User's Guide - Austin Detonator sro

P R E V E N T I O N O F A C C I D E N T S I N T H E U S E O F
E L E C T R I C D E T O N A T O R S
W A R N I N G A N D I N S T R U C T I O N S
C Z E C H R E P U B L I C F E B R U A R Y 2 0 0 9

WARNINGS AND INSTRUCTIONS
All explosive materials are dangerous and must be carefully handled and used following approved safety procedures either by or under
the direction of competent, trained, and experienced persons, and in accordance with applicable state and local laws, regulations and
ordinances. If, after carefully reading this entire leaflet, you have any questions or doubts as to how to use any explosive product, do not
use it before consulting your supervisor, or Austin Detonator. If your supervisor has any questions or doubts, he should consult Austin
Detonator before use.
READ AND HEED THESE WARNING AND INSTRUCTIONS
Storing and transporting electric detonators
General
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Always separate magazine from other magazines, buildings where
persons might dwell, highways, and passenger railways.
Be sure magazines are securely locked, and protected from
weather, fire and theft.
Keep the inside of the magazine clean, dry, cool and well
ventilated.
Always follow state and local laws and regulations concerning
transportation.
Use care when loading and unloading detonators.
When transporting the detonators using motor vehicles, transport
the detonators in their original packing.
Transport only the required amount of explosives and detonators
to the blast area.
Always rotate stocks of explosive material so the oldest material
in the magazine is used first.
Keep explosives and detonators separate until the last possible
moment.
Never allow lighters, matches, open flame or other sources of
ignition within 15 meters of the magazine.
Don’t store detonators with other explosive material.
Never exceed recommended storage quantity, time and temperature
for detonators.
Detonator must be stored in the environment with relative humidity
not exceeding 80% and temperatures between -30°C
and +40°C.
Do not leave a vehicle containing detonators unattended.
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Shipping classification
Detonators are classified for shipment as Class 1, Division 4B
and 4S, UN number 0255 and 0456. The classification is for
railway, sea, road, and air transportation as per RID, ADR, ADN,
IMDG-CODE and IATA-DGR.
Marks and packaging
Detonators are shipped in fibreboard cases, one box contains 5
or 10 inner boxes, depending on the size of case. Detonators are
packed in inner boxes, each containing maximum of 100 Pcs (2
m leg wires length detonators). Quantity of detonators depends on
the length of leg wires. Cases are marked with labels carrying the
product identification, ID number and Class and Division Code.
Shelf life and warranty
Detonators shelf life is 24 months from the date of manufacture
provided they are stored in the environment with temperatures
between -30°C and +40°C. Warranty period is 24 months from
the date of shipment.
Handling electric detonators
General
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Keep explosive materials away from children, unauthorized
persons and livestock.
Carry out the blasts under the supervision of a shotfirer.
The shotfirer is responsible for firing the round.
Don’t allow any lighters, matches, open flame or other sources
of ignition in the blasting area.
Always use permissible detonators (COALSTAR and/or TIMESTAR
Cu shell execution) in flammable, gassy, or dusty environments,
wherever required by applicable local laws and regulation.
Never split the detonator open or use any other method to
dissect and examine the inside of the detonator.
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Application and use of Electric Detonators
ROCKSTAR, TIMESTAR, SEISMICSTAR detonators can be used
in the following:
• Open-pit mines.
• Non-gassy, non-coal underground mines.
• Gassy coal mines for coal and rock quarry (TIMESTAR Cu shell
execution only).
• Underground construction and lots not intended for use in
underground coal mining (for example: tunnels, shafts, wells,
underground containers, underground redevelopment construction,
caves).
ROCKSTAR, TIMESTAR, SEISMICSTAR detonators may not be
used in the following:
• Environments with explosive gasses, fumes, or dust where no
concentration limit for the explosive gasses has been determined
for blasting work. The fumes, gasses, or dust contained in
a given environment are not considered explosive provided they
do not reach the concentration needed for their initiation.
• Materials in which use of detonators may cause fire or explosion.

COALSTAR detonators can be used in the following:
• Open-pit mines.
• Non-gassy mines.
• Gassy coal mines for coal and rock quarry in the environments
where concentration limit of methane or coal dust is determined
by local regulation.
