Maintain Conventional Charge Standards

Access conventional charge standard configuration:

1. On the DataBlast Application Menu, select Site Maintenance.

   The Site Maintenance screen displays.

2. Select the Charge Standards » Conventional node.

   The Charge Standard Maintenance Ribbon Menu displays.

To create a conventional charge standard:

1. Select the Initiation System Type from Non-Electric and Electronic.

   This field is then read-only until the new charge standard has been saved (or the changes have been abandoned).

2. On the Charge Standard Maintenance ribbon menu, click Add Charge Standard.

   The Charge Standard screen displays with Charge Standard Type set to Normal.

3. Enter the Name.
4. Select the Drill Diameter from the allowed diameters. See Configure Mine Site Settings. The diameter range is the selected diameter +/- 10%. For example, a 150 mm standard can be used with a 140 mm and a 159 mm hole but not with a 200 mm hole.
5. Select whether this charge standard is an Inhibited Charge Standard. If checked, only inhibited products can be assigned to the charge standard. This setting is read-only after the charge standard has been created.
6. Click OK.
7. Update the Blast Type if required. Select from charge standard blast types that have the applicable initiation system type. See Maintain Charge Standard Blast Types.
8. Enter the parameters for a preliminary powder factor calculation.
   • Minimum Stemming—A warning displays if a fixed-length inert deck in any charge standard definition is less than this minimum length.
   • Minimum Charge Length—Prevent the charge standard from calculating very small decks. A typical minimum charge length is 5 m. Holes that are shorter than the minimum charge length display on charge sheets as requiring backfill.
   • Minimum Charge Length (DW)—For dewatered holes.
   • Wet Wall Cover
   • Burden—Used to calculate the design powder factor and in fragmentation models.
   • Spacing—Used to calculate the design powder factor and in fragmentation models.
   • Subgrade—Used to calculate the design powder factor and in fragmentation models.
   • Control—In milliseconds. Default delay used in the initiation module. Only applicable to non-electric initiation system types.
   • Echelon—In milliseconds. Default delay used in the initiation module. Only applicable to non-electric initiation system types.
   • Bench Height—Not used in calculations.
   • Integrated Backfill—Whether to assume that the explosives will be loaded only from the target charge depth; that is, if holes are longer than the target charge depth, they will be backfilled.
9. Enter Comments if required.
10. Add lengths as required:
    1. Click Add Length at Bottom or Insert Length Above.

       Note: For every length, you need to edit the Dry, Wet and Dewatered definitions. Most charge standards can be defined in only two or three lengths:

       • First increment from minimum hole length to a transition to full stemming. Generally required where short holes with reduced stemming are to be loaded. In this situation, a 60% stem to 40% explosives ratio is common.
       • Second increment for single priming. Holes in this range are loaded with full columns and single primers.
       • Third increment for multiple priming.
    2. Update the Start Length and End Length. The default length is 10 m.

       Note: Holes that have a length that is less than the minimum start length display on charge sheets as requiring backfill. These holes are backfilled with the default stemming material specified in Product Settings.

11. Click Save Changes.

Note: If you edit an existing charge standard, it will not impact charge patterns where that charge standard was used to create the charge rules. The charge rules are a local copy from the charge standard at that point in time.

To edit the structure of a charge standard definition:

1. Double-click the charge standard definition in the matrix.

   The charge standard definition displays as a detailed diagram with product buttons to the right.

   The charge standard definition has two default decks (from top to bottom):

   1. An inert deck with the default aggregate product as specified in the mine site settings in Site Maintenance.
   2. A bulk explosive deck with the default bulk explosive for the applicable condition (dry, wet or dewatered) as specified in the mine site settings.

   Tips: Use the View Toolbar to zoom or pan the diagram. To edit a deck, select the deck in the diagram, either in the column or by the deck name on the left. There are grip points (small blue squares) that you can drag to resize decks; however, entering measurements in the fields is more accurate. To delete a deck or primer, select the deck or primer and press Delete (on your keyboard).

