The Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA) has updated the section "Explosives and pyrotechnic articles" in the Risk Assessment Manual as of 01.11.2025. The dossier specifies requirements for structural and tertiary explosion protection as well as technical orientation values (e.g. fireball diameters, projectile densities).
The focus is on practical requirements for building construction types (e.g. blow-out walls, lightweight roof design), sufficiently conductive floors in rooms with open explosives and the design of resistance walls and blow-out surfaces for safe pressure relief. The contents serve as a basis for risk assessments and the derivation of effective protective measures.
Why relevant for practice
The update provides reliable, government guidelines for the planning, conversion and operation of areas with explosives. Companies can sharpen risk assessments, validate protection concepts and document construction/maintenance measures in line with standards.
Key points
Secondary explosion protection: Requirements for structural measures (resistance walls, blow-out areas, roof constructions).
Building types: single-room (light/heavy roof design), blow-out design, ground-covered - with specific design features.
Floors: In rooms with open explosives, they must be sufficiently conductive, seamless, and impermeable.
Resistance walls: Stability to be designed for expected dynamic loads from explosions; openings can be forcibly closed.
Pressure relief: Sufficiently dimensioned blow-out areas to prevent dangerous pressure build-up.
Orientation values: Tables on fireball diameter/duration of effect and litter densities for distance determination.
Sources
BAuA - Manual on risk assessment: "Explosives and pyrotechnic articles" (as at: 03.11.2025)