SIST EN 13631-4:2025

Explosives for civil uses - Explosives for blasting, boosters and explosive substances - Part 4: Verification of the insensitiveness to impact of explosives for blasting and explosive substances

This document specifies a test method for the verification of the insensitiveness to impact of explosives for blasting and explosive substances.
This document also applies to black powder when used for blasting.
This document does not apply to boosters.
This document also applies to solid gun propellants, solid rocket propellants, black powder used as propellants, for safety fuse or for pyrotechnics and powder cakes as covered by EN 13938-1:2025.

Explosivstoffe für zivile Zwecke - Sprengstoffe, Verstärkungsladungen und Explosivstoffe - Teil 4: Überprüfung der Schlagempfindlichkeit von Sprengstoffen und Explosivstoffen

Dieses Dokument legt ein Prüfverfahren für die Überprüfung der Schlagunempfindlichkeit von Sprengstoffen und explosiven Stoffen fest.
Dieses Dokument ist ebenfalls anwendbar für zum Sprengen verwendetes Schwarzpulver.
Dieses Dokument ist nicht anwendbar für Verstärkungsladungen.
Dieses Dokument ist auch anwendbar auf feste ballistische Treibmittel, feste Raketentreibstoffe sowie als Treibmittel, für Sicherheitsanzündschnur oder Pyrotechnik verwendetes Schwarzpulver und Pulverkuchen nach EN 13938 1:2025.

Explosifs à usage civil - Explosifs de mine, renforçateurs, et substances explosives - Partie 4: Vérification de l'insensibilité à l'impact de explosifs de mine et des substances explosives

Le présent document spécifie une méthode d'essai pour la vérification de l'insensibilité à l'impact des explosifs de mine et des substances explosives.
Le présent document s'applique également à la poudre noire de mine.
Le présent document ne s'applique pas aux relais de détonation.
Le présent document s'applique également aux poudres pour armes, aux propergols solides pour propulseurs, à la poudre noire utilisée comme propergol, pour les mèches de sûreté ou pour la pyrotechnie et les galettes tels que couverts par l’EN 13938 1:2025.

Eksplozivi za civilno uporabo - Eksplozivi za miniranje, ojačevalci in eksplozivne snovi - 4. del: Preverjanje neobčutljivosti eksplozivov za miniranje in eksplozivnih snovi na udarce

General Information

• Status: Published
• Public Enquiry End Date: 02-May-2021
• Publication Date: 22-Oct-2025
• ICS: 71.100.30 - Explosives. Pyrotechnics and fireworks
• Technical Committee: IEKS - Explosives
• Current Stage: 6060 - National Implementation/Publication (Adopted Project)
• Start Date: 16-Oct-2025
• Due Date: 21-Dec-2025
• Completion Date: 23-Oct-2025
• Directive: 2014/28/EU - Directive 2014/28/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on the harmonisation of the laws of the Member States relating to the making available on the market and supervision of explosives for civil uses
• Mandate: M/055 - Standardization mandate to CEN for explosives for civil uses
• Mandate: M/562 - Standardization Request on Explosives for civil use
• Ref Project: EN 13631-4:2025 - Explosives for civil uses - Explosives for blasting, boosters and explosive substances - Part 4: Verification of the insensitiveness to impact of explosives for blasting and explosive substances

Relations

• Revised: SIST EN 13631-4:2002 - Explosives for civil uses - High explosives - Part 4: Determination of sensitiveness to impact of explosives
• Effective Date: 18-Jan-2023

Overview

EN 13631-4:2025 - Explosives for civil uses - Part 4: Verification of the insensitiveness to impact of explosives for blasting and explosive substances - specifies a standardized test method to verify insensitiveness to impact of explosives used for blasting and related explosive substances. The method verifies whether an explosive sample is initiated or ignited when subjected to defined impact energies (1 J, 2 J or 30 J) using a drop-weight/impact-device arrangement. The standard replaces EN 13631-4:2002 and reframes the objective from determining sensitiveness to verifying insensitiveness to a specified impact.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope & applicability
  • Applies to explosives for blasting and explosive substances, including black powder when used for blasting.
  • Does not apply to boosters.
  • Also covers certain propellants and powder cakes as referenced in EN 13938-1:2025.
• Test principle
  • Verification by dropping a calibrated weight onto a confined sample and observing for ignition or report.
  • Impact energy levels used: 1 J, 2 J, 30 J (30 J addresses mechanical loading safety).
  • Based on UN Manual of Tests and Criteria (Test code 3(a)(ii)) and related EU regulations.
• Apparatus & sample preparation
  • Specified drop weights (1 kg and 5 kg), drop hammer, rigid support, and an impact device made from hardened steel (100Cr6) with defined geometry and hardness (58–65 HRC).
  • Six test samples of defined volume (40 ± 1 mm³) are prepared; specific preparation instructions differ for solids/pastes vs liquids.
• Procedure & results
  • Defined drop heights for each energy level (10 cm, 20 cm, 60 cm) with tight tolerances.
  • Test ends if any sample reacts. Results expressed as pass/fail for each verified energy level.
• Environmental and reporting
  • Ambient temperature and humidity monitoring required; test reporting requirements updated (no longer requires EN ISO/IEC 17025 conformity in the test report clause).

Applications and users

• Relevant to: manufacturers of blasting explosives, quality-control and testing laboratories, mining and quarrying operations, ammunition/propellant producers, pyrotechnics safety engineers, regulatory authorities and procurement organizations.
• Practical uses:
  • Routine quality verification to ensure explosives are insensitive to accidental impact.
  • Safety compliance for manufacture, transport and handling.
  • Support for risk assessments, product classification and conformity with EU legislative requirements (see informative Annex ZA).

