances production and (or) preparation facilities shall be equipped with telephone communication and fire alarm signalling. Underground stationary explosive substances production facilities shall have telephone communication with the mine (pit) dispatcher.
638. In all rooms where the release of fire- and explosion-hazardous dust, vapours or gases is possible, communication equipment, including the loudspeakers of the industrial communication system, shall comply with the standards. Loudspeakers of wired broadcasting may be installed only in non-hazardous rooms.
639. Ammonium, sodium and calcium nitrate in bags (containers) may be stored together in one oxidiser storehouse, and also in one room in separate stacks placed on pallets, or in separate sections. Ammonium nitrate storehouses may be combined (blocked together) with the room for the preparation of granulated nitrate (sifting, crushing, preparation of nitrate solution). The storehouse shall be separated from the preparation room by a wall.
640. The driveways between stacks shall be not less than 1.3 m, the passages 1 m, and the central driveways 2 m.
641. The height of a stack of bags (containers) shall be not more than 2.6 m, and the width not more than 5 m.
642. In bunker or tower storehouses, granulated ammonium nitrate may be stored without packaging (in bulk); on open sites with a hard surface, in containers of all types. The storehouses and sites shall be equipped with appropriate mechanisms for loading and unloading operations.
643. Exhaust shafts shall be provided in the buildings of oxidiser storehouses.
644. In rooms for the storage of ammonium, sodium and calcium nitrate, except for bulk-storage storehouses of the bunker and silo type, the construction of pits, channels, trays and other recesses in the floor shall not be permitted. The storage rooms shall be dry; the penetration of precipitation through the ceilings and floors shall not be permitted. Not less than once a year, the nitrate storage places shall be cleaned.
645. In rooms for the storage of ammonium, sodium and calcium nitrate, natural ventilation ensuring a single air exchange per hour shall be provided.
646. Rooms with an area of 200 m2 and more for the storage of ammonium, sodium and calcium nitrate shall be equipped with automatic fire alarm signalling. In ammonium nitrate storehouses, the use of open flame shall be prohibited.
647. The upper walkway (platform) for the conveyor in bunker and tower storehouses of ammonium nitrate (in bulk) shall have a continuous decking and edge boards along the edges 0.14 m high.
648. During storage, the nitrate shall be subjected to systematic monitoring for the absence of signs of its decomposition (heating, the presence of a strong characteristic smell of nitrogen oxides or ammonia).
649. The entry into a storehouse holding unpackaged nitrate of motor vehicles and forklifts with an internal combustion engine shall be prohibited. Equipment used in working with nitrate shall not contaminate it with lubricants. Beneath the lubrication points there shall be devices excluding the ingress of oil into the solid nitrate and its solutions. Nitrate contaminated with sulphuric acid spilled from a battery forklift shall be immediately removed from the storehouse, and the place thoroughly washed with water.
650. The storage of carbamide is permitted both in bags and in containers. The joint storage of carbamide, polyacrylamide and carboxymethylcellulose in separate stacks in bags placed on pallets is permitted.
651. Storehouses for combustible metal powder shall be made of non-combustible materials that do not produce sparks upon impact and friction. The siting of basements and pits in combustible metal powder storehouses shall not be permitted. The storehouse for metallic combustibles shall be protected against the penetration of atmospheric precipitation and groundwater, and against the incidence of direct sunlight on the stacks of cans. At high (35 °C and above) summer outdoor air temperatures, the storehouse shall be ventilated in the morning or evening hours. The ventilation of the storehouse shall also be carried out at other times in dry weather if the humidity in it exceeds the relative humidity of the outdoor air. In the storehouse, it shall not be permitted to carry out the unpacking and repacking of cans, or to perform hot work and other work, except for loading and unloading.
652. Sodium nitrite shall be stored in bags placed in stacks, in separate storehouses. The joint storage of sodium nitrite with nitrates and other materials shall not be permitted.
653. Automatic fire-extinguishing systems shall be backed up by manual activation. When the automatic fire-extinguishing systems are triggered, signals shall be given to alert the persons working in the building, to the control panel where the process is remotely controlled, and to the fire station. Where the process is conducted remotely, the activation of the fire-extinguishing system shall be carried out automatically or remotely from the control panel.
654. Exhaust ventilation ducts shall be made of a smooth configuration, without sharp bends. The ducts shall have slopes towards the extraction and be provided with special closable windows (hatches) for cleaning off the accumulating dust. The hatch covers and the locking structures shall be made of materials that do not produce sparks upon impact and friction.
655. The elements of the exhaust ventilation systems of the dust-collecting devices shall be made of materials that are non-combustible and that do not enter into an active chemical reaction with the explosive substances and their components contained in the dust-laden air.
656. The air velocity in the ducts is adopted so as to prevent dust deposition, but not less than 10 m/s.
657. Air discharged to the outside by a ventilation unit and containing fire- and explosion-hazardous dust shall be cleaned to the maximum permissible standards.
658. Ventilation systems in which the dust of explosive components may accumulate shall have a separate outlet from each dust-emission area. The arrangement of a common exhaust system for the dust sources of oxidisers and metallic combustible components located in isolated rooms shall be prohibited.
659. Ventilation equipment: fans, filters, valves and other equipment of general exhaust ventilation systems and local exhaust systems for rooms in which explosive substance dust is released shall be provided in explosion-safe design.
660. Supply fans serving production rooms where a technological process involving the release of dust of explosive substances or their components takes place may be of general industrial design, provided that non-return valves are installed on the air ducts to prevent releases from explosion-hazardous rooms from entering the fan when it is stopped.
661. In buildings with explosion- and fire-hazardous production processes, ventilation shall be provided by a system that prevents the spread of fire from one room to another.
662. Natural airing of explosion-hazardous rooms shall provide at least one air change per hour.
663. The source of heat supply for production needs, heating and ventilation may be an on-site boiler house or a combined heat and power plant. Where the boiler house or combined heat and power plant supplies, for production needs, heating and ventilation, steam at a temperature above 135 °C and hot water at a temperature above 100 °C, the heat supply shall be provided through facility-level or local (for each building) heating substations where the heat carriers are converted to the required parameters. When pipelines are introduced into rooms where explosion- and fire-hazardous dust is released, solid partitions with sealing of the pipeline passage points are provided in the channels to prevent dust from entering the channels of the heating networks.
664. The production and preparation of explosive substances are carried out in accordance with the Technological Process Regulations for the production (preparation) of explosive substances, which shall contain: a list of the documents on the basis of which the relevant regulations have been drawn up; a general description of the production; a description of the manufactured products, of the explosive substances being prepared, of the combustible dust, fibres and semi-finished products formed in the production process, and of the feedstock and auxiliary materials, indicating their toxicity (maximum permissible concentration), explosion and fire hazard, and the rules for handling them; the parameters of the substances processed in the production that characterise their electrical properties (specific electrical resistances) and their sensitivity to electrostatic discharges (minimum ignition energy), and a description of the means of protection against static electricity; a diagram and description of the technological process in the sequence of its performance, indicating the process modes and the means of monitoring and measuring them, the time and procedure for taking samples, and the requirements for the transport and storage of semi-finished products and finished products; a diagram for the control and monitoring of the technological process; the consumption norms for raw materials and materials, and the procedure for admitting raw materials and materials into production (incoming inspection); a brief description of the main process equipment and tools; the procedure for preparing the equipment for operation; possible malfunctions in the operation of the equipment and measures to eliminate them; the procedure for cleaning and washing the equipment; types of defects and the methods for preventing and correcting them; the procedure for the utilisation and destruction of production waste; the methods and means for neutralising and treating waste water and emissions into the atmosphere; actions for the safe conduct of work, fire safety and industrial sanitation, and for the capture of harmful emissions; and the parameters of the technological process ensuring the electrostatic safety of the processing of each type of product.
665. The Technological Process Regulations and amendments thereto are developed and formalised by the organisation responsible for the point of production and (or) preparation of explosive substances. The Technological Process Regulations and amendments thereto are approved by the head (technical manager) of the operating organisation. The approved regulations are put into effect by an administrative document of the organisation.
666. The Technological Process Regulations are revised when amendments are made, but at least once every 5 years. The need for revision is determined by the head (technical manager) of the operating organisation. The person responsible for the timely introduction of amendments into the documentation is the technical manager of the operating organisation.
667. At each point of production and (or) preparation of explosive substances, instructions for the safe conduct of work shall be developed. All workplaces shall be provided with instructions. The instructions are revised and re-issued when the content of the work at the relevant workplace changes.
668. The number of persons working in explosion- and fire-hazardous rooms shall be limited in accordance with the Technological Process Regulations.
669. All equipment in explosion- and fire-hazardous rooms shall be earthed. Inspection, checking and testing of the earthing device are carried out within the periods established by the rules for the operation of electrical installations.
670. The loading of explosive substances or their components into mixing-charging machines shall be carried out only after connecting an earthing conductor with a cross-section of at least 6 mm from the machine to the earthing device by means of a threaded connection or a connector. The earthing conductors and contact surfaces shall be protected against corrosion.
671. The design and condition of the equipment shall prevent products from entering the gaps between the rubbing parts of the equipment.
672. Covers, flanges and hatches of the equipment shall be connected through gaskets made of elastic materials that are chemically resistant to the substances being processed.
673. The design of the equipment at the points of production and preparation of explosive substances shall preclude the possibility of lubricants entering the explosive substances and oxidisers (oxidiser solutions).
674. All equipment and vessels shall be accessible for internal inspection and cleaning.
675. Equipment in which substances capable of decomposing during prolonged storage in it are manufactured or processed, as well as the utility lines for the transport of such substances, shall not have places where stagnation or caking of the product is possible, and the surface of the apparatuses and utility lines shall be smooth and easily cleaned of the product. Thermal insulation materials shall be non-combustible and chemically inert with respect to the substances being processed. The structural materials of the equipment shall not interact with the explosive substances, components and semi-finished products being processed. The use of copper, zinc, lead and their alloys for the manufacture of equipment and its parts shall be prohibited where contact of these materials with oxidisers is possible. The parts of the equipment that come into contact with explosion- and fire-hazardous substances shall be made of materials that do not produce sparks on impact and friction.
676. In all cases where a shaft is located inside equipment containing an explosive substance, the shaft bearings shall be external, installed outside that equipment. The visible break between the bearing and the wall (surface) separating the passage path of the explosive substance shall be at least 40 mm.
677. Apparatuses and vessels in which substances capable of solidifying or crystallising at ambient air temperatures are processed, as well as pipelines for products that solidify or crystallise at ambient air temperatures, shall be heated and thermally insulated.
678. Equipment with remote control shall have duplicating devices for its starting and stopping from the workplaces.
679. Equipment, instruments and instrumentation and control means being commissioned shall, before being admitted to work with explosive materials, be tested at idle running and on simulators (where this requirement is provided for by the documentation), and a report shall be drawn up thereon, which indicates the possibility of its admission to work with explosive substances.
680. The design of the points of production and preparation of explosive substances shall be carried out taking into account the need to prevent hazardous electrification of the materials being processed. The generation and accumulation of electrostatic charges are most likely during such operations as sieving, grinding, mixing, loading into and unloading from apparatuses, and pneumatic and vacuum conveying. The permissible parameters of the technological process ensuring the electrostatic safety of the processing of each type of product are established in the Technological Process Regulations.
681. To prevent the possibility of hazardous electrostatic discharges occurring, the following protective measures shall be provided for, taking into account the specific features of the production: earthing of electrically conductive equipment and utility lines; the use of neutralisers; the use of antistatic V-belts; the selection of pairs of contacting materials that become electrified with charges of opposite signs; humidification of the surrounding atmosphere; the use of electrically conductive materials for the equipment; the use of special clothing.
682. To reduce the intensity of the generation of static electricity charges, it is necessary to: clean vapour-air and dust-air mixtures of suspended liquid and solid particles, and clean liquids of contamination by solid and liquid impurities, where this is technologically possible; maintain the concentration of combustible media outside the explosion limits; prevent the splashing, crushing and atomisation of substances where this is not required by the production technology; prevent the condensation and crystallisation of vapours and gases upon their outflow from pipelines, hoses, atomisers and nozzles; maintain the relative air humidity at not below 65 per cent, where this is permitted by the conditions of the technological process; reduce the speeds of conveying and processing and the turbulence of the flows of dust-vapour-gas mixtures and liquids.
683. All process equipment (apparatuses, vessels, utility lines, coverings of work tables and racks, tooling, drain-and-fill devices and other equipment intended for the receipt, processing and movement of liquids, vapours and bulk substances) where the generation and accumulation of static electricity charges is possible shall be made of metal or electrically conductive materials and earthed. Apparatuses, vessels, units and pipelines in which products are moved, crushed, atomised or splashed, and free-standing machines, units and apparatuses connected by pipelines to the common system of apparatuses and vessels, shall be connected to the internal earthing loop by means of a separate branch, irrespective of the earthing of the utility lines connected to them. The series connection into an earthing busbar (wire) of several apparatuses, units or pipelines being earthed shall not be permitted. Earthing devices for protection against static electricity may be combined with the protective earthing of electrical equipment. The points for connecting the earthing conductors and the method of fastening them shall be indicated in the technical documentation of the equipment. In each production building, an earthing diagram (map) shall be drawn up.
684. The earthing resistance of any most remote point of the internal surface of equipment made of electrically conductive (non-metallic) materials, relative to the internal earthing loop, shall not exceed 106 Ohm. The resistance of an earthing device intended solely for protection against static electricity shall be no more than 100 Ohm.
685. The earthing conductors and the earthing loop shall be laid openly to make it possible to inspect them. In doing so, their resistance to mechanical and chemical effects shall be ensured.
686. Earthing conductors intended for protection against static electricity shall, at the points of connection to the process equipment and to the internal earthing loop, be painted with a single transverse red stripe 15 mm wide.
687. The connection of the elements of the earthing loop and the connection of the earth electrodes and the structures being earthed shall be made by welding. Where welding cannot be used, the earthing conductors may be connected by means of a threaded connection. In this case, the earthing conductors shall have at their ends an uncut ring electrically connected to the main core. The threaded connections shall be protected against corrosion.
688. Pipelines located parallel to one another at a distance of up to 0.1 m shall be interconnected by jumpers every 20 m. Where pipelines cross one another or metal ladders and structures at a distance of less than 0.1 m, they shall also be connected by jumpers. Metal ventilation air ducts shall be earthed every 20 m by means of conductors made of aluminium alloys at least 5 mm in diameter, or a strip with a cross-section of at least 24 mm2.
689. Moving parts of machines and apparatuses that are capable of becoming electrified and whose contact with the earthed body may be disrupted shall have special devices (current collectors) to ensure earthing. Apparatuses in which intense electrification of substances takes place, as well as the moving assemblies of vibration equipment, shall be earthed at no fewer than two points. The loading of bulk products directly from paper, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride and other electrifiable bags into the hatches of apparatuses containing vapours of combustible liquids shall be prohibited. In this case, it is necessary to use loading devices made of conductive materials that ensure the least dusting of substances. Sampling of a bulk substance and the measurement of process parameters by means of inserted samplers and instruments shall be carried out after the dust has settled.
690. The measurement of electrification parameters under production conditions is carried out periodically in accordance with the measurement schedule approved by the technical manager of the operating organisation, but at least twice a year.
691. The same procedure for storage and accounting as for explosive materials applies to the production waste of explosive substances from the points of production and preparation.
692. The total mass of the manufactured explosive substance is determined by the total mass of the components consumed.
693. The loading and unloading hatches of mixing-charging machines shall be sealed after they have been loaded at the points of production and the points of preparation of explosive substances.
694. A mixing-charging machine loaded with explosive substances or with an emulsion without metallic fuels may be stored on the guarded territory of the point for a period of no more than two days on a specially designated area or in the mixing-charging machine loading room. The mass of the explosive substances in the machine shall be recorded, and the loading and unloading hatches shall be sealed.
