The mechanism of initiation is essential to enumerate the sensitivity and evaluate the risks associated with energetic mixtures. To understand the mechanism of initiation under frictional loading, the initiation events such as initiating time and critical load have to be evaluated. This study aims to assess experimentally the initiation mechanism under frictional load by measuring the event of initiation and the critical load using a modified version of the BAM friction tester augmented with a press force sensor, an accelerometer and a photodiode arrangement. Differences in the range of diagnostics were identified for various material interactions. The data generated have the implications for assessing the safety of energetic mixtures.