Rocketry Planet

WORLD WIDE WEB — Burl Finkelstein has been a friend of rocketry for some time, quietly working in the trenches to ease the regulatory issues that face hobby rocketry enthusiasts nationwide. One of his successes has been in getting uniform regulatory oversight with regard to the storage of items that are traditionally considered explosive devices.

Finkelstein has been working with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for some time and has enjoyed success with representatives from the agency in the District of Columbia's offices in regard to igniter storage.

"After I became aware that permit holders in different parts of the country were being directed to store igniters differently [and that it] was causing problems for high power rocket fliers, I stepped forward to work with ATF and resolve the reason for inconsistencies," Finkelstein said in a correspondence on the igniter issue. "I apologize for the time it took to complete the process."

The results?  "In summary: igniters should be stored in your magazine with your rocket motors.  You do not need a separate magazine for igniters and you should not store igniters in other receptacles if you have a magazine," Finkelstein said in his correspondence.

According to Burl, the following article will appear in the next edition of ATF Industry News. It has presently been circulated to all regional offices of ATF: 

Rocket Motor and Igniter Storage
Article for Newsletter

For several years, ATF has issued storage variances to rocketry enthusiasts.  A typical variance allows for storage of rocket motors in a qualified magazine kept in a garage attached to a residence, provided that the storage meets certain conditions.

Many of the variances issued contained a requirement that rocket motors be stored separately from igniters.  This provision was based upon a belief that safety would be enhanced by separation of these materials.  Further research and discussion of this issue has led us to the conclusion that storage of igniters with rocket motors does not significantly increase the risk of the ignition of the rocket motors.  Therefore, variances now being issued for rocket motor storage in an attached garage do not contain this separation requirement.

Any licensee or permittee holding such a variance that includes the requirement that igniters be separated from stored propellant, should contact ATF to request an amended variance containing provisions consistent with those currently being issued to industry members.  To request an amended variance, write to the Explosives Industry Programs Branch (EIPB) via email at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it , or by letter addressed to:

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
Chief, Explosives Industry Programs Branch
99 New York Avenue NE
Mail Stop 6E-403
Washington, DC  20226

In your letter, you should list your ATF license or permit number, and include a current mailing address.  Please include the date of your original approval letter, if available, and note that you are requesting an updated variance approval for storing your rocket motors in your attached garage.  Please direct any questions on this process to EIPB at 202-648-7120 or via email at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it .

Document: January policy document on igniter storage (11KB Adobe PDF)