• Underground construction and lots not intended for use in
underground coal mining (for example: tunnels, shafts, wells,
underground containers, underground redevelopment construction,
caves).
COALSTAR detonators may not be used in the following:
• Materials in which use of detonators may cause fire or explosion.
Preparing the Electric Blasting Circuit
• For a given blasting work, always use detonators of a single
electrical sensitivity produced by singe manufacturer.
• Make sure that all leg wire ends are clean before connecting.
• For the connections in the shotfiring circuit use connecting
sleeves.
• Keep the firing circuit completely insulated from ground or other
conductors.
• Hook up the round only after all unnecessary equipment has
been removed.
• For checking the circuit values use only instruments approved
for use at the blast site.
• The measured resistance of the firing circuit must correspond to
the value calculated on the basis of the quantities and types of
detonators used in a given blasting circuit.
• Prior every use, test the shot firing cable for continuity and possible
short circuit.
• Regularly test blasting machine as well as the testing equipment
for correct performance.
• Attach detonator to detonating cord with tape or any other method
recommended by manufacturer of the detonating cord.
• Point the detonators in the direction of detonation.
• Don’t attach the detonator for initiating the blast to the detonating
cord until the blasting area has been cleared and secured for
the blast.
• Never attach exploder with shotfiring cable until you are ready
to fire the blast.
• Never make the final hook up to power source until all personnel
are clear of the blast area.
• Don’t bring or leave detonators near an open fire or hot stove.
Initiation
Detonators may be initiated only with approved blasting machine
supplying energy of no less than:
• 3 mJ/Ω (group I detonators, No fire current 0,18 A)
• 16 mJ/Ω (group II detonators, No fire current 0,45 A)
• 140 mJ/Ω (group III detonators, No fire current 1,2 A)
• 2,5 J/Ω (group VI detonators, No fire current 4 A)
COALSTAR detonator in methan or coal dust environment should
be initiated with special blasting machine with the time limitation
current max. 4 ms.
Water resistance
Detonators can be used in wet condition.
Electric detonators ROCKSTAR, TIMESTAR and COALSTAR may
not be exposed to water for more than 24 hours, the water pressure
not exceeding 0.3 Mpa.
Electric detonators SEISMICSTAR may not be exposed to water for
more than 6 months, the water pressure not exceeding 1 Mpa.
Temperature range
Electric detonators ROCKSTAR, TIMESTAR and COALSTAR can
be used in temperatures between -30°C and +60°C,
Electric detonators SEISMICSTAR can be used in temperatures
between -30°C and +80°C.
Protecting against foreign sources of electricity
• Never fire a blast above ground during a thunderstorm.
• Always check for stray currents.
• Never handle or use electric detonators:
• when stray currents are present
• during electrical storms
• if static electricity is present
• Never load boreholes in open-pit sites near electric power lines
• Don’t use “I” and “II” electric detonators for blasting near H.T.
lines and electric railways, near the RF sources. For this application
always use “IV” detonators, if it is allowed by applicable
local laws and regulation.
Making of primers with detonators
General
• Assemble the primer carefully, regardless of the initiating
method used. Primers should be assembled at the working
place immediately prior loading.
• Use a minimum of force for preparing the primers. Where
necessary, holes should be pre-formed in the cartridge to
allow easy insertion of the detonator.
• Place the detonator in the center, with the base inserted in
the explosive. Wherever possible, the complete length of the
detonator should be inside the primer.
• Do not subject the leg wires to an unnecessarily heavy pull; extensive
force may break the leg wires or damage the insulation.
Small diameter cartridges
• punch a hole straight into one end of the cartridge
• insert the detonator into the hole
• tie leg wires around the cartridge using a half-hitch
• never subject the leg wires to an unnecessarily heavy pull; extensive
force may break the leg wires or damage the insulation.
Large diameter cartridges
• punch a slanting hole starting at the center of one end of the

cartridge leading to the side, two or more inches from the end
• fold over the leg wires about 12 inches from the detonator to
form a sharp bend
• push the folded wires through the hole starting at the end of the
cartridge and coming out through the side
• unfold the wires and pass the loop over the other end of the
cartridge
• punch another hole straight into the end of the cartridge beside
the first, insert the detonators in this hole and take up all the
slack in the wires
Cast boosters
• always follow the manufacture’s recommendations for the
attachment and use of detonators with cast or manufactured
boosters
Side priming method
• Punch a hole in the side of cartridge. Make the hole deeper
than length of the detonator pointing downward rather than
across the cartridge.
