Storage Suitability Criteria
If you have an external International Standards Organisation container for firework storage and it is positioned facing away from the building, then depending on the distance from the building and other vulnerable places (major roads, buildings, railway lines, places of public resort and footpaths) you should be able to obtain a licence for the site and store potentially up to 2000 kg net explosive content Hazard Type 4/Hazard Type 3 fireworks. You should keep the product in their closed United Nations number cartons.
If you have an external International Standards Organisation container for firework storage but it is not positioned away from the building then the maximum net explosive content to be stored will be 250kg Hazard Type 4 or 25kg Hazard Type 3. You should keep the product in their closed United Nations number cartons.
If you do not have an external International Standards Organisation container for firework storage but have an internal store room solely for firework storage, then the maximum net explosive content to be stored will be 250kg Hazard Type 4 or 25kg Hazard Type 3. You should keep the product in their closed United Nations number cartons.
If you have neither an external or internal store room solely for firework storage, but have an internal store room used for other non flammable materials, then the maximum net explosive content to be stored will be 250kg Hazard Type 4 or 25kg Hazard Type 3. You should keep the product in their closed United Nations number cartons.
If instead of these storage facilities, you have the ability to segregate flammable and non-flammable Items, then you may, subject to certain criteria, be able to store a maximum net explosive content of 250kg Hazard Type 4 or 25kg Hazard Type 3. Segregation may be a distance or by physical means. Products may need to be kept in metal or wooden cabinets or in wire mesh cages. Cages must have four sides and a top, secured with metal fastenings and hinges and locked. You should keep the product in their closed United Nations number cartons.
If you do not have the ability to segregate flammable and non-flammable Items, but have, or will have, dedicated display cabinets then, although you may not be able to safety store fireworks, you may be able to effectively trade, dependent upon the floor area of your store and the number of display cabinets you have. You can potentially hold up to 75kg net explosive content out on the sales floor. You must not hold more than 12.5kg in any single cabinet.
If you do not have the ability to segregate flammable and non-flammable Items and do not have or will have, dedicated display cabinets, then your location is unsuitable for storage at this stage. You should review your storage facilities and reassess.
It is worth noting that, regardless of the option for storage, all licenced sites have the added choice of selling fireworks all year round. This is subject to an additional annual licence for sale, the cost of the all year licence is set at a fee of £500 on top of the storage licence fee.
Guiding Principles
The guiding principles for the safe storage of fireworks are:
- keeping fireworks in their closed United Nations number cartons
- having appropriate safe approved storage for the fireworks
- segregating fireworks from other storage
Segregating fireworks from other storage, especially highly flammable liquids and oxidising agents
In deciding on the degree of segregation necessary, the quantity and hazard type of the fireworks involved and the nature quantity and hazard of other goods must be assessed.
Segregation can be achieved by distance/spacing, wire mesh cages cupboards and cabinets.
Enclosing the fireworks in a fire-resisting structure is always advisable where possible, ideally on the ground floor never in a basement or cellar as this poses a risk to firefighters.
Providing lightning protection for permanent International Standards Organisation storage
Seasonal storage Hazard Type 4 or where less than 75kg net explosive content do not require lightning protection.
Prohibiting smoking and other precautions
Prohibiting smoking and taking all other general fire precautions in and around the firework store is necessary as well as having a suitable and sufficient Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations risk assessment in place.
Explosives Regulations 2014
You should always refer to the Explosive Regulations 2014 on the Government website in assessing your storage suitability.