Storing powder in the house

[AveragEd]

For most of us, it may not really be a lot lol . . .

Ditto.

Ed

 

[scooter123]

TWoboxer, the reason that a fridge is now a recommended container is because those with magnetic seal doors ARE self venting and they are also insulated. The thought concerning the insulation is that if a fire department acts quickly enough the insulation of the fridge may keep the powder from harm.

 

[Twoboxer]

TWoboxer, the reason that a fridge is now a recommended container is because those with magnetic seal doors ARE self venting and they are also insulated. The thought concerning the insulation is that if a fire department acts quickly enough the insulation of the fridge may keep the powder from harm.

Guess I'm too old lol - I just remember kids suffocating while playing in old discarded refrigerators.

And that's why I mentioned it might well be safe in a fridge, as long as it would vent before booming.

 

[shawn mccarver]

If you will actually read the insurance policy, it will say if there are any exclusions related to items stored on the premises. Since the policy is your contract with them, it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks about whether you will have coverage. The only thing that matters is what YOUR policy says.

 

[Warren Sear]

I don't know, but there are probably code and insurance limits to the amount of primers one can store also. Violation of those codes could easily allow an insurance company to be able to get out of paying damages in the event of a fire.

I would imagine if a fireman or someone else got hurt while working at your house and those "large quantities" of powder or primers get discovered, you could be SOL again.

 

[jepp2]

Guess I'm too old lol - I just remember kids suffocating while playing in old discarded refrigerators.

That was in the old latching type doors. Scooter specifically stated magnetic seals on the door.

 

[MajorD]

Average ed the regs you refer to have to do with black powder which is classed as an explosive NOT smokeless which is classed a flammable solid

 

[AveragEd]

Good to know I'm really not a criminal. I posted a photo of my whole loading bench in one of my columns and a reader took me to task for having an illegal amount of powder stored in my home.

Ed

 

[rwsmith]

The regulation I was looking for....

For most of us, it may not really be a lot lol . . .

The national fire code - which may also be your local fire code - sets a 25lb "limit" for ad hoc storage in a private residence, and a 50lb limit if stored in a wood container with a nominal thickness of 1".

Note: WOOD container

The regulation I was looking for was closer to 150#. Some people here may still be exceeding that amount.

 

[HorizontalMike]

Residential Storage

QUESTION: By the end of the week, I will have a total of 26lb of powder and 10k primers. Garage is too hot in south Texas and has many chemicals stored there, so...

Can I safely store this in my residence in THREE separate rooms/locations? such as (all in original containers/boxes):

1. 16lb H322
2. 10lb VV N105
3. 10k of primers

Again, these would be in separate rooms of the house.

Issued by the National Fire Protection Association
Battery March Park, Quincy, MA 02269

Chapter 11
Small Arms Ammunition and Primers, Smokeless Propellants,
and Black Powder Propellants
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.

 

[arjay]

Ive become cautious in my old age and keep my powder and primers in the garage.Id build a vented,wood bunker for the powder and another for the primers.

 

[HorizontalMike]

Ive become cautious in my old age and keep my powder and primers in the garage.Id build a vented,wood bunker for the powder and another for the primers.

+10 on building vented wooden bunkers, or at least shelving/bookcase with a closed back and open front (or top-hinged doors without latches.

Not so much convinced about storing powder in my garage/woodshop. Already have many paints, varnishes, strippers, stains, etc. stored there PLUS it gets too hot in the summer months (see attached image). I do, however, plan on building a storage cabinet on wheels, for all other reloading supplies such as bullets, cases, dies/press, etc.

 

[arjay]

Mine isn't too bad,a few gallons of oil base paints,solvents and gas and 8-10 lbs of powder,but for about 30 years I kept powder and primers in the basement of various houses we owned and nothing bad ever happened,despite my wife's conviction that it would ;-)

 

[houdini26]

ask your fire dept about the laws,to see if you need a permit, to store powder.

 

[MarkDozier]

Don't ask, Don't tell, best policet the military ever had.

 

[RIDE-RED 350r]

I store my powder on a shelf next to my woodstove with the caps off the containers to keep it dry. LMAO!

 

[Steve C]

1> Smokeless Powder isn't going to blow up your house because its stored there as it doesn't spontaneously combust, just keep it in the government approved bottles or packaging it came in.

2> Read your insurance policy, you should always read it anyway as it is the contract that binds both you and the company. The only things they don't cover are specifically excluded in that contract along with the things they specifically do cover. Any opinions that we can give are speculation based on our experience and may not apply to your circumstance.