（For Class 1 Explosives, there are two weights, i.e., the Net Quantity and Net Explosive Mass. Why is it, and what is the difference?）
Q.
For explosives of Class 1, there are two weights. One is the Net Weight which is the weight of the finished article which includes the weight of the explosives and the weight of the casing or cartridge. The other is the Net Explosive Mass - NEM (or Net Explosive Quantity - NEQ or Net Explosive Weight - NEW) which is the net weight of the explosive substance only excluding the weight of the casing or cartridge. Why are there two weights? How do you indicate them on the DGD? (30 Sep 12)
A.
As written in DGR 4.1.6.8 Column H, 4.1.6.10 Column J and 4.1.6.12 Column L, about the middle of each paragraph, “In the case of explosive articles and matches, the net weight is the weight of the finished article excluding packagings”.
This net weight corresponds with the maximum quantity shown on the blue pages. In contrast, the net weight of the explosive substance only (excluding the casing, cartridge and all packaging material) is called Net Explosive Mass – NEM, Net Explosive Quantity - NEQ, or Net Explosive Weight – NEW, and used for surface transport.
NEM is also used to determine the need for explosive magazines for storage, and also for accumulation of different divisions/compatibility groups, and also for emergency response as the total NEQ means something whereas the net weight is meaningless for things like cartridges for weapons, cartridge power device, etc.
Air transport intended to adopt the NEM for air DGDs but could not reach a consensus, and therefore concluded to use “Net Weight of Finished Article” for the air DGD, but Dec ded to show also the NEM as reference on the DGD.
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