695. Pneumatic charging of blastholes, boreholes and chambers with explosive substances in the underground workings of mines and pits shall be carried out in accordance with the requirements of these Rules, the operating instructions for the charging equipment, the manuals (instructions) for the use of the relevant explosive materials, and also the instructions developed within the organisation conducting the blasting operations and setting out the safety requirements for the workers involved in mechanised charging.
696. The charging equipment shall have metering and wetting devices, as well as a system for controlling the charging process that ensures the safety of the work.
697. Pneumatic charging of granular explosive substances containing nitric esters, hexogen, PETN or sensitisers whose sensitivity to external effects exceeds that of granulotol shall not be permitted.
698. At mines and pits hazardous with respect to gas, pneumatic charging with granular ammonium nitrate explosive substances may be carried out subject to compliance with additional safety requirements approved by the technical manager of the organisation conducting the blasting operations, or by a person appointed by him.
699. Pneumatic conveying of loose granular explosive substances or their components into receiving vessels, including hoppers, mine cars and other vessels, may be carried out without moistening or wetting the explosive substances, but with the mandatory implementation of dust-suppression measures and measures ensuring protection against static electricity.
700. Pneumatic conveying of loose granular explosive substances into receiving vessels (hoppers) over a distance of more than 20 m, or out of direct line of sight without two-way communication between the operators of the feeding and receiving devices, shall not be permitted.
701. Where the charging of blastholes, boreholes or chambers takes more than one shift, the procedure for the accounting, storage and transfer of explosive materials shall in each case be indicated in the schedule for conducting the mass blast.
702. In the organisation conducting the blasting operations, persons responsible for the serviceability of the charging equipment shall be appointed, and the procedure for inspections and repairs of this equipment shall be established.
703. For the charging equipment, Logs of the inspection of technical condition and recording of equipment operation shall be kept (a recommended template is given in Appendix No. 20 to these Rules). The Logs of the inspection of technical condition shall be numbered, laced and certified by the technical manager of the organisation conducting the blasting operations. The procedure for storing the logs shall be established by an administrative document of the organisation conducting the blasting operations.
704. The condition of the charging devices is checked, and the results of the checks are recorded in the Log: (a) before the charging device is commissioned and before each successive charging; (b) upon completion of charging; (c) before mothballing a charging device sent for storage (operational lay-up) in the event of its possible prolonged non-use or transfer to another owner; (d) after any kind of repair; (e) at least once a month, by a commission of the organisation operating the charging equipment.
705. A charging device transferred for repair shall be cleaned of residues of explosive substances, washed and delivered to the repair site in assembled form.
706. During the repair of the charging equipment, any design changes and replacement of materials shall not be permitted without agreement with the organisation that developed the machine.
707. The repair carried out shall be recorded in the technical data sheet (record book) of the charging equipment.
708. During the operation and repair of the charging equipment, it shall not be subjected to impacts, and friction and scraping of the metal surfaces that have been in contact with explosive substances shall not be carried out.
709. All charging devices and pipelines shall be earthed. The assemblies and parts of charging devices shall not have dielectric gaskets or jumpers between them. In batch-action pneumatic charging devices with a single dose of granular explosive substances of up to 5 kg in mass and a charging pipeline (metal tube) length of up to 5 m, special earthing need not be provided.
710. Pneumatic charging with granular aluminium- and TNT-containing explosive substances without their prior moistening shall not be permitted.
711. All charging devices shall be equipped with assemblies ensuring the metered supply of water or wetting additives into the explosive substance being charged. The conveying of explosive substances by compressed air is carried out only through electrically conductive pipelines. All electrically conductive pipelines used in the mechanised charging of explosive substances shall have a specific electrical resistance of the material of no more than 104 Ohm x m.
712. For charging blastholes with the explosive substance granulit-igdanit, polyethylene and rubber pipelines (hoses) with a specific volume electrical resistance of no more than 107 Ohm x m may be used.
713. Before being used for mechanised charging, all pipelines used for mechanised charging shall be checked for specific volume electrical resistance.
714. The use for other purposes of charging pipelines used for the mechanised charging of blastholes and boreholes shall not be permitted.
715. Pneumatic charging of explosive substances of different types through a single pipeline shall be prohibited.
716. Without special earthing, pneumatic charging of blastholes in underground mine workings may be carried out at a relative humidity of the mine air of more than 70 per cent, using charging units with a metal charging tube or with an electrically conductive charging pipeline no more than 7 m long.
717. In faces with rocks having a specific volume electrical resistance above 104 Ohm x m, at a relative air humidity of less than 70 per cent, in addition to earthing and the use of electrically conductive pipelines, it is necessary, before charging the boreholes, to spray the faces and flush the boreholes with water, and also to moisten the earthing points. The determination of the relative air humidity in the face area shall be carried out upon the introduction of pneumatic charging and thereafter at least once a quarter. The results of the measurements of the specific volume electrical resistance and the relative air humidity in the face area are entered into the Log of Rock Electrical Resistance Measurements.
718. Before the start of pneumatic charging, all charging devices and pipelines, except in the cases stipulated in these Rules, shall be earthed by a local earth electrode, connected to a common earth electrode, or combined with the earthing devices for electrical equipment. Local earth electrodes are installed at a distance not exceeding 20 m from the object to be earthed.
719. When arranging local earthing, it is necessary to use, as an earth electrode, steel strips at least 2 mm thick and at least 0.06 m2 in area, or steel pipes at least 25 mm in diameter and 0.3 m long. Earth electrodes made of steel strips shall be laid in drainage ditches or in hollows in the floor of the workings filled with water. An earth electrode made of a steel pipe shall be placed in a blasthole at least 0.25 m deep.
720. Steel wire or a steel rope with a cross-section of at least 15 mm2 may be used as earthing conductors.
721. Self-propelled machines on the platform of which charging devices are mounted shall, at the installation sites for charging boreholes, also be earthed by local earthing and, in addition, be equipped with an earthing circuit ensuring contact with the floor of the working, at least 25 cm long.
722. For connecting the earthing conductors, the charging machines shall have special bolts with nuts (the bolt diameter being at least 8 mm), and on the charging pipelines the earthing conductors shall be fastened with clamps made of steel strip with a cross-section of at least 25 mm2, with the same bolts and nuts.
723. Where metal couplings are present in a pipeline, the latter shall be earthed. The insertion into pipelines of individual sections of pipe, as well as of couplings, gaskets and washers with a higher electrical resistance than that of the main pipeline, shall not be permitted.
724. The electrical resistance of the charging system relative to the earthing device shall not exceed 107 Ohm, and that of the earthing device shall not exceed 100 Ohm.
725. Inspection and measurement of the resistances of the earthing circuits of the charging equipment and the transport pipelines shall be carried out before the start of work. The results of the inspection and resistance measurements are entered into the Log of the inspection of technical condition and recording of the operation of the charging equipment and pipelines.
726. During mechanised charging, measures shall be taken to prevent the spillage of explosive substances and the release of explosive substance dust into the surrounding space, precluding an unauthorised explosion or the poisoning of people, as well as measures ensuring protection against static electricity.
727. To reduce dusting and spillage of explosive substances, it is necessary to: during charging, centre the end of the charging pipeline relative to the axis of the borehole; maintain the optimal distance from the end of the hose to the charge (to reduce the carry-over of explosive substance dust from the cavities being charged); when pneumatically charging with aluminium- and TNT-containing loose granular explosive substances, add water or a wetting solution to the explosive substances in the quantities established by the manual for the use of the explosive substances and the operating instructions for the charging devices. In this case, the water or wetting additives shall be distributed uniformly throughout the mass of the explosive substances, and the explosive substances shall be moistened or wetted in the hopper of the charging machine or at the start of the charging pipeline; use devices for capturing dust.
728. To preclude the ejection of explosive substance dust from the hopper of the charging equipment, it is necessary to constantly maintain the height of the explosive substance layer in the hopper at not less than 15 - 20 cm.
729. The charging equipment shall be delivered to its installation site before the start of the delivery of explosive substances to the area of preparation of the mass blast, and thoroughly earthed.
730. Before the delivery of the charging equipment, its placement site shall be thoroughly inspected and measures shall be taken to create safe working conditions.
731. The charging equipment shall be installed in the fresh ventilation stream in such a way that air contaminated with explosive substance dust during the unloading of a bag into the hopper does not reach the workplace of the operator and of the workers engaged in the delivery and unpacking of explosive substances.
732. During the transport, unpacking and charging of explosive substances, measures shall be taken to prevent foreign objects from entering the loading hopper.
733. During charging, it shall be prohibited for the compressed-air pressure in the charging device or pipeline to exceed the values established by the data sheet or the technical specifications for the charging machines (devices) and hoses (pipelines). The maximum compressed-air pressure shall be limited by a safety valve and, on continuous-action machines, monitored by a pressure gauge. Limitation of the compressed-air pressure or its monitoring by means of a safety valve or a pressure gauge is not provided for where the value of the supplied working pressure does not exceed the value specified in the data sheet for the charging device.
734. Mechanised charging shall be carried out in accordance with the design and technical documentation: the design (data sheet) of the drilling and blasting (blasting) operations and the schedule for conducting the mass blast.
735. The design and technical documentation shall provide for organisational and technical actions during the preparation and conduct of the explosion, including actions for the preparation of boreholes, blastholes or chambers for charging, and actions for bringing the storage sites of explosive materials and the charging sites into a safe condition (the arrangement of barriers and overhead covers, and the scaling of loose rock). The actions indicate the equipment used in the delivery of explosive materials, the type of charging equipment used, the actions for the diversion of static electricity, the safe distances for the period of charging, of the assembly of the blasting network and of the explosion, and the workings in which work is stopped for the period of charging.
736. Shotfirers who have undergone training in accordance with the requirements of these Rules are admitted to mechanised charging. When transferred to work with a new type of charging equipment, shotfirers shall be familiarised, against signature, with the features of mechanised charging using the new charging equipment, with its design and operating rules, and, when transferred to new types of explosive materials, with the characteristics, properties and safety measures for handling explosive materials.
737. During pneumatic charging, assistants to the shotfirer may be appointed. They shall be instructed and, under the direct supervision and control of the shotfirer, may perform work not connected with the operation of the charging equipment or the handling of means of initiation and primer cartridges.
738. Workers involved in performing auxiliary operations during mechanised charging shall be familiarised, against signature, with the design (data sheet) of the drilling and blasting (blasting) operations and the schedule for conducting the mass blast.
739. During pneumatic charging of blastholes and boreholes, workers involved to assist the shotfirers shall be familiarised, against signature, with safe methods of work and shall be provided with personal protective equipment.
740. Before the start of work on the mechanised charging of blastholes, boreholes or chambers, the shotfirer and the person in charge of the blasting operations shall: inspect the condition of the roof and walls of the working and take measures to bring them into a safe condition; determine the most convenient and safe places for installing the charging equipment, laying the pipelines and placing the explosive materials; check the condition of the airing systems of the workplaces at the equipment and the face; check the availability of fire-fighting means.
741. Before the start of work, the shotfirer shall familiarise himself with the technical condition of the charging equipment and check: the condition of the equipment assemblies; the serviceability of the compressed-air supply hoses and the means of moistening the explosive substances; the tightening of the fastening assemblies; the serviceability of the earthing of the charging equipment and pipelines; the presence of lubricant in the reduction gear and the engine; the availability and serviceability of the instrumentation; the stability of communication between the operator of the charging machine and the shotfirer at the place of charging the explosive substances into the boreholes (the means of communication shall be factory-made); the presence of protective nets and gratings; the strength and tightness of all connections (leakage of oil shall not be permitted); the serviceability of the dust-control devices.
742. After inspecting the machine, it is necessary to check it in operation at idle running and to blow through the charging pipeline with a water-air mixture.
743. The results of the inspection of the charging machine are entered into the Log of the inspection of technical condition and recording of the operation of the charging machine.
744. Starting the charging equipment without warning the persons participating in the charging shall be prohibited.
745. All moving and rotating parts of the machines shall be guarded with casings or nets.
746. Loading of the hopper of the charging equipment and the charging itself begins after the person in charge of the blasting operations has made sure that the block and the charging devices have been prepared for this work.
747. During the pneumatic conveying of explosive substances into the hopper of the charging machine or during pneumatic charging, pre-agreed signals shall be used. In addition, operational communication between the persons carrying out charging and the dispatcher shall be provided. Where there is no communication, the charging of boreholes shall be prohibited. When loading the hopper of the charging equipment with explosive substance, and also when charging blastholes, boreholes or chambers where the distance between the operator of the installation and the blaster exceeds 20 m or where there is no direct line of sight between them, two-way communication shall also be established. During work, the blaster (operator) shall monitor the actions of the other members of the work team, maintain communication with them and respond immediately to signals. Any unclear signal shall mean "Stop".
748. The charging pipeline shall be laid in such a way as to prevent its damage and pinching by foreign objects, and to avoid sharp bends. The length of the pipeline is selected so as to provide access to any point of the face being charged. When laying the pipeline along raise workings, the pipeline shall be secured to the support elements. In the absence of support in a raise working, measures shall be taken to fix the charging pipeline at the points where it enters and exits the raise working.
749. Before feeding explosive substances into boreholes (blastholes), their depth and cleanliness shall be checked, and when charging horizontal and downward boreholes - the presence of water shall be checked. Where there is rock or water in the boreholes (blastholes), they shall be blown out. The charging of blastholes, boreholes and chambers that have several outlets into the mined-out space, without their prior sealing, shall not be permitted.
750. During mechanised charging, a prohibited zone is established at a distance determined by the design document (data sheet) for the drilling and blasting (blasting) operations, but no closer than 50 m from the charging equipment. Beyond the prohibited zone, within the danger zone, a number of persons limited by the mass blast procedure may be present.
751. Within the danger zone, at a distance from the borehole charging site and the standing place of the charging machine and pipeline that is determined by the design document (data sheet) for the drilling and blasting (blasting) operations, but no closer than 50 m, it shall be prohibited to carry out any work not directly connected with charging. The contact network on both sides of the borehole charging site, the location of the charging machine, the explosive substances and the charging pipeline shall be disconnected over a distance of 50 m, a sign reading "Do not switch on! Charging in progress!" shall be posted on the automatic feeder switch, and guard posts shall be set up.
752. Storage places for explosive substances intended for pneumatic charging shall be provided with fire-extinguishing means: 2 powder fire extinguishers with a capacity of 10 l each, located at a distance of 2 m from the installation site of the charging machine on the fresh-air stream side; 2 powder fire extinguishers with a capacity of 10 l each, located at a distance of 2 m from the stack of explosive substances on the fresh-air stream side.
753. Where explosive substances are stored at charging sites, the charging equipment shall be located at a safe distance that ensures that detonation cannot be transmitted from the explosive substance in the hopper of the charging machine to the nearest wagon (stack) of explosive substances. The safe distance is determined by the mass blast design document.
754. Explosive substances may be placed directly at the charging equipment in quantities established by the design document (data sheet) for the drilling and blasting (blasting) operations, but not exceeding the shift output of the equipment.
755. Empty containers (bags, boxes) from explosive substances shall be stored in a special place, but no closer than 8 m from the charging equipment, on the opposite side from the wagon with explosive substances. Upon completion of charging, the empty containers from explosive substances shall be inspected, cleaned of residues of explosive substances and destroyed.
756. The charging equipment shall be operated by blasters who have undergone training in mechanised charging on the given type of equipment.
757. During pneumatic conveying or pneumatic charging, pre-agreed signals shall be used. The meaning of the signals and the procedure for giving them shall be specified in the work safety instructions.
