Explosives licence - West Midlands Fire Service

What is an explosives licence?

An explosives licence is a document that allows the holder to store and/or manufacture explosives. The holder of an explosives licence is the person that makes sure its conditions are being met.

The easiest way to apply for an explosive licence is to complete online application form on the ‘how to apply’ tab. If you’re applying for the first time for your premises, part of the process includes a site inspection by one of our officers. Our guidance notes answer some of the most frequently asked questions, so please read them thoroughly before you start to apply to ensure you choose the correct licence and give us the details we need.

You should only use our application form if you want to store less than 2000kg of explosives, and it should not be used to store the explosives listed in Note 1 of the guidance notes.

Further information is available from the Health and Safety Executive website.

For queries, e-mail explosives@wmfs.net.

How to apply

You can apply for your explosives licence on our website. To do this, click the ‘Apply for an explosives licence’ button below and complete the online form.

For renewals and year-round fireworks licences, online payment with a credit or debit card is required when you complete the form. For new licences, payment is completed following receipt of your application and the relevant checks or site inspections are carried out.

All fees paid to us for licences and certificates are non-refundable, so please ensure you choose the correct licence and enter your details carefully.

For additional guidance around your application please email explosives@wmfs.net

Apply for an explosives licence

Licence Types and Guidance

There are three main license applications which can be applied for via our website. One for a NEW standard storage license within prescribed periods (periods are detailed in the guidance section), up to 2000kg.

The second is a RENEWAL standard storage license within prescribed periods, up to 2000kg (this applies if you have an existing licence which has not yet expired and your circumstances and premises have not changed).

The third is an additional application required when you wish to sell fireworks all year-round, rather then just within prescribed periods. To apply for this licence, you will require a current standard storage licence, before you apply.

For applications requiring more than 2000kg of storage, this is done through the Health and Safety Executive. More details on licence types and how to apply with them if you need to can be found on the Health and Safety Executive website.

For a new or renewal licence, in addition to completing the online application form you will also need to attach the following documents to your form, an upload area is provided within the online form to do this, so have them ready when you complete it -:

You should include a plan to a scale that suitably shows the location of your site in relation to its surroundings. If your site doesn’t have a postal address, the scale should normally be a minimum of 1:25000.
Where stores are identified as needing to maintain separation distances, you should also include an Ordnance Survey site plan (or similar.) This should include the location of the store and distances to any neighbouring buildings. The plan should show any areas where you intend to process or manufacture explosives where a licence for those activities is not required under regulation 6 of ER2014. The scale will depend on the separation distance. For a distance of up to 200 metres, a 1:1250 would normally be required while greater distance would require a 1:2500 or even a SuperPlan. Where this plan clearly identifies the location of the site in relation to its surroundings it can be substituted for the plan referred to in 6 above.
Where applicants are planning to store or display more than 12.5kg of fireworks on a shop floor, you’ll need to include a floor plan of the sales area.
If you intend to store, process or manufacture explosives within a building that is also used for other purposes you should include a floor plan showing the places within the building where you intend storing, processing or manufacturing the explosives.

You should include a plan to a scale that suitably shows the location of your site in relation to its surroundings. If your site doesn’t have a postal address, the scale should normally be a minimum of 1:25000.
Where stores are identified as needing to maintain separation distances, you should also include an Ordnance Survey site plan (or similar.) This should include the location of the store and distances to any neighbouring buildings. The plan should show any areas where you intend to process or manufacture explosives where a licence for those activities is not required under regulation 6 of ER2014. The scale will depend on the separation distance. For a distance of up to 200 metres, a 1:1250 would normally be required while greater distance would require a 1:2500 or even a SuperPlan. Where this plan clearly identifies the location of the site in relation to its surroundings it can be substituted for the plan referred to in 6 above.
Where applicants are planning to store or display more than 12.5kg of fireworks on a shop floor, you’ll need to include a floor plan of the sales area.
If you intend to store, process or manufacture explosives within a building that is also used for other purposes you should include a floor plan showing the places within the building where you intend storing, processing or manufacturing the explosives.

Apply for an explosives licence

Licence Charges

New storage and sales licences (within prescribed periods)

Under 250kg nec	1 year	£119
	2 years	£154
	3 years	£190
	4 years	£226
	5 years	£260

Above £250kg nec	1 year	£202
	2 years	£266
	3 years	£333
	4 years	£409
	5 years	£463

Renewal storage and sales licences (within prescribed periods)

Under 250kg nec	1 year	£59
	2 years	£94
	3 years	£132
	4 years	£166
	5 years	£202

Above £250kg nec	1 year	£94
	2 years	£161
	3 years	£226
	4 years	£291
	5 years	£357

Licence for all-year-round sales

Selling Licence

1 year

£500

All payments for licences are taken electronically by our website. In the case of renewal or year-round licences, these are taken at the point your application is completed online. For new licences, payment is requested from you following a review of your application and a site visit, but you will be directed to pay electronically.

Apply for an explosives licence

To apply for a licence, please complete our form. You should follow the 'Guidance for Applicants' section above to aid you in your application.

