The danger of initiating explosives by electrostatic discharge. Checking the level of sensitivity of explosives to electrostatic discharges

National Research and Development Institute for Mining Safety and Explosion Protection – INSEMEX, G-ral Vasile Milea Street, no. 32-34, Postal code: 332047, Petrosani, Hunedoara County, Romania

^* Corresponding author: dan.gabor@insemex.ro

Abstract

Explosives designed for civil uses can be, in some cases, be triggered by accident due to electrostatic discharge. Static electricity, as a source of electrostatic discharge, is a common phenomenon in the explosives manufacturing industry. Explosives designed for civil uses are substances, materials and accessories that present a high-risk factor during their production, packaging, storage, transport, use and disposal. In order to establish essential safety requirements for civilian uses explosives, national legislation has been harmonized with European legislation, respectively with Directive 2014/28/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council regarding the placing on the market and control of explosives for civil use, for handling with minimal risk to the safety of human life and health, to prevent damage to property and the environment, and to ensure the safety and health of persons coming into contact with civil uses explosives. In this context, it is necessary to apply high-performance test methods to determine the safety parameters for assessing the conformity of explosives for civil use with the safety requirements set out in the specified directive. This paper describes some aspects regarding the implementation of the testing method for checking the level of sensitivity to electrostatic energy of explosives within the Laboratory of Non-Electrical Ex Equipment, Electrostatics, Materials and PPE within INCD INSEMEX Petroșani [1, 2].