758. The following shall be prohibited: to carry out simultaneous charging of explosive substances containing TNT or aluminium powder in their composition, or to mix two or more types of explosive substances; to use charging pipelines painted with paints or other dielectric materials having a specific electrical resistance of more than 106 Ohm·cm; to use, in lines that pneumatically convey explosive substances, pipelines with uncontrolled electrical conductivity properties; to use lines supplying compressed air to the charging site of faces where their unauthorised disconnection cannot be excluded; to begin charging in dead-end workings in the absence of ventilation; to stand in line with the borehole (blasthole) being charged.
759. It shall not be permitted to carry out simultaneously, in the same face, the manual formation of the main charge using explosive substances that are highly sensitive to mechanical effects together with pneumatic charging.
760. It shall be prohibited to leave spilled explosive substances on the floor of workings. At the charging site beneath upward boreholes, tarpaulin or another material ensuring the complete collection of any spilled explosive substances shall be spread out. Where spillage occurs, the explosive substances shall be collected and destroyed in accordance with the established procedure.
761. It shall be prohibited to use explosive substances collected from spillage for mechanised charging, and to allow their accumulation beneath boreholes being charged and near the charging equipment.
762. During the pneumatic charging of chambers, entry into them may be made only after the mechanised charging process has ceased and the chamber has been fully ventilated.
763. During pneumatic charging, the temperature of the compressed air (when working with a self-contained compressor), and also the heating of the units of the charging devices through which the explosive substances pass, shall not exceed +60 °C.
764. The mechanised stemming of blastholes with loose stemming material by means of ejectors shall be carried out at a compressed-air pressure of no more than 0.6 MPa.
765. The initiation of charges in boreholes by means of intermediate detonators (cartridged explosive substances, boosters) may be carried out, and in this case the detonation velocity of the intermediate detonator shall not be lower than the detonation velocity of the explosive substance of the main charge.
766. The insertion of a primer cartridge or intermediate detonator into a blasthole, borehole or chamber shall be carried out by hand. Stemming rods and charging hoses may be used for this purpose.
767. During electric blasting, only direct initiation of charges may be used. The primer cartridge with the electric detonator shall be inserted into the cavity being charged upon completion of the pneumatic charging process and the removal of the charging equipment from the charging site.
768. During the period of pneumatic charging, the presence of electric detonators in the face shall be prohibited.
769. When using non-electric initiation systems and blasting charges by means of detonating cord, both direct and inverse initiation may be used, and in this case the primer cartridge shall be positioned in such a way as to prevent its displacement during the feeding of the explosive substance and to ensure protection of the detonator cap from the mechanical action of the flow of explosive substances. The shell of the detonator cap shall be embedded into the primer cartridge along its entire length. In all cases the shaped-charge cavity of the detonator cap shall be directed towards the charge.
770. Where there is inflowing water in horizontal and downward blastholes (boreholes), after charging the uncharged mouth part of them shall be filled with stemming that ensures the filtration of water. In this case the initiation of the charge shall be carried out with a primer cartridge made of water-resistant explosive substance or with water-resistant detonating cord.
771. Upon completion of charging, the blaster (operator) shall thoroughly blow out with compressed air or wash out with water the charging equipment. In this case the hopper and the cavity of the feeder shall be thoroughly cleaned of explosive substances.
772. Where there are residues of explosive substances that cannot be washed off, the equipment is washed with steam or hot water in a place specially designated for these purposes. The removal of residues of explosive substances with metal objects shall be prohibited.
773. Charging equipment and pipelines shall be stored in a separate room. Where charging machines are used daily, their storage near the work site in specially designated places may be permitted.
774. Where an emergency situation arises, the charging process shall be stopped immediately. The blaster shall switch off the emergency-hazardous equipment, warn persons of the emergency situation that has arisen, and report the emergency situation to the person in charge of the blasting operations.
775. When the supply of compressed air ceases, the blaster (operator) shall shut off all starting devices.
776. In the event of any disruption of communication between the blaster operating the charging equipment and the blaster carrying out the charging of boreholes at the block, work shall be stopped until communication is restored.
777. Where blockages form in the transport system and where there are malfunctions of the charging equipment, charging shall be stopped, the air pressure shall be released, the charging hose shall be disconnected from the machine, and measures shall be taken to rectify the faults. Before clearing a blockage in the charging pipeline, it shall be removed from the borehole and secured. When a blockage is cleared with compressed air (without feeding explosive substances), the pipeline is shaken. Where it is impossible to clear the blockage with compressed air, the explosive substances are washed out with water.
778. The repair, lubrication and cleaning of the machine to remove explosive substances and dirt, and also the rectification of faults in the air-supply hose, the water line and the charging pipeline, are carried out only on a stopped charging machine, with the water and air pressure released.
779. Safe distances for persons during blasting operations (operations with explosive materials) shall be established by the design document or data sheet and shall be such as to prevent accidents. In this case, the greatest of the distances established for the various damaging factors shall be taken as the safe distance. Safe distances from the blast site to machinery, buildings and structures are determined in the designs for drilling and blasting (blasting) operations, taking account of the specific conditions.
780. To protect buildings and structures from seismic action during blasting operations and operations with explosive materials, the mass of the charges of explosive substances shall be such that, during blasting, damage disrupting their normal functioning is excluded.
781. Where several facilities with explosive materials (stores, open areas, points for the manufacture and preparation of explosive substances) are located on the ground surface, distances that exclude the possibility of the transmission of detonation in the event of an explosion of explosive materials at one of the facilities shall be maintained between them.
782. To protect persons, buildings and structures from the damaging effect of the air shock wave of a possible explosion at explosive material stores, explosive material storage areas and explosive material production points, distances ensuring safety shall be maintained. These safe distances are calculated from the places where the explosive materials are located at the stores, areas or manufacturing points to the places where persons are located and where protected facilities are situated.
783. Safe distances for persons during blasting operations on the ground surface shall be taken as being no less than the values specified in Appendix No. 21 to these Rules.
784. Distances that are safe with respect to the scattering of individual pieces of rock (soil) when blasting borehole loosening charges. The distance r_razl (m) that is safe for persons with respect to the scattering of individual pieces of rock when blasting borehole charges designed for a loosening (crushing) action is determined by the formula:
where - is the coefficient of filling of the borehole with explosive substance;
- is the coefficient of filling of the borehole with stemming;
f is the coefficient of rock strength on the scale of Prof. M.M. Protodyakonov;
a is the distance between boreholes in a row or between rows, m.
The coefficient of filling of boreholes with explosive substance equals the ratio of the length of the charge in the borehole l_z (m) to the depth of the drilled borehole L (m).
The coefficient of filling of the borehole with stemming equals the ratio of the length of the stemming l_zab (m) to the length of the upper part of the borehole free of charge l_n (m).
When the upper part of the borehole free of charge is completely filled with stemming , when blasting without stemming .
- is the ultimate compressive strength of rocks under uniaxial compression in a standard test of regular-shaped specimens, kgf/cm2 (1 kgf/cm2 = 98066.5 Pa).
When conducting blasting operations in rocks whose classification is carried out according to the building codes, in the absence of, or where there is insufficient representativeness of, data on the strength characteristics of the soils being worked (), the coefficient of strength f is determined by the formula:
where F is the number of the group of soils being blasted according to the building codes.
When blasting a series of borehole charges of the same diameter with variable parameters , a, the calculation of the safe distance by formula (1) shall be carried out using the smallest values of , a and the largest of all the values present in the given series.
where N_c is the number of parallel closely-spaced boreholes in a cluster.
When determining danger distances, the possible deviations of individual parameters of the blasting of borehole charges , a, from the adopted design values that may occur during drilling and blasting operations shall be taken into account. Therefore, the calculation of r_razl by formula (1) shall be carried out with a certain margin, taking for this purpose the minimum possible values of the parameters a, that may occur during blasting operations and the maximum possible value of .
785. When carrying out blasts on hillsides, and also in conditions where the upper elevation of the section being blasted exceeds the sections of the boundary of the danger zone by more than 30 m, the dimensions of the danger zone r_razl in the direction down the slope shall be increased and the safe distances with respect to the scattering of individual pieces of rock (m) shall be calculated by the formula:
where R_razl is the danger distance with respect to the scattering of individual pieces of rock in the direction of the descent of the hillside or terrain located below 30 m, counting from the upper elevation of the section being blasted;
K_r is a coefficient taking into account the features of the terrain relief.
where is the angle of inclination of the hillside to the horizontal, degrees.
where H is the excess of the upper elevation of the section being blasted over the section of the boundary of the danger zone, m.
If, in any direction, the boundary of the danger zone calculated by formula (1) or (2) runs along a descent (slope), the possible rolling of individual pieces of rock shall be taken into account and the safe distance in this direction shall be increased. The influence of the force of the wind on the possible increase in the scattering range of pieces of rock shall also be taken into account.
786. The calculated value of the danger distance is rounded up to a value that is a multiple of 50 m. The safe distance finally adopted in this case shall not be less than the minimum distances specified in Appendix No. 21 to these Rules.
787. The distances that are safe with respect to the scattering of individual pieces of rock when blasting for ejection and dumping shall be no less than the values specified in Appendix No. 22 to these Rules, depending on the values of the indices of the blasting action of the charge n and of the line of least resistance W.
788. When blasting a series of charges with different values of W and n, the radius of the danger zone is determined in accordance with Appendix No. 22 to these Rules. The largest value of W for identical n, or the largest value of n for identical W, is taken as the initial quantity. If, however, both values (W and n) are variable, those charges are found for which the combination of W and n gives the largest radius of the zone. The latter is taken as the danger zone for the blast of the given series of charges.
789. For charges with substantially different values of W and n, when forming an extended excavation (0.5 km or more), the radius of the danger zone for persons may be taken to be different for different sections of it.
790. The radii of the zones that are dangerous with respect to the scattering of individual pieces of rock, for blasts of concentrated loosening charges (n < 1), are determined as follows. From all the charges of the given series, the charge with the greatest line of least resistance - W_max - is selected. For this charge, the value of the length of that conditional line of least resistance (W_nv) is calculated at which it would be a charge of normal ejection (n = 1). Since the value is taken to be determined from the relation W_nv = 5W_rykhl/7, for the case under consideration W_nv = 5W_max/7. The obtained value W_nv is the starting point for determining the radii of the danger zones with respect to the scattering of individual pieces for persons. The sought values of the radii r_razl are found in those same columns of Appendix No. 22 to these Rules that relate to charges with n = 1 and are shown in the horizontal row corresponding to the calculated value W_nv.
791. When determining the maximum height of the scattering of individual pieces of rock at n <= 2, it shall be taken to be equal to the values determined in accordance with the requirements of paragraphs 779 - 790 of the Rules. At n > 2, the obtained values shall be increased by a factor of 1.4.
792. The distances (m) at which the ground vibrations caused by a single blast of a concentrated charge of explosive substances become safe for buildings and structures are determined by the formula:
r_s is the distance from the blast site to the protected building (structure), m;
K_g is a coefficient depending on the properties of the soil at the base of the protected building (structure);
K_s is a coefficient depending on the type of building (structure) and the nature of the development;
a is a coefficient depending on the blasting conditions;
In those cases where the characteristic of the soil does not fully correspond to that given above or is known approximately, the nearest larger value of the coefficient K_g shall be taken for the calculation.
When placing a charge in water or in water-saturated soils, the values of the coefficient a shall be increased by a factor of 1.5 - 2.
When external charges are blasted on the ground surface, the seismic action is not taken into account.
The seismic safety of buildings and structures during blasts presupposes the absence of damage disrupting their normal functioning (the probability of the appearance of minor damage in individual buildings and structures is about 0.1).
793. When simultaneously (without delay) blasting a group of N charges of explosive substances with a total mass Q, in those cases where the distances from the protected facility to the nearest charge and to the most remote charge differ by no more than 20 per cent, the safe distance (m): (6) Where there is a greater difference in the distances, the protected facility will be outside the seismically dangerous zone if the following condition is met: (7) where N is the number of charges of explosive substances; q_i is the mass of an individual charge of explosive substances, kg; r_i is the distance from an individual charge of explosive substances to the protected facility, m.
794. When non-simultaneously blasting N charges of explosive substances with a total mass Q, with a delay time between the blasts of each charge of no less than 20 ms, the safe distance (m):
When determining N and Q, charges whose mass is 3 or more times less than the mass of the maximum charge of the group being blasted may be disregarded.
In those cases where the distance r_i from the outermost charges of mass q_i to the protected facility differs by more than 20 per cent, the latter will be outside the seismically dangerous zone if the following condition is met:
When determining N, charges for which the value is 3 or more times less than the maximum for the entire group being blasted are not taken into account.
When blasting groups of charges with delays between the blasts within an individual group of less than 20 ms, each such group shall be regarded as a single charge with the total mass for the group.
In this case, r_s and c shall be determined by formulas (8), (9), where N is the number of groups.
795. The methods for determining safe distances given in paragraphs 792 - 794 of these Rules relate to buildings that are in a satisfactory technical condition. Where there is damage to buildings, the safe distances determined by formulas (5) - (9) shall be increased. This increase is established in accordance with the conclusions of specialised (scientific, expert) organisations. In the absence of such conclusions, the safe distances shall be increased by a factor of no less than 2. These methods for determining safe distances are not applicable to buildings and structures of a unique character (nuclear power station buildings, towers, high-rise buildings, monumental public buildings) or to critical and complex engineering structures (bridges, reactors of various purposes, hydraulic engineering structures, radio masts). For such facilities, questions of seismic safety shall be resolved with the involvement of specialised (scientific, expert) organisations. Blasting conditions not provided for in paragraphs 792 - 795 of these Rules, and such factors as the directionality of the seismic action of a group of charges of great extent, the presence of damage to buildings during repeated blasts, and the features of the seismic action of powerful 1000 t of explosive substances and more) blasts, shall be determined with the involvement of specialised (scientific, expert) organisations.
796. The safe distances with respect to the action of the air shock wave in the event of a blast on the ground surface, for buildings and structures, are calculated by the formulas:
where r_v is the safe distance from the charge, m;
K_v, k_v are proportionality coefficients whose values depend on the conditions of location and the mass of the charge, and also on the degree of permissible damage to buildings or structures (Appendix No. 23 to these Rules).
Formulas (10) and (11) shall be used to determine safe distances to buildings (structures) from the places of manufacture of explosive substances, of storage of explosive materials at stores (storehouses, areas), from the places of loading, unloading and processing of explosive materials, and also from the standing of vehicles carrying them, and from the sites of blasts of external charges and ejection charges.
Formula (10) shall be applied where the first to third degrees of damage are permissible for open (external) charges with a mass greater than 10 t and for charges buried to their own height with a mass greater than 20 t where the first to second degrees of damage are permissible. Formula (11) shall be applied where the first to third degrees of damage are permissible for open charges with a mass of less than 10 t, and the first to second degrees of damage - for charges buried to their own height with a mass of less than 20 t, and also for the corresponding ejection charges. In addition, formula (11) is applicable where the fourth to fifth degrees of damage are permissible, regardless of the mass and location of the charge.
