Standards Council of Canada announces new national standard for storing, manufacturing explosives

The Standards Council of Canada (SCC) and the Bureau de normalisation du Québec (BNQ) announced the publication of a new National Standard of Canada (NSC) that will help the explosives industry control risks to the general public, workers, infrastructure and explosives storage and manufacturing operations. 
This new NSC CAN/BNQ 2910-510 Explosives – Quantity Distances will serve as a guide for all stakeholders who take part in planning the location of explosives storage or explosives manufacturing facilities. 

Explosives – Quantity Distances specifies minimum separation distances between potential explosion sites and exposed sites. It applies to all locations where the explosion of stored or manufactured explosives could create a blast that triggers additional explosions, results in the projection of fragments or debris, or causes a fire. The goal is to minimize the risk to life and property.

"By working together with the standardization network, we have ensured this standard reflects current practice and innovation in the explosives industry, while keeping Canadians safe," said SCC's CEO, John Walter.

This NSC is one of two standards that the BNQ has been developing since March 2013 for the explosives industry. The second, Explosives – Magazines for Industrial Explosives, is expected to be published this fall.

The new standard is available at no charge.