Related standards (select)

• EN 13631-1:2025 - Requirements for explosives for civil uses
• EN 13857-1:2025 - Vocabulary (terms & definitions)
• EN 13938-1:2025 - Propellants and rocket propellants (requirements)
• EN ISO 683-17:2023 and EN ISO 6508-1:2023 - Material and hardness specifications for impact device components
• UN Manual of Tests and Criteria - Test code 3(a)(ii) (informative basis)

Keywords: EN 13631-4:2025, insensitiveness to impact, explosives for civil uses, impact test, drop-weight test, black powder, propellants, verification, test method.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-december-2025
Eksplozivi za civilno uporabo - Eksplozivi za miniranje, ojačevalci in eksplozivne
snovi - 4. del: Preverjanje neobčutljivosti eksplozivov za miniranje in eksplozivnih
snovi na udarce
Explosives for civil uses - Explosives for blasting, boosters and explosive substances -
Part 4: Verification of the insensitiveness to impact of explosives for blasting and
explosive substances
Explosivstoffe für zivile Zwecke - Sprengstoffe, Verstärkungsladungen und Explosivstoffe
- Teil 4: Überprüfung der Schlagempfindlichkeit von Sprengstoffen und Explosivstoffen
Explosifs à usage civil - Explosifs de mine, renforçateurs, et substances explosives -
Partie 4: Vérification de l'insensibilité à l'impact de explosifs de mine et des substances
explosives
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 13631-4:2025
ICS:
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 13631-4
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
October 2025
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 71.100.30 Supersedes EN 13631-4:2002
English Version
Explosives for civil uses - Explosives for blasting, boosters
and explosive substances - Part 4: Verification of the
insensitiveness to impact of explosives for blasting and
explosive substances
Explosifs à usage civil - Explosifs de mine, Explosivstoffe für zivile Zwecke - Sprengstoffe,
renforçateurs, et substances explosives - Partie 4: Verstärkungsladungen und Explosivstoffe - Teil 4:
Vérification de l'insensibilité à l'impact de explosifs de Überprüfung der Schlagempfindlichkeit von
mine et des substances explosives Sprengstoffen und Explosivstoffen
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 29 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 13631-4:2025 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
European foreword . 3
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Terms and definitions . 5
4 Principle . 5
5 Apparatus . 6
6 Preparation of test samples . 8
7 Procedure . 8
7.1 Preparation of the impact device for testing . 8
7.1.1 Preparation of the impact device for a solid or pasty test sample . 8
7.1.2 Preparation of the impact device for a liquid test sample . 8
7.2 Verification procedure . 9
8 Expression of results . 10
9 Test report . 10
Annex A (informative) The fall-hammer as example for the drop hammer . 11
Annex ZA (informative) Relationship between this European Standard and the essential
requirements of Directive 2014/28/EU relating to the making available on the market
and supervision of explosives for civil uses aimed to be covered. 12
Bibliography . 13

European foreword
This document (EN 13631-4:2025) 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 13631-4:2002.
EN 13631-4:2002:
a) the document title has been changed from “High explosives — Part 4: Determination of sensitiveness
to impact of explosives” to “Explosives for civil uses — Explosives for blasting, boosters and explosive
substances — Part 4: Verification of the insensitiveness to impact of explosives for blasting and
explosive substances”;
b) the general concept of the document has been modified so that the sensitiveness to impact is no
longer determined but the insensitiveness to a specific impact is verified;
c) the Scope has been revised to clarify the covered and not covered explosives;
d) the normative references have been updated;
e) the terminology entries 3.1 to 3.4 have been removed;
f) Clause 4 “Principle” has been updated and enlarged;
g) Clause 5 “Apparatus” has been updated and Table 1 has been removed;
h) the preparation of the test sample has been simplified;
i) Clause 7 “Procedure” has been revised;
j) Clause 8 “Expression of test results” has been added;
k) the clause “Test report” does no longer require conformity with EN ISO/IEC 17025 and the
information to be provided has been updated;
l) Annex A “Range of applicability of the test method” has been removed;
m) Annex ZA has been updated;
n) the Bibliography has been added and lists, e.g. EN ISO/IEC 17025:2017.
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.
For the relationship with EU Legislation, see informative Annex ZA, which is an integral part of this
document.
A list of all parts in the EN 13631 series, published under the general title Explosives for civil uses —
Explosives for blasting, boosters and explosive substances, 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 organizations 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 specifies a test method for the verification of the insensitiveness to impact of explosives
for blasting and explosive substances.
This document also applies to black powder when used for blasting.
This document does not apply to boosters.
This document also applies to solid gun propellants, solid rocket propellants, black powder used as
propellants, for safety fuse or for pyrotechnics and powder cakes as covered by EN 13938-1:2025.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
EN 13631-1:2025, Explosives for civil uses — Explosives for blasting, boosters, and explosive substances —
Part 1: Requirements
EN 13857-1:2025, Explosives for civil uses — Part 1: Vocabulary
EN 13938-1:2025, Explosives for civil uses — Propellants and rocket propellants — Part 1: Requirements
EN ISO 683-17:2023, Heat-treated steels, alloy steels and free-cutting steels — Part 17: Ball and roller
bearing steels (ISO 683-17:2023)
EN ISO 6508-1:2023, Metallic materials — Rockwell hardness test — Part 1: Test method (ISO 6508-
1:2023)
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in EN 13857-1:2025 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/
4 Principle
Knowledge of the insensitiveness to impact of explosives is of importance to control risks during handling
in order to prevent inadvertent initiation or ignition.
The insensitiveness to impact is verified by dropping a weight from a specific height onto a sample of the
explosive to b
...