Guidance to applicants
IMPORTANT It is your responsibility to ensure you are aware of, and comply with, the Explosives Regulations 2014.
The licensing authority has the power to prohibit storage of explosives at the site if it believes the site is no longer
suitable. It may also take enforcement action if you are not storing safely.
If you are intending to supply fireworks outside the normal permitted period’s e.g. New Year, Chinese New Year,
October 15
th
-November 10
th
and Diwali, you will also need to make a separate application to your local licensing
authority for a licence to comply with the Fireworks Regulations 2004.
General information on completing the application
1. This form should not be used for an application for a licence to store the explosives listed below:
- relevant explosives
- ammunition the acquisition of which is regulated or prohibited by virtue of the Firearms Acts 1968 to 1997
- smokeless powder or percussion caps
- explosives stored by a person who is registered as a firearms dealer under section 33 of the Firearms Act 1968
If you want to store the explosives listed above, you should use form ER2
You should only use this form if you want to store less than 2000kg of explosives. If you want to store more
than 2000kg of explosives you should apply to the Health and Safety Executive for a licence. Further information on
licensing can be found at www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/licensing/how-to-apply.htm
2. If there is insufficient room to provide the information requested, please continue on a separate sheet(s). You
should also put your name and address at the top of each sheet before attaching the sheet(s) to your application form.
3. Please contact your local licensing authority if you have any questions about completing this form or about your
application. If you live in the metropolitan counties (i.e. West Midlands, Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Tyne and
Wear, South and West Yorkshire) or in Oxfordshire, Cornwall or Norfolk, you will need to apply to the fire and rescue
service. In other areas you will normally need to contact the trading standards department of your local authority
4. Please note: Any previous convictions you may have may be subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974
and you do not have to include convictions that are ‘spent’ on this application form. Where the application relates to a
corporate body or company convictions of all directors should be listed. Where the application relates in Scotland to a
partnership, convictions of all partners should be listed. Information on how Licensing Authorities will consider the
relevance of previous convictions to an application for a licence can be found at www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/index.htm
5. Separation distances - please see Regulation 27 of the Explosives Regulation 2014. You will not normally be
required to maintain separation distances if you store no more than:
- 250kg HT4
- 25kg HT3 (or combination of HT3 and HT4)
- 0.1kg HT1
- 0.1kg HT2
on one site. If you are unsure whether your store or on places where you will be manufacturing or processing
explosives on site are subject to separation distances, contact your local licensing authority