BC Shiftboss EXAM 2025 QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
Does the mixing of ammonium nitrate and fuel oil to form an explosive require any legal
approval? - ANS Yes, only if the user has received written approval of the Chief Inspector of
Explosives
"What three methods may be used to destroy AN/FO explosives?" - ANS "-By emptying the
containers into a large body of stagnant water
-By emptying them into a pit and pouring water of them
-By scattering them on the ground and then covering them with dirt.
""How is primacord destroyed?""" - ANS The preferred method is by burning in the same
manner as dynamite. It must not be burned on the spool, but strung out in parallel lines at least
1cm apart.
"What is primacord?" - ANS It is detonating cord consisting of high explosive core contained
in a waterproof textile covering.
"What is the proper method of attaching a blasting cap to a line of primacord?" - ANS The
cap is attached to the side of the primacord by means of friction tape or other suitable material.
"What is a "Nonel" assembly?" - ANS A plastic shock tube coated inside with finely powdered
explosive and securely crimped to a high strength (12 grain PETN) non-electric delay detonator.
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, "Can a "Nonel" cap be used to detonate all types of explosives that are cap sensitive?" -
ANS Yes, the shock tube will not disturb any column of powder as the shock tube does not
explode.
"How would you hook up "Nonel" caps?" - ANS Hook up Nonel to a b-line trunk line pulling
excess tubing through the plastic connector, then attach a cap to b-line trunk line and blast.
"Would you trim off excess Nonel tubing?" - ANS No, each Nonel is a sealed unit. One end of
the tube is sealed by means of heat seals, the other end by the detonator. If excess tubing is cut
off moisture may enter and cause malfunction.
"Can Nonels be used in areas of possible stray current?" - ANS Yes, Nonels are not a
conductor of electricity.
"What is the recommended exposure time for a Nonel detonator assembly in n explosive that
uses fuel oil as a component?" - ANS 6 days (15 days for Nonel XT)
"How should a blasting cap be attached to a detonator cord such as primacord?" - ANS It
should be taped into position and the end of the cap must be positioned with the base of the
cap pointing in the direction of initiation.
"How should a blasting cap be attached to a procore primer or other high strength cast
primer?" - ANS The end of the cap should be positioned within the primer, pointed in the
direction of the main charge.
"What is the detonation velocity of detonating cord?" - ANS ~22,000f/s or 6,075m/s
"Can detonating cord be lit with a match?" - ANS Detonating cord cannot be lit with a match.
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, "What is the chemical composition of the explosive used in detonating cord?" -
ANS Pentaerythritol tetranitrate.
"How is the explosive strength of detonating cord usually expressed?" - ANS In grams of
PETN per meter of foot of cord.
"What is a detonating connector relay?" - ANS A detonating connector relay is a nonelectric
device which provides a short interval delay in a detonation cord circuit. It is also known as a
delay connector, MS connector, or a relay.
"How is a pigtail detonating connector attached to detonating cord?" - ANS By a square knot
or by taping together, with 4 overlap."
"What is the purpose of Nonel MS connectors?" - ANS Nonel MS connectors are used with
detonating cord to provide millisecond delay intervals along a line of propagation.
"How should detonating cord be cut?" - ANS With a crimper, knife, or cord cuter on a slight
angle and with a pulling motion.
"Why should newly cut ends of detonating cord be sealed?" - ANS Newly cut ends should be
sealed with tape or plastic sleeves to keep the explosive core clean and dry, as well as to
prevent the PETN core from spilling out.
"May a factory splice (an overlap connection secured by a string tie) as found on a reel of
detonating cord be used in a blasting circuit?" - ANS No, the string should be removed and a
connection made using a standard knot.
"Are a plastic connector and a plastic detonating connector the same thing?" - ANS No, a
plastic connector is used to connect downlines to trunks. It does not contain explosives and
should not be confused with a plastic detonating connector.
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@COPYRIGHT BRAINBARTER 2025/2026
, "What length of overlap is recommended when taping 2 lengths of detonating cord together
with electricians tape?" - ANS 4 inches (10cm).
"What type of detonator is recommended to be used to initiate detonating cord?" - ANS A
High Strength" detonator."
"How should the detonator be oriented when taped to detonating cord?" - ANS The base
end of the detonator should be taped pointing in the direction of the initiation or shock wave
path.
"How should detonator cord be unreeled?" - ANS By using a handheld rod or stand.
"What are 2 kinds of non-electric detonating delay systems?" - ANS "A) Nonel system
B) Cordline system
""There 2 types of detonating systems, name them and indicate the difference between the
them.""" - ANS "A) The Nonel system may be used with cap sensitive explosives.
B) The Cordline system can only be used with insensitive explosives such as ANFO or slurry
blasting agent. Cordline is a low strength detonating cord having an inner core of PETN, it can
side initiate sensitive explosives. Manufactured under the name ANOLINE"".""
""What is a Nonel assembly?""" - ANS A assembly is a non-electric detonator factory crimped
to a length of Nonel shock tube. It has a plastic connector for clipping onto a trunkline of
detonating cord. The assembly is a sealed unit and must not be cut to shorten the tubing.
"How is a shocktube of a Nonel detonator constructed?" - ANS The shock tube is a hollow
plastic tube lined with finely powdered explosives, when properly initiated it propagates a
shock wave to the detonator causing it to explode.
