UN 0113 — Guanylnitrosamino-guanyltetrazene, wetted
Placard: Explosive 1.1A. ERG Guide 112. Training/quick-reference only — use current ERG + SOP/SOG for incident-specific actions.
UN 0113, Guanylnitrosamino-guanyltetrazene (wetted), is a primary explosive initiator shipped as a light tan to buff-colored crystalline powder wetted with water or alcohol to reduce sensitivity. It is classified as Explosive 1.1A, meaning the entire load is capable of mass detonation simultaneously under the right conditions.
Hazard overview: UN 0113 poses an extreme mass explosion hazard, with the potential for the entire shipment to detonate at once, generating severe blast overpressure and deadly fragmentation. The dry material is acutely sensitive to heat, shock, and friction, making any disturbance of an involved package life-threatening to emergency responders.
Response guidance: When UN 0113 is involved in a fire or emergency, responders must not attempt to fight the fire directly and must immediately withdraw to a minimum isolation distance of 800 meters in all directions. If fire exposure cannot be avoided, only unmanned hose holders or monitor nozzles should be used from maximum distance, and evacuation of the surrounding area must be initiated without delay.
UN 0113 Quick Details
Common Hazards of UN 0113
- Mass explosion hazard — entire load may detonate simultaneously.
- Severe blast overpressure and fragmentation.
- Sensitive to heat, shock, and friction.
- Secondary fire and debris hazard.
Chemical Identity & Physical Properties
UN 0113 is an odorless, light tan to buff-colored crystalline powder or granular solid that is transported in a wetted state using water or alcohol to maintain stability and reduce explosive sensitivity during shipment.
| Also known as | Tetrazene1-(5-Tetrazolyl)guanyl-4-nitrosamino-guanyl-1-tetrazeneTetraceneTAGN |
| CAS Number | 109-27-3 |
| Appearance | Light tan to buff-colored crystalline powder or granules. Odorless. Shipped wetted with water or alcohol for stability. |
| Flash Point | Not applicable (explosive solid) |
| Boiling Point | Not applicable (decomposes explosively) |
| Vapor Density | Not applicable (solid) |
| Water Reactivity | No significant reaction when wetted; water/alcohol wetting is required for safe handling |
Fireground Response Guidance — UN 0113
Extinguishing Media
PPE Requirements
Structural firefighters' protective clothing provides only limited protection against the blast and fragmentation hazards of UN 0113, and full evacuation of the area is the required protective action rather than attempting entry.
Isolation & Evacuation
First Actions for a UN 0113 Incident
- CALL 911. Then call emergency response telephone number on shipping paper.
- Establish large isolation zone — minimum 500 meters in all directions.
- Stage upwind, uphill; limit personnel to essential responders only.
- Request Hazmat + law enforcement + additional resources immediately.
- Do not fight fire — evacuate and isolate; let burn if no life safety risk.
- Protect exposures only if safe and directed by command.
- Consult current ERG Guide 112 and follow SOP/SOG.
📋 Copy & Share Field Card
UN 0113 — Guanylnitrosamino-guanyltetrazene, wetteUse for: Quick radio or face-to-face size-up. Short, structured, field-ready.
Use for: Incident command briefing, staging area whiteboard, or pre-entry team brief.
Use for: Quick text to command or incoming units. Fits in a single SMS.