797. When using Appendix No. 23 to these Rules, the following shall be observed: (a) when selecting the degree of damage and the values of the coefficients, the entire set of local conditions shall be taken into account, and in complex cases the person in charge of the blasting operations, representatives of the interested organisations that own the protected facility, and a representative of the territorial body of executive power in the field of industrial safety shall take part in selecting the degree of safety; (b) the degree of damage and the values of the coefficients when selecting the location of explosive material stores shall be established depending on the significance of the facilities located in the area of the store. In general cases, when calculating safe distances from explosive material stores, points for the production of explosive substances and similar facilities to populated localities, road and rail arterial routes, major waterways, factories, stores of explosive and flammable materials and structures of federal and regional significance, the third degree of damage is adopted. For detached buildings and other structures of secondary significance, roads and railways with light traffic, for especially strong structures (steel and reinforced-concrete bridges, steel and reinforced-concrete headframes, elevators, coal-washing plants), and also where explosive material stores and similar facilities are located on high banks (when calculating distances to major waterways), the fourth degree of damage is adopted; Embanked storehouses, at the first and second degrees of damage, are regarded as external charges. Where it is necessary to adopt in the calculations degrees of damage above the second, embanked storehouses are equated to charges buried to their own height. When calculating safe distances, ammonium nitrate stored at explosive material stores and points for the production of explosive substances is not taken into account; (c) when determining distances to power transmission lines, one shall proceed from the values of the radius of scattering of pieces of rock ejected by the blast, since power transmission lines belong to the category of structures that are resistant to the action of the air shock wave; (d) the coefficients specified in Appendix No. 23 to these Rules shall be selected depending on the condition of the facility for which the safe distances are established: the stronger this facility, the smaller the value of the coefficient that may be adopted in the calculation, within the values specified in Appendix No. 23 to these Rules; (e) the properties of explosive substances are not taken into account when calculating safe distances.
798. If the protected facility is located directly behind an obstacle (at the edge of a dense forest, at the foot of a hill) standing in the path of propagation of the air shock wave, then the safe distance determined by the formulas given may be reduced, but by no more than a factor of 2.
799. When carrying out a blast in a narrow valley (gorge) or between the houses of a street, the safe distance shall be increased by a factor of 2.
800. If, beyond the blast site within the radius, there are strong obstacles in the form of walls or embankments, then in the direction opposite to these obstacles the safe distance shall be increased: when calculating by formula (10) - by a factor of 1.3, and by formula (11) - by a factor of 1.4.
801. To reduce the damaging capacity of the air shock wave, the following methods may be used: (a) covering (stemming) of the external charge with a layer of soil. Where the covering layer is equal to no less than five heights of the charge over the entire area of its base, the safe distance may be reduced by a factor of 4. The covering material shall not contain heavy objects (stones, pebbles); (b) removal of the leaves of the window frames, or the opening of windows and their fixing in the open position; the closing of window openings with strong shields; (c) protection with bags or boxes filled with sand.
802. The safe distances with respect to the action of the air shock wave, when selecting the location of explosive material stores and similar places of storage of explosive materials, and also when selecting the places for locating other facilities in relation to explosive material stores, may be adopted in accordance with Appendix No. 24 to these Rules.
803. The distances that are safe with respect to the action of air shock waves on glazing when blasting external charges and borehole (blasthole) loosening charges are determined in the design document for cases where the destruction of glass is impermissible.
804. When simultaneously blasting external and borehole (blasthole) loosening charges, the safe distances r_v with respect to the action of the air shock wave on glazing when blasting rocks of groups VI - VIII according to the classification of the building codes are determined by the formulas:
When blasting rocks of group IX and above according to the building codes, the radius of the danger zone determined by formulas (12) - (14) shall be increased by a factor of 1.5, and when blasting rocks of group V and below the radius of the danger zone may be reduced by a factor of 2.
The equivalent mass of the charge is determined as follows:
(a) for external charges (of height h_zar with a covering layer of soil h_zab) blasted simultaneously:
K_n is a coefficient whose value depends on the ratio h_zab/h_zar;
(b) for a group comprising N borehole (blasthole) charges (with a length of less than 12 of their own diameters) blasted simultaneously:
where P is the capacity of explosive substances of 1 m of the borehole (blasthole), kg;
K_z is a coefficient whose value depends on the ratio of the length of the stemming l_zar to the diameter of the borehole (blasthole) d (in the absence of stemming, it depends on the ratio of the length of the part of the borehole free of charge l_sv to d);
(c) for a group of N borehole (blasthole) charges (with a length of more than 12 of their own diameters) blasted simultaneously:
805. In all cases where charges are initiated by detonating cord, the total mass of the explosive substances of the detonating cord network is added to the values Q_e calculated by formulas (15) - (17).
806. In the case of short-delay blasting, Q_e and N shall be understood to mean, respectively, the mass of the equivalent charge and the number of charges of one group. Where there are several groups of charges blasted with delays, the group with the maximum Q_e is taken for the calculation. If the delay interval between groups is 50 ms or more, the safe distance is determined by formulas (12) - (14). At a delay interval of from 30 to 50 ms, the safe distance calculated by formulas (12) - (14) shall be increased by a factor of 1.2; from 20 to 30 ms - by a factor of 1.5; and from 10 to 20 ms - by a factor of 2. The total mass of the charges and the number of delay groups are not limited.
807. If blasting operations are carried out at a below-zero air temperature, the safe distance determined by formulas (12) - (14) shall be increased by a factor of no less than 1.5.
808. When carrying out blasts near medical and children's institutions and buildings with a large area of glazing or a significant congregation of persons, the question of determining safe distances shall be resolved with the involvement of specialised (scientific, expert) organisations.
809. Determination of the safe distance with respect to the action of the air shock wave on a person. The distance (m) that is safe with respect to the action on a person of the air shock wave of an external charge shall be determined by the formula:
where Q is the mass of the external charge of explosive substances being blasted, kg.
Formula (18) is used only if, according to the conditions of the work, the maximum approach of the workers carrying out the blasting to the blast site is necessary. In other cases, the distance obtained by the formula shall be increased by a factor of 2 - 3.
Where there are dugouts, the distance calculated by formula (18) may be reduced by no more than a factor of 1.5.
810. The distance r_d that excludes the possibility of the transmission of detonation from the blast on the ground surface of one facility with explosive materials - the active charge - to another such facility - the passive charge - is determined by the formula:
- safe distance from the centre of the active charge to the surface of the passive charge, m;
- a coefficient whose value depends on the type of explosive materials of the charges and the conditions of the explosion (Appendix No. 25 to these Rules);
Q - mass of the explosive substances of the active charge, kg;
b - the smaller linear dimension of the passive charge (width of the stack), m.
When determining the coefficient for calculating safe distances in respect of the transfer of detonation (Appendix No. 25 to these Rules), the following shall be treated as equivalent:
embanked storehouses (facilities) - to charges sunk into the ground to their own height;
non-embanked storehouses and sites with explosive materials located on the surface - to open charges.
811. The safe distance between two facilities (storehouses) shall be determined by formula (19), taking each facility in turn as the active charge. The safe distance between the facilities is taken as the greater of the two calculated values. Where explosive materials are placed in elongated storehouses arranged along a single axis, the safe distance between them shall in all cases be not less than twice the width of the wider storehouse. Whatever the arrangement of the storehouses (sites), the safe distance shall be not less than the gap established by the fire-protection rules. If, in the design of an explosive materials warehouse, it is necessary to bring the facilities (storehouses) closer together than the distance determined by formula (19), the safe distances for such an explosive materials warehouse shall be determined on the basis of the total stock of explosive materials at the warehouse. Facilities of increased hazard (storehouses of means of initiation, stationary points for the unpacking and manufacture of explosive substances, bunkers with explosive substances) whose capacity is less than the capacity of the main explosive substances storehouses may be located only at such distances from each of the explosive materials storehouses that their explosion does not cause detonation of the explosive materials in the storehouses. This distance is determined by formula (19), the explosive materials located at the facilities of increased hazard being taken as the active charge. When calculating safe distances, ammonium nitrate stored at explosive materials warehouses and explosive substances production points is not taken into account.
812. The safe distances for the transfer of detonation may also be determined using Appendix No. 26 to these Rules.
813. If the passive charge consists of different explosive materials (for example, ammonite and TNT), when calculating safe distances the value of the coefficient is selected for that explosive material (among those forming part of the charge) which has the greatest sensitivity to detonation.
814. When ejection charges with a total mass of more than 200 t are blasted simultaneously, the gas hazard of the explosion shall be taken into account and a safe distance rg shall be established, beyond which the content of toxic gases (recalculated as conventional carbon monoxide) shall not exceed the maximum permissible concentrations.
815. The distance rg (m) that is safe in respect of the action of toxic gases, under conditions of no wind or in a direction perpendicular to the propagation of the wind, in the blasting of ejection charges is determined by the formula: (20) where Q - the total mass of the charges being blasted, t. In the direction opposite to the propagation of the wind, the radius of the gas-hazardous zone shall also be taken as equal to rg. In the direction of the wind, the radius of the gas-hazardous zone rg1 is determined by the formula: (21) where Vv - the wind speed before the explosion, m/s.
816. To determine safe distances in respect of the impact of the air shock wave (hereinafter - ASW) that preclude injury to people and damage to structures and process equipment during blasting operations in underground mine workings, the value of the excess pressure at the ASW front is determined.
817. The excess pressure at the ASW front shall be calculated by the formula:
- excess pressure at the ASW front, kPa;
Qe - the mass of the equivalent charge blasted simultaneously (instantaneously), kg. Depending on the method of conducting blasting operations (blasting of external, shot-hole or borehole charges), the mass of the equivalent charge shall be calculated in accordance with the instructions of paragraph 804 of these Rules;
R - the distance travelled by the ASW from the charge to the design point, m;
- the total cross-sectional area of the workings adjoining the explosive substances charge, for which the pressure in the ASW is calculated, m2;
e - the base of the natural logarithm, e = 2.71;
- a coefficient taking into account the roughness of the surface of the workings. The values of the roughness coefficients for various types of support are given in Appendix No. 29 to these Rules.
If the charge is blasted not at the dead end of a working, then the total cross-section of the workings along which the ASW propagates from the explosion shall be substituted into formula (22).
If the working or several workings along which the ASW propagates are of variable cross-section, their reduced diameter shall be determined by the formula:
d1, d2, dn - the reduced diameters of the respective workings, m;
When blasting rocks of group IX and above according to the construction norms (strength coefficient f = 12 - 20), the value of the pressure in the ASW determined by formula (22) shall be increased by a factor of 1.5.
The resulting value of the excess pressure at the ASW front shall not exceed the maximum permissible value for people and protected facilities.
The maximum permissible excess pressure at the ASW front for people shall be taken as 0.1 kg/cm2 (10 kPa).
The list of maximum permissible values of the excess pressure at the ASW front for certain facilities is given in Appendix No. 28 to these Rules.
If the pressure at the design location turns out to be greater than the maximum permissible value, the guard posts of the hazardous zone shall be moved further away and the calculation shall be repeated.
818. If local resistances are encountered along the path of movement of the ASW through the workings, then the value of the excess pressure determined by formula (22) shall be divided by the attenuation (amplification) coefficients corresponding to each local resistance. The values of the attenuation (amplification) coefficients for local resistances are given in Appendix No. 30 to these Rules. The coefficients of attenuation of the ASW pressure in local resistances are valid both for through workings and for dead-end workings (branches) if the length of the latter is more than a quarter of the path travelled by the wave. If, however, the length of the dead-end working is less than a quarter of the path travelled by the wave, then such a local resistance is not taken into account in the calculation. Smooth roundings of the workings are also not taken into account.
819. The pressure at the ASW front is calculated separately for all through workings that communicate with the explosive substances charges (in the charging machine, in the borehole, chamber or shot-hole being charged).
820. When calculating the pressure at the ASW front at the places where the guard posts of the restricted zone are located (before the introduction of the hazardous zone), the following maximum possible quantities of explosive substances shall be taken: for mechanised and pneumatic charging - the maximum mass of explosive substances placed in the bunker of the charging equipment, and also the maximum mass of a single borehole, shot-hole or chamber charge; for the charging of shot-hole, borehole or chamber charges by another method - the maximum mass of explosive substances in a single shot-hole, borehole or chamber.
821. When determining the boundaries of the hazardous zones of the ASW's action on people, the entire mass of the explosive substances being blasted is taken, regardless of the delays used between charges.
822. When calculating the pressure at the ASW front to assess the safety of equipment, underground structures and utilities and to determine the parameters of the protective devices for the localisation of the explosion, the greatest mass of explosive substance blasted simultaneously in a series of delays is taken, if the delay interval between the blasting of adjacent groups of charges is 50 ms and more. With smaller delay intervals, the total mass of the explosive substance being blasted is taken.
823. Lightning protection of explosive materials warehouses shall be installed regardless of the thunderstorm activity of the locality. An exception is made for warehouses located above 66°33' north latitude, which need not be equipped with lightning protection.
824. Lightning protection of explosive materials warehouses shall be performed in accordance with the design. The procedure for calculating the protection zones of the lightning rods is set out in Appendix No. 31 to these Rules. The values of the impulse coefficient a depending on the type of earth electrode and the resistivity of the ground are set out in Appendix No. 32 to these Rules. The dimensions of the elements of the down conductors, jumpers and earth electrodes are set out in Appendix No. 33 to these Rules.
825. For storehouses of permanent and temporary surface, semi-buried and buried (where the thickness of the covering layer is less than 10 m) explosive materials warehouses, for buildings for the preparation of explosive materials located on the earth's surface, and also for points for the manufacture of primers with electric detonators, protection against both direct strikes and secondary effects of lightning is mandatory. Stationary points for the manufacture and preparation of explosive substances shall also be equipped with lightning protection.
826. Sites for the storage of explosive materials in containers and parking points for vehicles with explosive materials shall be protected only against a direct lightning strike. Short-term explosive materials warehouses (with the exception of floating warehouses) may be left without lightning protection.
827. During a thunderstorm, the movement of people in the area where the earthing devices of the lightning protection are located shall not be permitted. To reduce the hazard of step voltages, buried and dispersed earth electrodes in the form of rings and diverging rays shall be used.
828. Protection against direct lightning strikes of the buildings and structures specified in paragraph 825 of these Rules shall be provided by free-standing rod or cable lightning rods (Appendix No. 34 to these Rules, Figures 1 and 2) comprising air terminals, down conductors and earth electrodes.
829. The routing of overhead wires to buildings and structures protected against direct lightning strikes shall be prohibited.
830. The smallest permissible distances from the down conductor of a free-standing rod lightning rod at point A in Figure 1 of Appendix No. 34 to these Rules to the protected structure are selected depending on the impulse earthing resistance Ri according to Figure 3 of Appendix No. 34 to these Rules. The smallest permissible distances Sv1 and Sv2 (Appendix No. 34 to these Rules, Figure 2) from the cable lightning rod (at points A and C respectively) to the protected structure are determined according to Figures 4 and 5 of Appendix No. 34 to these Rules. The distance between the lightning rods and the storehouses shall ensure the free passage of vehicles.
831. To prevent the introduction of high potentials into protected structures via underground metal utilities, the earth electrodes of the protection against direct lightning strikes and the leads to them shall be located at a distance Sz from the utilities entering the buildings or structures (Appendix No. 34 to these Rules, Figures 1 and 2), including from electric cables of any purpose. This distance is determined by the relations: Sz - 0.5Ri - the distance for rod lightning rods, m; Sz - 0.3Ri - the distance for cable lightning rods, m. where Ri - the impulse resistance of each earth electrode of the protection against direct lightning strikes, Ohm. The distance Sz shall be taken as not less than 3 m, except in cases where metal underground pipelines and cables do not enter the protected building, and the distance to the place of their entry into adjacent protected buildings is more than 50 m. Then Sz may be reduced to 1 m.
832. Each lightning rod shall have its own earth electrode. The impulse resistance of the earth electrode for each individual rod lightning rod and for each down conductor of a cable lightning rod shall be not more than 10 Ohm. In soils with an electrical resistivity of 500 Ohm·m and above, the impulse resistance of each earth electrode may be increased to 40 Ohm, with the lightning rods removed from the protected structure by a distance in accordance with paragraphs 830 and 831 of these Rules. Where the electrical resistivity of the ground is more than 500 Ohm·m, the distances Sz and Sv may be reduced to 1 m, if the value of Ri is more than 25 Ohm. Where there are several explosive substances storehouses at an explosive materials warehouse in areas with a ground electrical resistivity of 1000 Ohm·m and above, the earth electrodes of each lightning rod may be combined into a single earthing system. The impulse resistance of the system shall be determined by the design. The maximum permissible lengths of the connecting conductors of the earthing system depending on the electrical resistivity of the ground are given below. [table - reproduced in the Russian original] The connecting conductors between individual earth electrodes shall be removed from the protected structures by the distances specified in paragraphs 830 and 831 of these Rules.
