EN 13857-1:2025
(Main)Explosives for civil uses - Part 1: Vocabulary
Explosives for civil uses - Part 1: Vocabulary
This document defines terms and definitions used in documents prepared by CEN/TC 321 for explosives for civil uses.
Explosivstoffe für zivile Zwecke - Teil 1: Begriffe
Dieses Dokument legt Begriffe fest, die in von CEN/TC 321 erarbeiteten Dokumenten zu Explosivstoffen für zivile Zwecke verwendet werden.
Explosifs à usage civil - Partie 1 : Vocabulaire
Le présent document définit les termes et définitions utilisés dans les documents élaborés par le CEN/TC 321 pour les explosifs à usage civil.
Eksplozivi za civilno uporabo - 1. del: Izrazje
General Information
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Standards Content (Sample)
SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-december-2025
Eksplozivi za civilno uporabo - 1. del: Izrazje
Explosives for civil uses - Part 1: Terminology
Explosivstoffe für zivile Zwecke - Teil 1: Terminologie
Explosifs à usage civil - Partie 1: Terminologie
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 13857-1:2025
ICS:
01.040.71 Kemijska tehnologija Chemical technology
(Slovarji) (Vocabularies)
71.100.30 Eksplozivi. Pirotehnika in Explosives. Pyrotechnics and
ognjemeti fireworks
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.
EN 13857-1
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
October 2025
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 01.040.71; 71.100.30 Supersedes EN 13857-1:2003
English Version
Explosives for civil uses - Part 1: Vocabulary
Explosifs à usage civil - Partie 1 : Vocabulaire Explosivstoffe für zivile Zwecke - Teil 1: Begriffe
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 15 September 2025.
CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this
European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references
concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN
member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by
translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management
Centre has the same status as the official versions.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and
United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION
EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2025 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN 13857-1:2025 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.
Contents Page
European foreword . 3
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Terms and definitions . 5
3.1 General explosives terms . 5
3.2 Terms related with detonators and their components . 8
3.3 Terms related with blasting . 12
3.4 Terms related with detonating cord and safety fuse . 14
3.5 Terms related with propellants . 15
3.6 Terms related with testing explosives and other terms . 16
Bibliography . 21
Index . 22
European foreword
This document (EN 13857-1:2025) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 321 “Explosives
for civil uses”, the secretariat of which is held by UNE.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an
identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by April 2026, and conflicting national standards shall be
withdrawn at the latest by April 2026.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This document supersedes EN 13857-1:2003.
In comparison with the previous edition, the following technical modifications have been made:
a) all definitions have been revised;
b) the following terms have been added: acceptor cartridge, acceptor cord, acceptor detonator, all-fire
impulse, blast bunker, blast chamber, blasthole, blasting circuit, blasting explosive, borehole, burning
rate, cartridge, charge, complete detonation, confined test, confinement, connector, control unit, core
of detonating cord, coupling accessory, critical defect, defect, delay composition, delay series,
density, detonation front, detonator base, detonator top, donor cartridge, donor cord, donor
detonator, drop test, dummy detonator, electric igniter, electronic initiation system, electronic
initiation system using no data communication, electronic initiation system using one-way data
communication, electronic initiation system using two-way data communication, electrostatic
discharge, explosive for blasting, explosive article, explosive core, explosive material, explosive
substance, failure, fault, firing line, firing test range, firing unit, firing voltage, free-fall drop test, free-
flowing explosive, fuse head, guided drop test, hot wire, ignition, ignition wire, indentation, initiation,
insensitiveness to friction, insensitiveness to impact, insulation breakdown, insulation resistance,
large rocket motor, leading wires, loading, major defect, means of ignition, means of initiation,
mechanical loading, minor defect, misfire, no-fire current, no-fire impulse, non-free-flowing
explosive, outlier, overlapping, pins-to-case configuration, pin-to-pin configuration, powder cake,
pre-programmed electronic detonator, programmable electronic detonator, programming unit,
programming voltage, reference detonator, remote firing system, rocket motor, rocket propellant,
round, semi-finished detonator, shell, small rocket motor, solid gun propellant, solid propellant, solid
rocket propellant, surface delay systems, sympathetic detonation, test piece, test sample, testing unit,
testing voltage, thermal stability, transfer capability, trigger detonator, unconfined test, unloaded
detonator, witness detonator;
c) the following terms have been removed: blasting accessory, decomposition, evidence of reaction,
extreme conditions, extreme temperature, firing time, gap test, high explosive, nominal delay
interval, primary explosive, propagation of detonation, range of applicability of test method, range
of validity of test method, sensitizer, sensitiveness;
d) Clause 3 now contains subclause and the terms have been assigned to these accordingly;
e) cross-references to other terms defined in this document have been added to the definitions;
f) an index has been added;
g) the Bibliography has been revised.