2. Next to the Timing Zone button, select from defined Z timing zones if required. See Maintain Z Timing Zones. Only applicable to electronic initiation system types. This Z timing zone is the default zone for new explosive decks.

   Note: The Timing Zone button can also be used to change the Z timing zone of an existing explosive deck. Drag from the button to the deck.

3. Next to the Primer button, complete the following fields:
   • Downline Product—Click Select to open the Detonator Product Selection screen. For electronic initiation system types, select from defined electronic detonators. See Maintain Electronic Detonators. For non-electric initiation system types, select from non-electric detonator delays. See Maintain Non-Electric Detonators.
   • Booster Product—Click Select to open the Booster Product Selection screen. Select from defined packaged explosives and cast boosters. See Maintain Packaged Explosives and Maintain Cast Boosters.
   • Primer Timing Offset from Deck Timing—Only applicable to electronic initiation system types.
4. To add a bulk explosive deck:
   1. Next to the Bulk button, select the product from defined bulk explosives. See Maintain Bulk Explosives.
   2. Drag from the Bulk button to the hole in the charge standard definition diagram.

      The deck is created with a primer.

      Note: The location where the deck is to be added is highlighted. A new deck splits an existing deck.

   3. Select the deck in the charge standard definition diagram.
   4. Set the Deck Length Type from:
      • Floating—Update the Floating Fill percentage if required.

        Note: At least one deck must be floating.

      • Fixed Explosive Mass—Update the Fixed Explosive Mass if required.
      • Fixed Length—Update the Deck Length if required.
      • Proportional Percentage—Update the percentage of Hole Length if required.
   5. Update the Z Timing Zone if required.
   6. Update the Bulk Explosive if required. Click Select to open the Bulk Explosive Selection screen.
5. To add a packaged explosive (PE) deck:
   1. Next to the PE button, select the product from defined packaged explosives and cast boosters.
   2. Drag from the PE button to the hole in the charge standard definition diagram.

      The deck is created with a primer.

   3. Select the deck in the charge standard definition diagram.
   4. Set the Deck Length Type from:
      • Floating—Update the Floating Fill if required.
      • Fixed Length—Update the Package Quantity if required.
      • Proportional Percentage—Update the Hole Length if required.
   5. Update the Z Timing Zone if required.
   6. Update the Packaged Explosive if required. Click Select to open the Packaged Explosive/Cast Booster Selection screen.
6. To add another primer to an explosive deck:
   1. Drag from the Primer button to the top or the bottom (as required) of the deck in the charge standard definition diagram.
   2. Select the primer in the charge standard definition diagram.
   3. Update the Position Offset from Deck Anchor if required.
   4. Update the Timing Offset from Deck Timing if required.
   5. Update the Downline Product and Booster if required.
7. To add an inert deck:
   1. Next to the Inert button, select the product from Air, Drill Cuttings, Water and any other defined products that have a Product Type of Inert Accessory or Stemming. See Maintain Other Products.
   2. Drag from the Inert button to the hole in the charge standard definition diagram.

      A deck is created.

   3. Select the deck in the charge standard definition diagram.
   4. For any product other that an inert accessory, set the Deck Length Type from:
      • Floating—Update the Floating Fill if required.
      • Fixed Length—Update the Deck Length if required. A warning displays if the length is less than the Minimum Stemming in the charge standard parameters.
      • Proportional Percentage—Update the Hole Length if required.
   5. To change the product of an inert accessory or aggregate deck, click Select in the product details.
8. To delete a deck or primer:
   1. Select the deck or primer in the charge standard definition diagram.
   2. Press Delete (on your keyboard).
9. Click Save Changes.

To duplicate a conventional charge standard:

1. Select the Initiation System Type from Non-Electric and Electronic.
2. Select the charge standard.
3. On the Charge Standard Maintenance ribbon menu, click Duplicate Charge Standard.
4. Edit the charge standard as required.
5. Click Save Changes.

To deactivate a conventional charge standard:

1. Select the Initiation System Type from Non-Electric and Electronic.
2. Uncheck Active for the charge standard.
3. Click Save Changes.