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"What is the velocity of propagation in the Nonel shock tube?" - ANS 2,000m/s or 6,560f/s
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@COPYRIGHT BRAINBARTER 2025/2026
AND ANSWERS
Does the mixing of ammonium nitrate and fuel oil to form an explosive require any legal
approval? - ANS Yes, only if the user has received written approval of the Chief Inspector of
Explosives
"What three methods may be used to destroy AN/FO explosives?" - ANS "-By emptying the
containers into a large body of stagnant water
-By emptying them into a pit and pouring water of them
-By scattering them on the ground and then covering them with dirt.
""How is primacord destroyed?""" - ANS The preferred method is by burning in the same
manner as dynamite. It must not be burned on the spool, but strung out in parallel lines at least
1cm apart.
"What is primacord?" - ANS It is detonating cord consisting of high explosive core contained
in a waterproof textile covering.
"What is the proper method of attaching a blasting cap to a line of primacord?" - ANS The
cap is attached to the side of the primacord by means of friction tape or other suitable material.
"What is a "Nonel" assembly?" - ANS A plastic shock tube coated inside with finely powdered
explosive and securely crimped to a high strength (12 grain PETN) non-electric delay detonator.
1
Page
@COPYRIGHT BRAINBARTER 2025/2026
, "Can a "Nonel" cap be used to detonate all types of explosives that are cap sensitive?" -
ANS Yes, the shock tube will not disturb any column of powder as the shock tube does not
explode.
"How would you hook up "Nonel" caps?" - ANS Hook up Nonel to a b-line trunk line pulling
excess tubing through the plastic connector, then attach a cap to b-line trunk line and blast.
"Would you trim off excess Nonel tubing?" - ANS No, each Nonel is a sealed unit. One end of
the tube is sealed by means of heat seals, the other end by the detonator. If excess tubing is cut
off moisture may enter and cause malfunction.
"Can Nonels be used in areas of possible stray current?" - ANS Yes, Nonels are not a
conductor of electricity.
"What is the recommended exposure time for a Nonel detonator assembly in n explosive that
uses fuel oil as a component?" - ANS 6 days (15 days for Nonel XT)
"How should a blasting cap be attached to a detonator cord such as primacord?" - ANS It
should be taped into position and the end of the cap must be positioned with the base of the
cap pointing in the direction of initiation.
"How should a blasting cap be attached to a procore primer or other high strength cast
primer?" - ANS The end of the cap should be positioned within the primer, pointed in the
direction of the main charge.
"What is the detonation velocity of detonating cord?" - ANS ~22,000f/s or 6,075m/s
"Can detonating cord be lit with a match?" - ANS Detonating cord cannot be lit with a match.
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@COPYRIGHT BRAINBARTER 2025/2026
, "What is the chemical composition of the explosive used in detonating cord?" -
ANS Pentaerythritol tetranitrate.
"How is the explosive strength of detonating cord usually expressed?" - ANS In grams of
PETN per meter of foot of cord.
"What is a detonating connector relay?" - ANS A detonating connector relay is a nonelectric
device which provides a short interval delay in a detonation cord circuit. It is also known as a
delay connector, MS connector, or a relay.
"How is a pigtail detonating connector attached to detonating cord?" - ANS By a square knot
or by taping together, with 4 overlap."
"What is the purpose of Nonel MS connectors?" - ANS Nonel MS connectors are used with
detonating cord to provide millisecond delay intervals along a line of propagation.
"How should detonating cord be cut?" - ANS With a crimper, knife, or cord cuter on a slight
angle and with a pulling motion.
"Why should newly cut ends of detonating cord be sealed?" - ANS Newly cut ends should be
sealed with tape or plastic sleeves to keep the explosive core clean and dry, as well as to
prevent the PETN core from spilling out.
"May a factory splice (an overlap connection secured by a string tie) as found on a reel of
detonating cord be used in a blasting circuit?" - ANS No, the string should be removed and a
connection made using a standard knot.
"Are a plastic connector and a plastic detonating connector the same thing?" - ANS No, a
plastic connector is used to connect downlines to trunks. It does not contain explosives and
should not be confused with a plastic detonating connector.
3
Page
@COPYRIGHT BRAINBARTER 2025/2026
, "What length of overlap is recommended when taping 2 lengths of detonating cord together
with electricians tape?" - ANS 4 inches (10cm).
"What type of detonator is recommended to be used to initiate detonating cord?" - ANS A
High Strength" detonator."
"How should the detonator be oriented when taped to detonating cord?" - ANS The base
end of the detonator should be taped pointing in the direction of the initiation or shock wave
path.
"How should detonator cord be unreeled?" - ANS By using a handheld rod or stand.
"What are 2 kinds of non-electric detonating delay systems?" - ANS "A) Nonel system
B) Cordline system
""There 2 types of detonating systems, name them and indicate the difference between the
them.""" - ANS "A) The Nonel system may be used with cap sensitive explosives.
B) The Cordline system can only be used with insensitive explosives such as ANFO or slurry
blasting agent. Cordline is a low strength detonating cord having an inner core of PETN, it can
side initiate sensitive explosives. Manufactured under the name ANOLINE"".""
""What is a Nonel assembly?""" - ANS A assembly is a non-electric detonator factory crimped
to a length of Nonel shock tube. It has a plastic connector for clipping onto a trunkline of
detonating cord. The assembly is a sealed unit and must not be cut to shorten the tubing.
"How is a shocktube of a Nonel detonator constructed?" - ANS The shock tube is a hollow
plastic tube lined with finely powdered explosives, when properly initiated it propagates a
shock wave to the detonator causing it to explode.
4
"What is the velocity of propagation in the Nonel shock tube?" - ANS 2,000m/s or 6,560f/s
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@COPYRIGHT BRAINBARTER 2025/2026