833. Where metal utilities of great length are present in storehouses and buildings, and also in cases where explosive materials are stored in metal packagings (boxes), for protection against electrostatic induction it shall be ensured that a metal mesh is laid over the roof of the building with appropriate earthing, and that all metal structures located in the building are earthed. The earth electrode of the protection against secondary effects shall be made in the form of a loop laid in the ground outside the storehouse along its perimeter at a distance of 0.5 - 1 m from the foundation at a depth of 0.5 m. The resistance of the loop to the spreading of industrial-frequency current shall be not more than 10 Ohm. To reduce this resistance, all pipelines located in the ground may be connected to the earth electrode. In soils with an electrical resistivity of 500 Ohm·m and above, the resistance of the earthing device is not standardised. The earth electrodes of the protection against direct lightning strikes and of the protection against secondary effects shall be removed from one another by distances not less than those specified in paragraphs 831 and 832 of these Rules. When protection against electrostatic induction is provided by laying a metal mesh over the roof of the building, all metal objects shall be connected by the shortest routes to the earth electrode for secondary effects. Where there is a metal roof, protection shall be provided by connecting the roof to the earth electrode of the protection against secondary effects by laying vertical down conductors along the outer sides of the buildings at intervals of up to 25 m. The upper ends of the down conductors shall be connected to the metal of the roof, and the lower ends - to the earth electrode. If the roof is made of a non-conductive material, then a metal mesh with a mesh size of up to 5 x 5 m, made of steel wire with a diameter of not less than 6 mm, shall be laid over the top of the roof and connected by down conductors of the same material to the earth electrode.
834. For protection against electromagnetic induction, all pipelines and armoured cables laid over the territory of the warehouse shall be connected to one another at the places where they approach one another to within less than 10 cm, and also every 15 - 20 m of their length where they run in parallel, to prevent the formation of open loops. The same connections shall also be made in all other cases where extended metal objects approach the frames of the steel structures of buildings, the equipment or the cable sheaths. In doing so, contacts shall be ensured at the places where pipelines are joined, in flanges and couplings. At the places of connection, the contact electrical resistance shall not exceed 0.05 Ohm per contact, including by means of the provision of additional metal jumpers made of steel wire with a cross-sectional area of not less than 16 mm2 or other conductors of an appropriate cross-sectional area.
835. Protection of storehouses against the introduction of high potentials when lighting electrical networks are brought into them is provided: (a) for armoured cables laid in the ground - by connecting the metal armour and sheath of the cable to the earth electrode of the protection against secondary effects, and in its absence - to a special earth electrode with an impulse resistance of not more than 10 Ohm. The cables shall be removed from the earth electrodes of the lightning rods by the distance specified in paragraph 831 of these Rules; (b) for non-armoured cables - by connecting them to the earth electrode specified in sub-clause "a" of paragraph 835 of these Rules; (c) for cables connected to an overhead line - by connecting, at the place where the overhead line transitions into the cable (Appendix No. 34 to these Rules, Figure 6), the metal armour and sheath, and also the pins (hooks), to a special earth electrode with an impulse resistance Ri1 of not more than 10 Ohm. At the place of transition, closed air gaps with interelectrode distances of 2 - 3 mm shall be provided between the cable conductor and the earthed elements, or a low-voltage valve arrester shall be installed. The pins (hooks) of the insulators of the overhead line on the nearest support from the place where the line transitions into the cable shall be connected to an earth electrode with an impulse resistance Ri2 of not more than 20 Ohm. In soils with an electrical resistivity of 500 Ohm·m and above, the impulse resistances Ri, Ri1 and Ri2 of the earth electrodes may be increased to 40 Ohm, and in permafrost and rocky soils - in accordance with the design.
836. Storehouses in which explosive materials insensitive to the action of electrostatic or electromagnetic induction are placed (explosive substances based on ammonium nitrate, detonating cord) need not be equipped with protection against the secondary effects of lightning.
837. The requirements of this Chapter apply to charging and mixing equipment used in the mechanised charging of boreholes, shot-holes and chambers in open-pit and underground mining operations, with the exception of mines (pits) hazardous in respect of gas or dust, and also to machines and devices used in the production of explosive substances at stationary points and mobile installations for the delivery of explosive substances and (or) their components to the sites of blasting operations, for the unpacking, grinding and transfer of explosive substances into other means of mechanisation (hereinafter in the text - "equipment").
838. The equipment shall be designed taking into account the physical, chemical and explosive properties of the explosive substances intended for use: sensitivity to impact and friction, the action of positive and negative temperatures, chemical activity and the ability to form new products, electrisability, the tendency to dust formation, caking, delamination, suitability for pneumatic transport or pumping through pipes, and other properties directly or indirectly affecting the safety of operation of the "explosive substance - equipment" system.
839. The design of the equipment shall ensure the safety of the operating personnel, and also the technical characteristics and operating modes corresponding to the requirements of the technical documentation for the explosive substances intended for use, including: the possibility of free access for the inspection and cleaning of the units where the explosive substances are subjected to mechanical actions, and also to the places where an accumulation of residues of explosive substances, lubricant and other products is possible; the limitation of mechanical loads on the explosive substances to safe limits; the protection of hoses, earthing conductors of pipelines, rods and electrical wiring against abrasion during operation; compliance with the parameters of the specified thermal regime, including the prevention of overheating in the units and parts in contact with the explosive substances and, where necessary, the monitoring of temperature; the dosing of the components of the explosive substances; the established dust suppression; interlocking against a hazardous violation of the sequence of operations; remote control of hazardous operations; reliable and timely monitoring of the technological processes being carried out; light and (or) sound signalling of the occurrence or approach of hazardous (emergency) modes;
840. The units and parts of the equipment in contact with the explosive substances shall be made of materials that do not enter into a chemical reaction with the components of the explosive substances, do not corrode on contact with ammonium nitrate and its solutions, and do not give off sparks on impact or under friction and shear loads. In doing so, loaded parts operating under friction shall be made of chromium-nickel steel. Unloaded parts may be made of aluminium or its alloys with a magnesium content of not more than 1 per cent. For the manufacture of individual parts, heat-resistant electrically conductive plastics of sufficient strength may be used. The parts of products in contact with the explosive substances shall not be made of copper, zinc, cadmium, lead or their alloys. This requirement also applies to coating materials.
841. Units with rubbing and impacting parts that have no direct contact with the explosive substances but are made of spark-generating materials shall be insulated from the explosive substances or covered with plastic, or hermetically enclosed in a casing made of non-sparking materials.
842. In all units and parts where the explosive substance may be subjected to friction loads, the normal pressure between the rubbing surfaces, regardless of the material of which they are made, shall not exceed 4 MPa (40 kgf/cm2).
843. In all cases, unless this is determined by specially regulated conditions of operation of the units, the design of the equipment shall preclude the ingress of explosive substances into the gaps between rubbing and impacting parts.
844. In the passage paths of the explosive substances there shall be no fastening parts (bolts, studs, keys, pins, split pins).
845. In threaded connections outside the passage path of the explosive substances, split-pinning or another method of securing the fastening parts shall be provided.
846. The passage paths of the explosive substances and their components shall not have recesses or pockets (dead zones) where an accumulation of products is possible.
847. The design of the equipment units shall preclude the possibility of lubricants getting into the explosive substances.
848. During the operation of the equipment, the heating of the surfaces of the units and parts on which the settling of explosive substances dust is possible shall not exceed 60 °C.
849. Where it is necessary to heat explosive substances or their components directly in the products or containers (bunkers), water or water vapour with a temperature of less than 100 °C shall be used. The temperature level of the explosive substance within the established requirements shall be ensured by thermal insulation. The maximum permissible temperatures of the products being processed in the equipment shall be specified in the operating documentation.
850. All equipment, utilities and containers with a surface temperature of more than 45 °C with which people may come into contact shall be guarded or thermally insulated with non-combustible compounds. The materials of such utilities and containers shall not enter into a chemical reaction with the explosive substances and the components forming part of them.
851. The equipment units whose operating safety depends on compliance with the established modes shall be equipped with monitoring-and-measuring, regulating and protective apparatus. The monitoring and control systems shall provide the possibility of adjusting the equipment and apparatus to the established operating mode and maintaining the specified process parameters. The handles, buttons and control levers of the equipment shall have markings indicating their purpose. On the scales of the monitoring-and-measuring instruments, the maximum permissible values of the monitored parameters shall be clearly indicated (a red line, an arrow or other means). The controls of the products shall, by their construction and design, preclude the possibility of spontaneous switching on (switching off) and shall be marked with informational inscriptions or symbols.
852. For monitoring the temperature regime at the places of possible heating of the units above the maximum permissible temperatures, the equipment shall be fitted with sensors, and also with monitoring-and-measuring instruments brought out to the control panel.
853. The design of the equipment shall provide for the ongoing monitoring of the quantity of charged (reloaded) explosive substance using the weight or volume method of dosing. In justified cases, visual monitoring of the consumption (remainder) of the explosive substance through inspection windows with graduations or by marks on the charging pipeline, by measuring the charge column, and so on, is permitted. The accuracy of the dosing devices shall be specified in the technical documentation.
854. The emission of dust into the atmosphere and the concentrations of harmful substances in the air of the working zone during the operation of the equipment shall not exceed the sanitary norms, including for TNT 0.5 mg/m3, for aluminium powder 2 mg/m3, for ammonium nitrate 10 mg/m3, for diesel fuel 100 mg/m3. The operating manuals of the equipment shall specify the measures for the protection of people's respiratory organs in accordance with the established requirements.
855. The design of the equipment shall preclude the spillage and scattering of explosive substances and their components. To preclude the formation of hazardous concentrations of aerosols and dust, appropriate measures using special devices shall be provided.
856. Equipment with remote control, and also equipment operating in automatic mode, shall have duplicating devices for manual control (stopping) located directly on the equipment.
857. The placement of the controls shall ensure the free exit of the operator (workers) from the hazardous zone in the event of emergency situations.
858. Equipment intended for the pneumatic charging of shot-holes and boreholes with granular explosive substances shall be fitted with a device for their controlled moistening. The wetting liquid (water or special solutions) shall be supplied at the outlet from the mixer chamber. The charging equipment shall have a device that automatically switches it off in the event of a cessation of the supply of the wetting liquid, or shall be fitted with a means of continuous monitoring of the supply of the liquid and the explosive substance.
859. Equipment intended for the manufacture of explosive substances during the charging process shall have dosing devices, feeders and mixers ensuring that the composition of the explosive substances corresponds to the requirements of the technical documentation for them. In doing so, the switching off (interlocking) of such units in the event of an emergency stop of one of them shall be ensured.
860. All moving parts of the equipment shall be guarded with casings or have a structural design precluding accidental access and injury to the operating personnel.
861. The external surfaces of the units and parts shall not have sharp edges.
862. The design of the equipment shall preclude the ingress of foreign objects, substances and also atmospheric precipitation into the explosive substances and their components.
863. The technical description and the operating instructions (manual) shall contain a detailed description of the equipment, its purpose and conditions of use, an account of the operating principles, technical characteristics, the names (types) of the explosive substances intended for use with the equipment, and also the parameters of the charging cavities and the designs of the charges formed with the use of the charging equipment; a list of the mandatory equipment maintenance work, the procedure for its performance and its composition.
864. Switching devices, electric motors and storage batteries on a self-propelled chassis shall have protective casings with a rating of not lower than IP54.
865. Equipment having dosers and discharge hatches shall be provided with covers (devices) precluding the scattering and spillage of explosive substances during movement and operational standing.
866. The covers of the loading hatches and of the doser hatches shall have locks.
867. Covers and meshes made of steel that are removed during operation shall, at the places of their joints with the frame of the bunker hatch, be reinforced with a material that softens impact and does not give off sparks (rubber, elastic plastic).
868. To preclude the ingress of foreign objects into the passage path of the explosive substances, meshes shall be installed at the loading hatches and openings of the containers. The mesh cell sizes shall not exceed, for grammonites, granulotol and alumotol - 15 x 15 mm, for other explosive substances and ammonium nitrate - 10 x 10 mm, in the case of perforated (round) openings, diameters, respectively, of: 18 and 12 mm. To avoid the formation of blockages during pneumatic charging, the condition shall be observed that the sizes of the sieve cells are not more than 1/2 of the diameter of the nominal bore of the charging pipeline.
869. The design of the equipment shall preclude the hanging-up of materials in bunkers, chambers and other accumulating and bypass units.
870. The restoration of the flowability of granular explosive substances that do not contain sensitisers may be carried out on grinders of the two-roll, single-roll and conical type.
871. In all types of grinders, the drive shall have a device protecting (switching off) it in the event of overloads (the ingress of solid impurities).
872. The design of the two-roll grinder shall preclude the possibility of the rolls touching. The rolls may be smooth, corrugated or toothed. The use of rolls with different rotation speeds shall not be permitted. The bearing supports of one of the rolls shall be equipped with shock absorbers.
873. The linear speed of the working elements of the grinding devices relative to the explosive substance shall not exceed 1 m/s.
874. The use of designs providing for the loosening or sieving of explosive substances by "rubbing" shall not be permitted.
875. For moving granular explosive substances or their components along the internal paths of the equipment, screw feeders, vibrating feeders, pneumatic diaphragms, pneumatic transport and other transport mechanisms whose design precludes any action on the granules leading to their destruction from mechanical loads shall be used. The use of wheeled, chain and other similar devices for these purposes shall not be permitted.
876. The number of revolutions of a screw with a diameter of 200 mm and more, in a horizontal and inclined arrangement, shall not exceed 90 rpm, and in a vertical arrangement - 150 rpm.
877. In screw conveyors, the possibility of compaction of explosive substances or their components at the end portions of the screws, of products entering the bearings, and of friction of the screw against the internal walls of the casing shall be excluded. To exclude the compaction of explosive substances at the end portions of the screw, the design of the screw shall provide for cut-off of the flow of explosive substances by the use of deflector flights at the end of the screw. The length of the screws shall in all cases be selected such that friction of their ribs against the casing, including as a result of deflection, is excluded.
878. The drives of screw conveyors shall be connected to the conveyors through couplings that prevent the transmission of a torque exceeding 1.3 times the rated value.
879. Hose pumps and screw pumps shall be used for conveying liquid components and pourable explosive substances along the equipment paths.
880. Belt conveyors for feeding explosive substance shall have protection against slippage and shall be equipped with a system that provides duplicated shutdown at any point along the length. The width of the conveyor belt shall correspond to the design of the conveyor and shall be no more than one and a half times the width of the bag of explosive substance. When transporting granular explosive substances in bulk, the width of the belt shall be at least 3 times wider than the pile of explosive substance on the belt. The design of belt conveyors shall exclude explosive substances reaching the tensioning drums and support rollers, and shall also ensure cleaning of the conveyor belt of adhered particles of explosive substance. Only belts made of flame-retardant materials may be used in conveyors.
881. The following may be used as metering devices on charging equipment: - for granular explosive substances - screw, volumetric (chamber) and weight batchers, and also calibrated orifices; - for pourable explosive substances and components - volumetric batchers, screw pumps and hose pumps.
882. When granular explosive substances are used, filters shall be installed on the outlet branch pipes of metering and charging devices.
883. The design of the equipment shall ensure a speed of movement of explosive substance particles relative to a stationary or moving surface of no more than 5 m/s.
884. In cases where the shaft drives the working members of crushing, moving, conveying or metering devices located in chambers or cavities where explosive substance may be present, the shaft bearings shall be external. The visible gap between the bearings and the wall separating the passage path of the explosive substance shall be at least 40 mm. The installation of suspended bearings located within the flow of explosive substance shall not be permitted. At the point where the shaft passes through the wall separating the movement path of the explosive substance, seals shall be placed.
