Retail Storage & Sale of Fireworks

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
Table 1
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
Table 2
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
Table 3

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. Go To Website »

Storing Explosives

The HSE offer more advice about licensing required for the storage of fireworks on their website. Go To Website »

Licensing

Go to the HSE Website for the latest Storage Licence under the Explosives Regulations 2014.   Go To Website »