Explosive users should take steps to minimize vibration and noise from blasting and protect themselves against damage claims.

Vibrations caused by blasting are propagated with a velocity V, ft/s (m /s), frequency f, Hz, and wavelength L, ft (m), related by

L = V / f

Velocity v, in/s (mm/s), of the particles disturbed by the vibrations depends on the amplitude of the vibrations A, in (mm):

v = 2 p f A

If the velocity v₁ at a distance D₁ from the explosion is known, the velocity v₂ at a distance D₂ from the explosion may be estimated from

v₂ ? v₁ ( D₁ / D₂ ) ^1.5

The acceleration a, in/s² (mm/s²), of the particles is given by

a = 4 p² f² A

For a charge exploded on the ground surface, the overpressure P, lb/in² (kPa), may be computed from

P = 226.62 (W^1/3 / D ) ^1.407

Where
W = maximum weight of explosives, lb (kg) per delay

D = distance, ft (m), from explosion to exposure.

The sound pressure level, decibels, may be computed from

dB = ( P / ( 6.95 X 10^-28) )^0.084

For vibration control, blasting should be controlled with the scaled-distance formula:

V = H ( D / Ö W )^-b

Where
b = constant (varies for each site)

H = constant (varies for each site).

Distance to exposure, ft (m), divided by the square root of maximum pounds (kg) per delay is known as scaled distance.

Most courts have accepted the fact that a particle velocity not exceeding 2 in/s (50.8 mm/s) does not damage any part of any structure. This implies that, for this velocity, vibration damage is unlikely at scaled distances larger than 8