Louisiana Administrative Code › Title 55 - PUBLIC SAFETY › Part I - State Police › Chapter 15 - Explosives Code › Subchapter A - General › Section I-1507 - Blasting Agents

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 6, June 20, 2024
A. Buildings or
				  other facilities used for mixing blasting agents, including mobile equipment,
				  shall be located, with respect to inhabited buildings, passenger railroads and
				  public highways, in accordance with the American Table of Distances as set
				  forth in §1545, Appendix A.
B.
				  Minimum intra-plant separation distances between mixing units and the oxidizer
				  storage areas and blasting agents storage areas shall comply with the American
				  Table of Distances [see §§1545, Appendix A, and 1547, Appendix
				  B].
C. If oxidizer is stored at a
				  closer distance to the blasting agent storage area than as provided in
				  §1507. B above, one-half its weight shall be added to the quantity of
				  blasting agents to calculate the total quantity involved for application of the
				  aforementioned table (Subsection A).
D. Buildings used for the mixing of blasting
				  agents shall conform to the requirements of these rules and regulations, unless
				  otherwise specifically approved by the Office of the Deputy Secretary of Public
				  Safety Services.
E. Buildings shall
				  be of noncombustible construction or sheet metal on wood studs.
F. The layout of the mixing building shall be
				  such as to provide physical separation between the finished product storage and
				  the mixing and packaging operations.
G. Floors in storage areas and in the
				  processing plant shall be of concrete. Isolated fuel storage shall be provided
				  to avoid contact between molten oxidizer and fuel in case of fire.
H. The building shall be well
				  ventilated.
I. Heat shall be
				  provided exclusively from a unit outside the building.
J. The design of the mixer shall minimize the
				  possibility of frictional heating, compaction, and especially, confinement.
				  Bearings and gears shall be protected against the accumulation of oxidizer
				  dust. All surfaces shall be accessible for cleaning. Mixing and packaging
				  equipment shall be constructed of materials compatible with the fuel-oxidizer
				  composition.
K. The sensitivity of
				  the blasting agent shall be determined by means of a Number 8 test blasting cap
				  at regular intervals and after every change in ingredients, composition or
				  packaging, or as may be requested by the Office of the Deputy Secretary of
				  Public Safety Services.
L. No
				  Hydrocarbon liquid fuel with flash point lower than that of Number 2 Diesel
				  fuel oil (125° minimum or legal) shall be used.
M. If solid fuels are used, they shall be
				  chosen so as to minimize dust explosion hazards.
N. Metal dusts (aluminum powder, etc.)
				  peroxides, chlorates or perchlorates shall not be used unless such operations
				  are conducted in a manner approved by the Deputy Secretary of Public Safety
				  Services.
O. Unusual compositions
				  shall not be attempted except under the supervision of competent personnel
				  equipped to determine the over-all hazards of the resulting
				  compositions.
P. All electrical
				  switches, controls, motors, and lights, if located in the mixing room, shall
				  conform to the requirements of Class II, Division 2 of the National Electrical
				  Code, otherwise, they shall be located outside the mixing room. The frame of
				  the mixer and all other equipment that may be used shall be electrically bonded
				  and be provided with a continuous path to the ground.
Q. Clean or washdown facilities shall be
				  provided. Floors shall be constructed so as to eliminate open floor drains and
				  piping into which molten materials could flow and be confined in case of fire.
				  The floors and equipment of the mixing and packaging room shall be washed down
				  frequently to prevent accumulation of oxidizers or fuels and other sensitizes.
				  The entire mixing and packaging plant shall be washed down periodically to
				  prevent excessive accumulation of dust, washdown facilities need not be
				  maintained on job site mixing operations.
R. Smoking or open flames shall not be
				  permitted in or within 50 feet of any building or facility used for the mixing
				  of blasting agents.
S. Empty
				  oxidizer containers shall be disposed of daily in a safe manner.
T. Not more than one day's production of
				  blasting agents shall be permitted in or near the mixing and packaging plant or
				  area. Larger quantities shall be stored in separate warehouses or magazines in
				  accordance with §1509
AUTHORITY NOTE:
					 Promulgated in accordance with
					 R.S.
					 40:1472.1 et
					 seq.