This document has been prepared under a standardization request addressed to CEN by the European
Commission. The Standing Committee of the EFTA States subsequently approves these requests for its
Member States.
A list of all parts in the EN 13857 series, published under the general title Explosives for civil uses, can be
found on the CEN website.
Any feedback and questions on this document should be directed to the users’ national standards body.
A complete listing of these bodies can be found on the CEN website.
According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organisations of the
following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia,
Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland,
Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of North
Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and the United
Kingdom.
1 Scope
This document defines terms and definitions used in documents prepared by CEN/TC 321 for explosives
for civil uses.
2 Normative references
There are no normative references in this document.
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
• ISO Online browsing platform: available at https://www.iso.org/obp
• IEC Electropedia: available at https://www.electropedia.org/
3.1 General explosives terms
3.1.1
explosives
materials and articles considered to be explosives in the United Nations recommendations on the
transport of dangerous goods and falling within Class 1 of those recommendations
[SOURCE: Directive 2014/28/EU, Art. 2 (1)]
3.1.2
explosive material
material considered an explosive (3.1.1)
Note 1 to entry: Explosive material is capable of undergoing an explosion (3.1.4) due to a chemical reaction.
3.1.3
explosive article
article considered an explosive (3.1.1)
Note 1 to entry: An explosive article contains one or more explosive materials (3.1.2).
3.1.4
explosion
rapid increase in volume and release of energy with generation of high temperatures and release of gases
that causes pressure waves in the material in which it occurs
Note 1 to entry: An explosion is categorized as deflagration (3.1.5) if the pressure waves are subsonic and as
detonation (3.1.6) if they are supersonic (shock waves).
3.1.5
deflagration
explosion (3.1.4) with pressure waves at subsonic velocity
3.1.6
detonation
explosion (3.1.4) with pressure waves at supersonic velocity
3.1.7
complete detonation
detonation (3.1.6) where the explosive material (3.1.2) or the explosive article (3.1.3) has completely
reacted
Note 1 to entry: A complete detonation can be verified by the measurement of the velocity of detonation (3.1.9).
3.1.8
sympathetic detonation
initiation (3.1.20) of an explosive (3.1.1) by the detonation (3.1.6) of another explosive in the vicinity
Note 1 to entry: The impulse from another detonation (3.1.6) can be transmitted through air, earth or water.
3.1.9
velocity of detonation
VOD
detonation velocity
velocity at which the detonation (3.1.6) moves through the explosive material (3.1.2)
3.1.10
detonation front
moving zone in the reacting explosive (3.1.1) composed of the shock that drives the detonation (3.1.6) and
the reaction zone in which the chemical reaction takes place
3.1.11
blasting explosive
explosive for blasting
explosive (3.1.1) used for breaking rock or other materials that it is in contact with
3.1.12
explosive substance
explosive material (3.1.2) that is used for further manufacturing of explosive articles (3.1.3) or explosives
for blasting (3.1.11)
EXAMPLES TNT (Trinitrotoluene), PETN (Pentaerythritol tetranitrate), RDX, HMX.
3.1.13
cartridged explosive
explosive material (3.1.2) enclosed in a cartridge (3.1.14) and used in this form
3.1.14
cartridge
casing containing an explosive material (3.1.2)
Note 1 to entry: The casing is usually made from paper, cardboard or plastics. The shape of this casing is usually
cylindrical.
Note 2 to entry: A cartridge can improve handling, loading (3.1.26) or dosing of explosive material (3.1.2).
3.1.15
bulk explosive
solid, liquid or pasty explosive material (3.1.2) in loose form which is not enclosed in a cartridge (3.1.14)
and is used for blasting
Note 1 to entry: Bulk explosives can be loaded by pouring, pumping or pneumatic means.
