If you intend to sell fireworks you will need a licence or registration.

• You must register with the Fire Authority.

• Always store fireworks safely.

• Never sell to persons under the age of 18.

Ensure the safety of yourself and others by following this safety advice:

• Carry out a risk assessment looking specifically at the arrangements for the storage of fireworks.
• Don't store fireworks in passageways, corridors, adjacent to exits or under the stairs. Keep these areas clear and unobstructed at all times.
• Storage/displays of fireworks should be kept away from ignition sources.
• Provide sufficient water extinguishers, buckets of water or sand and site them appropriately.
• Label storage containers 'Fireworks - Highly Flammable' and display 'No Smoking' notices in retail areas.
• Make sure your staff are aware of what to do in case of fire, e.g. how to call the Fire and Rescue Service, evacuate people immediately, etc.
• Keep a wet cloth handy to mop up any spillage from fireworks whilst they are being handled.
• Only use dummy boxes in window displays.
• The maximum quantity on the counter top during a sale should be limited.

Remember - it is an offence to:

• Keep fireworks (except for private use) on premises which have not been licensed or registered.
• Sell fireworks to persons apparently under the age of 18.
• Supply category 4 (large display) fireworks to inexperienced or untrained members of the public.

The general public should only be offered fireworks that comply with British Standard BS 7114: part 2 1988.

For more advice on the sale and storage of fireworks from the Health and Safety Executive click here

You may also find the following links useful: 

Retailers' Risk Assessment Checklist

Application for a Licence to Supply Adult Fireworks
Application for a Registration/Storage Licence
 

Explosives

Manufacture and Storage of Explosives Regulations 2005

In April 2005 new regulations relating to the storage of explosives were introduced. The new regulations refer to the net explosive quantity (NEQ) or net explosive content (NEC) rather than gross weight. That is, the actual weight of the explosives without the weight of packaging.  If you need to renew a licence or registration, or if you are applying to store explosives for the first time, the following details apply:

Storing more than 2,000kg NEC of explosives, or in mines.

You must apply for a licence from the Health and Safety Executive if you:

• store more than 2,000kg of explosives, or
• store explosives at mines

Visit the Health and Safety Executive website for more details.

Explosives requiring a licence from the police

You must apply for a licence from the police if you store:

• smokeless powder
• blasting explosives
• black powder
• anything else requiring an explosives certificate.

If you are storing explosives in South Yorkshire you should contact South Yorkshire Police, explosives section on 0114 252 3372

Storing between 5kg and 2,000kg of other explosives

Apply to South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue for a licence or registration if you store between 5kg and 2,000kg NEC of explosives including fireworks, small arms ammunition and air bag inflators.

Whether you apply for a licence or a registration depends on the amount of explosives that you store. If you store less than 5kg of explosives or less than 20kg of small arms ammunition, then you don’t need to be registered or licensed as there is an exemption for smaller amounts.

There are four hazard types of explosives – 1 is the most hazardous and 4 is the least hazardous. The majority of retail fireworks are classed as hazard type 4. The hazard type of an explosive will be listed on manufacturer's or supplier's information.

Applying for a licence to sell fireworks at any time

You can only sell fireworks at certain limited times of the year. If you wish to sell fireworks outside these times you must apply for a ‘licence to supply/expose for supply adult fireworks’ from South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue.

The annual fee is £500 and the licence must be renewed annually.  In addition to the Licence to Supply,  applicants also need to be registered or licensed with the Fire Authority to store fireworks (application form above).