FORCITEnvironment

OY FORCIT AB, founded in 1893, is a chem-ical industry company with long traditions. The company specialises in the production of premium civil and military explosives, while providing excavation consulting and training. Forcit develops, manufactures, and sells explosives, mainly on the Nordic market. Special products are also exported to markets outside the Nordic Countries. Forcit’s turnover in 2016 was ca. 101 million euros. The company employs a staff of 320 people, of which 230 are posted in Finland. Our headquarters are located in Hanko.

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Quality, development and know-how also encompass responsibility for environmental matters. In addition to the environmental responsibility pertaining to our operations, we take eco-friendliness seriously, striving to minimise any negative impacts our operations may have on nature.

Our environmental system is ISO 14001 certified. The international standard helps organisations both improve the eco-friendliness of their operations and exhibit their commitment to environmental issues. Furthermore, since 1992 we have been a signatory to the Responsible Care programme, which is aimed at advancing sustainable development and continuous organisational improvement. We renew our environmental programme every five years while setting new environmental objectives annually. We observe environmental matters in the design process covering the entire life cycle of our products from the selection of raw materials and packaging, product,

process and procedural development, emission and energy consumption minimisation to matters pertaining to end-users. We train our personnel to augment their attitudes towards environmental matters in areas that are important for the continuous improvement of operations. Forcit and its personnel must take the sur-rounding nature into consideration in all its activities.We are committed to the principles of sustainable development, open and honest relationships with our interest groups and abiding by regulations and mandatory permits.

Environmental responsibility

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For the environment

1998Forcit is granted the DNV-accred-ited ISO 14001 environmental cer-tificate. The international standard helps organisations both improve the eco-friendliness of their opera-tions and exhibit their commitment to environmental issues.

1970sSignificant investments aimed at minimising the environmental load resulting from Forcit’s operations.

1999 Hanko facility nitrogen efflu-ent transportation for further utilisation begins, significantly reducing nitrogen emissions into the sea.

2015Acid denitration plant at the Hanko facility is up-graded. The new concentration process enables the recovery of nitric acid from residual acid. The recovered nitric acid can be reused in our pro-duction process. The investment helps improve denitration energy efficiency while reducing emissions into air and acid effluent deliveries.

1992 Forcit becomes signatory to the Responsible Care programme, which is aimed at advancing sustainable development and continuous organisational improvement.

2000Implementation of the op-erating system that encom-passes quality, safety and environmental matters.

2012Hanko facility implements district heating, 97% of which is produced by bioenergy (wood-chip). Previously the facility produced heat energy with oil.

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What happens when explosives detonate

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DETONATION When the base charge is detonated, the detonation wave is transferred to the explosive in the shot hole, initiating the explosion. The explosion travels through the explosive as a wave. The explosion is an extremely quick reaction (the detonation front velocity is typically 1000-7000 m/s), where the explosive is transformed mainly into vapour, carbon dioxide and nitrogen. A detonation can form 700-1000 litres of gas per one kilogram of explosives. The pressure created by this gas in the shot hole forms most of the excavation power of the explosive. A field explosion is, in fact, a chain of several small explosions.

Clean combustion produces gases that consist mainly of vapour, carbon dioxide and nitrogen. However, the gases contain small quantities of toxic gases, such as carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrous oxides (NO + NO2). Hazardous amounts of carbon monoxide deposits can remain in the depths of an excavation site for a long time after the excavation. The quantities of such toxic gases depend, for example, on the chemical compound of the explosive, its homogeneity and water-re-sistance.

Relevant authorities are responsible for setting limit values for gas content in ambient air.

NO + NO2CO

Detonation is a rapid chemical reaction where a large amount of heat and motion energy is released. Basically this is an extremely fast combustive reaction.

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How a detonation impacts the environment

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NITROGEN EMISSIONS Nitrogen is a chemical that occurs naturally in the environment as is and in various compounds. High nitrate and nitrite contents are classified as health risks when occurring in drinking water or food products. Water-soluble nitrogen compound emissions cause eutrophication resulting from high nutrient concentrations in waters, leading to algae growth, oxygen depletion and changes in the fish biota. Water-soluble nitrogen compounds, especially ammonium and nitrite, are toxic to aquatic organisms and fish. Salmonids living in the northern parts of Scandinavia are particularly vulnerable.

The main raw material used in excavation explosives is ammonium nitrate, which is a water-sol-uble nitrogen compound. The rate of dissolution of ammonium nitrate into water depends on the composition and form of the product. In emulsion explosives, for example, ammonium nitrate is in the form of small drops surrounded by a thick oil membrane, which makes the rate of dissolution of emulsion explosives very slow. Cartridge explosives are also slow to dissolve, as the explosive is encased in a cartridge.

Excavation-related nitrogen emissions are the result of several factors. The explosive typically contains most of the nitrogen used in the excavation. However, the quantity of nitrogen ending up in the surrounding bodies of water depends on how the explosive is handled, as well as on envi-ronmental factors. Correct excavation planning, selection of the explosive and accurate loading all play key roles in the potential reduction of nitrogen emissions created by excavations.

