2. An “explosive” means:N.I.
(a)a substance or preparation which creates the risk of an explosion by shock, friction, fire or other sources of ignition (risk phrase R2),
(b)a substance or preparation which creates extreme risks of explosion by shock, friction, fire or other sources of ignition (risk phrase R3), or
(c)a substance, preparation or article covered by Class 1 of the European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (UN/ADR), concluded on 30 September 1957, as amended, as transposed by Council Directive 94/55/EC of 21 November 1994 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States with regard to the transport of dangerous goods by road M1.
Included in this definition are pyrotechnics, which for the purposes of these Regulations are defined as substances (or mixtures of substances), designated to produce heat, light, sound, gas or smoke or a combination of such effects through self sustained exothermic chemical reactions.
Where a substance or preparation is classified by both UN/ADR and risk phrase R2 or R3, the UN/ADR classification shall take precedence over assignment of risk phrases.
Substances and articles of Class 1 are classified in any of the divisions 1.1 to 1.6 in accordance with the UN/ADR classification scheme. The divisions concerned are:
Division 1.1: Substances and articles which have a mass explosion hazard (a mass explosion is an explosion which affects almost the entire load virtually instantaneously).
Division 1.2: Substances and articles which have a projection hazard but not a mass explosion hazard.
Division 1.3: Substances and articles which have a fire hazard and either a minor blast hazard or a minor projection hazard or both, but not a mass explosion hazard:
combustion of which gives rise to considerable radiant heat; or
which burn one after another, producing minor blast or projection effects or both.
Division 1.4: Substances and articles which present only a slight risk in the event of ignition or initiation during carriage. The effects are largely confined to the package and no projection of fragments of appreciable size or range is to be expected. An external fire shall not cause virtually instantaneous explosion of virtually the entire contents of the package.
Division 1.5: Very insensitive substances having a mass explosion hazard which are so insensitive that there is very little probability of initiation or of transition from burning to detonation under normal conditions of carriage. As a minimum requirement they shall not explode in the external fire test.
Division 1.6: Extremely insensitive articles which do not have a mass explosion hazard. The articles contain only extremely insensitive detonating substances and demonstrate a negligible probability of accidental initiation or propagation. The risk is limited to the explosion of a single article.
Included in this definition are also explosive or pyrotechnic substances or preparations contained in articles. In the case of articles containing explosive or pyrotechnic substances or preparations, if the quantity of the substance or preparation contained is known, that quantity shall be considered for the purposes of these Regulations. If the quantity is not known, then, for the purposes of these Regulations, the whole article shall be treated as explosive.
Marginal Citations
M1O.J. No.L.319, 12.12.1994, p.7. Directive as last amended by Commission Directive 2003/28/EC O.J No. L90,8.4.2003, p.45