Note 2 to entry: Solid bulk explosives include explosive material pressed in pellets or prill.
3.1.16
free-flowing explosive
solid, liquid or pasty explosive material (3.1.2) in a continuous homogenous mass that is easily transferred
from one container to another by pouring
3.1.17
non-free-flowing explosive
explosive material (3.1.2) that cannot be transferred from one container to another by pouring
3.1.18
charge
explosive charge
quantity of an explosive material (3.1.2) with an assigned function
3.1.19
booster
explosive article (3.1.3) or charge (3.1.18) used to amplify the energy from a detonator (3.2.1) or a
detonating cord (3.4.1)
3.1.20
initiation
process of starting the chemical reaction of an explosive (3.1.1) that leads to an explosion (3.1.4)
Note 1 to entry: In practise, the terms initiation and ignition (3.1.22) are sometimes used interchangeably.
3.1.21
means of initiation
means to start the chemical reaction of an explosive (3.1.1) that leads to an explosion (3.1.4)
3.1.22
ignition
process of starting the chemical reaction of an explosive (3.1.1) that leads to a combustion or a
deflagration (3.1.5)
Note 1 to entry: In practise, the terms initiation (3.1.20) and ignition are sometimes used interchangeably. For
reasons of distinction, in CEN/TC 321 documents, the term ignition, means of ignition (3.1.23) and the verb “ignite”
are used in connection with explosives (3.1.1) that, if functioning as designed, will undergo deflagration (3.1.5) or
combustion but no detonation (3.1.6).
3.1.23
means of ignition
means to start the chemical reaction of an explosive (3.1.1) that leads to a deflagration (3.1.5) or
combustion
3.1.24
black powder
mixture of sodium nitrate or potassium nitrate with charcoal or other carbon, with or without sulfur
3.1.25
blasthole
borehole
hole drilled in the material to be blasted for the purpose of containing explosive material (3.1.2) or
explosive charges (3.1.18)
3.1.26
loading
placing explosive material (3.1.2) or explosive charges (3.1.18) in a blasthole (3.1.25) or against the
material to be blasted
3.1.27
mechanical loading
action in which an explosive for blasting is loaded in boreholes by means of mechanical devices
Note 1 to entry: This includes pneumatic loading bulk or small diameter cartridged explosives and pumping of bulk
explosives.
3.2 Terms related with detonators and their components
3.2.1
detonator
explosive article (3.1.3) that, upon receipt of a signal, is capable of initiating a detonation (3.1.6) in an
explosive charge (3.1.18)
Note 1 to entry: The signal can be, for example, thermal, mechanical, electrical, or electromagnetic.
Note 2 to entry: There are different ways and constructive designs for how the signal is received and transmitted
inside a detonator. The common parts of a detonator are its shell (3.2.4), the base charge (3.2.2), a possible primary
charge (3.2.3) or initiation element, a possible delay element (3.2.12) and the means to transmit the signal into the
detonator like shock tube (3.2.11) or leading wires (3.2.10).
3.2.2
base charge
explosive charge (3.1.18) contained in the detonator base (3.2.6)
Note 1 to entry: The explosion (3.1.4) of the base charge provides the shock wave capable to initiate another
explosive charge (3.1.18).
3.2.3
primary charge
explosive charge (3.1.18) used in a detonator (3.2.1) to initiate the base charge (3.2.2)
3.2.4
shell
outer mechanical encapsulation of a detonator (3.2.1)
Note 1 to entry: The shell is in tubular shape, closed on one end and is typically made from metal.
3.2.5
detonator top
part of the detonator (3.2.1) at the open end of the shell (3.2.4)
3.2.6
detonator base
part of the detonator (3.2.1) at the closed end of the shell (3.2.4)
3.2.7
crimp
compression closure at the open end of the shell (3.2.4) to hold in place safety fuse (3.4.6), shock tube
(3.2.11) or leading wires (3.2.10) and to provide a seal
3.2.8
fuse head
component consisting of a bridgewire (3.2.9) surrounded by a bead of explosive material (3.1.2) that is
used to initiate a detonator (3.2.1)
3.2.9
bridgewire
bridge wire
thin resistive wire that converts electrical current into heat
3.2.10
leading wires
lead wires
insulated electrical wires attached to an electric (3.2.14) or electronic detonator (3.2.17) transmitting the
electrical signal
Note 1 to entry: In case of electric detonators, the leading wires are usually two single insulated wires. In case of
electronic detonators, the leading wires are usually twin wires (dual wires) consisting of two isolated electrical
wires surrounded by insulating material.