Correct excavation planning, selection of the explosive and accurate loading all play key roles in the reduction of nitro-gen emissions created by exca-vations

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KEY FACTORS RELATED TO THE FORMATION OF NITROGEN EMISSIONS

2Dissolution of explosive into water prior to detonation The best way to limit nitrogen emissions

is to observe environmental conditions when selecting the explosive. The water quantity and mobility at the excavation site, as well as the time between loading and detonation have a significant impact on the amount of nitrate emissions into water.

3Unaffected explosive remaining in the excavation materialUnaffected explosive is typically the result

of a problem in the explosive train. The prob-lem may be related to geological factors. For example, in rock material with many cracks, incorrectly chosen explosive can escape from the shot hole into the cracks, and in some cas-es the material might be unaffected by the detonation. Such cracks can lead to leaked ex-plosion gases, the force of which may interfere with the detonation chain of other shot holes. The same phenomenon is also related to incor-rectly planned and executed drilling. Drilling provides vital information on the characteris-tics of the rock, which can be utilised during loading planning and explosive selection in or-der to minimise these types of issues.

Another common issue is water in the shot hole. All explosives are not water-resistant, and even the efficiency of water-resistant explosives can be reduced by water.

1Careful, tidy loading Any explosive left outside the shot hole will remain unaffected in the excavated

material, dissolving into the nature depending on environmental conditions and further pro-cessing.

4Water-soluble nitrogen compounds occurring in explosion gases The explosion gases of mine explosives

may contain nitrous oxides that are water sol-uble. According to studies1, the impact of this factor is negligible. The effect of water on a wa-ter-soluble explosive, excessive density or the pressure impact from an adjacent shot hole detonation may interfere with the reaction of the explosive, resulting in high nitrous oxide content in explosion gases despite the explo-sive having a balanced oxygen content. In such cases an imperfect explosion can be observed by the colour of the explosion gases (typically orange).

References:1) Forsberg, H., Åkerlund, H., Kväve och sprängämnesrester i LKAB:s malm-, gråbergs- och pro-duktflöden, Luleå tekniska universitet, 1999:258

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Continuous development is key to our operations

Our loading service staff is trained to observe tidiness and carefulness from an environmental impact perspective. We are constantly looking to the markets for innovative products and accessories in order to ensure optimal explosive performance. Our in-house product development ensures that our existing and future products are compatible with the principles of environmentally friendly development. Tight-knit collaboration with our in-house test laboratory facilitates continuous product monitoring.

Our subsidiary, Oy Finnrock Ab, provides services focused on detailed investigations of nitrogen emis-sions in Finland. The investigation services are provided on a consultation basis, involving an in-depth investigation of the site’s history, geology, water conditions, sampling, blasting planning and execution, as well as the handling of material produced during the blasting. The investigation aims to form a com-plete overview of the nitrogen load formation, which is then used for compiling a list of recommended measures for optimised prevention of the nitrogen load. Investigations can be carried out proactively or during an active excavation.

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Vibration, pressure waves, noise and dust

Built environment poses certain restrictions on blasting, such as requirements related to vibration and noise. Detonation is a rapid chemical combustion reaction where a large amount of heat and motion energy is released from the explosive. Part of the released energy creates cracks in the rock, part of it moves loose material, while part of it is transferred as seismic energy, or waveform, causing vibrations in the solid rock. Part of the energy is also transformed into heat and pressure waves.

In an open space, explosions may result in very strong pressure waves transferred through the air. Such pressure waves may travel expansive distances, and in some cases may result in, for example, broken windows. Correctly planned and executed loading typically prevents the creation of significant pressure waves. In addition to gases, the explosion cloud contains dust. The dust consists mainly of fine excavation materials. Typically the dust cloud settles on the excavation site without impacting the surrounding environment. Any potential environmental impacts can be evaluated during the planning stage, while actual impacts can be measured and monitored during the actual excavation. For more information on the environmental impact of excavation, please contact Oy Finnrock Ab.

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Package waste during production and after use are primarily recycled in-house or externally in a res-ponsible manner. An alternative utilisation method for package waste is energy production.

Forcit’s service points accept any package material, IBC containers, wood pallets and detonating fuse coils that are suitable for reutilisation and recycling. Any recycled packaging should be opened and flattened into sheets, and any explosive labels should be crossed out with a clearly visible marker. De-tails regarding recyclable packaging are indicated in product-specific documentation.

Some packaging can be incinerated on-site, but not within residential areas. Packaging suitable for in-cineration includes, for example, cardboard boxes and cartridge packaging. Incineration of packaging used for explosives should be done in accordance with local regulations while ensuring that no exp-losive materials are among the incinerated material. The person performing the incineration is always responsible for the incineration.

Packaging used for explosives may contain residual explosive materials, which is why recycling facili-ties are typically wary of accepting such packaging.

Packages

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OY FORCIT ABPL 19, 10901 HankoTel. +358 207 440 400www.forcitgroup.com

OY FINNROCK ABMikkolantie 1 B, 4. floorTel. +358 10 832 1300www.finnrock.fi

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