Sciencemadness Discussion Board

Live in USA and buy fuse? READ.

Bert - 11-1-2015 at 21:15

NEW regulatory determination by BATFE.

As of NOW, if it's not already built into consumer fireworks or "designed to be used in small arms ammunition" (WHAT ammunition uses visco?!), visco fuse is a BATFE controlled item.

Apparently, the guys selling 20' rolls of "cannon fuse" at gun shows or roadside fireworks stands now need BATFE licenses, must store their roll of visco in an explosives magazine- and MAINTAIN RECORDS! As must their customer... You?

Here's the newsletter with their "determination". See pages 3-4.

https://www.atf.gov/sites/default/files/assets/Explosives/In...

(Quote)

Pyrotechnic Hobby Fuse Exemption

The Federal explosives laws at 18 U.S.C. §845(a)(4) and the
implementing regulations at 27 CFR 555.141(a)(4) generally
exempt small arms ammunition and components of small arms
ammunition. The regulation at 27 CFR 555.11 defines
“Ammunition” in relevant part, as, “Small arms ammunition or
cartridge cases, primers, bullets, or smokeless propellants
designed for use in small arms, including percussion caps,
and 3⁄32 inch and other external burning pyrotechnic hobby
fuses...”.

ATF has long held that the term “small arms ammunition”
pertains to .50 caliber or smaller rifle or handgun ammunition,
as well as certain shotgun ammunition. The regulations at
27 CFR 555.141(a)(7) generally exempt the importation,
distribution, and storage of fireworks classified as UN0336,
UN0337, UN0431, or UN0432 explosives by the U.S. Department
of Transportation (DOT) at 49 CFR 172.101—consumer fireworks
and articles pyrotechnic as defined in 27 CFR 555.11.

Consumer fireworks are typically manufactured and initiated
with pyrotechnic fuse designed specifically to meet DOT and
Consumer Product Safety Commission requirements. Therefore,
3⁄32 inch and other external burning pyrotechnic hobby fuses
are exempt from the provisions in 27 CFR, Part 555—Commerce
in Explosives, only when: 1) they are designed for use in
small arms ammunition; or 2) integrated into consumer fireworks
or articles pyrotechnic during the manufacturing process.

Pyrotechnic fuses (e.g., time fuse, quickmatch, sticky match)
designed for use in fireworks manufacturing or in other
fireworks activities and that are not integrated into consumer
fireworks or articles pyrotechnic are not exempt from ATF’s
explosives regulations.

Hence, persons engaged in the business of importing, manufacturing,
or distributing pyrotechnic fuse not designed for use in small
arms ammunition, and not integrated in consumer fireworks or
articles pyrotechnic, must possess an ATF explosives license.

Persons acquiring pyrotechnic fuse not designed for use in
small arms ammunition and not integrated in consumer fireworks
or articles pyrotechnic must, among other requirements:

1) possess an ATF explosives license or permit appropriate
for their operations;

2) store the fuse in an explosives storage magazine pursuant
to the requirements at 27 CFR 555, Subpart K — Storage; and

3) maintain records pursuant to the requirements at 27 CFR 555,
Subpart G — Records and Reports.
Individuals may contact ATF’s Explosives Industry Programs Branch
for specific pyrotechnic fuse determinations.

hyfalcon - 12-1-2015 at 07:10

Guess it's time to dig out and polish up the plans on the fuse machine.

Loptr - 12-1-2015 at 08:02

I have had a feeling this was coming for a long time.

I think amateur pyrotechnic practitioners will have eventually have to belong to a club that has the appropriate licenses, etc., in order to avoid being labeled a terrorist.

At one point I was contemplating joining the Cracker Jacks, but real-life took me in other directions and eventually away from pyrotechnics.

Bert - 12-1-2015 at 08:41

I'm going to make the phone call. And see if I've got to go run around and find whatever visco we have, inventory it and start logging acquisition/use. How to do that... They let us just weigh spools of det cord and record weight used.

Praxichys - 12-1-2015 at 08:54

The loophole might be that it is "cannon fuse" and not designed for fireworks, but small black powder arms instead. When was this regulation put into place?

Bert - 12-1-2015 at 11:00

Apparently they are just re-stating what has always been the case. However, I did call. Particularly want to know what they consider adequately detailed record keeping- Accurate to the gram? To the cm length? To the case/drum/spool?!

ANYHOW! If you buy fireworks fuse, make sure it is labeled with UN classification of UN0336, UN0337, UN0441 or UNO442. Do not re-pack without including that label...

And anything that's not so labeled or IS otherwise numbered, magazine storage only.

See copy of email below:
Quote:

Yes. I contacted EIPB and they replied this morning. The newsletter simply restates the rules we've always been under. The UN exemptions still apply. If the fuse is marked with UN0336 or UN0337 or (UN0431 or UN0432 Articles Pyrotechnic) then it is exempt from storage. There will be some updates to the Articles Pyrotechnic UN numbers coming down the pipe but for now, those are still all exempt if your product has those numbers. The ATF has advertised the Articles Pyrotechnic thing for a couple of years now so nothing new has been released. Note that DOT classifications (EX or transportation codes like 1.4) do not apply (and never did). For storage exemption, the ATF only uses the four UN numbers that are in the Orange Book (see (555.141 (a)(7), 336, 337, 431, or 432)). Be sure your fuse has the proper designation. If it doesn't or if your seller didn't send the label with it, then you should store it in a magazine (note this is the way it has always been).

Bot0nist - 12-1-2015 at 11:48

I used to have no trouble getting visco or similar bp fuse by the roll online. Skylighter was one popular vendor for those into pyrotechnics but a little strict, but there were/are many others. I haven't checked yet, but surely it is still easily available. Along with atomized Al, KClO4, Hexamine, and other watched pyrotechnics materials.

[Edited on 13-1-2015 by Bot0nist]

roXefeller - 12-1-2015 at 19:20

By coincidence, I just happened to notice the existing rule today when I was looking something else up on the explosives list. It has been in the Orange book for years. They consider it pretty clearly as a low explosive. For storage in a type 1,2,4 magazine. Hopefully it remains easy to purchase even if I need to stuff it in the magazine.