Building Code Glossary
Small Arms Primers: Building Code Definition
How the IFC 2009 define small arms primers, where the wording differs, and which chapters depend on the term.
On this page
Last updated September 7, 2026 · Definitions quoted from the 2009 International Codes as transcribed in this site's building-codes collection, with the source chapter linked for each quotation. Usage counts are computed over the chapters hosted here, one copy per code. The [ICC code library](https://codes.iccsafe.org/codes) publishes the current model text and the [ICC adoption maps](https://www.iccsafe.org/advocacy/code-adoption-maps/) show which edition a jurisdiction has adopted; those sources control.
Direct answer
Small arms primers is a defined term in the International Fire Code (IFC) 2009, in Explosives and Fireworks. The code's own words are: “Small percussion-sensitive explosive charges, encased in a cap, used to ignite propellant powder.” No other I-Code in this corpus defines it, so the IFC 2009 definition is the one to work from. The term is used in 4 chapters of this corpus, most often in Explosives and Fireworks (IFC 2009), Definitions (IFC 2009), Scope and Administration (IFC 2009). These pages transcribe the 2009 model text; verify the definition against the edition and amendments your authority having jurisdiction has adopted. Record the jurisdiction, the adopted edition, the application date and any local amendment that rewrites the definition before you use it on a live project, because a term redefined by amendment changes every requirement that depends on it.
Content and cited inputs reviewed by Scott Barrington, Harth founder and architectural technology specialist · Published 2026-09-07 · Updated 2026-09-07.
What does this term mean?
Small Arms Primers — IFC 2009, Explosives and Fireworks:
Small percussion-sensitive explosive charges, encased in a cap, used to ignite propellant powder.
What must be verified before using this guidance?
Small Arms Primers is defined once in this corpus, in the Explosives and Fireworks chapter of the International Fire Code (IFC) 2009:
Small percussion-sensitive explosive charges, encased in a cap, used to ignite propellant powder.
Where small arms primers is used in the code
The term appears in 4 chapters of the 2009 I-Codes hosted here. The chapters that lean on it hardest are the ones to read next.
| Chapter | Code | Mentions |
|---|---|---|
| Explosives and Fireworks | IFC 2009 | 52 |
| Definitions | IFC 2009 | 3 |
| Scope and Administration | IFC 2009 | 3 |
| Use and Occupancy Classification | IBC 2009 | 2 |
The term in use
How the code actually writes about small arms primers, quoted from the 2009 text hosted here:
Storage of explosives and explosive materials, small arms ammunition, small arms primers, propellant-actuated cartridges and smokeless propellants in magazines shall comply with the provisions of this section.
The terms small arms primers is built out of
The definition above leans on 2 other defined terms. Each carries its own code definition, and a local amendment to any of them changes what small arms primers covers:
- Propellant — IFC 2009: The liquefied or compressedgas in an aerosol container that expels the contents from an aerosol container when the valve is actuated.
- Explosive — IBC 2009: A chemical compound, mixture or device, the primary or common purpose of which is to function by explosion.
Small Arms Primers: what to open, and in what order
Every row is a document this term depends on. The ICC code library and the ICC adoption maps cover the middle rows.
| Check | Where | Confirmed |
|---|---|---|
| Read the definition in the adopted IFC | Explosives and Fireworks | |
| Re-check the requirement that uses it | Explosives and Fireworks (IFC 2009) | |
| Re-check the requirement that uses it | Definitions (IFC 2009) | |
| Re-check the requirement that uses it | Scope and Administration (IFC 2009) | |
| Re-check the requirement that uses it | Use and Occupancy Classification (IBC 2009) | |
| Confirm the dependent definition | Propellant | |
| Confirm the dependent definition | Explosive | |
| Local amendment to any of the above | Jurisdiction's amendment list |
A research aid, not a code determination. The authority having jurisdiction decides which edition and which amendments apply.
Where can you explore related guidance?
- Explore all glossary guidance
- Propellant: Building Code Definition
- Explosive: Building Code Definition
Sources and method
Definitions quoted from the 2009 International Codes as transcribed in this site's building-codes collection, with the source chapter linked for each quotation. Usage counts are computed over the chapters hosted here, one copy per code. The ICC code library publishes the current model text and the ICC adoption maps show which edition a jurisdiction has adopted; those sources control.
Source links
Frequently asked questions
What is the code definition of small arms primers?
The International Fire Code (IFC) 2009 defines it in Explosives and Fireworks as: “Small percussion-sensitive explosive charges, encased in a cap, used to ignite propellant powder.” The 2009 model text is reproduced here; the definition that binds your project is the one in the edition your jurisdiction has adopted, as amended locally.
Which parts of the code depend on small arms primers?
In this corpus the term is used across 4 chapters, led by Explosives and Fireworks in the IFC 2009. Those are the sections whose scope moves if the definition is amended locally, so read them together with Chapter 2 rather than on their own.
Related pages
- Sleeping Unit: Building Code Definition
Sleeping Unit — IBC 2009 definition: A room or space in which people sleep, which can also include permanent provisions for living …
- Slip Joint: Building Code Definition
Slip Joint — IRC 2009 definition: A mechanical-type joint used primarily on fixture traps.
- Slope: Building Code Definition
Slope — IRC 2009 definition: The fall (pitch) of a line of pipe in reference to a horizontal plane.
- Smoke Alarm: Building Code Definition
Smoke Alarm — IBC 2009 definition: A single- or multiple-station alarm responsive to smoke.
- Smoke Barrier: Building Code Definition
Smoke Barrier — IBC 2009 definition: A continuous membrane, either vertical or horizontal, such as a wall, floor or ceiling assembly, that …
- Smoke Compartment: Building Code Definition
Smoke Compartment — IBC 2009 definition: A space within a building enclosed by smoke barriers on all sides, including the top and …