Guidance

Good practice guidance on the carriage by private individuals of black powder (gunpowder) and smokeless powders for use in small arms, small arms ammunition and model rocket motors

Published 18 September 2012

1. General

Private individuals are permitted to transport up to a total of 30kg of explosives for leisure/sporting activities in a private motor vehicle. In ADR^{[footnote 1]} 1.1.3.1 (a), as qualified by regulation 9 of ‘The carriage of dangerous goods and use of transportable pressure equipment regulations 2009 (as amended), “explosives” includes black powder (gunpowder) and smokeless powders for use in small arms as well as small arms ammunition and model rocket motors.

The following recommended methods cover the safe and secure transport of explosives by road. They do not cover transport by rail, sea or by any form of public transport upon which there may be further restrictions. It is the responsibility of the individual carrying the explosives to ensure compliance with prescribed limits. Any relevant documents must accompany the explosives throughout the journey.

2. Packaging

Only explosives classified for transport should be carried and they should remain in their original transport packaging whenever possible. This packaging should display appropriate hazard warning and security labels.

Where it is not possible to transport the explosives covered by this guidance in their original packaging, they should be placed in one of the following accepted containers:

• black powder flasks/horns or containers designed or adapted to throw a measured or measurable charge, having a fully closed plate or removable stopper
• closed or stoppered tubes or phials designed to contain sufficient powder or propellant for one shot
• black powder twists carried in a closed container
• in the case of small arms ammunition and cartridges, a robust bag or purpose-made carrier designed for the purpose

Each accepted container should be placed in outer packaging acceptable for the explosives under the provisions of ADR, such as a fibreboard box displaying the appropriate carriage and security information, and each accepted container should be packaged in such a way that the contents cannot spill or fall out.

3. Security

A person involved in the carriage of dangerous goods must take all reasonable steps to ensure that unauthorised access to those goods is prevented and take appropriate steps to ensure the security of the explosives in the event of an accident or emergency.

Packages containing explosives must be covered or concealed in such a way as to prevent their identification by any casual observer or anyone not involved in the carriage. They should be kept out of view in the load carrying area (e.g. boot) with the lid or cover of any container or packaging in place. Alternatively, they can be kept in any other appropriate lockable storage area within the vehicle.

Whenever possible, a vehicle carrying explosives should not be left unattended. If the explosives are not in a locked container secured to the vehicle, the vehicle may be left unoccupied provided it is locked and within the sight of a responsible person. Vehicles carrying explosives in lockable containers secured to the vehicle may be left provided the vehicle is locked and if fitted, its alarm and/or immobiliser set.

4. Safety

Packages containing explosives must be properly restrained to prevent them moving and whenever practical, they should be located away from the external walls and doors of the vehicle.

Generally, explosives should not be carried with other dangerous goods, for example, fuel cans, gas bottles, paints, solvents etc. Explosives classified as UN Hazard Code 1.4S, may be. However black powder, smokeless powder and rocket motors will not be classified 1.4S. Where these explosives are carried in accordance with this guidance, they will need to be adequately separated and protected from any other dangerous goods to prevent the accidental initiation of one by the other. In any event, dangerous goods carried should not be incompatible with any explosives nor with each other.

The person who possesses the explosives should ensure that all occupants of the vehicle are aware that potential sources of ignition such as smoking, naked flames or sparks are forbidden inside or close to the vehicle. Containers and the areas in the vehicle in which the explosives are to be carried should be kept clean and free from contamination, particularly by grit.

If there is an accident or other incident the person who possesses the explosives should be able to provide the following information to the emergency services the:

• type of explosives that are being carried
• original classification of the explosives in their transport packaging
• type of hazard that the explosives are likely to present if they are not being carried in their transport packaging, for example:
  • a mass explosion hazard
  • a projection hazard but not a mass explosion hazard
  • a fire hazard and either a minor blast hazard or a minor projection hazard or both, but not a mass explosion hazard
  • the effects will be largely confined to the package and no projection of fragments of appreciable size or range is expected

9th May 2012

5. Footnotes

1. Agreement concerning the international carriage of dangerous goods by road ↩