• Insert detonator.
• Tape wires to the cartridge to prevent the detonator from being
pulled out of the cartridge.
Reverse primer method
• Punch a hole straight into one end of the cartridge. Make the
hole deeper than length of detonator
Delay stages specification
ROCKSTAR
COALSTAR
Firing parameters
Type “I”
Type “II“
Type “III“
Delay stages 1 through 20 - step 25 ms
Delay stages 21 through 30 - step 50 ms
Delay stages 1 through 16 - step 30 ms
Fusehead resistance
No fire current
No fire impulse
Electric strength
Flash-over voltage
All fire impulse in series
Fusehead resistance
No fire current
No fire impulse
Electric strength
Flash-over voltage
All fire impulse in series
Fusehead resistance
No fire current
No fire impulse
Electric strength
Flash-over voltage
All fire impulse in series
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Insert detonator.
Fold back the wires over the end so that it lies along the length
of the cartridge.
Tape wires to the cartridge.
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Misfires
• Wait at least 15 minutes with misfires before returning to the
blast area. Follow local regulation.
• Don’t drill, bore or take out any explosive material that has
been misfired.
• Misfires should be handled by a trained, competent and experienced
person familiar with the blast design, including the
location and type of all explosive material used.
• Always shunt the naked leg wires of a misfired electric detonator
by twisting them together and taping them to the metal
shell to protect against foreign sources of electrical energy.
Disposal of detonators
• Always handle defective or damaged detonators with special care.
• Defective or damaged detonators present a greater hazard than
explosive material in good condition.
• Always dispose of detonators using proper methods. Consult
your supervisor or Austin Detonator.
• Expired, defective or damaged detonators shall be destroyed
by explosion.
• Forward the packaging material and leg wires remains for secondary
conversion.
MECHANICAL AND FUNCTIONAL PARAMETERS
1,7±0,2 Ω
0,18 A
0,8 mJ/Ω
5 kV
1,5 - 6 kV
3 mJ/Ω
0,56±0,04 Ω
0,45 A
8 mJ/Ω
5 kV
1,5 - 6 kV
16 mJ/Ω
0,18±0,02 Ω
1,2 A
80 mJ/Ω
5 kV
1,5 - 6 kV
140 mJ/Ω
TIMESTAR 250
TIMESTAR 500
Type “Ia”
Type “IIa“
Type “IV“
Delay stages 1 through 21 (1-18, 20, 22,
24) - step 250 ms
Delay stages 1 through 12 - step 500 ms
Fusehead resistance
No fire current
No fire impulse
Electric strength
Flash-over voltage
All fire impulse in series
(t z
=1,8 ms)
Fusehead resistance
No fire current
No fire impulse
Electric strength
Flash-over voltage
All fire impulse in series
Fusehead resistance
No fire current
No fire impulse
Electric strength
Flash-over voltage
All fire impulse in series
1,4±0,1 Ω
0,20 A
1,2 mJ/Ω
5 kV
1,5 - 6 kV
2mJ/Ω
(I z
=0,8 A)
0,22±0,02 Ω
1 A
25 mJ/Ω
5 kV
1,5 - 6 kV
50 mJ/Ω
0,036±0,004 Ω
4 A
1,1 J/Ω
5 kV
1,5 - 6 kV
2,5 J/Ω
Disclaimer of Warranties and Limitations of Liabilities
Product described in this bulletin are sold by Austin Detonator s.r.o. without warranty; express implied or statutory or as to MERCHANTABILITY, except as expressly stated in Austin Detonator straight bill of lading. Under
no circumstances shall seller be liable for loss of anticipated profits, consequential or incidental damages.
The product described may be subject to change.
For more information and service locations in your area, please contact:
Austin Detonator
Phone: +420-571-404-001
Jasenice 712
Fax: +420-571-404-002
755 01 Vsetín
Web: www.austin.cz
Czech Republic
e-mail: marketing.info@austin.cz
© Austin Detonator | v. 221113