Gun powder safety

Gun powder can explode when subjected to heat while confined. But a detonation is a specific type of explosion which produces a shock wave, typical of high explosives which do not need to be confined to explode. With the normal factory packaging, gun powder will not explode in a fire, as there is no confinement, but more importantly when gunpowder explodes there is no shock wave produced. This is proven with the following experiment. If you place a 1 pound gun powder cartridge on the surface of a bolder and initiate that cartridge, when the smoke clears, the rock will be unchanged other than burn marks from the powder. If you place a 1 pound high explosive cartridge on that same rock and initiate it, the rock will break. The difference is that the high explosive produces shock energy where the gun powder only produces gas energy. The old time powder men would say, "Gun powder shoots up, but dynamite shoots down." In rock blasting, shock energy is useful for breaking the rock, and gas energy is what displaces the rock. About 20% of the energy released during a detonation of a commercial explosive is shock energy and 80% is gas energy. The dimensional stone industry until recently used gunpowder to slab off rock without fracturing it, now there are low velocity waterproof emulsions that do a better job.
 
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Ganderite said:
If you want to protect a loading room, run a garden hose to the ceiling with a sprinkler. Or just have a short garden hose rigged that can be turned on to fight a fire.
Click to expand...

Sound advice.

My reloading station & supplies are in the basement (garage) of my house. Even with extra care, some powder always make its way to the bench & floor. Sshhiitt happens. The last we need is the family house to become a huge fireplace and dealing with insurance sharks for the cause of the fire. Prevention is so much less troubles... Here's what I do:

1. Keep the work area clean; Note: sweeping or rinsing is ok. Vacuuming is a don't. I read on CGN a few years back about a reloader and his rocket Hoover...

2. A deployed and charged garden hose is readily available within a few steps; and

3. Powders stored in a ventilated & grounded steel cabinet.

Cheers,
 
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