Relative effectiveness factor

The Relative effectiveness factor, or R.E. factor, relates an explosive's demolition power to that of TNT, in units of the TNT equivalent/kg (TNTe/kg). The R.E. factor is the amount of TNT to which 1 kg of an explosive is equivalent; the higher the R.E., the more powerful the explosive.

This enables engineers to use different explosives when calculating blasting equations designed specifically for TNT. For example, if a timber cutting charge calls for 1 kg of TNT, it would take 1.0/2.38 (or 0.42) kg of ONC to create the same charge. Using PETN, engineers would need 1.0/1.66 (or 0.60) kg to replicate the effects of 1 kg of TNT. With ANFO or AN they would require 1.0/0.74 (or 1.35) kg or 1.0/0.42 (or 2.38) kg, respectively.

R.E. factor examples
The bigger the R.E. number, the more powerful the explosive.

'*' - TBX (Thermobaric Explosives) or EBX (Enhanced Blast Explosives), in small, closed area it may have over double the power of destruction.