Before applying for a Licence to store fireworks or other pyrotechnic articles please study the relevant Health & Safety Executive (HSE) guidance documents.
The HSE have produced three levels of advice for those storing and selling explosives: HSE sub-sector guidance.
Level 1
These leaflets, aimed at retailers contain basic information intended as a starting point, and are accompanied by a checklist to help you carry out your risk assessment.
- INDG407: Storing and selling fireworks safely and INDG407 checklist (PDF, 195KB)
- INDG476: Storing and selling pyrotechnics safely and INDG476 checklist (PDF, 200KB)
- INDG477: Storing and selling shooting supplies safely and INDG477 checklist (PDF, 201KB)
Level 2
This guidance provides detailed information that has been tailored to that subsector rather than being generally applicable across the whole explosives sector.
- Fireworks in retail premises (PDF, 737KB)
- Wholesale storage of fireworks (PDF, 284KB)
- Pyrotechnic articles in retail and commercial premises (PDF, 373KB)
- Professional firework display operator (PDF, 307KB)
- Commercial manufacture and storage of explosive articles and substances (PDF, 272KB)
- Manufacture and storage of ANBI (PDF, 278KB)
Level 3: Overarching guidance
This guidance provides the fundamental objectives for explosives operations that everyone should achieve and guidance on how to achieve them:
- Explosives Regulations 2014 - Safety provisions: Guidance on Regulations - L150
- Explosives Regulations 2014 - Security provisions: Guidance on Regulations - L151
Trading Standards and Fire Services have guidance on the safe disposal of damaged fireworks (PDF, 381KB) to help businesses in comply with legislation.
Further reading
HSE have information on guidance for storing and selling fireworks and answers to frequently asked questions about the Guidance supporting the Explosives Regulations 2014.