Gas Bags for Air-Deck Blasting

RockSmith Gas Bags are waterproof, self inflating void-forming inserts, commonly used for air decking— that sit within the blasthole column or between the charge and stemming. By providing a controlled air cavity for explosive gases to expand into, they promote a more uniform spread of explosive energy across the charge, improving fragmentation, throw, and overall blast consistency.

Gas Bag Application

Gas Bag Installation

RockSmith Gas Bag products and sizes

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Why Air-Deck Blasting

In conventional blasting much of the explosive energy is lost in the generation of undersize fragments or super fragmentation. The production of oversize fragments on the other hand, lowers loading and transportation efficiencies of equipment which requires secondary blasting.

Brief history of Air-Decking in production blasting

Melnikov and Marchenko (1971) reported that, by introducing one or more air gaps in the explosive column, a secondary shock wave can inexpensively be generated thereby increasing the duration of the shock wave action on the surrounding rock mass by a factor of 2-5. Explosive costs were reported to be reduced by between 10% to 30% with benefits on both fragmentation and movement.

Benefits of Air-Deck Blasting

• 10 - 30% savings on explosives.
• Improvement of casting materials due to higher pressures.
• Gas Bag is water friendly
• Robust outer barrier that prevents expansion and pressure drop.
• More resistant than conventional airbags.
• Improved fragmentation and loading rates.
• Easy operation: Quick and easy Pop & Drop installation with constant synchronization.
• Ensures a perfect seal against the wall of the explosion hole in cavity situations.
• Eliminates contamination by explosives.
• Reduces blasting vibrations and seismic readings.
• The sturdy polyethylene fabric exterior ensures a tight seal in the explosion hole. Heavy duty designs withstand heavy loads of 1500 lbs. and more
• Reduces the breakage of precious stones.
• Reduced blocks of higher formations.
• 100% approval rate in the guaranteed field.