What is an explosive?

What is an explosive?

In general terms a substance or article is an explosive if it is classified as a Class 1 dangerous good or is listed in either of the following publications.

The Australian Dangerous Goods Code (ADG Code) - current edition is available from the National Transport Commission.

The formal definition is given in regulation 8 of the Dangerous Goods Safety (Explosives) Regulations 2007 and is summarised as follows:

A substance or article is an explosive for the purposes of the Dangerous Goods Safety (Explosives) Regulations 2007 if:

  • it satisfies the UNTC Test 1
  • it does not satisfy the UNTC Test 2
  • it is declared to be an explosive by the department’s Chief Officer, or in the AEC Appendix 2:
    • it is named in an entry in column (2) of the AEC Appendix 2; and
    • it is classified as Class 1 in column (3); and
    • it satisfies an special provisions applied to it by column (6); and
    • it satisfies any criteria applied in column (12), or
  • it satisfies the UNTC tests for Class 1 dangerous goods; or
  • it satisfies UNTC Test 1 and
    • is named or described in the ADG Code Appendix A; or
    • satisfies the UNTC tests for substances or articles too dangerous to transport.