From: lockhart@mothra.nts.uci.edu (Jack C. Lockhart)
Subject: RF radiation hazards in the use of explosives or detonators
Summary: Summary of Rules, Research, Books and Papers
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.policy,rec.radio.amateur.misc
Organization: University of California, Irvine
Keywords: RF hazards, detonators, bombs
Date: 7 Dec 92 22:18:09 GMT
Followup-To: rec.radio.amateur.policy

In article <2B1D969B.1034@news.service.uci.edu> I wrote:

>Can anyone quote or provide a particular rule section (from any radio
>service) regarding operating RF equipment near explosive or detonation
>devices?  Or is there a study that has a chart which says that with x
>frequency band and y power, z is a safe distance for "most" cases.
>
>My radio peers do work around bombs and other explosive devices.  We
>use low power VHF radios, 800 MHz radios and cellular telephones to
>communicate with.
>
>Some of the University of California police officers are concerned
>about using their portable radios, hand held radios and cellular
>telephones when they respond to bomb threat calls...
>
>Please send e-mail or post if you wish.  I will provide a summary and
>post to the net if there is any response.
>
>Thanks in advance.


Thanks to all who responded.  Research on the above subject also
produced the following references:


Institute of Petroleum (Great Britain)

   Recommended practices for radio silence when conducting wireline
services involving the use of explosives / Institute of Petroleum,
Offshore Operations, United Kingdom Continental Shelf.  Chichester ;
New York : Published on behalf of the Institute of Petroleum, London,
by J. Wiley, c1984.
    UCSB  Library   TN279 .I68 1984 Sci-Engrg


                    INSTITUTE OF MAKERS OF EXPLOSIVES

Publication #20.  "Safety Guide for the prevention of RF radiation
hazards in the use of commercial detonators."  $4 (202) 429-9280


                 FACTORY MUTUAL RESEARCH (INSURANCE COMPANY)

Factory Mutual Research per the National Electrical Code Class 1, Div.
1, or 2 hazardous locations in the presence of Group C, D, E, F, & G
atmospheres; non-incendive for Class 1, Div. 2, hazardous locations in
the presence of Groups A, B, C and D atmospheres.


                    NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION

Hazardous locations are defined in the National Electrical Code.
Useful standards NFPA 437A and NFPA 437M for the classifications of
hazardous areas may be ordered from the National Fire Protection
Association, Batterymarch Park, MA 02269.


                               CAL OSHA

Barclays California Code of Regulations Title 8, section 5305;
"Blasting with Batteries, Blasting Devices and Blasting Machines."


                   BUREAU OF ALCOHOL TABACCO & FIRE ARMS

Guidelines for operations of RF devices in close proximity to bombs or
other detonators.


                       UNDERWRITERS LABORATORY

Guidelines for operations of RF devices in close proximity to bombs or
other detonators.


              BUREAU OF MINE & SAFETY HEALTH ADMINISTRATION

Guidelines for operations of RF devices in close proximity to bombs or
other detonators.


                   FBI Report and Summary (still looking)

Guidelines for operations of RF devices in close proximity to bombs or
other detonators.


Reference:  County of Orange (California) Sheriffs Office Bomb Squad. 

~jack_


/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
|         Jack C. Lockhart      << SNAILMAIL                                 |
|      Radio Systems Engineer         E-MAIL >  LOCKHART@uci.edu             |
|  OAC-Network & Telecomm Services    !BANG! >  ...!ucbvax!ucivax!lockhart   |
|    2209 Central Plant Building         HAM >  WD6AEI                       |
| University of California, Irvine      AMPR >  WD6AEI@n0ary.arasmith.com    | 
|      Irvine, CA  92717-5475          VOICE >  (714) 856-8477               |
|              U.S.A                     FAX >  (714) 725-2270               |
\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/
    "And in the beginning there was nothing.  And God said, 'let there be
   light'.  And there was still nothing, BUT you could see IT!"  -Anonymous
/     o o o o o o o . . .   ________________________________ _____=======____\_
    o      _____            |                              | |               |
  .][__n_n_|DD[  ====_____  |    #include <disclaimer.h>   | |               |
 >(________|__|_[_________]_|______________________________|_|_______________|_
 _/oo OOOOO oo`  ooo   ooo  'o^o^o                    o^o^o` 'o^o         o^o`
-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-
\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc