CEN/TC 321/WG 6 - Explosives and propellants

This document specifies a test method for the verification of the resistance to hydrostatic pressure of explosives for blasting and a test method for the verification of the resistance to hydrostatic pressure of explosives for boosters.
This document does not apply to black powder.
This document does not apply to explosive substances.

This document specifies a test method for the verification of safe and reliable ignition and complete deflagration of black powder.

This European Standard specifies a method for the verification of the initiation of a high explosive by a specified initiation system.
This method is applicable to high explosives in cartridge or bulk form, both unconfined and confined.

This document specifies requirements for explosives for blasting, boosters and explosive substances.
This document also applies to black powder when used for blasting.
NOTE   This document does not apply to black powder when used as propellant, for pyrotechnics or for safety fuses; for requirements for black powder used as propellant, for pyrotechnics or for safety fuses see FprEN 13938-1:2025.

This document specifies a test method for the verification of the thermal stability at 75 °C of explosives for blasting, boosters and explosive substances.
This document also applies to black powder when used for blasting.
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 FprEN 13938-1:2025.

This document specifies a method for checking small rocket motors for voids and fissures and provides a list of non-destructive testing (NDT) methods for detecting voids and fissures in other solid rocket propellants.

This European Standard specifies a method for the determination of the ability of cartridged explosives to transmit detonation.

This document specifies a method to determine the tendency of a propellant to undergo transition from deflagration to detonation (DDT). It applies to propellants of a grain size up to 8 mm. This method does not apply to black powder and rocket propellant.
NOTE 1   Due to the nature of the shape of grains (heterogeneous), the combustion of the rocket propellant can cause a crack of the grain causing an explosion of the rocket motor.
NOTE 2   Black powders properties differ significantly from propellant and explosives because black powders are capable of maintaining stable combustion at high velocities without experiencing deflagration - detonation transition.

This document specifies a method for the determination of resistance to electrostatic energy for propellants containing a mass fraction of at least 5 % of particles which pass through a 1 mm sieve. This method does not apply to black powder.
NOTE   If the mass fraction of particles smaller than 1 mm size is less than 5 % the propellant is considered to be insensitive to electrostatic energy and this test is not performed.

This document specifies a method for the determination of burning rate under ambient conditions for solid gun propellants. It is applicable to solid gun propellants and black powder in their original form up to a grain size of 8 mm.
NOTE 1   Knowledge of burning rate is of high importance to manage risks associated with handling such explosives and of high importance to assess whether performance characteristics are met.
NOTE 2   In cases where propellants having grain size higher than 8 mm are generally used, their burning rate is more influenced and controlled by parameters of element containing thereof, and thus knowledge of their burning rate at ambient condition is not of high importance.

This European Standard specifies a method for determining the sensitiveness to impact of explosives.

This document specifies a test method for the verification of the resistance to water of explosives for blasting and boosters.
NOTE   This test method applies to situations where an explosive for blasting or a booster is subjected to high humidity and contact with water.
This document does not apply to black powder.
This document does not apply to explosive substances.

This European Standard specifies a method for determining the velocity of detonation of an explosive. The method is applicable to explosives for civil uses in cartridged or bulk form.

This document specifies a method for the verification of the density of explosives for blasting, boosters and explosive substances.
This document also applies to solid gun propellants, solid rocket propellants, black powder used as propellants, as covered by FprEN 13938-1:2025.

This document specifies a test method for the verification of the insensitiveness to friction of explosives for blasting and explosive substances.
This document is also applicable to black powder used for blasting.
This document is not applicable to boosters.
This document is not applicable to compact solid explosives.
This document is not applicable to liquid explosives.
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 FprEN 13938-1:2025.

This document specifies a method for determining the detonation velocity (VOD) of detonating cords.
Applicability of the test method is under environmental conditions of a field test range or blast bunker.

This document specifies a method for the determination of the index of initiating capability for detonating cords.
The test method specified in this document is intended to assess only the index of initiation capability of detonating cords. See FprEN 13630-7:2025 for a test method for the verification of the reliability of initiation.
This document does not apply to safety fuses.

This document specifies a test method for the verification of the insensitiveness to impact of detonating cords.
This document does not apply to safety fuses.

This document specifies a test method for the verification of the resistance to water of detonating cords and safety fuses.

This document specifies a test method for the verification of the reliability of initiation of detonating cords.
This document does not apply to safety fuses.

This document specifies the requirements for detonating cords and safety fuses for civil uses, when subjected to the test methods defined in the standards referred to in Clause 2.

This document defines terms and definitions used in documents prepared by CEN/TC 321 for explosives for civil uses.

This document specifies a method of verifying whether a detonating cord can be initiated by a detonating cord.

This document specifies a method to assess a sensitiveness to friction of the core of detonating cords.
Applicability of the test method is ambient laboratory conditions. Testing at a specific temperature outside ambient can require special arrangements to condition test sample and/or equipment.

This document specifies a test method for the verification of the resistance to mechanical tension of detonating cords.
This document does not apply to safety fuses.

This document specifies test methods for determining the burning duration of safety fuses.
This document does not apply to detonating cord.

This document specifies a method to assess the thermal stability of detonating cord and safety fuses.
The test result is valid for temperature up to 75 °C during 48 h.

This document specifies a method to determine the resistance to abrasion of detonating cords.
Applicability of the test method is ambient laboratory conditions.

This document specifies the requirements for solid propellants, solid rocket propellants, powder cakes and black powders for pyrotechnics and safety fuses, when subjected to the test methods defined in the standards referenced to in Clause 2.

This document specifies information to be provided by a manufacturer of explosives for civil uses, or his authorized representative, to the notified body and the user.

This European Standard specifies the special conditions and procedures permitting the extension to wider ranges of applicability of the following test methods:
- determination of resistance to hydrostatic pressure;
- verification of the means of initiation;
- determination of transmission of detonation.
Standardised test methods at extreme temperatures for the following purposes are not given:
- determination of sensitiveness to friction;
- determination of sensitiveness to impact;
- determination of resistance to water;
- determination of the initiating capability of boosters;
- determination of velocity of detonation.
NOTE   In these cases, the manufacturer of the explosive should provide a suitable test method and, in cases where the results should be checked by an independent institution or authority, the manufacturer and the institution or authority should agree upon a suitable test method.