With a licence, the above legislation permits you to store up to 2000kg (with strict conditions and separation distances) net mass of Hazard Type 4 fireworks.
Retailers will require a licence to store up to 250kg (no separation distances are required for this quantity).
Most fireworks sold in retail premises are labelled 1.4G on their transit boxes and are classified as Hazard Type 4. You are reminded that this is the maximum quantity that you may store and includes both the amount held on a shop floor sales area as well as in stock rooms or other storage areas. In some circumstances, you will not be able to keep this amount for safety reasons and a reduced amount must then be kept.
If you store larger fireworks that are labelled on their transit boxes as 1.3G, these are classified as Hazard Type 3. If you store any Hazard Type 3 fireworks, the quantity that may be stored is reduced and rules for storage are different to those detailed in this guidance. You will need to contact us for further advice.
If you store between 250kg and 2000kg net mass of Hazard Type 4 fireworks, then you will need to apply to Trading Standards for a larger storage licence. Again, the quantity that may be stored and rules for storage are different to those detailed here, so you will need to contact us for further advice.
The quantities are often marked on the outer packaging but if you are in any doubt as to the Hazard Type you should seek advice from your supplier, as responsibility to store in a safe manner and within permitted quantities rests with the licence holder.
If you store less than 5kg of explosives, then there is no need to register or be licensed.
You will need to apply for a separate (additional) all year fireworks licence if you intend to supply or expose for supply fireworks other than during the following periods:
- On the first day of the Chinese New Year and the three days immediately preceding it
- On the day of Diwali and the three days immediately preceding it
- During the period beginning on 15 October and ending on 10 November; or
- During the period beginning on 26 December and ending on 31 December
Please note that in addition to an explosives storage licence any person intending to supply fireworks or expose for supply fireworks all year round also requires an Application for Annual Supply Licence for Fireworks.
The full guidance applies to all sectors of the explosives industry and may be downloaded free of charge from the HSE website.
The licence is granted to a person (or company) and not to the site.