885. External bearings shall be sealed by installing gland packings in the bearing covers. Reduction gears and bearing assemblies shall have a design that prevents oil leakage and excludes the ingress of moisture, dirt and dust into them.
886. In all cases, gasket and packing (sealing) materials shall not chemically react with explosive substances and their components.
887. Tanks for combustible and flammable liquids on charging machines shall have damping baffles or safety valves in the form of membranes designed to force out the contents at a pressure 0.05 MPa above the maximum permissible, or a fusible element that fails at a temperature of 110 - 115 °C. Safety valves shall be located in the upper part of the tank. Measures shall be provided to protect the valves against any damage.
888. The degree of filling of tanks for combustible flammable liquids and oxidiser solutions shall not exceed 90 per cent of their capacity.
889. For servicing loading hatches located at a height of more than 1.5 m above floor level (platforms), working platforms shall be provided, equipped with ladders for ascent, guardrails and handrails.
890. The design of the equipment shall provide for measures that prevent the accumulation of static electricity charges within hazardous limits by means of: earthing of electrically conductive assemblies and parts; moistening of the explosive substance; the use of electrically conductive materials (with a specific electrical resistance of no more than 104 Ohm.m).
891. All parts of the equipment that are electrically insulated from one another and in which electrification of the explosive substances being processed occurs shall be subject to earthing. In batch-action pneumatic charging devices with a single dose of granular explosive substances weighing up to 5 kg and with a charging pipeline length of up to 5 m, special earthing is not mandatory.
892. The resistance of the earthing device intended for protection against static electricity shall not exceed 100 Ohm.
893. Mating assemblies and parts of products on which static electricity charges may accumulate shall be electrically connected to the earthing circuit by conductive jumpers. For this purpose, the use of bolts, studs and the fittings of hydraulic, pneumatic and electrical wiring is permitted. For connecting earthing conductors, the design of the equipment shall provide for bolts with nuts of a diameter of at least 10 mm. A portable earthing conductor shall have a cross-section of at least 6 mm2.
894. Earthing fastenings shall be installed on protruding platforms, bosses or welded strips. The place of fastening of the earthing conductor shall have a distinctive marking (arrow, inscription). For earthing metal elements of pipelines, the use of metal clamps with a cross-section of at least 25 mm2 is permitted.
895. Charging and mixing-charging equipment mounted on a wheelbase with non-electrically-conductive tyres shall be earthed by conductive elements (chains, braided metal straps).
896. To reduce the formation of static electricity charges, the design of the equipment for pneumatic charging shall provide for devices for the metered wetting of explosive substances with water or special compositions.
897. Connectors for the attachment of charging pipelines shall be made of electrically conductive materials.
898. On the equipment, the use of belt drives (flat, V-belt), and also of conveyor belts, with a specific electrical resistance not exceeding 10.0 kOhm · m is permitted. The use of conveyor belts with a surface specific electrical resistance of up to 300.0 MOhm is also permitted, provided their speed of movement does not exceed 1.5 m/s.
899. Fabric hoses directing the flow of explosive substance from the discharge hatch of the unpacking installation (accumulator bunker) into the charging machine, or from the charging machine into the mouth of the borehole, shall be treated with solutions of surface-active substances that do not chemically react with the components of the explosive substances. The frequency of treatment of the hoses with surface-active substances shall be determined in the relevant instruction approved by the technical manager of the organisation operating the equipment. Charging hoses intended for feeding water-containing explosive substances into boreholes and blastholes may be of rubberised fabric. Regardless of the hose material, the design of their fastenings shall ensure contact of the hoses with the earthed metal assemblies of the charging equipment.
900. The use in the equipment of bearings or their liners made of non-electrically-conductive materials shall not be permitted.
901. Measures for protection against static electricity shall be indicated in the operating documentation.
902. Maintenance of charging, mixing and delivery equipment shall be carried out in accordance with the procedure established by the technical manager of the organisation.
903. Structural changes and the replacement of materials without the agreement of the developer organisation shall not be permitted.
904. Repealed as of 1 September 2022. - Order of Rostechnadzor No. 171 of 25 May 2022.
1. ________________________________________________________________________ (position, organisation, surname and initials)
2. ________________________________________________________________________ (position, organisation, surname and initials)
3. ________________________________________________________________________ (position, organisation, surname and initials) appointed by order (instruction) No. __________________ of "__" _________ for ________________________________________________________________________ (name of the organisation) has carried out acceptance tests ______________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ (name of the product) in accordance with the test programme and procedure _________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ (name and designation of the document) and a letter of Rostechnadzor ___________________________________________________ (No., date) in the period from _________________________ to ___________________________________ As a result of the acceptance tests, the commission has established:
1. Results of the check of conformity of the composition and completeness of the product with the technical documentation.
2. Data and results of the tests of the product according to the test programme and procedure under specific production conditions.
3. General assessment of the quality indicators of the product based on the test results and of conformity with the requirements of the technical specification (advantages, disadvantages).
4. Additional data. During the tests, the members of the commission made the following remarks (where present): __________________________________________________ On the basis of the results of the acceptance tests, the commission considers the submitted product ___________________________________________________ (name of the product) to have passed (failed) the acceptance tests under specific production conditions and to conform to the requirements of the technical documentation. It is proposed: ___________________________________________________________________________ (recommendations on putting the product into production, on permanent use under specific production conditions, on refinement, on clarification of the technical documentation) ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ Chairman of the commission: Members of the commission:
1. Results of the external inspection of the packaging and explosive materials:
2. Results of the physical examination of the explosive materials:
3. Results of the tests (for completeness of detonation, for completeness and uniformity of combustion, other investigations in accordance with the technical documentation):
1. Explosive substances [table - reproduced in the Russian original]
2. Means of initiation [table - reproduced in the Russian original]
(In total, the Unified Blaster's Book contains 5 such pages.
1. General part Mine (pit) ____________________________________________________________ section ____________________________ horizon ___________________________ m Purpose of the blast _________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ Sub-level (block, panel) No. __________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ Time of the blast __________ h __________ min ________________________ _________________________ ________________________ (day) (month) (year) Person in charge of the mass blast ____________________________________ (surnames, initials) ____________________________________ (position)
2. Indicators of the mass blast [table - reproduced in the Russian original]
3. Table of parameters of the mass blast [table - reproduced in the Russian original] Identical indicators may be shown by a common entry vertically in the appropriate column.
4. Appendices to the technical calculation
1. Plans by horizons or extracts from them indicating the hazardous zones according to the factors of hazardous impact of air shock waves and toxic gases.
2. Plans and sections by sub-level (block, panel) with corrected geological and mine-surveying data.
3. Layout diagrams of boreholes, blastholes and chambers.
4. Diagrams of the blasting (electric blasting) network with calculation of the current reaching each electric detonator and of the delay intervals.
5. Ventilation diagram with calculation of the ventilation time.
6. Certificate of technical readiness for carrying out the mass blast.
7. List of persons appointed to carry out the work on the preparation and conduct of the mass blast, including separately in the restricted zone.
8. Plan for the servicing by the emergency rescue unit of the work on the preparation, conduct and elimination of the consequences of the mass blast. Agreed: Surnames of the heads of the organisation's services taking part in the preparation, conduct and elimination of the consequences of the mass blast: ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ Designed by __________________________________________________________________ (position, surname, initials, date) ___________________ (signature) Design checked by ___________________________________________________________________ (position, surname, initials, date) ___________________ (signature)
1. Delivery of explosive materials Explosive substances are delivered from ________________________________________ ____________________ store along route No. _____________________________________ to the loading and unloading area of the mine _________________________________ by vehicles Nos. ______________________________, are transferred into special wagons and lowered down the shaft _____________________________________________ into the ore yard of horizon _______________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________. Wagons with explosive substances are formed into an electric locomotive train, by which, along route ________________________________________________, they are delivered to the charging machine installed ____________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________. Temporary storage of explosive substances is carried out in workings _________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ from __ h __ min to __ h __ min. Means of initiation are delivered from the store by blasters ___________________________________________________________________________ along route _______________________________________________________________ Person responsible for the delivery of explosive substances: on the surface ________________________________________________________ (position, surname, initials) in the mine _______________________________________________________________ (position, surname, initials) Person responsible for the delivery of means of initiation ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ (position, surname, initials) The list of persons engaged each shift in the delivery of explosive materials, the charging of boreholes, the servicing of charging machines, the manufacture and insertion of primers, the assembly of the blasting network, and the guarding of the restricted and hazardous zones is compiled at the mine (pit) and entered in the order book or attached to the design. Person responsible for the allocation of people to the specified work ______________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ (position, surname, initials)
2. Charging of boreholes (blastholes) and chambers The electric power in block No. _____________, panel No. ____________ shall be switched off on "__" _______ _____ at __ h __ min. At the same time, the electrical installations, contact wires and cables, including the cables of the lighting network, except those with a voltage of 42 V, shall be de-energised within a radius (along the workings from the locations of the charging machines, the wagons with explosive substances and the charges for the entire duration of the charging work) of _____________________________________________________ m. Person responsible for switching off the electric power in the block and installing short-circuiting links _________________________________________________________________ (position, surname, initials) Start of charging __ h __ min "__" _______ ____ Completion of charging __ h __ min "__" _______ _____ From the moment of delivery of explosive substances into block No. ____________________________ work in the area of the _____________________________________________ zone from the storage places of explosive substances and the charging machine ceases, and people not involved in delivery and charging are led out beyond the limits of the zone _________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ (indicate the zone) Order of charging: ________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ Each shift, _______________ persons work in the block. Person responsible for charging and for leading people out of the restricted (hazardous) zone ___________________________________________________________________________ (position, surname, initials)
3. Insertion of primers All people not involved in the manufacture and insertion of primers into the charges, by __ h __ min "__" __________________ , are led out beyond the limits of the zone _____________________________________. (indicate the zone) Start of insertion of primers __ h __ min; completion __ h __ min. For capless blasting of charges, the primers are manufactured ___________________________________________________________________________ (indicate the places) For electric blasting, the primers are manufactured __ hours after the completion of charging, the removal of the charging machines, the charging pipes and the residues of explosive substances. Person responsible for the manufacture and insertion of primers and for leading people out of the restricted (hazardous) zone __________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ (indicate the zone, position, surname, initials of the responsible person)
4. Assembly of the blasting network The switching off of the electric power and the installation of short-circuiting links in the mine is carried out at __ h __ min "__" _______ ____. Person responsible for switching off the electric power and installing short-circuiting links ______ ___________________________________________________________________________ (position, surname, initials) People not involved in the assembly of the blasting network are led out beyond the limits of the hazardous zone ____________________________________________________________ at __ h __ min "__" ________ ____. Start of assembly of the blasting network __ h __ min "__" _______ ____. Completion of assembly of the blasting network __ h __ min "__" ________ ____. Person responsible for the assembly of the blasting network and for leading people out of the hazardous zone ___________________________________________________________________________ (indicate the zone) ___________________________________________________________________________ (position, surname, initials) The rectifier station ____________________________________________________ is connected to the mine power network _______________________________________________ The electric blasting network is connected to the rectifier station or to two phases of the power transformer through a contactor (magnetic starter), or to an electronic device or blasting instrument ___________________________________________________________________________ (indicate) Responsible person _________________________________________________________________ (position, surname, initials) Short-circuiting links on the mine power network are installed _____________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ The removal of the short-circuiting links on the mine power network is carried out by order of the person responsible for the mass blast, after a report by the person responsible for the assembly of the blasting network _____________________________________________________ on the leading out of people from the hazardous zone. Location of the blasting station ________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ Person responsible for checking the blasting network _______________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ (position, surname, initials) Person responsible for switching on the current source for carrying out the mass blast ____________________________________________________________________ (position, surname, initials) (the switching on of the current source is carried out on the written instruction of the person in charge of the blast, after he has received written confirmations from the heads of the sections that all people have been led out beyond the limits of the hazardous zone _________________________________________________________ at __ h __ min. (indicate the zone "__" _______ ____
5. Ventilation of the blast area Person responsible for summoning the emergency rescue units and familiarising them with the area of the mass blast ___________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ (position, surname, initials) Person responsible for the ventilation of the area of the mass blast, of the mine (pit) ___________________________________________________________________________ (position, surname, initials) Ventilation of the blast area is carried out as follows: ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ Ventilation time __ h __ min. Ventilation is monitored in the following manner: ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________
6. Hazardous zones according to the effect of air shock waves for the period of preparation of the mass blast The hazardous zones are established for the period of carrying out the following work: For the time of charging The hazardous zone includes the workings ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ (indicate the zone) Places for setting up sentry posts (or warning signs) ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ Person responsible for the setting up and removal of the sentry posts and warning signs ___________________________________________________________________________ (position, surname, initials) For the time of insertion of primers The hazardous zone includes the workings ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ (indicate the zone and list the workings) On the boundary of this zone, sentry posts are set up at the following places: ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ (indicate the numbers of the sentry posts, their locations, surnames and initials of the sentries) Person responsible for the setting up and removal of the sentry posts ______________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ (position, surname, initials) For the time of assembly (and checking) of the blasting network The hazardous zone includes the workings ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ (indicate the zone and list the workings) On the boundary of this zone, sentry posts are set up at the following places: ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ (indicate the numbers of the sentry posts, their locations, surnames and initials of the sentries) Person responsible for the setting up and removal of the sentry posts ______________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ (position, surname, initials) For the time of checking the blasting network and blasting the charges of explosive substances The hazardous zone includes the workings __________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ (indicate the zone and list the workings) Places for setting up sentry posts __________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ (indicate the numbers of the sentry posts, surnames and initials of the sentries) Sentry posts guarding the hazardous zone on the surface __________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ (indicate the numbers of the sentry posts, their locations, surnames and initials of the sentries) Person responsible for the setting up and removal of the sentry posts ______________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ (position, surname, initials)
7. Admission of people into the mine and other actions The descent of mine rescuers into the mine to check the condition of the workings and to analyse the air after the blast, and also to disconnect the trunk wires of the electric blasting network, is carried out at __ h __ min "__" _________ ____ down the shaft of the mine __________, horizon ________ m. The switching on of the electric power in the area of the mass blast is carried out after the disconnection of the trunk wires of the blasting network from the rectifier station, by order of the person responsible for the mass blast or his deputy. The admission of miners into the mine is carried out by the person in charge of the blast after checking the condition of the workings and their ventilation: (a) for the servicing of electrical substations, ventilation, drainage and hoisting installations _______________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ (list the facilities and their locations) Responsible persons: ____________________________________________________ (positions, surnames, initials) (b) for work at sections outside the boundaries of the hazardous zone _____________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ (list the facilities and their locations) Responsible persons _____________________________________________________ (positions, surnames, initials) (c) for work at sections within the hazardous zone _____________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ (list the facilities and their locations) Responsible persons _____________________________________________________ (positions, surnames, initials) (d) for work in the blast area _________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ (list the facilities and their locations) Responsible persons _____________________________________________________ (positions, surnames, initials) Person responsible for the admission of people into the neighbouring mines ____________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ (position, surname, initials) The notification of mines, workshops and other organisations and of the population of the nearby area about the conduct of the mass blast and its completion is performed by ___________________________________________________________________________ (position, surname, initials) Person responsible for organising the notification ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ (position, surname, initials) Person responsible for the briefing of the workers engaged in the preparation and conduct of the mass blast, ____________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ (position, surname, initials)
8. Additional actions: (a) allocate __ fire extinguishers at the rate of two at the charging machine and ___ at each charging point. Connect the fire hose; (b) provide the workers carrying out the delivery of the explosive substances and the charging with isolating self-rescuers in the quantity of ____ pieces; (c) disconnect the contact wire, at a distance of not less than _____ m from the place of storage of the explosive substances and the location of the charging machine, from the power network and bridge it onto the rail track; (d) one day before the start of the charging work, develop the relevant items of the accident response plan; (e) ensure the timely collection of spilled explosive substances and its delivery to the explosive materials warehouse for destruction; (f) carry out the charging of boreholes, blastholes and chambers only after the removal of the drilling equipment; (g) provide those responsible for charging with extracts from the design together with a table of blast parameters, oblige them to keep records of the explosive materials being charged, to hand over the remaining explosive materials by shift and to report to the responsible supervisor of the explosion on the number of charged boreholes (chambers, blastholes), the consumption and the remaining explosive materials; (h) issue the containers used for the explosive substances to the surface. Persons responsible for the performance of the additional actions: items "a", "e" and "h": ____________________________________________________ (position, surname, initials) item "c": ________________________________________________________________ (position, surname, initials) item "f": ________________________________________________________________ (position, surname, initials) item "g": ____________________________________________________________ (position, surname, initials) items "b" and "d": _____________________________________________________ (position, surname, initials) The schedule for conducting the mass explosion was compiled by ___________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ (position, surname, initials, date) ___________________________________________________________________________ (signature) The schedule for conducting the mass explosion was checked by ___________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ (position, surname, initials, date) ___________________________________________________________________________ (signature)
1. General information.
2. Geology and hydrogeology.
3. Volume of the rock mass to be blasted.
4. Diameter of the boreholes, the amount of subdrilling, the name of the explosive substances and the means of initiation, the specific consumption of explosive materials, the calculation of the charges in the boreholes, the distances between boreholes in a row and between rows of boreholes.
