Testing and Evaluation of Explosives and Pyrotechnics

Division 2.4

Department 2.4 is responsible for testing, assessing and providing expert advice on all matters relating to the handling and transportation of explosives, objects containing explosives and pyrotechnic articles as well as blasting accessories. Based on the Explosives and Propellants Act and the Dangerous Goods Transportation Act, we are the official point of contact for classifications, approvals and permits.

We use our expertise to assess the storage of explosives and pyrotechnic articles. We develop test methods, determine safety-related parameters and conduct research in the field of explosion effects on structural infrastructures. To this end, we use numerical simulations and experiments up to real scale.

We investigate explosives and residual products intended for disposal. We use our expertise to set regulations and advise state and federal ministries and enforcement authorities.

Customer information, official notifications on explosives, pyrotechnic articles and publication lists can be found on tes.bam.de.

Fields of expertise
Fields of expertise
Evaluation of hazards of packaged explosives and pyrotechnic articles (dangerous goods of class 1)
Simulation of detonation effects inside and on different building structures including practical testing
Legal advice in the area of application of the German Explosives Act, of the German “Beschussgesetz” (German act on proofing of ammuntion), and regulations on the transport of dangerous good
Safety of facilities of the explosives industry and of storage sites for explosives and pyrotechnic articles
Pyrotechnic ammunition and marine distress signals (SOLAS test institution)
Main activities
Main activities
Safety- and security-related research with explosives in the field of explosives detection, characterisation of explosives and their properties regarding sensitivity and performance
Classification of explosives and pyrotechnic articles for the transport as dangerous good of class 1, including classification for storage according to German regulations (Explosives Act)
Approvals of intra-community transfers according to the European directive for explosives
National approvals of blasting accessories and pyrotechnic ammunition
Further development of standards, in particular on a national level regarding the use of blasting explosives and initiation systems in underground mining
Contributions to the continued development of laws in respect to national explosives regulations, national and international dangerous goods regulations, and regarding substance-related evalutations (GHS, CLP, REACH, hazardous materials regulations in general)
Assessment of explosives and pyrotechnic articles presenting a risk, including pyrotechnic ammunition, and technical support to national market surveillance authorities
Certification of the suitability of the outer packaging of pyrotechnic articles for the display in sales rooms
Simulation and practical tests of detonation effects
Range of services/technical equipment
Range of services/technical equipment
Testing of safety-related properties of explosives and pyrotechnic articles (e. g. sensitivity to mechanical stimulus, to electrostic discharge)
Testing of packaged dangerous goods of class 1 according to the UN manual on tests and criteria (e. g. bonfire test, drop test)
Testing of articles containing explosives in view of exclusion from dangerous goods hazard class 1
Testing of blast-effect mitigation of construction elements and other protective devices towards detonation effects
numerical simulation of blast effects using finite elements methods
Testing of facility elements as found in production sites for explosives, pyrotechnic articles, and pyrotechnic ammunition by a mock-up of the conditions in a factory in down-scale or real size
Analysis of reaction products, e. g. composition of toxic fumes from the initiation of explosives
Testing of pyrotechnic articles and explosives accoring to European standards as support to market surveillance authorities or for safety-related evaluations
Determination of the luminous strength and smoke density, e. g. with pyortechnic ammunition and marine distress signals
Environmental testing of pyrotechnic articles in the field of the Marine Equipment Directive 2014/90/EU
Measurement of extremely fast processes (detonations, quick deflagrations) with substances and articles (e. g. highspeed video recording, blast pressure measurement)
Publications

Publications
In the database PUBLICA you will find publications by BAM employees.
Publications of the Testing and Evaluation of Explosives and Pyrotechnics division in PUBLICA
PUBLICA