Outdoor magazines other than Type 3 shall be located so as to comply with Table 5604.5.2(2) or 5604.5.2(3) as set forth in Tables 5601.8.1(1) through 5601.8.1(3). Where a magazine or group of magazines, as described in Section 5604.5.2.2, contains different classes of explosive materials, and Division 1.1 materials are present, the required separations for the magazine or magazine group as a whole shall comply with Table 5604.5.2(2).
AMERICAN TABLE OF DISTANCES FOR STORAGE OF EXPLOSIVES AS APPROVED BY THE INSTITUTE OF MAKERS OF EXPLOSIVES AND REVISED JUNE 1991a, e, f
| QUANTITY OF EXPLOSIVE MATERIALSc | DISTANCES IN FEET | ||||||||
| Inhabited buildings | Public highways with traffic volume less than 3,000 vehicles per day | Public highways with traffic volume greater than 3,000 vehicles per day and passenger railways | Separation of magazinesd | ||||||
| Pounds over | Pounds not over | Barricaded | Unbarricaded | Barricaded | Unbarricaded | Barricaded | Unbarricaded | Barricaded | Unbarricaded |
| 0 | 5 | 70 | 140 | 30 | 60 | 51 | 102 | 6 | 12 |
| 5 | 10 | 90 | 180 | 35 | 70 | 64 | 128 | 8 | 16 |
| 10 | 20 | 110 | 220 | 45 | 90 | 81 | 162 | 10 | 20 |
| 20 | 30 | 125 | 250 | 50 | 100 | 93 | 186 | 11 | 22 |
| 30 | 40 | 140 | 280 | 55 | 110 | 103 | 206 | 12 | 24 |
| 40 | 50 | 150 | 300 | 60 | 120 | 110 | 220 | 14 | 28 |
| 50 | 75 | 170 | 340 | 70 | 140 | 127 | 254 | 15 | 30 |
| 75 | 100 | 190 | 380 | 75 | 150 | 139 | 278 | 16 | 32 |
| 100 | 125 | 200 | 400 | 80 | 160 | 150 | 300 | 18 | 36 |
| 125 | 150 | 215 | 430 | 85 | 170 | 159 | 318 | 19 | 38 |
| 150 | 200 | 235 | 470 | 95 | 190 | 175 | 350 | 21 | 42 |
| 200 | 250 | 255 | 510 | 105 | 210 | 189 | 378 | 23 | 46 |
| 250 | 300 | 270 | 540 | 110 | 220 | 201 | 402 | 24 | 48 |
| 300 | 400 | 295 | 590 | 120 | 240 | 221 | 442 | 27 | 54 |
| 400 | 500 | 320 | 640 | 130 | 260 | 238 | 476 | 29 | 58 |
| 500 | 600 | 340 | 680 | 135 | 270 | 253 | 506 | 31 | 62 |
| 600 | 700 | 355 | 710 | 145 | 290 | 266 | 532 | 32 | 64 |
| 700 | 800 | 375 | 750 | 150 | 300 | 278 | 556 | 33 | 66 |
| 800 | 900 | 390 | 780 | 155 | 310 | 289 | 578 | 35 | 70 |
| 900 | 1,000 | 400 | 800 | 160 | 320 | 300 | 600 | 36 | 72 |
| 1,000 | 1,200 | 425 | 850 | 165 | 330 | 318 | 636 | 39 | 78 |
| 1,200 | 1,400 | 450 | 900 | 170 | 340 | 336 | 672 | 41 | 82 |
| 1,400 | 1,600 | 470 | 940 | 175 | 350 | 351 | 702 | 43 | 86 |
| 1,600 | 1,800 | 490 | 980 | 180 | 360 | 366 | 732 | 44 | 88 |
| 1,800 | 2,000 | 505 | 1,010 | 185 | 370 | 378 | 756 | 45 | 90 |
| 2,000 | 2,500 | 545 | 1,090 | 190 | 380 | 408 | 816 | 49 | 98 |
| 2,500 | 3,000 | 580 | 1,160 | 195 | 390 | 432 | 864 | 52 | 104 |
| 3,000 | 4,000 | 635 | 1,270 | 210 | 420 | 474 | 948 | 58 | 116 |
