General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Tennessee father and son dead after AR-15 goes off and ammunition-filled room explodes [View all]sarisataka
(22,660 posts)harking back to the days when I transported hazmat...
Small arms ammunition is classed as an explosive for transport but is more accurately a flammable solid. The powder burns really fast and if contained the produced gas will, in layman's terms, explode.
True explosives, TNT, C4, black powder... react differently chemically and will explode when ignited whether or not they are contained.
Explosives and ammunition need to be shipped in separate containers because an ignition of one may cause a sympathetic reaction in the other causing explosion or greater fire.
Typing this has given me a thought. Military ammo is stored in the ever popular ammo cans. It provides excellent weather protection and long term storage safety, but... it is possible for the metal cans to be a pressure container allowing the gas to build up. (Don't ask how I know that... I have a Marine 'friend' who gets bored out on the demo range, yeah that's it) With a heat source from a small to moderate fire, combined with powder ignited by the heat could cause an explosion leading to a chain reaction. I'm not 100% sure but it seems plausible in my mind.