§ 555.205 Movement of explosive materials.

All explosive materials must be kept in locked magazines meeting the standards in this subpart unless they are:

  1. a.(a) In the process of manufacture;

  2. b.(b) Being physically handled in the operating process of a licensee or user;

  3. c.(c) Being used; or

  4. d.(d) Being transported to a place of storage or use by a licensee or permittee or by a person who has lawfully acquired explosive materials under § 555.106.

  5. a.(a) Storing requirement. All explosive materials must be kept in locked magazines meeting the standards in this subpart except when they fall under one of the exceptions in this section.

  6. b.(b) General exceptions. Explosives are excepted from paragraph (a) of this section's storing requirement when they are:

    1. 1.(1) in a manufacturing, operating, or testing process;

    2. 2.(2) being used or are designated for imminent use; or

    3. 3.(3) being transported or awaiting imminent transport.

  7. c.(c) Perforating guns exception. Licensees/permittees may store perforating guns in locations outside locked magazines, whether indoors or outdoors, under the conditions below.

    1. 1.(1) Conditions applying in all cases. Licensees/permittees storing perforating guns outside a locked magazine must:

      1. i.(i) Include a detonator interrupter device in perforating guns armed with detonators or initiating devices;

      2. ii.(ii) Install a handling cap, plug, or other closing device on both ends of hollow-type carrier guns;

      3. iii.(iii) Secure perforating guns with exposed explosive components (e.g., those that consist of sealed charges mounted on strips or wires) that are not mounted in a carrier assembly in a way that prevents the components from being removed without authorization (e.g., store them within a locked room inside a building, or within a transportation carrier or other protective housing assembly);

      4. iv.(iv) Store perforating guns with exposed explosives that are not contained within a secure tube (e.g., tube-less strips or wire guns) only in an indoor location;

      5. v.(v) Visually inspect all buildings, areas, or vehicles containing perforating guns at least once every three calendar days to ensure no one has entered or attempted to enter without authority and that no one has removed the perforating guns;

      6. vi.(vi) Maintain a daily summary of magazine transactions, as prescribed in § 555.127, for each building, area, or vehicle that contains perforating guns. Express the quantity as the number of individual perforating guns stored within each separate building, area, or vehicle. Provide to any ATF official the quantity and description of explosive products contained within each individual perforating gun on request;

      7. vii.(vii) Store all perforating guns in a manner that prevents them from accidentally moving or discharging;

      8. viii.(viii) Notify the authority having jurisdiction over fire safety where the stored perforating guns are located, in accordance with requirements in § 555.201(f); and

      9. ix.(ix) Notify ATF in writing at EIPB@atf.gov that the licensee/permittee will be storing perforating guns outside a locked magazine, at least three business days prior to storing them at a given location

    2. 2.(2) Additional indoor conditions. Licensees/permittees storing perforating guns in an indoor location must also:

      1. i.(i) Store no more than 50 pounds of explosives inside any building or structure unless the building or structure meets the quantity and distance requirements in § 555.218 and the building or structure is occupied solely by the licensee/permittee to support their explosives operations; and

      2. ii.(ii) Lock the building or structure housing the loaded perforating guns or have a responsible person or employee possessor attend it, at all times, to prevent unauthorized access.

    3. 3.(3) Additional outdoor conditions. Licensees/permittees storing perforating guns in an outdoor location must also:

      1. i.(i) Secure the perimeter of the area(s) containing loaded perforating guns using a security fence with a locked gate or enclose the entire facility with a security fence that has a locked gate at each entrance point. The security fence must be at least six feet high and have firmly anchored posts to ensure its structural stability. The gates must be locked at all times securely enough to prevent unauthorized access;

      2. ii.(ii) Lock the doors on vehicles or trailers containing perforating guns and immobilize the vehicle or trailer to prevent it from moving, being moved, or being accessed without authority (e.g., using a kingpin locking device, steering wheel locking device, lockable disconnect, etc.). Remove the ignition key and secure it away from the vehicle;

      3. iii.(iii) Park all vehicles or trailers loaded with perforating guns in an area not susceptible to fire propagation (e.g., on bare dirt, gravel, rock, paving, or closely mowed grass); and

      4. iv.(iv) Comply with the quantity and distance requirements in § 555.218 for each outdoor area or vehicle containing perforating guns, but store no more than 2,500 pounds of net explosives weight in each outdoor area or vehicle containing perforating guns.