For renewals and all-year-round licences, payment will be taken on completion of your application, so please ensure you have a credit or debit card available to make your payment. For NEW licences, payment will be requested once your application has been reviewed by our team.

You can save your application progress using the 'Save your progress' button on relevant form steps, so you can go back to it later if you wish.

If you have any questions about your application or our application form, please email explosives@wmfs.net.

Explosives Licence Applications

What type of application are you making?

I, the under-mentioned, make application for a licence in respect of the under-mentioned premises, in pursuance of Regulation 9 of The Fireworks Regulations 2004 (as amended).

Please note, to apply for an all-year-round licence, you are required to have an existing full licence for the premises already.

Please enter the licence number for your current licence below.

Existing or previous licence details

Existing or previous licence number(s)	Expiry date for existing or previous licence

Nature of business

Please give details on the nature of your business

Are you applying for a licence where the storage will be subject to separation distances?

Yes

Please refer to note 5 of the applicants guidance on this page if you are unsure.

Is this application for a company or an individual?

a company

an individual

Company Name

Companies House Number (CRN) - where applicable

Company registered office addresss

Address Line 1

Address Line 2

City

County

Postal code

First Name

Last Name

National Insurance Number

Place of birth

For example, Solihull.

Your address

Address Line 1

Address Line 2

City

County

Postal code

Contact telephone number

Alternative contact number

Is the applicant the owner or manager of the premises?

Yes

Please provide the details for the owner or manager below.

First Name

Last Name

Address

Address Line 1

Address Line 2

City

County

Postal code

Owner or manager email address

Owner contact number

Can the applicant or owner contact details provided so far be used as an emergency contact?

Please provide the name and telephone number of an appropriate emergency contact.

First Name

Last Name

Phone/Mobile

Please provide the FULL address of where the explosives will be stored.

Address

Address Line 1

Address Line 2

City

County

Postal code

Do you have an explosives store at an address different to that above?

Yes

Please provide the details for the second storage location

Address

Address Line 1

Address Line 2

City

County

Postal code

Do you have a licence for this store?

Please provide the licence number

Enter the licence or 'property reference' for your licence that covers this second storage location.

Licence expiry date

Enter or select the date this licence expires

Select the hazard type or UN number

Enter the hazard type or UN number for the explosives you intend to store

Amount of HT3 / UN 0335 / 1.3G

Amount of HT4 / UN 0336 / 1.4G

Amount of HT4 / 1.4S

Please specify UN number/s of HT4 / 1.4S

UN Number

Total net mass in Kg

Are you intending to store more than 75kg (net) of ammunition or pyrotechnic articles in a building that adjoins domestic premises?

Yes

Have you had a previous licence or registration refused or revoked?

Yes

Have you been convicted of any offence under legislation on health and safety?

Yes

Have you been convicted of any offence under any other legislation including offences against the person, dishonesty offences and offences relating to the supply of controlled drugs?

Yes

As you answered 'Yes' to one of the 4 questions above (excluding the first one)., please give date(s) and details, including the licensing authority and court where convicted.

Now you can upload your supporting documents, where applicable.

We accept image files, such as jpeg or png, or document files such as pdf, doc, excel.

Zip or videos files are not accepted.

Upload your scale plan - Sufficient to show the location of the site in relation to it's surroundings

Choose File

Refer to notes 6 & 7 of the applicants guidance

Upload your floor plan (if applicable)

Choose File

If explosives are to be kept on the shop floor or in a building that is to be used for other purposes as well as the storage of explosives - See applicants guidance note 8.

Upload an Ordnance Survey Site plan (or similar) map showing the location of the store and distances to any neighbouring buildings.

Choose File

Refer to notes 6 & 7 of the applicants guidance

Supplementary information

Choose File

If you wish to submit any additional information, plans or forms to us in relation to your application, do so here - see applicants guidance note 2.

By ticking the box and entering your details below, you agree to the information provided, in relation to the explosives stored e.g. the type and quantity, being shared with the emergency services in the event of an incident.

First Name

Middle Name

Last Name

Your position

I, the applicant, or the applicant's representative, confirm all the details entered on this form are accurate and that all required information has been submitted according to the guidance notes document.

I also agree to the information provided being shared with West Midlands Fire Service in the event of an incident.

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For further information about how we use information collected and how we maintain the security of information, including your rights to access information, please see our website privacy policy, terms and conditions and organisational privacy policy.

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I consent to West Midlands Fire Service's payment provider, Stripe, holding and processing my data and payment details as required to fulfil this booking and in accordance with their privacy policy.

Please note

Once you select 'Submit your application', your payment details will be processed and you cannot go back and change or amend your submission.

Please ensure you have completed all relevant fields and, if payment is required, you have the means to process your payment using a debit or credit card before submitting your application.

If you have any queries, please email explosives@wmfs.net.

Please note

Once you select 'Submit your application' you cannot go back and change or amend your submission.

Please ensure you have completed all relevant fields to the best of your knowledge before submitting.

If you have any queries, please email explosives@wmfs.net.