United States Prevention, Pesticides EPA712-C-96-025
Environmental Protection and Toxic Substances August 1996
Agency (7101)
&EPA Product Properties
Test Guidelines
OPPTS 830.6316
Explodability
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INTRODUCTION
This guideline is one of a series of test guidelines that have been
developed by the Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances,
United States Environmental Protection Agency for use in the testing of
pesticides and toxic substances, and the development of test data that must
be submitted to the Agency for review under Federal regulations.
The Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances (OPPTS)
has developed this guideline through a process of harmonization that
blended the testing guidance and requirements that existed in the Office
of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT) and appeared in Title 40,
Chapter I, Subchapter R of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), the
Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) which appeared in publications of the
National Technical Information Service (NTIS) and the guidelines pub-
lished by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
(OECD).
The purpose of harmonizing these guidelines into a single set of
OPPTS guidelines is to minimize variations among the testing procedures
that must be performed to meet the data requirements of the U. S. Environ-
mental Protection Agency under the Toxic Substances Control Act (15
U.S.C. 2601) and the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act
(7U.S.C. I36,etseq.).
Final Guideline Release: This document is available from the U.S.
Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402 on The Federal Bul-
letin Board. By modem dial 202-512-1387, telnet and ftp:
fedbbs.access.gpo.gov (IP 162.140.64.19), internet: http://
fedbbs.access.gpo.gov, or call 202-512-0132 for disks or paper copies.
This guideline is available in ASCII and PDF (portable document format)
from the EPA Public Access Gopher (gopher.epa.gov) under the heading
"Environmental Test Methods and Guidelines."
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OPPTS 830.6316 Explodability.
(a) Scope—(1) Applicability. This guideline is intended to meet test-
ing requirements of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide
Act (FIFRA) (7 U.S.C. 136, et seq.).
(2) Background. The source material used in developing this har-
monized OPPTS test guideline is OPP guideline 63-16 Explodability (Pes-
ticide Assessment Guidelines, Subdivision D: Product Chemistry, EPA Re-
port 540/9-82-018, October 1982) and 40 CFR 158.190 Physical and
chemical characteristics.
(b) Test method. The recommended test methods for explodability
are described in 44 FR 16265 (1979) which is reproduced, with minor
changes, in paragraph (b)(2) of this guideline. Also, the test method for
solids described in the Official Journal of the European Communities may
be used where appropriate (see paragraph (d) of this guideline). If an alter-
native method is used, it is recommended that the registrant consult with
the Agency prior to adopting the test method.
(1) Objectives, (i) Data on the physical and chemical characteristics
of pesticide products are used to confirm or provide supportive information
on their identity. Such data are also used in reviewing the production or
formulating process used to produce the pesticide or product.
(ii) Explodability is the capability of a substance to undergo an uncon-
trolled, rapid, violent chemical reaction resulting in a sudden increase in
pressure. The explodability test is necessary for use in precautionary label-
ling of pesticides when the product is potentially explosive. Knowledge
about the explosion potential of chemicals is important for assessing the
risk they may pose for human health. Impact explodability affects the risk
of handling large quantities of chemicals (the force of a falling container
is proportional to mass). Thermal explosion data could be a useful param-
eter for assessing the risk posed by handling or using various quantities
of a chemical.
(iii) The probabilities of thermally induced explosion occurring are
independent of the weight of the chemical present except as this may affect
the rate of heating. Shock and thermal explodability testing is potentially
applicable to all solid and liquid chemicals. The intended use of a chemical
may be especially important in determining applicability of these tests.
(2) Test details. The thermal explodability method recommended dif-
ferential thermal analysis/scanning calorimetry, (DTA/DSC), is a classic,
simple chemistry technique yielding results that are easily interpreted.
ASTM method E-967 is an apparatus calibration method that should be
performed to assure the quality of the submitted DTA/DSC data (see para-
graph (d)(4) of this guideline). The impact explodability method for solids
is that recommended by the Department of Transportation and the Environ-
mental Protection Agency (see paragraphs (d)(l) and (d)(2) of this guide-
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line). The impact explodability method for liquids is based on a critical
review by the Department of Transportation (see paragraph (d)(7) of this
guideline).
(i) Thermal explodability. For thermal explodability (DTA/DSC),
ASTM E-487 should be used. For data recording, ASTM E-472 should
be used. For calibration, ASTM E-537, ASTM E-967 should be used. (See
paragraphs (d)(3), (d)(4), (d)(5), and (d)(6) of this guideline.)
(ii) Impact explodability. For impact explodability, the Bureau of
Explosives impact apparatus (49 CFR 173.53, note 4) should be used for
solids. Bureau of Mines or Naval Ordnance laboratory impact testers
should be used for liquids.
(c) Reporting. (1) For thermal explodability, a graph of AT(C) or
AE cal vs. T or t (seconds or minutes) should be attached, the heating
rate and calibration determination recorded, and the instrument (make and
model) described. For impact explodability, the results for the different
heights and weights used should be recorded.
(2) Any methods used to characterize the physical properties of a
pesticide shall be referenced or described in the application for registration.
If the methods used are listed in paragraph (d) of this guideline, reference
to the method will suffice. If other methods are used, copies of such meth-
ods must be submitted with the application.
(3) References that denote "ASTM" refer to standardized methods
published by the American Society for Testing and Materials. Philadelphia,
PA.
(4) The applicant shall submit his own statistical evaluation of the
precision and accuracy of these measurements (e.g., standard deviations
or confidence intervals) when appropriate.
(d) References. The following references should be consulted for ad-
ditional background material on this test guideline.
(1) EPA, "Flammability/Explodability," FEDERAL REGISTER, 44 FR
16265 (1979).
(2) Department of Transportation, Definition of Class A Explosives,
49 CFR 173.53, note 4, 1976.
(3) American Society for Testing and Materials, "Standard Practice
for Reporting Thermoanalytical Data, E-472," ASTM, Philadelphia, PA,
1994 annual index.
(4) American Society for Testing and Materials, "Temperature Cali-
bration of Differential Scanning Calorimeters, E-967," ASTM, Philadel-
phia, PA, 1994 annual index.
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(5) American Society for Testing and Materials, "Standard Test
Method for Constant-Temperature Stability of Chemical Materials, E-
487," ASTM, Philadelphia, PA, 1994 annual index.
(6) American Society for Testing and Materials, "Standard Test
Method for Assessing the Thermal Stability of Chemicals by Methods of
Differential Thermal Analysis, E-537," ASTM, Philadelphia, PA, latest
annual index.
(7) Lasseigne, A.H. Hazard Classification of Explosives for Transpor-
tation, Evaluation of Test Methods, Department of Transportation, Report
TES-20-73-2 (1973).
(8) Official Journal of the European Communities, "A.H. Explosive
Properties," No L 383 A/87.
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