5. Methods of initiating the charges and the blasting network.
6. Calculation of the electric blasting (blasting) network and of the current passing through a single electric detonator (electric igniter cartridge).
7. Drawings of the design of the charge and the primer, indicating the location of the primer (primers) in the charge (charges). The type and the values of the stemming.
8. Type of the detonating cord (tape) and of the delay elements.
9. Blasting diagram indicating the values of the delay intervals.
10. Estimated consumption of explosive substances (kg), including by name: ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________
11. Estimated consumption of intermediate detonators (kg), including by name: ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________
12. Estimated consumption of the means of initiation, including by name: ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________
13. Calculation of the safe distances with respect to the scattering of pieces of the rock mass.
14. Calculation of the safe distances with respect to the action of the air shock wave.
15. Calculation of the seismically safe distances.
16. Calculation of the safe distance with respect to the effect of the gases formed during the mass explosion.
17. Other information. The calculation was compiled by ___________________________________________________________ (position, surname and initials, date) ___________________________________________________________________________ (signature) The calculation was checked by ___________________________________________________________ (position, surname and initials, date) ___________________________________________________________________________ (signature) The following graphic material is attached to the explanatory note: diagrams of the arrangement of the boreholes, cross-sectional profiles through the charges, diagrams of the withdrawal of the equipment and of the charging and stemming of the boreholes, a situational plan of the locality indicating the danger zone and the buildings, structures, power transmission lines and utility lines located within it, as well as the locations of the guard posts of the danger zone and of the blasting station, and diagrams of the blasting networks. The plan of the block and the diagrams of the actual arrangement of the boreholes are signed by the persons who carried out the survey, with an indication of their positions.
1. R is the calculated value, F is the actual value of the indicator.
2. The actual indicators shall be entered during or after the charging of the boreholes.
3. Identical data may be entered as a single combined entry in the column vertically.
4. Under identical geological and hydrogeological conditions, the parameters of those boreholes which are intended for equal charges and have deviations in depth and in the value of the line of resistance at the base of not more than +/- 0.5 m may be combined into separate groups. In such cases, the average values of the parameters by group are entered in the table, and in the note - the existing deviations from the parameters of the drilling-and-blasting (blasting) design for the given indicators in individual boreholes.
5. The height of the water column and the line of resistance at the base are entered where necessary.
1. Date of the explosion ___________________________________________________________________________
2. Place of the explosion ___________________________________________________________________________
3. Time of the explosion (local) ___________________________________________________________________________
4. The charging is carried out from ___ h ____ min to ____ h ___ min.
5. Total calculated quantity of explosive substances for the explosion ________________________________________________________________________ kg
6. Total number of boreholes to be blasted _______________________________________________________________________ pieces
7. Blasting ______________________________________________________________ (name of the method) with delay intervals, number of delay stages __________________
8. Surname of the senior blaster and of the blaster who will assemble the electric blasting (blasting) network _______________________________
9. Order of charging the boreholes ______________________________________________
10. Order of assembly of the electric blasting (blasting) network _______________________
11. Location of the blasting station ___________________________________
12. Danger zone: for people _________________________________________________ m, for equipment __________________________________________ m, for structures ____________________________________________ m
13. Objects located in the danger zone ___________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________
14. Actions to prevent damage to the protected objects ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________
15. The equipment is withdrawn from the nearest borehole: excavators - by __________________________________________ m, drilling rigs - by _______________________________________ m, other equipment - by __________________________________ m
16. A diagram of the arrangement of the guard posts of the danger zone is attached
17. The responsible supervisor of the mass explosion is appointed: ___________________________________________________________________________ (position, surname, initials)
18. The transport of the explosive materials to the site of the explosion is carried out by ___________________________________________________________________________ (type of transport) ___________________________________________________________________________ accompanied by ___________________________________________________________________________ (position, surname, initials)
19. For the cleaning of the boreholes before charging on the block, the following are used ___________________________________________________________________________ (technical means) The servicing work team _____________________________________________________ (surnames and initials of the team leader and the workers) ___________________________________________________________________________ The briefing of the work team was carried out _______________________________________________ (by whom, when) ___________________________________________________________________________
20. The person responsible for the removal of people from the territory of the restricted and danger zones is appointed: ___________________________________________________________________________ (position, surname, initials)
21. The person responsible for the charging and the assembly of the blasting (electric blasting) network is appointed: _____________________________________________________________ (position, surname, initials) ___________________________________________________________________________
22. The person responsible for the removal of the in-pit transport from the restricted and danger zones is appointed: ___________________________________________________________________________ (position, surname, initials)
23. The person responsible for guarding the restricted and danger zones is appointed: ___________________________________________________________________________ (position, surname, initials)
24. The person responsible for the withdrawal of the equipment from the restricted and danger zones is appointed: __________________________________________________________________ (position, surname, initials)
25. The person responsible for switching off the electricity, for removing the apparatus to a safe place before the explosion, and also for checking and connecting it after the explosion is appointed: ___________________________________________________________________________ (position, surname, initials)
26. The person responsible for giving the sound and light signals is appointed: ___________________________________________________________________________ (position, surname, initials)
27. The person responsible for notifying the neighbouring organisations (organisations, production subdivisions) is appointed: ___________________________________________________________________________ (position, surname, initials)
28. The giving of the signals is carried out by order of the responsible supervisor of the explosion ___________________________________________________________________________ (surname, initials) by the executants ___________________________________________________________________________ (surnames, initials) ___________________________________________________________________________ (technical means, place) 28.1. After the posts have been placed, the warning signal is given ___________________________________________________________________________ (type of signal, by whom it is given) ___________________________________________________________________________ 28.2. On the instruction of the person responsible for the removal of people, all workers not engaged in charging shall withdraw beyond the limits of the restricted zone ___________________________________________________________________________ (specify to where) 28.3. The additional safety measures listed in the schedule for conducting the mass explosion and connected with the introduction of the restricted zone are carried out _______ ___________________________________________________________________________ 28.4. After the removal of the people not connected with the preparation of the explosion, the guarding of the restricted zone is carried out by _______________________________________________ (surnames, initials) 28.5. The charging of the boreholes is carried out by ______________________________________ (surnames, initials) The assembly point for the persons who carried out the charging, before leaving the restricted zone ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ On completion of the charging, the guard posts of the danger zone are placed in accordance with the procedure established in the organisation. The schedule for conducting the mass explosion indicates where the posts are placed and who carries out the guarding, and sets out the system for withdrawing beyond the limits of the danger zone the persons not connected with the placing of primers with electric detonators into the charges or with the assembly of the blasting (electric blasting) network. 28.6. The placing of primers with electric detonators into the charges and the assembly of the blasting (electric blasting) network are carried out by ___________________________________________________________________________ (surnames, initials) under the direction of ___________________________________________________________________________ (surname, initials) ___________________________________________________________________________ 28.7. The firing signal ___________________________________________________________________________ (type of signal, by whom it is given) ___________________________________________________________________________
29. After the firing signal has been given, the explosion is carried out ___________________________________________________________________________ (method of blasting)
30. The "All-clear" signal ________________________________________________________ (type of signal, by whom it is given) after receipt of the instruction __________________________________________________ (position, surname, initials)
31. Time of ventilation and admission of people: to the quarry, to the site of the explosion ____________________________ h _____ min _____
32. The following persons have familiarised themselves with the schedule for conducting the mass explosion: The responsible supervisor of the explosion _________________________________________ (signature) The person responsible for the removal of people from the territory of the restricted and danger zones ___________________________________________________________________________ (signature) The person responsible for the charging and the assembly of the blasting (electric blasting) network ___________________________________________________________________________ (signature) The person responsible for the removal of the in-pit transport from the restricted and danger zones _______________________________________________________________________ (signature) The person responsible for the withdrawal of the equipment from the restricted and danger zones ___________________________________________________________________________ (signature) The person responsible for switching off the electricity ___________________________________________________________________________ (signature) The person responsible for guarding the restricted and danger zones ___________________________________________________________________________ (signature) The person responsible for giving the signals __________________________________________ (signature) The person responsible for notifying the neighbouring organisations ___________________________________________________________________________ (signature) The schedule for conducting the mass explosion was compiled by ___________________________________________________________________________ (position, surname, initials, date) ___________________________________________________________________________ (signature) The schedule for conducting the mass explosion was checked by ___________________________________________________________________________ (position, surname, initials, date) ___________________________________________________________________________ (signature)
the design and have been cleaned. The block has been cleared of foreign objects.
<1> Only for mines and ore mines hazardous in respect of gas or dust.
<2> Only for mines and ore mines hazardous in respect of gas or dust.
<3> Only for mines and ore mines hazardous in respect of gas or dust.
1. Explosive materials warehouse _______________________________________________________________ (name and location of the warehouse)
2. Type of warehouse _____________________________________________________________ (permanent, temporary, surface, ___________________________________________________________________________ semi-recessed, recessed, underground)
3. Storage facilities located on the territory of the warehouse: for the storage of explosive substances ___________________________________________________________ (number and numbers of the storage facilities) ___________________________________________________________________________ for the storage of the means of initiation ___________________________________________________________ (number and numbers of the storage facilities) for the storage of perforating and blasting apparatus __________________________________________________________ (number and numbers of the storage facilities)
4. Of what material the buildings are constructed: (a) for the storage of explosive substances ________________________________________________________ storage facility No. _______________________________________________________________ storage facility No. _______________________________________________________________ (b) for the storage of the means of initiation: storage facility No. _______________________________________________________________ storage facility No. _______________________________________________________________ (c) for the storage of the perforating and blasting apparatus: storage facility No. _______________________________________________________________ storage facility No. _______________________________________________________________ [table - reproduced in the Russian original] Fire ditch: width (at the top), m ______________________________________________________ depth, m ________________________________________________________________ distance from the fencing, m _______________________________________________ Restricted zone around the warehouse: width, m ___________________________________ Clearance of coniferous forest, m _______________________________________________ Water bodies: number and capacity (artificial, natural) ___________________________________________________________________________ (cross out what is not applicable) pumps for fire fighting (type, capacity) _________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ other equipment (buckets, fire hooks, crowbars) __________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________
12. Fencing: material __________________________________________________________________ height and length (of each side), m ________________________________________ distance to the walls of the nearest storage facility, m ________________________________ gates, wicket gates (number, design, material) ____________________________
13. Lighting of the warehouse: _____________________________________________________ network voltage, V ________________________________________________________ type of luminaires __________________________________________________________ number of lighting points _________________________________________________ source of current _____________________________________________________________ availability of standby lighting ______________________________________________
14. Alarm and communication (what kind): (a) with the guard ______________________________________________________________ (b) with the fire station ______________________________________________________ (c) with the organisation _________________________________________________
15. Guarding of the warehouse: type of guarding ________________________________________________________________ (name of the organisation) total number of workers during the day __________________________________________ total number of workers at night _________________________________________ number of posts during the day _________________________________________________ number of posts at night ________________________________________________ number of blockposts and guard dogs ___________________________________
16. Name of the instruments (which, how many): for measuring the air temperature _________________________________________ others (for checking the lightning protection) ________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________
17. Auxiliary premises on the territory of the warehouse (to be listed): ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________
18. Delivery of the explosive materials from the railway station (wharf) to the warehouse: type of road ________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ distance ________________________________________________________________ name of the station (name of the road) or of the wharf (location) ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________
19. For underground warehouses: type of warehouse ______________________________________________________________ (cell-type, chamber-type) location ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ (horizon, the working leading to the warehouse) distance from the mine shaft, m _____________________________________________ vertical distance from the surface, m _________________________________
20. Date of acceptance into operation ___________________________________________
21. Appendix to the passport of the surface warehouse: (a) a plan of the location of the warehouse and the adjacent locality within a radius corresponding to the safe distance calculated with respect to the air shock wave from the storage facility of explosive materials with the largest capacity (scale not less than 1:10000), showing all the buildings, roads, natural barriers to the movement of the air wave and so on, with an indication of the distances; (b) a plan of the territory of the warehouse (scale not less than 1:500) showing all the buildings, fences, gates, wicket gates and so on, with an indication of the distances; (c) a diagram of the arrangement of the earth electrodes of the lightning protection.
22. Date of completion of the passport ______________________________________________ Signatures: Head of the organisation __________________________________________________ Drawn up in _____ copies. One copy is kept at the explosive materials warehouse. Where points for the manufacture and preparation of explosive substances or a laboratory are located on the territory of the warehouse, their main characteristics are given in the appendix to the Passport.
U is a buried charge; O is an open charge.
In this case, the first letter in the designation of the numbers corresponds to the letters located in the vertical column: KV = 54; ER = 231.
When the air shock wave travels along the workings with various types of support, the average value of the coefficient is determined by the formula:
where , ... - respectively the coefficients of roughness of the workings along which the shock wave passes;
R1, R2... Rn - respectively the lengths of the workings for the various roughness coefficients , m.
1. Single rod lightning conductor The protection zone of a single rod lightning conductor of height h is a circular cone (Figure 7 of Appendix No. 34 to these Rules), the apex of which is located at a height h0 < h. At ground level the protection zone forms a circle of radius r0. The horizontal cross-section of the protection zone at the height of the protected structure hx is a circle of radius rx. The protection zone of single rod lightning conductors has the following dimensions: h0 = 0.85h, r0 = (1.1 - 0.002h)h,
2. Double rod lightning conductor 2.1. The protection zone of a double rod lightning conductor of height h is shown in Figure 8 of Appendix No. 34 to these Rules. The end regions of the protection zone are determined as the zones of single rod lightning conductors. The dimensions h0, r0, rx1, rx2 are determined by formulas (1). The protection zone of a double rod lightning conductor has the following overall dimensions:
The protection zone exists when L <= 3h. When L > 3h, the rod lightning conductors shall be regarded as single ones.
2.2. The protection zone of two rod lightning conductors of different heights h1 and h2 is given in Figure 9 of Appendix No. 34 to these Rules. The end regions of this zone are determined as the protection zones of single rod lightning conductors of the corresponding height, and the dimensions h01, h02, r0, r02, rx1, rx2 are calculated by formulas (1). The remaining dimensions of the zone are determined by the formulas:
where hc1 and hc2 are calculated by formulas (2) and (3). For a double rod lightning conductor of unequal heights, the protection zone exists when L <= 3hmin.
