Storage of BP

[J. Paul]

In non working refrigerator in shop opposite welding grinding area, components to make it are in separate refrigerator because it's handy

 

[FishDFly]

Read the back of the original powder container for storage instructions from the manufacturer.

 

[pmccoywss]

Read the BATFE rules for explosives storage, it cannot be stored in an occupied space, must be in original container, must be stored in a BATFE approved magazine. Those are facts.

NOT for private individuals. The BATFE regulations apply only to those active in "commerce" (buy, sell, transport, etc). See below.

There MAY be state or local regulations in some areas.


§ 555.1 Scope of regulations.

(a) In general. The regulations contained in this part relate to commerce in explosives and implement Title XI, Regulation of Explosives (18 U.S.C. Chapter 40; 84 Stat. 952), of the Organized Crime Control Act of 1970 (84 Stat. 922), Pub. L. 103-322 (108 Stat. 1796), Pub. L. 104-132 (110 Stat. 1214), and Pub. L. 107-296 (116 Stat. 2135).

 

[doubleset]

While I don't store black powder in my house (except for the small bit in my powder flask in the range bag), I'm not sure how much more safety I gain from that when compared to the various cans (liquid and aerosol) of volatile materials -- including old paint cans, solvents of various sorts, fuel additives, cleaning agents) plus modern cartridge ammunition that I do store in our home "utility" room.

Once you start worrying about "explosions" in the home, there's actually quite a bit to worry about even if you possess no black powder at all -- and that includes any natural gas or propane pipelines and appliances you may have. So I'm at the point where I see this more as a personal comfort issue that's on a continuum of safety and practicality. That doesn't mean that some ways to approach it aren't better than others.

There seem to be, for example, quite a number of ladies (and men too, but I'm impressed with the number of women) who make jewelry in home workshops and who have things like acetylene tanks (and sometimes oxy-acetylene) sitting in their homes. And I also know musical instrument repair techs who do the same in working out of their home shops. So for me, the black powder storage problem sits on a kind of continuum where clear lines aren't drawn by what people claim are "facts," but more by degrees of preference and risk assessment. Not to say that there aren't facts that are important in making this sort of decision and doing the actual storage, but a number of things being bandied around here as "facts" are in fact (ha!) just the expression of opinions or preferences.

 

[J. Paul]

How many have a 2 to 5 gallon container of gas for tiller or lawnmower sitting in corner of garage or under workbench that we wouldn't even think about

 

[GBG]

The BATF amuses me with their concern and regulations for black powder, which contains about 1.36 MJ of energy per pound.

One gallon of liquid propane weighs 4.2 pounds and contains 96 MJ of energy (when mixed with air - which is free and available in unlimited quantity everywhere). The 200 gallons of LP gas sitting 15 feet away outside my window, contains the potential chemical energy equivalent of over 7 Tons of black powder.

PS: some of you young guys with sharp minds please check my math. It's been nearly 40 years since I last took a chemical engineering class.

 

[J. Paul]

The BATF amuses me with their concern and regulations for black powder, which contains about 1.36 MJ of energy per pound.

One gallon of liquid propane weighs 4.2 pounds and contains 96 MJ of energy (when mixed with air - which is free and available in unlimited quantity everywhere). The 200 gallons of LP gas sitting 15 feet away outside my window, contains the potential chemical energy equivalent of over 7 Tons of black powder.


PS: some of you young guys with sharp minds please check my math. It's been nearly 40 years since I last took a chemical engineering class.

Wonder how that compares to gasoline vapor?

 

[J. Paul]

Wonder how that compares to gasoline vapor?
How many MJ in 1 gallons of gasoline? The answer is 131.76. We assume you are converting between megajoule and gallon [U.S.] of automotive gasoline

 

[bang]

Like fertilizer at the shipping docks.
S.H.I.T., Store High in Transit.

 

[Woody Morgan]

I have a potential chemical weapon stored in the laundry room cabinet...ammonia and bleach right next to each other.

wm

 

[hawkeye2]

Under the bed.

My wife's side.

 

[doubleset]

I have a potential chemical weapon stored in the laundry room cabinet...ammonia and bleach right next to each other.

Yeah, and you can probably make ammonium tri-iodide too. But to be fair, none of those individual ingredients you're storing in the case of the ammonia, bleach, and iodine are themselves explosive or even flammable.

 

[Cruzatte]

I need to know where and what kind of containers you use to store your BP. Without the fear of blowing up your house, in case of fire or other mishaps?

I use one of these.

 

[J. Paul]

I use one of these.
View attachment 129584

It's convient, but if caught in fire, it will blow up with fragments, not burn up in flash

 

[BP Addict]

Due to the fact that most BP now comes in well-sealed plastic containers, I keep mine in the freezer in my garage.

Opened cans are in a hip roof plastic toolbox with a padlock on it, also known as my powder box, and stored in a cement block walled room in my garage with cool temperatures even in the summer.

When I first started this hobby, everything was in one toolbox. I now have one for powder, one for shooting supplies, and another for cleaning supplies and tools.

Thanks!

Walt

 

[johnfrommd]

Read the BATFE rules for explosives storage, it cannot be stored in an occupied space, must be in original container, must be stored in a BATFE approved magazine. Those are facts.

Not exactly.

Organized Crime Control Act of 1970, Title XI ..................................................................... 1
Title 18, United States Code, Sec. 1102, Chapter 40. Importation, Manufacture,
Distribution and Storage of Explosive Materials

§ 845. Exceptions; Relief From Disabilities

5) commercially manufactured black powder in quantities
not to exceed fifty pounds, percussion caps, safety and pyrotech-
nic fuses, quills, quick and slow matches, and friction primers,
intended to be used solely for sporting, recreational, or cultural
purposes in antique firearms as defined in section 921(a)(16) of
title 18 of the United States Code, or in antique devices as
exempted from the term “destructive device” in section 921(a)(4)
of title 18 of the United States Code;

 

[FishDFly]

Any one ever have or know of someone who has had their residence inspected to see if they were storing BP correctly?

Correctly as defined on the manufactures instructions for storage.

 

[hanshi]

With the exception of two full horns and a flask, mine's kept in the original can and stored in a large drink cooler.

 

[billcaster]

Wood will burn thru before the powder ignites. If there was a danger of it exploding as you describe, then NY would not have specified using wood boxes for powder storage.

This isn't a topic for opinions, but for facts.

How much powder can you have in your possession in Upstate NYS?

 

[doubleset]

While I have not read this report entirely, I can say that at least it introduces some genuine science to some of the "discussions" here. Since I haven't read it completely, I'm not sure what all the lessons in it are, or what reasonable conclusions are to be drawn from it. Nonetheless, it does rise above the level of mere opinion, stubborn belief, and outright speculation. I doubt that many readers of this thread will take the time to read and understand it, because that would be too much like work (or school), but it does have a few nice pictures in it. Anyway, here it is, and perhaps it will serve to focus debate on some genuine facts and actual tests. Perhaps.

The Introduction does mention prior studies and appears to indicate that the decision to endorse/require the use of wooden boxes was made prior to this study. I haven't tried to track down that research, but may attempt it when I get the time. And (since I haven't read the details yet), I don't know if this study ends up addressing the preference for wooding storage boxes over others.

Response of small-scale blackpowder storage in partitioned wooden boxes to external fire