Someone Explain BP Storage Requirements

[ClemBert]

Certainly local and state laws vary depending on where you live. I'm trying to understand the Federal requirements for BP storage in your dwelling. Reading the ATF Explosives Storage Requirements I quote:

Low explosives deflagrate producing a large volume of heated gas. Low explosives, such as black powder, most display fireworks, safety fuse, igniters, igniter cord, fuse lighters, etc., must be stored in: Type-1, -2, or -4 permanent, portable or mobile indoor/outdoor magazines.

Further, I quote them:

Indoor Magazines:

- Cannot exceed 50 pounds of total explosives in one or more magazines inside of one structure.
- No indoor magazine may be located in residence or dwelling.

What am I missing on the reference to "No indoor magazine may be located in residence"? I admit I skimmed through the material but how about some thoughts from y'all on this.

I would think that this Powder Storage Magazine would be appropriate for a dwelling. Anyone have one of these?

 

[whosyrdaddy]

The first paragraph on the page you linked states

Storage Requirements
The Federal explosives regulations at 27 CFR, Part 555, Subpart K, provide specific construction requirements for explosives magazines.

The following is from Subpart H that lists the exemptions to 27 CFR.

27 CFR 555.141 - Exemptions

(a) General. Except for the provisions of §§ 555.180 and 555.181, this part does not apply to:

.........................

(b) Black powder. Except for the provisions applicable to persons required to be licensed under subpart D, this part does not apply with respect to commercially manufactured black powder in quantities not to exceed 50 pounds, percussion caps, safety and pyrotechnic fuses, quills, quick and slow matches, and friction primers, if the black powder is intended to be used solely for sporting, recreational, or cultural purposes in antique firearms, as defined in 18 U.S.C. 921(a)(16) or antique devices, as exempted from the term “destructive devices” in 18 U.S.C. 921(a)(4)

IOW, these requirements do not apply to most of us.

 

[ClemBert]

Something tells me that the ATF regulations are like the IRS regulations. No one understands them and they are non-sensical. Give them 5 calls and get 5 different answers. In addition to reading their minds, being an expert investigative researcher, and a lawyer you have to be a numerologist.

Solve the equation:

27 CFR + Part 555 * Subpart K §§ 555.180 + 555.181 27 - CFR 555.141 ** 18 +U.S.C. 921(a)(16) * 18 U.S.C. 921(a)(4) = The Answer

Thanks whosrydaddy for taking the time to make sense of this all. Just keep it under 50lbs seems to be the answer which is what I had previously understood until I went to the ATF website. Of course, the state, county, and city regulations probably make the ATF rules elementary. It is my understanding that in Louisiana that folks can only have 5 lbs unless you have a special permit.

 

[Vermonter]

Is that limit 50 pounds on the property, or 50 pounds per building? What if it's not in a building?

 

[Cosmoline]

I believe it's 50 lbs per person max total, as an exemption to cover those of us who shoot smoke poles. If you've got more than 50 lbs around you really need to be taking extra measures, both legal and safety wise. That stuff can make an impressive crater.

As noted there are also potential state and local laws to consider. Not to mention CC&R's and lease restrictions.

 

[mykeal]

The biggest problem you're going to have will be with your insurance company.

 

[Foto Joe]

The biggest problem you're going to have will be with your insurance company.

I respectfully disagree. If you've got 50 pounds stored in your house and you're there when it goes off I don't think "you" are going to be around anymore to call the insurance company.

I use 50 caliber ammo boxes, they seal well enough for moisture, they have convenient handles for carrying around and the likelyhood of me being able to crush one unless I run over it is pretty small.

 

[mykeal]

I think if you're in the room with 50 lbs that goes high order, then yes, it would be more like:

The biggest problem your heirs are going to have is with the insurance company.

But if you're not at home or elsewhere in the building, you'll probably survive the concussion and then it's just a matter of escaping the fire. Which anyone with any common sense should have planned for...

 

[mustanger]

I read that ( in the op ) that you cannot have more than 50 pounds iside one structure, so, if you have more than one structure, that's 50 pounds inside a magazine in each. Powder must be in a magazine, and a magazine is not allowd in your house.

 

[Black Duck Charlie]

Hey there, y'all, new guy here... I think mustanger hit it, if you have more than 50 pounds of powder, it has to be stored in a magazine; one magazine per building -- and NO powder at all stored in your house/apartment. That's what I got from the quoted ATF regs, too.

 

[rajb123]

ask this question above in the "legal" section of this site.

 

[ClemBert]

What building do y'all store your BP, substitutes, and smokeless powder in?

 

[Black Duck Charlie]

I can speak only for myself. Clembert, being that I live in an apartment, and do not have access to an outdoor area large enough and far enough away from any "inhabited buildings" (i.e., my apartment), and the club I am a member of is not able to provide a key to the storage lockers for every member (and I don't think the club even has such a locker), I have to store all of my shooting equipment and supplies in my apartment. This includes black powder, caps, rifle ammunition, etc.

According to the laws and regulations, unless I purchase only as much black powder/ammunition as I will be using each time I go out to shoot, and do so on the same day as I go out to shoot, I will be in violation of Federal, State and Local laws concerning the storage of explosives.

 

[ChrisHarris]

I just store it in a locked box in my basement. I don't usually have more than 2 or 3 pounds sitting around.