3. Multiple rod lightning conductor The protection zone of multiple rod lightning conductors of equal height is determined as the protection zone of adjacent rod lightning conductors taken in pairs (Appendix No. 34 to these Rules, Figure 10). The main condition for the protection of one or a group of structures of height hx is the fulfilment of the inequality rcx > 0 for all lightning conductors taken in pairs; rcx is determined by formulas (2) and (3).
4. Single cable lightning conductor The protection zone of a single cable lightning conductor is given in Figure 11 of Appendix No. 34 to these Rules, where h is the height of the cable at the point of greatest sag. Taking into account the sag, at a known height of the supports hon, the height of a steel cable with a cross-sectional area of 35 - 50 mm2 is determined, for a span length L < 120 m, as h = hon - 2 m, and for L = 120 - 150 m as h = hon - 3 m. The protection zone of single cable lightning conductors has the following dimensions: h0 = 0.85h,
5. Double cable lightning conductor The protection zone of a double cable lightning conductor is shown in Figure 12 of Appendix No. 34 to these Rules. The dimensions r0, h0, rx are determined by formulas (5). The remaining overall dimensions of the protection zone are determined by the formulas: (6) (7) The protection zone exists when L <= 3h.
6. Structural design of the lightning conductors
6.1.1. The supports of the lightning conductors may be made of steel of any grade, of reinforced concrete or of timber (the recommended design is shown in Figure 13 of Appendix No. 34 to these Rules). Metal tubular supports may be manufactured from substandard steel pipes. Metal supports shall be protected against corrosion. Painting of the contact surfaces in the joints shall not be permitted; wooden supports and stub posts shall be protected against rotting by impregnation with antiseptics.
6.1.2. The supports of rod lightning conductors shall be calculated for mechanical strength as free-standing structures, and the cable ones taking into account the tension of the cable and the wind load on the cable, without taking into account the dynamic forces from the lightning currents in both cases.
6.1.3. To the upper end of support 1 the air terminal 2 is attached, projecting above the support by not more than 1.5 m (Appendix No. 34 to these Rules, Figure 13). The air terminal is connected by down conductor 3 to the earthing 4 and is fastened to the post by clamps 5. For large storage facilities, compound supports are used.
To increase the service life, wooden supports may be installed on rail or reinforced-concrete base extensions.
6.1.4. The use of trees as supports for air terminals shall not be permitted.
6.1.5. The cross-sectional area of the steel air terminal of a rod lightning conductor shall be not less than 100 mm2 (Appendix No. 34 to these Rules, Figure 14). The length of the air terminal shall be not less than 200 mm. The air terminals shall be protected against corrosion by galvanising, tinning or painting.
6.1.6. The air terminals of cable lightning conductors shall be made of a steel multi-strand galvanised cable with a cross-sectional area of not less than 35 mm2.
6.1.7. The connection of the air terminals to the down conductors shall be made by welding, and where welding cannot be used - by a bolted connection with a contact electrical resistance of not more than 0.05 Ohm.
The connection of a steel roof to the down conductors may be made by clamps (Appendix No. 34 to these Rules, Figure 15). The area of the contact surface in the connection shall be not less than twice the cross-sectional area of the down conductors.
6.1.8. The down conductors, jumpers and earth electrodes shall be made of shaped steel with element dimensions not less than those specified in Appendix No. 33 to these Rules.
6.2.1. According to their arrangement in the ground and the shape of the electrodes, earth electrodes are divided into:
(a) buried ones - made of strip steel (with a cross-sectional area of 40 x 4 mm) or round steel (with a diameter of 20 mm), laid on the bottom of the excavation pit in the form of extended elements or contours along the perimeter of the foundations. In soils with an electrical resistivity of Ohm·m, the reinforcement of reinforced-concrete piles and of reinforced-concrete foundations of other types may be used as buried earth electrodes;
(b) horizontal ones - made of strip steel (with a cross-sectional area of 40 x 4 mm) or round steel (with a diameter of 20 mm), laid horizontally at a depth of 0.6 - 0.8 m from the surface of the ground, or in the form of several rays diverging from a single point to which the down conductor is connected;
(c) vertical ones - made of steel rods screwed in vertically (with a diameter of 32 - 56 mm) or of driven electrodes made of angle steel (40 x 40 mm). The length of the screwed-in electrodes shall be taken as 3 - 5 m, and of the driven ones - 2.5 - 3 m. The upper end of the vertical earth electrode shall be buried at 0.5 - 0.6 m from the surface of the ground;
(d) combined ones - vertical and horizontal, joined into a common system. The connection of the down conductors shall be made to the middle of the horizontal part of the combined earth electrode.
As combined ones, meshes with a laying depth of 0.5 - 0.6 m or meshes with vertical electrodes shall be used. The mesh cell pitch shall be not less than 5 - 6 m;
(e) plate ones - for vessels carrying explosive materials whose hulls are made of a non-conducting material.
6.2.2. All connections of the earth electrodes to one another and to the down conductors shall be made by welding. The length of the weld seam shall be not less than twice the width of the strips being welded and not less than 6 diameters of the round conductors being welded.
A bolted contact may be used only when arranging temporary earth electrodes and at the points of connection to one another of the separate contours made in accordance with paragraph 833 of these Rules.
The cross-sectional area of the connecting strips of the earth electrodes shall be not less than that specified in Appendix No. 33 to these Rules.
6.2.3. The design of the earth electrodes shall be carried out taking into account the heterogeneity of the ground.
6.2.4. The design of the earth electrodes is selected depending on the required impulse resistance, taking into account the structure and the electrical resistivity of the soil, as well as the convenience of carrying out the work of laying them. Typical designs of earth electrodes and the values of their spreading resistance for the power-frequency current R~, ohms, are given below.
In soils with an electrical resistivity of less than 500 ohm·m, earth electrodes of the horizontal or vertical type shall be used. In soils of non-uniform conductivity, horizontal earth electrodes shall be used if the electrical resistivity of the upper soil layer is less than that of the lower layer, and vertical earth electrodes if the conductivity of the lower layer is better than that of the upper layer.
6.2.5. Each earth electrode is characterised by its own impulse resistance, i.e. the spreading resistance for the lightning current Ru.
The impulse resistance of an earth electrode may differ substantially from the resistance R~ obtained by the usually accepted methods. Its value is determined by the formula:
where - the impulse coefficient, depending on the parameters of the lightning current, the electrical resistivity of the soil and the design of the earth electrode.
The limiting lengths of horizontal earth electrodes, which guarantee at different electrical resistivities of the soil, are given below:
Earth electrodes of greater length practically do not divert the impulse current on the section exceeding lpr.
The values of the impulse coefficient at different electrical resistivities of the soil are given in Appendix No. 32 to these Rules.
The impulse coefficients have been determined for values of the lightning current amplitude of 60 kA and a steepness of 20 kA/µs.
6.2.6. After the installation of the earth electrodes, the calculated spreading resistance shall be verified by direct measurement. The measurements shall be carried out in summer in dry weather.
Individual earth electrodes of lightning conductors may be interconnected by a steel strip in soils with an electrical resistivity of ohm·m.
If the measured resistance of the earth electrodes exceeds the calculated value, then in soils with an electrical resistivity of 500 ohm·m or more, the earth electrodes of the air terminals of adjacent storehouses shall be interconnected where the distance between them is not more than that specified in paragraph 832 of these Rules.
7. Lightning protection of floating vessels carrying explosive materials 7.1. Lightning protection of floating vessels shall be provided by installing lightning conductors on each mast, taking into account the following provisions: 7.2. If the vessel's hull and the mast are made of metal and are in electrical contact, and there is no electrical or electronic equipment at the top of the metal mast, this mast provides protection against the action of lightning. 7.3. If the hull and the mast are made of metal and are in electrical contact, and any electrical or electronic equipment is installed at the top of the metal mast, an air terminal shall be installed on the mast, rising at least 300 mm above this equipment. 7.4. If the vessel's hull is made of a non-conducting material and the mast of metal, an earthing plate to which the mast is connected shall be installed on the part of the hull that is in the water. Where any electrical or electronic equipment is installed at the top of the mast, the requirement of paragraph 7.3 of this Appendix shall be met. 7.5. If the mast is made of wood or another non-conducting material, an air terminal shall be installed on it, likewise rising at least 300 mm above any device located at the top of the mast. The air terminal shall be connected by means of a down conductor to the metal hull of the vessel or to the earthing plate on vessels with a non-conducting hull. 7.6. The air terminal for installation on masts shall be a metal rod with a diameter of not less than 12 mm. Copper, copper alloys or steel protected by a metal anti-corrosion coating may be used as the material. 7.7. As a down conductor on vessels, a busbar, cable, rod or wire made of copper with a cross-sectional area of not less than 70 mm2 or of steel with a cross-sectional area of not less than 100 mm2 shall be used, and the down conductor shall be protected against corrosion. 7.8. Down conductors shall be laid on the outer side of masts and superstructures. 7.9. On vessels with a hull made of a non-conducting material, sheets of carbon steel with an area of not less than 1.5 m2 and a thickness of 5 to 6 mm, immersed in the water at any draught and at the maximum permissible list of the vessel, shall be used as earth electrodes. 7.10. Connections between the air terminal, the down conductor and the earth electrode shall be made by welding or by bolted clamps. Where bolted clamps are used, the area of the contact surface between the down conductor and the air terminal or the earth electrode shall be not less than 100 mm2 for copper and its alloys and 1000 mm2 for steel. 7.11. If the vessel is equipped with lowering masts, a flexible jumper with a cross-sectional area of not less than 70 mm2 for copper and 100 mm2 for a stranded steel conductor shall be installed on the down conductor between the tabernacle and the mast post.
8. Design and acceptance of lightning protection of explosive materials stores 8.1. The design shall contain: the plan of the store with all structures adjoining it; the calculation of the protection zones against direct strikes, with justification and the dimensions of all lightning-protection elements; the calculation of protection against the secondary effects of lightning (if this is required) or a justification for the inexpediency of carrying it out; working drawings of all structures; a specification of materials. 8.2. Installed lightning-protection devices may be put into operation only after they have been accepted by a commission in accordance with the established procedure.
9. Inspection of lightning protection 9.1. Lightning protection shall be inspected in the pre-thunderstorm period, but not less than once a year, and also after damage has been detected, by a commission appointed by the head (technical head) of the organisation and composed of: the power engineer (electromechanic) or the person performing his duties, the manager of the explosive materials store, and the person in charge of the blasting operations under whose responsibility the store falls. The external examination of the lightning-protection devices is carried out periodically, but not less than once a month, by the store manager. The inspection of lightning protection includes: (a) external examination of the lightning-protection devices; (b) measurement of the resistance of the lightning-protection earth electrodes; (c) inspection of the transition resistance of the contacts of the devices for protection against the secondary effects of lightning. 9.2. The measurement of the resistance of the earth electrodes shall be carried out during the period of greatest drying-out of the soil. In those areas where a frozen layer exists during the period of thunderstorm activity, the measurement is carried out when it thaws. 9.3. The results of the external examination of the lightning protection are documented in a report, and the results of the measurement of the resistance of the earth electrodes are entered in the record of the condition of the lightning-protection earth electrodes in accordance with the attached form:
9.4. The external examination of the lightning-protection devices (with the mandatory use of binoculars) shall determine the condition of the air terminals, the down conductors, the soldering points and connections, the support masts and the above-ground parts of the protection against the secondary effects of lightning.
9.5. When examining the air terminals, the following shall be established: the integrity of the conical tip, the condition of its tinning, the reliability and tightness of the connection with the down conductor, the presence of rust, and the cleanliness of the surfaces in the bolted connections.
A lightning conductor with a melted or damaged conical tip and damaged by rust over more than 1/3 of the cross-sectional area shall be replaced with a new one.
Damaged tinning and galvanising shall be restored, rust shall be removed from the contact surfaces, and loose connections shall be tightened.
9.6. When examining the down conductors, the absence of kinks and loops, the integrity and tightness of the connections, and the absence of rust and damage are determined.
Down conductors damaged by rust, if their cross-sectional area remains less than 50 mm2, shall be replaced with new ones.
9.7. The examination of the wooden support masts determines the degree of damage by rot fungi; if it reaches 1/3 of the cross-sectional area, the masts shall be replaced with new ones.
9.8. When examining the ground-level parts of the protection against the secondary effects of lightning caused by electrostatic induction, the integrity of the mesh and the down conductors, the tightness and reliability of their connections, and the degree of damage by rust are checked.
Where the mesh and the down conductors are damaged by rust over a cross-sectional area of more than 16 mm2, the damaged sections shall be replaced.
9.9. When inspecting the devices for protection against the secondary effects, the integrity of the jumpers and their condition are determined, and the transition resistance of the contacts is measured, which shall be not more than the value specified in paragraph 834 of these Rules. At the same time, the connection of all elements to be earthed with the earth electrodes of the protection against the secondary effects shall be checked.
9.10. The measurement of the resistance of the lightning-protection earth electrodes shall be carried out with special electrical measuring instruments or by the voltmeter-ammeter three-measurement method at high resistivity of the soils. The resistance of the joints shall be measured with a micro-ohmmeter. The measured resistances shall be entered in the record of the condition of the lightning-protection earth electrodes at the explosive materials store in accordance with the form provided.
9.11. When measuring the resistance of the earth electrodes by the three-electrode method, the layouts of the current electrode T and the potential electrode P given in Figure 16 of Appendix No. 34 to these Rules shall be applied. Where D > 40 m, the dimension shall be not less than D.
The location of the measuring electrodes shall be determined during the design of the lightning protection. The measuring electrodes shall be installed during the construction of the lightning-protection earth electrodes.
As an auxiliary earthing, one of the earth electrodes of the adjacent lightning conductors that is not connected with the earth electrode being measured may be used.
9.12. The measurement of the resistance of an earth electrode may be carried out by the voltmeter-ammeter three-measurement method.
Figure 17 of Appendix No. 34 to these Rules shows 4 separate earth electrodes from four lightning conductors.
The measurement of the resistance (ohms) of the 3 earth electrodes No. 1, 2, 3 shall be carried out in pairs:
hence the resistance (ohms) of each earth electrode:
To obtain the resistance (ohms) of earth electrode No. 4, two more (the fourth and fifth) additional measurements are carried out:
In the same manner, the resistances of other earth electrodes may also be measured, if there are any.
In the case of one or two earth electrodes, two or one auxiliary earthing shall be made.
9.13. To determine the impulse resistance R1 of an earth electrode, its measured resistance shall be multiplied by the impulse coefficient a, taken from Appendix No. 32 to these Rules depending on the type of earth electrode and the resistivity of the soil.
The resistivity of the soil shall be measured at the stage of pre-design surveys. Under operating and reconstruction conditions, the measurement is carried out by the four-electrode method using a megohmmeter. The calculated value is determined by the formula , where R - the instrument reading, ohms; l - the distance between the electrodes, metres; Kc - the seasonal coefficient of freezing (drying-out) of the soil.
Figure 2. A free-standing catenary lightning conductor: L - the distance between the lightning conductors; L1, L3 - the length of the current conductors; L2 - the height of the structure being protected; Sv1, Sv2 - the smallest permissible distances from the catenary lightning conductor at points A and C, respectively, to the structure being protected; Sz - the smallest permissible distance from the earthing to the metal utility lines; 1 - the structure being protected; 2 - metal utility lines.
respectively, of the ground and of the height of the structure being protected;
respectively, of the ground and of the height of the structure being protected;
of a pipe (c), strip steel (d), angle steel (e):
(b) of the down conductors to the metal roofing: 1 - the down conductor;
2 - the roofing; 3 - a lead gasket; 4 - a steel plate;
of the earthings and single horizontal strips: