Licence - explosives
Premises storing explosives (for example, fireworks and flares, air bag inflators) are required to either be registered or hold a storage licence.
This allows fireworks to be sold during the four seasonal occasions:
- 15th October to 10th November inclusive
- 26th December to 31st December inclusive
- on the 1st day of the Chinese New Year and the 3 days immediately preceding it
- on the day of Diwali and the 3 days immediately preceding it
To sell fireworks all year round a further £500 fireworks suppliers licence is required.
How to apply for a registration, a storage licence or firework suppliers licence
Download, complete and return the relevant application forms together with the fees. Click on the see also link for a list of current fees.
If you store less than 5kg Net Explosive Quantity (NEQ) of explosives, then there is no need to register or be licensed. The NEQ is either 25% of the gross weight of the explosives or exact figure stated by the manufacturer or supplier. However, you may still need to hold a firework suppliers licence if you intend to sell fireworks all year round.
Only persons with "fixed" premises can be registered or licensed, so fireworks cannot be sold at market stalls, car boot sales or other temporary sales points.
Registration
Fireworks sold by retailers are generally the types of less powerful fireworks known as hazard type 4 (Hazprod code 1.4G). Registration allows for storage of up to 250Kg (NEQ) of type 4.
More powerful fireworks used by professional display organisers are known as hazard type 3 (Hazprod code 1.3G). If any of these are stored together with the less powerful type 4 then the maximum quantity of both type of explosives that can be stored is reduced to 100Kg (NEQ).
Storage licence
This is required to store more than 250Kg (NEQ) of type 4 or more than 100Kg (NEQ) of type 3 explosives. For quantities, greater than 2000Kg (NEQ) an application must be made to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). See the associated links for an HSE application form.
Table showing type of application to make:
| Quantity of explosives to be stored NEQ | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Explosive hazard type | Up to 100kg | Up to 250kg | Over 250kg | Over 2000kg |
Contact Details
- Contact name
- Trading Standards
- Telephone
- 020 8407 1311
- Fax
- 020 8760 5786
- Minicom
- 020 8760 5797
- trading.standards@croydon.gov.uk
- Address
- Access Croydon
Taberner House
Park Lane
Croydon CR9 3BT
