What is the burn rate of detonating cord?

• A. 15,000 feet per second
• B. 23,000 feet per second
• C. 30,000 feet per second
• D. 5,000 feet per second

Answer: (B)

Detonation velocity, the speed at which the detonation front travels along detonating cord, is the key idea. For standard detonating cord used in blasting, that velocity is about 7,000 meters per second, which translates to roughly 23,000 feet per second. This rapid, uniform transmission is what makes the cord effective for synchronized initiation across multiple charges. The other values fall outside the typical range for Primacord, with 5,000 ft/s being too slow, 15,000 ft/s below the common range, and 30,000 ft/s faster than standard cords usually achieve. So, around 23,000 feet per second best describes the cord’s burn/detonation rate.