| 4,000 | 5,000 | 685 | 1,370 | 225 | 450 | 513 | 1,026 | 61 | 122 |
| 5,000 | 6,000 | 730 | 1,460 | 235 | 470 | 546 | 1,092 | 65 | 130 |
| 6,000 | 7,000 | 770 | 1,540 | 245 | 490 | 573 | 1,146 | 68 | 136 |
| 7,000 | 8,000 | 800 | 1,600 | 250 | 500 | 600 | 1,200 | 72 | 144 |
| 8,000 | 9,000 | 835 | 1,670 | 255 | 510 | 624 | 1,248 | 75 | 150 |
| 9,000 | 10,000 | 865 | 1,730 | 260 | 520 | 645 | 1,290 | 78 | 156 |
| 10,000 | 12,000 | 875 | 1,750 | 270 | 540 | 687 | 1,374 | 82 | 164 |
| 12,000 | 14,000 | 885 | 1,770 | 275 | 550 | 723 | 1,446 | 87 | 174 |
| 14,000 | 16,000 | 900 | 1,800 | 280 | 560 | 756 | 1,512 | 90 | 180 |
| 16,000 | 18,000 | 940 | 1,880 | 285 | 570 | 786 | 1,572 | 94 | 188 |
| 18,000 | 20,000 | 975 | 1,950 | 290 | 580 | 813 | 1,626 | 98 | 196 |
| 20,000 | 25,000 | 1,055 | 2,000 | 315 | 630 | 876 | 1,752 | 105 | 210 |
| 25,000 | 30,000 | 1,130 | 2,000 | 340 | 680 | 933 | 1,866 | 112 | 224 |
| 30,000 | 35,000 | 1,205 | 2,000 | 360 | 720 | 981 | 1,962 | 119 | 238 |
| 35,000 | 40,000 | 1,275 | 2,000 | 380 | 760 | 1,026 | 2,000 | 124 | 248 |
| 40,000 | 45,000 | 1,340 | 2,000 | 400 | 800 | 1,068 | 2,000 | 129 | 258 |
| 45,000 | 50,000 | 1,400 | 2,000 | 420 | 840 | 1,104 | 2,000 | 135 | 270 |
| 50,000 | 55,000 | 1,460 | 2,000 | 440 | 880 | 1,140 | 2,000 | 140 | 280 |
| 55,000 | 60,000 | 1,515 | 2,000 | 455 | 910 | 1,173 | 2,000 | 145 | 290 |
| 60,000 | 65,000 | 1,565 | 2,000 | 470 | 940 | 1,206 | 2,000 | 150 | 300 |
| 65,000 | 70,000 | 1,610 | 2,000 | 485 | 970 | 1,236 | 2,000 | 155 | 310 |
| 70,000 | 75,000 | 1,655 | 2,000 | 500 | 1,000 | 1,263 | 2,000 | 160 | 320 |
| 75,000 | 80,000 | 1,695 | 2,000 | 510 | 1,020 | 1,293 | 2,000 | 165 | 330 |
| 80,000 | 85,000 | 1,730 | 2,000 | 520 | 1,040 | 1,317 | 2,000 | 170 | 340 |
| 85,000 | 90,000 | 1,760 | 2,000 | 530 | 1,060 | 1,344 | 2,000 | 175 | 350 |
| 90,000 | 95,000 | 1,790 | 2,000 | 540 | 1,080 | 1,368 | 2,000 | 180 | 360 |
| 95,000 | 100,000 | 1,815 | 2,000 | 545 | 1,090 | 1,392 | 2,000 | 185 | 370 |
| 100,000 | 110,000 | 1,835 | 2,000 | 550 | 1,100 | 1,437 | 2,000 | 195 | 390 |
| 110,000 | 120,000 | 1,855 | 2,000 | 555 | 1,110 | 1,479 | 2,000 | 205 | 410 |
| 120,000 | 130,000 | 1,875 | 2,000 | 560 | 1,120 | 1,521 | 2,000 | 215 | 430 |
| 130,000 | 140,000 | 1,890 | 2,000 | 565 | 1,130 | 1,557 | 2,000 | 225 | 450 |
| 140,000 | 150,000 | 1,900 | 2,000 | 570 | 1,140 | 1,593 | 2,000 | 235 | 470 |
| 150,000 | 160,000 | 1,935 | 2,000 | 580 | 1,160 | 1,629 | 2,000 | 245 | 490 |
| 160,000 | 170,000 | 1,965 | 2,000 | 590 | 1,180 | 1,662 | 2,000 | 255 | 510 |
| 170,000 | 180,000 | 1,990 | 2,000 | 600 | 1,200 | 1,695 | 2,000 | 265 | 530 |
| 180,000 | 190,000 | 2,010 | 2,010 | 605 | 1,210 | 1,725 | 2,000 | 275 | 550 |
