Canadian Explosives Research Laboratory (CERL) / CANMET

CANMET's Canadian Explosives Research Laboratory (CERL) is Canada's national centre for the advancement of technology related to the manufacture, storage, transport, and use of explosives, and testing/certification of products for use in hazardous locations.

Eligibility Criteria

The CERL's target audience includes manufacturers, importers and distributors of explosives, pyrotechnics, fireworks, ammunition, propellants and accessories. Various levels of government also use the services of the laboratory, e.g., Transport Canada, RCMP, National Defence, Solicitor General, etc.

Summary

The CERL tests and certifies all commercial explosives, sporting ammunition, fireworks and other explosive devices submitted for authorization by the Chief Inspector of Explosives under the Explosives Act.

It also aims to help industry improve productivity and safety in the manufacture, transport and use of explosives, to assess new explosives developments, to minimize the environmental impact of explosives production and disposal, and to develop new standards.

CERL works in close partnership with Canadian industry on a variety of cost and task-shared projects.

CERL's principal areas of endeavour fall into four categories:

• Technical Support of the Canada Explosives Act
  • certification of explosives, pyrotechnics, blasting accessories, ammunition, and propellants;
  • development of new or improved test methods;
  • development of standards;
  • consultation in such areas as accident investigation.
• Explosives, Propellants and Pyrotechnics Research
  • thermochemistry employing current expertise in thermal analysis and thermal hazards prediction;
  • numerical modelling of physical properties and effect of shock impact.
• Cooperative Projects
  • consultation with industry in such areas as process evaluation of pyrotechnics, quality control of display fireworks and performance of explosive compositions.
• Hazardous Locations Products Services
  • certification of products for use in potentially explosive atmospheres;
  • testing on products to national (CSA) and international (IEC, UL, MSHA) standards.

Quebec Contact(s):
See National Contact.

---

National Contact(s):
Mr. Brian Beard
Minerals and Metals Sector
Canadian Explosives Research Laboratory (CERL)
Natural Resources Canada
Bells Corners Complex, Building No. 12
Nepean, Ontario  K1A 0G1
Telephone: 613-995-8917
TTY (hearing impaired): 613-996-4397
E-mail: bbeard@NRCan.gc.ca