Applications for licences for smaller stores, those keeping more 50 kg but less than 2000 kg of explosives should be submitted to the relevant local authority. Applications for stores keeping more than 2000 kg of explosives should apply to the HSE.
Fireworks may be supplied for sale during the following periods only:
- On the first day of 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 15th October and ending on the 10th November
- During the period beginning on 26th December and ending on the 31st December.
- A poster, relating to the illegality of under 18’s possessing fireworks, must be displayed in full view of the buying public.
SELLING AND STORING FIREWORKS AT RETAIL PREMISES
(What a retailer needs to know)
The storage of fireworks for retail sale is subject to a number of legal requirements, in particular:
- You must licence your premises, with your Local Authority, in most areas this will be the Trading Standards department, but in Metropolitan Boroughs it will be the Fire and Rescue Service.
- The maximum quantity of any hazard type of fireworks allowed in Local Authority licensed premises is 2000kg.
- Where fireworks are kept in their original packaged state, it is possible to equate hazard type with the figures on the orange diamond label present on the outer carton as follows: “1.4G” equals HT4 “1.3G” equals HT3.
- A safety distance from any public or occupied building, or road and other works will be required where more than 250kg of HT4 or more than 25 kg HT3 (or more than 25kg of a mixture of HT3 and HT4) is stored. Tables 1 and 2 below give the full quantity distance relationships for HT4 and HT3.
- Where a mixture of HT3 and HT4 fireworks are stored, the total explosive mass must be regarded as HT3.
- Carry out a risk assessment covering all aspects of the sales and storage process.
- Public access to fireworks on display must be prevented (for example by use of display cabinets) until the fireworks are sold
- The quantity of fireworks allowed in the sales area is restricted, to a maximum of 12.5kg net mass of explosives per display cabinet, The number of cabinets permitted depends on the floor area Table 3 below give details.
- A statutory notice relating to the age of sale and possession of fireworks must be displayed
- You can only sell fireworks of Category 1 to members of the general public over 16 years of age or Category 2 & 3 to members of the general public over 18 years of age The above relate to firework storage at retail premises, there are different rules for storage for private use.
Quantity Distance Tables
Hazard Type 4 | |
---|---|
Net Mass (kg) | Distance (m) |
<250 | 0 |
250 – 300 | 1 |
300 – 340 | 2 |
340 – 370 | 3 |
370 – 400 | 4 |
400 – 450 | 5 |
450 – 500 | 6 |
500 – 550 | 7 |
550 – 600 | 8 |
600 – 650 | 9 |
650 – 700 | 10 |
700 – 750 | 11 |
750 – 800 | 12 |
800 – 900 | 13 |
900 – 950 | 14 |
950 – 1000 | 15 |
1000 – 1100 | 16 |
1100 – 1150 | 17 |
1150 – 1200 | 18 |
1200 – 1300 | 19 |
1300 – 1350 | 20 |
1350 – 1400 | 21 |
1400 – 1450 | 22 |
1450 – 1550 | 23 |
1550 – 1600 | 24 |
1600 – 1650 | 25 |
1650 – 1700 | 26 |
1700 – 1800 | 27 |
1800 – 1850 | 28 |
1850 – 1900 | 29 |
1900 – 2000 | 30 |
Hazard Type 3 | |
---|---|
Net Mass (kg) | Distance (m) |
<25 | 0 |
25 – 50 | 23 |
50 – 75 | 25 |
75 – 100 | 29 |
100 – 150 | 33 |
150 – 200 | 37 |
200 – 300 | 42 |
300 – 400 | 47 |
400 – 450 | 47 |
450 – 500 | 50 |
500 – 600 | 51 |
600 – 700 | 53 |
700 – 800 | 54 |
800 – 900 | 55 |
900 – 1000 | 63 |
1000 – 1100 | 70 |
1100 – 1200 | 71 |
1200 – 1300 | 72 |
1300 – 1400 | 73 |
1400 – 1500 | 74 |
1500 – 1600 | 75 |
1600 – 1700 | 76 |
1700 – 1800 | 78 |
1800 – 1900 | 79 |
1900 – 2000 | 80 |
Total floor area of the sales area (square metres) |
Maximum quantity of fireworks that may be kept under a licence requiring a separation distance of 0m (kg – net mass of explosive) (Note a maximum of 12.5kg net mass of |
---|---|
up to 20 | 12.5 |
up to 40 | 15 |
up to 60 | 20 |
up to 80 | 25 |
up to 100 | 30 |
up to 150 | 35 |
up to 200 | 40 |
up to 250 | 45 |
up to 300 | 50 |
up to 350 | 55 |
up to 400 | 60 |
up to 450 | 65 |
up to 500 | 70 |
500 and over | 75 |
Anyone wishing to supply fireworks outside of these periods should apply to their local licensing authority for an annual licence. Should you need any information regarding this contact your supplier or any member of the BFA.
Click here to download a PDF version of the BFA Firework Code.
Click here to download a PDF version of a Plan A3 Under Age Notice.
HSE Advice
More information about the retail storage and sale of fireworks can be found on the HSE website.
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Storing Explosives
The HSE offer more advice about licensing required for the storage of fireworks on their website.
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Licensing
Go to the HSE Website for the latest Storage Licence under the Explosives Regulations 2014.
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