| 190,000 | 200,000 | 2,030 | 2,030 | 610 | 1,220 | 1,755 | 2,000 | 285 | 570 |
| 200,000 | 210,000 | 2,055 | 2,055 | 620 | 1,240 | 1,782 | 2,000 | 295 | 590 |
| 210,000 | 230,000 | 2,100 | 2,100 | 635 | 1,270 | 1,836 | 2,000 | 315 | 630 |
| 230,000 | 250,000 | 2,155 | 2,155 | 650 | 1,300 | 1,890 | 2,000 | 335 | 670 |
| 250,000 | 275,000 | 2,215 | 2,215 | 670 | 1,340 | 1,950 | 2,000 | 360 | 720 |
| 275,000 | 300,000b | 2,275 | 2,275 | 690 | 1,380 | 2,000 | 2,000 | 385 | 770 |
For SI: 1 foot = 304.8 mm, 1 pound = 0.454 kg.
- This table applies only to the manufacture and permanent storage of commercial explosive materials. It is not applicable to transportation of explosives or any handling or temporary storage necessary or incident thereto. It is not intended to apply to bombs, projectiles or other heavily encased explosives.
- Storage in excess of 300,000 pounds of explosive materials in one magazine is not allowed.
- Where a manufacturing building on an explosive materials plant site is designed to contain explosive materials, such building shall be located with respect to its proximity to inhabited buildings, public highways and passenger railways based on the maximum quantity of explosive materials permitted to be in the building at one time.
- Where two or more storage magazines are located on the same property, each magazine shall comply with the minimum distances specified from inhabited buildings, railways and highways, and, in addition, they should be separated from each other by not less than the distances shown for separation of magazines, except that the quantity of explosives in detonator magazines shall govern in regard to the spacing of said detonator magazines from magazines containing other explosive materials. Where any two or more magazines are separated from each other by less than the specified separation of magazines distances, then two or more such magazines, as a group, shall be considered as one magazine, and the total quantity of explosive materials stored in such group shall be treated as if stored in a single magazine located on the site of any magazine in the group and shall comply with the minimum distances specified from other magazines, inhabited buildings, railways and highways.
- All types of blasting caps in strengths through No. 8 cap shall be rated at 11/2 pounds of explosives per 1,000 caps. For strengths higher than No. 8 cap, consult the chief having jurisdiction.
- For quantity and distance purposes, detonating fuse up to 60 grains per foot, shall be calculated as equivalent to nine (9) pounds of high explosives per 1000 feet. Heavier cord loads shall be rated proportionally.
