Explosives are dealt with in the Firearms Licensing Bureau by a designated Explosives Liaison Officer who has the powers of an Inspector appointed under the Health and Safety Executive.

Useful information can also be found on the Health and Safety web site

The licensing and certification of explosives is dealt with by the Control of Explosives Regulations 1991 (COER) and the Manufacture and Storage of Explosives Regulations (MSER) 2005.

Control of Explosives Regulations 1991

These regulations relate to the person(s) acquiring or keeping explosives

THEY:-

1. Require any person or company who acquires or keeps explosives other than those listed in Schedule 1 COER (as amended), to hold an explosives certificate issued by the Chief Officer of Police. (Schedule 1 can be found on the HSE web site)
2. Impose restrictions on persons involved in the transfer of explosives.
3. Prohibit a person who has committed certain offences or who has been sentenced to specific terms of imprisonment, custody or detention, from acquiring, keeping, handling or controlling explosives or any restricted substance.
4. Forbid an employer from knowingly employing a prohibited person in a position where he/she handles or has control of explosives or any restricted substance.
5. Restricts the types and quantities of explosives which may be kept without the need for a Licence under the MSER
6. Require occupiers of licensed explosive factories and magazines to appoint one person responsible for security of explosives.
7. Require a person who acquires possession of, or keeps explosives, to make and maintain an up-to-date record containing specific information. This does not apply to “unlicensed use”. For further information on this requirement, please contact our Explosives Liaison Officer.
8. Impose requirements for reporting the loss of explosives, including theft, to the police.

There are two types of certificates issued under COER

• Acquire only - This is issued to permit a person or company, to obtain explosives which are to be used straight away, and not kept overnight.
• Acquire and Keep - This is issued to allow a person or company to obtain explosives and keep them in an approved storage place. Approved under Manufacture and Storage of Explosives regulations 2005.

The main users of explosives, and therefore those who require the issue of a certificate are:

• Sporting/social use - This may seem an unusual term to use, but it does suitably describe persons using gunpowder for shooting purposes, such as muzzle-loading handguns and rifles, or events where re-enactments of historical battles involve the use of muzzle-loading muskets and cannon.
• Special effects companies.
• Mines and quarries - These locations often use explosives to break up rock and displace large quantities of earth.
• Demolition - The quantities of explosive used on this type of operation vary, depending on the size, construction and location, of the building to be demolished.

Applying for an explosives certificate

All applications must be submitted to the police using forms:

• COER1 - for all types of explosives other than black powder or
• COER1A - for black powder only

These may be obtained by contacting the Firearms & Explosives Licensing Branch either by phone or email using contact details on this website.

Those who apply for the grant of an explosives certificate to Acquire and Keep will be visited by an Explosives Liaison Officer in order to assess the application and give advice with regard to the secure storage of the explosives.

In the main, most applications will relate to the “unlicensed” social use provision.

Please note that an Acquire Only certificate is issued for a maximum period of 12 months and an Acquire and Keep certificate can be issued for a period up to three years.

There is no charge for this service (provided it is for “unlicensed use”) but we would ask that all renewal applications are submitted up to 30 days before the existing certificate expires.

Manufacture and storage of Explosives Regulations 2005

These regulations relate to the place of manufacture and/or storage of explosives

Applying for an Explosives Licence or Registration of Premises:

The Health and Safety Executive deal with all applications for Manufacturing plants, factories and stores holding more than two tonnes/2,000 kilos or in smaller cases where an exemption is required.

The Local Authority deal with all applications for explosives storage for explosives listed in Schedule 1 of Control of Explosives Regulations 1991 (as amended) (for example fireworks) up to two tonnes.

The police are the Licensing Authority for all other explosives not mentioned in Schedule 1 COER up to two tonnes.

Fees for COER and MSER can be obtained from the HSE web site

Applying for a licence/registration

All applications must be submitted to the police using the correct application form.

These may be obtained from the Firearms Licensing Bureau (or downloaded from this site if available). There are fees for licences issued under MSER, which can be found on the HSE web site as above. There are also fees for the required checks, so before submitting an application, please ensure that you have completed the correct form and that you have included the correct fee.

Alternatively, please contact your Explosives Liaison Officer for advice on telephone number 0845 4567000.

Appropriate Safety Measures (MSER 2005 REG 4) extract

Any person who manufactures or stores explosives shall take appropriate measures to prevent fire or explosion, to limit the extent of fire or explosion including measures to prevent the spreading of fires and the communication of explosions from one location to another and to protect person(s) from the effects of fire or explosions.

These pages are a very small, brief part of the regulations covering explosives, which are numerous and complex.

For further information and advice please contact your local Explosives Liaison Officer or visit the HSE web site as above.