How much gun powder can you have and not have a problem with home insurance?

[stevehenry1]

Be careful when talking to insurance companies

Don't count on the insurance agent being able to give you the correct answer. My father-in-law found out the hard way. He had a ham radio installed (bolted down) in his car. His agent told him it was covered. But when the car was broken in and the radio stolen, they refused to pay. There was a trick phrase loophole in the fine print. I called the claims office of my insurance to get a straight answer, and they refused to tell me unless I was filing a claim! I checked my policy and it had the same trick phrase. My neighbor tried to file a claim when a big tree limb over his house started cracking. Not only would they not cover the limb removal, they told him that when it fell it or the damage it caused would not be covered! The reason--since he called it meant he knew it was a hazard, and he was now responsible to abate it himself! Calling in effect blocked his coverage. BE WARY WHEN YOU TALK TO YOUR AGENT!!!!!

 

[blarby]

Well, you can count on this insurance agent giving you the right answer !

Unless its being used for commercial purposes, hazardous materials in the home are not specificaly limited under homeowners insurance in any of the states i've written it in.

Where you CAN go afoul is by exceeding your municipal limits.... and that IS buried in your language somewhere.

Most municipalities have limits of ANY time of hazardous material- not just gunpowder.

About the only thing i've seen limited in a household policy before was no more than 15 gallons of gasoline- and that was a weird product anyway.


In any event- all that paperwork they send you and everyone ignores ? Read it.

If its not in there, its not in there- period.

As for not trusting your agent to give you the right answer ?

If you can't trust yours to give you the right answers- you need a new agent.

 

[2@low8]

Normally, I would rather ask for forgiveness than ask for permission.

However, what is the risk to firefighters and possibly to you or your family should the area where you keep your powder become engulfed in flame before you are aware of it?

My guess is if you were to store the maximum amounts in opposite ends of your home it would probably decrease the risk, but not the legal requirement. YMMV

 

[Crashbox]

11-3.7 Smokeless propellants intended for personal use in quantities
not exceeding 20 lb. (9.1 kg) shall be permitted to be stored in original
containers in residences. Quantities exceeding 20 lb. (9.1 kg), but not
exceeding 50 lb. (22.7 kg), shall be permitted to be stored in residences
where kept in a wooden box or cabinet having walls of at least
1 in. (25.4 mm) nominal thickness.

ASCTLC posted this, and I do believe this is the NFPA stance per SAAMI. As mentioned elsewhere, local regulations would likely supersede it.

I'm not certain how much powder I have in stock myself, and I do not feel like taking inventory. It is stored in an old expired refrigerator which is perfect IMO for such material.

11-3.8 Not more than 20 lb. (9.1 kg) of smokeless propellants, in
containers of a 1 lb. (0.45 kg) maximum capacity shall be displayed
in commercial establishments.

Back when you could find powder I've see a lot more than 20 one lb containers displayed.Several times more.

NO KIDDING!!! I've seen more violations of this than Carter has pills!

On a totally unrelated note- rodinal220: great handle. Reminds me of good ol' black-and-white film photography and I still have all my stuff for it.