TABLE OF DISTANCES (Q-D) FOR BUILDINGS AND MAGAZINES CONTAINING EXPLOSIVES—DIVISION 1.3 MASS-FIRE HAZARDa, b, c
| QUANTITY OF DIVISION 1.3 EXPLOSIVES (NET EXPLOSIVES WEIGHT) | DISTANCES IN FEET | ||||
| Pounds over | Pounds not over | Inhabited Building Distance (IBD) | Distance to Public Traffic Route (PTR) | Intermagazine Distance (IMD) | Intraline Distance (ILD) or Intraplant Distance (IPD) |
| 0 | 1,000 | 75 | 75 | 50 | 50 |
| 1,000 | 5,000 | 115 | 115 | 75 | 75 |
| 5,000 | 10,000 | 150 | 150 | 100 | 100 |
| 10,000 | 20,000 | 190 | 190 | 125 | 125 |
| 20,000 | 30,000 | 215 | 215 | 145 | 145 |
| 30,000 | 40,000 | 235 | 235 | 155 | 155 |
| 40,000 | 50,000 | 250 | 250 | 165 | 165 |
| 50,000 | 60,000 | 260 | 260 | 175 | 175 |
| 60,000 | 70,000 | 270 | 270 | 185 | 185 |
| 70,000 | 80,000 | 280 | 280 | 190 | 190 |
| 80,000 | 90,000 | 295 | 295 | 195 | 195 |
| 90,000 | 100,000 | 300 | 300 | 200 | 200 |
| 100,000 | 200,000 | 375 | 375 | 250 | 250 |
| 200,000 | 300,000 | 450 | 450 | 300 | 300 |
For SI: 1 foot = 304.8 mm, 1 pound = 0.454 kg
- Black powder, where stored in magazines, is defined as low explosive by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATF).
- For quantities less than 1,000 pounds, the required distances are those specified for 1,000 pounds. The use of lesser distances is allowed where supported by approved test data and/or analysis.
- Linear interpolation of explosive quantities between table entries is allowed.
TABLE OF DISTANCES (Q-D) FOR BUILDINGS AND MAGAZINES CONTAINING EXPLOSIVES—DIVISION 1.4c
| QUANTITY OF DIVISION 1.4 EXPLOSIVES (NET EXPLOSIVES WEIGHT) | DISTANCES IN FEET | ||||
| Pounds over | Pounds not over | Inhabited Building Distance (IBD) | Distance to Public Traffic Route (PTR) | Intermagazine Distancea, b (IMD) | Intraline Distance (ILD) or Intraplant Distancea (IPD) |
| 50 | Not Limited | 100 | 100 | 50 | 50 |
For SI: 1 foot = 304.8 mm, 1 pound = 0.454 kg.
- A separation distance of 100 feet is required for buildings of other than Type I or Type II construction as defined in the California Building Code.
For earth-covered magazines, specific separation is not required.
- Earth cover material used for magazines shall be relatively cohesive. Solid or wet clay and similar types of soil are too cohesive and shall not be used. Soil shall be free from unsanitary organic matter, trash, debris and stones heavier than 10 pounds or larger than 6 inches in diameter. Compaction and surface preparation shall be provided, as necessary, to maintain structural integrity and avoid erosion. Where cohesive material cannot be used, as in sandy soil, the earth cover over magazines shall be finished with a suitable material to ensure structural integrity.
- The earth fill or earth cover between earth-covered magazines shall be either solid or sloped, in accordance with the requirements of other construction features, but not less than 2 feet of earth cover shall be maintained over the top of each magazines. To reduce erosion and facilitate maintenance operations, the cover shall have a slope of 2 horizontal to 1 vertical.
- Restricted to articles, including articles packaged for shipment, that are not regulated as an explosive under Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives regulations, or unpacked articles used in process operations that do not propagate a detonation or deflagration between articles. This table shall not apply to consumer fireworks, 1.4G.
Where two or more storage magazines are located on the same property, each magazine shall comply with the minimum distances specified from inhabited buildings, public transportation routes and operating buildings. Magazines shall be separated from each other by not less than the intermagazine distances (IMD) shown for the separation of magazines.
Where two or more magazines are separated from each other by less than the intermagazine distances (IMD), such magazines as a group shall be considered as one magazine and the total quantity of explosive materials stored in the group shall be treated as if stored in a single magazine. The location of the group of magazines shall comply with the intermagazine distances (IMD) specified from other magazines or magazine groups, inhabited buildings (IBD), public transportation routes (PTR) and operating buildings (ILD or IPD) as required.