3.2.11
shock tube
explosive article (3.1.3) in the form of a hollow extruded plastic tube containing a thin layer of explosive
material (3.1.2) on its inside used to initiate a non-electric detonator (3.2.15) or an electronic detonator
(3.2.17)
3.2.12
delay element
part of a delay detonator (3.2.16) that provides a delay between initiation (3.1.20) of the delay detonator
and its detonation (3.1.6)
Note 1 to entry: The delay element can either be an electronic circuit (see 3.2.17) or a delay composition (3.2.13).
3.2.13
delay composition
explosive material (3.1.2) in a delay element (3.2.12) the burning time of which is employed to provide the
delay
3.2.14
electric detonator
detonator (3.2.1) that requires an electrical current to be initiated
Note 1 to entry: The electrical signal is provided by leading wires (3.2.10) that are connected to the bridgewire
(3.2.9) inside the electric detonator.
3.2.15
non-electric detonator
detonator (3.2.1) that requires a non-electrical signal to be initiated
Note 1 to entry: Non-electrical signals are provided, for example, by shock tube (3.2.11) or safety fuse (3.4.6).
3.2.16
delay detonator
detonator (3.2.1) that contains a delay element (3.2.12) capable of creating a delay between initiation
(3.1.20) and detonation (3.1.6)
3.2.17
electronic detonator
detonator (3.2.1) containing an electronic circuit for the transmission of the signal for initiation (3.1.20)
to the fuse head (3.2.8) and that can also serve as a delay element (3.2.12)
Note 1 to entry: The delay of an electronic detonator, i.e. an electronic circuit serves as delay element (3.2.12), can
be zero.
3.2.18
programmable electronic detonator
electronic detonator (3.2.17) with a delay time (3.3.23) programmable by the user
Note 1 to entry: The delay time (3.3.23) can be programmed by means of a programming unit (3.3.6) and/or a firing
unit (3.3.3).
3.2.19
pre-programmed electronic detonator
electronic detonator (3.2.17) with a fixed delay time (3.3.23) factory-programmed
3.2.20
instantaneous detonator
detonator (3.2.1) without delay element (3.2.12)
3.2.21
plain detonator
instantaneous detonator (3.2.20) supplied to the end-user without means of initiation (3.1.21)
Note 1 to entry: Plain detonators can be initiated, for example, by means of safety fuse (3.4.6) or shock tube (3.2.11).
3.2.22
semi-finished detonator
detonator (3.2.1) without means of initiation (3.1.21)
Note 1 to entry: A semi-finished detonator will be further assembled in an assembly line before being supplied to
the end-user.
3.2.23
unloaded detonator
electric detonator (3.2.14) or electronic detonator (3.2.17) where all explosive material (3.1.2) except the
fuse head (3.2.8) has been either removed or replaced by inert material
Note 1 to entry: Unloaded detonators are used, for example, in initiation/no-initiation tests.
3.2.24
trigger detonator
unloaded detonator (3.2.23) without fuse head (3.2.8) but with an electronic element for triggering a
measurement device
Note 1 to entry: A trigger detonator is part of the apparatus used for the determination of the accuracy of the delay
time (3.3.23) in the context of an electronic initiation system (3.3.1).
3.2.25
dummy detonator
unloaded detonator (3.2.23) where the fuse head (3.2.8) has been removed and a light-emitting diode has
been added to indicate the reception of the electrical signal
Note 1 to entry: A dummy detonator does not contain any explosive material (3.1.2).
3.2.26
witness detonator
plain detonator (3.2.21) used for verifying the reliability of functioning of a detonating cord (3.4.1)
3.2.27
reference detonator
detonator (3.2.1) used for the comparison of the initiating capability (3.6.6) of detonators and the
specification of means of initiation (3.1.21) for explosives (3.1.1)
Note 1 to entry: The different reference detonators and their construction are spec
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