Ammonium nitrate and COMAH

Explosives: update

The UK has left the EU, and some rules and procedures have changed from 1 January 2021[55].

For more information about the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 2015 (COMAH), see HSE's dedicated COMAH[56] web pages.

Ammonium nitrate is a named dangerous substance in COMAH and has set qualifying quantities for different types (fertiliser, technical, off spec), which govern whether a site is classed as sub-COMAH, lower-tier or top-tier COMAH.

Extracts from COMAH Schedule 1, Part 1 for ease of reference. 

Extract Lower tier (tonnes) Top tier (tonnes)
Ammonium nitrate, fertilisers capable of self-sustaining decomposition
Ammonium nitrate-based compound/composite fertilisers (compound or composite fertilises containing ammonium nitrate with phosphate and/or potash) in which the nitrogen content as a result of the ammonium nitrate is: between 15.75% and 24.5% by weight and either with not more than 0.4% total combustible or organic materials or which satisfy the detonation resistance test described in Schedule 2 to the Ammonium Nitrate Materials (High Nitrogen Content) Safety Regulations 2003 'the detonation resistance test' or 15.75% or less by weight and unrestricted combustible materials		 5 000 10 000
Ammonium nitrate, fertiliser grade
Straight ammonium nitrate-based fertiliser and ammonium nitrate-based compounds/composite fertilisers in which the nitrogen content as a result of ammonium nitrate is: more then 24.5% by weight, except for mixtures of ammonium nitrate with dolomite, limestone and/or calcium carbonate with a purity of at least 90% more than 15.75% by weight for mixtures of ammonium nitrate and ammonium sulphate or more than 28% by weight for mixtures of ammonium nitrate with dolomite, limestone and/or calcium carbonate with a purity of at least 90% and which satisfy the detonation resistance test. 		1 250 5 000
Ammonium nitrate, technical grade
Ammonium nitrate and preparations of ammonium nitrate in which the nitrogen content as a result of the ammonium nitrate is: between 24.5% and 28% by weight, and which contain not more than 0.4% combustible substances or more than 28% by weight, and which contain not more than 0.2% combustible substances Aqueous ammonium nitrate solutions in which the concentration of ammonium nitrate is more than 80% by weight.		 350 2 500
Ammonium nitrate, 'off spec' materials and fertilisers not satisfying the detonation resistance test
Material rejected during the manufacturing process and ammonium nitrate and preparations of ammonium nitrate, straight ammonium nitrate-based fertilisers and ammonium nitrate-based compound/composite fertilisers that are being or have been returned from the final user to a manufacture, temporary storage or reprocessing plant for reworking, recycling or treatment for safe use. Fertilisers which do not satisfy the detonation resistance test, other than fertilisers which: at the time of delivery to a final user satisfied the detonation resistance test but later become degraded or contaminated and are temporarily present at the establishment of the final user prior to their return for reworking, recycling or treatment for safe use or to their being applied as a fertiliser. 		10 50

Link URLs in this page

  1. Explosiveshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/index.htm
  2. Explosives Regulations 2014 (Amendment) Regulations 2016https://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/regulations2016.htm
  3. Overview - The Explosives Regulations 2014https://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/new-regulations.htm
  4. Guidance structurehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/guidance-structure.htm
  5. Subsector guidancehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/new-regs-subsector.htm
  6. Explosives Legislative Reviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/explosives-legislative-review.htm
  7. Getting startedhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/getting-started.htm
  8. Overview - Authorisations/licensinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/licensing/index.htm
  9. Hazard type https://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/licensing/hazard-classification.htm
  10. Safety requirementshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/licensing/safety-requirements.htm
  11. Separation distanceshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/licensing/separation/index.htm
  12. Building and construction typehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/licensing/separation/separation-distance-tables.htm
  13. Applying for a licencehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/licensing/how-to-apply.htm
  14. Local authority assenthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/licensing/local-authority-assent.htm
  15. Explosives in portshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/licensing/licensing-explosives-in-ports.htm
  16. Information for enforcing authoritieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/licensing/enforcing-authorities.htm
  17. Refusals and revocations of authorisationshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/licensing/refusals-revocations.htm
  18. Safeguarding planshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/licensing/safeguarding-plans.htm
  19. Manufacturinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/manufacturing.htm
  20. Securityhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/licensing/storage/storage-security.htm
  21. Storing explosiveshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/licensing/storage/index.htm
  22. Overview - Classification for transporthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/classification/index.htm
  23. UN test resultshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/classification/un-test-results.htm
  24. UN test series FAQshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/classification/faq-conducting-un-test-series-6.htm
  25. Analogyhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/classification/analogy.htm
  26. Non-contracting partyhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/classification/non-contracting-party.htm
  27. UN default scheme for fireworkshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/classification/un-default-scheme-fireworks.htm
  28. How to applyhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/classification/how-to-apply.htm
  29. Overview - Fireworkshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/fireworks/index.htm
  30. Firework displayshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/fireworks/using.htm
  31. Storing and selling fireworkshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/fireworks/industry.htm
  32. Transfer of explosiveshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/transfer-of-explosives.htm
  33. Overview - Ammonium nitratehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/ammonium/index.htm
  34. Ammonium nitrate and COMAHhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/ammonium/comah.htm
  35. Storage of ammonium nitrate blasting intermediate (ANBI)https://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/ammonium/storage-ammonium-nitrate.htm
  36. Notification thresholdhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/ammonium/notification-threshold.htm
  37. High nitrogen contenthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/ammonium/high-nitrogen-content.htm
  38. Land use planninghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/ammonium/land-use-planning.htm
  39. Discarding and disposalhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/disposal.htm
  40. Reporting losshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/reporting-loss.htm
  41. Placing civil explosives on the markethttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/ce-marking/index.htm
  42. Market surveillancehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/market-surveillance.htm
  43. Record keeping requirementshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/record-keeping.htm
  44. Manufacture, storage and carriage of thermiteshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/manufacture-storage-carriage-of-thermites.htm
  45. Overview - Other topicshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/other.htm
  46. Exemptionshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/exemptions/index.htm
  47. Record of explosives incidentshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/eidas.htm
  48. Identification and traceability https://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/traceability-itoer.htm
  49. Applying for a Site Identification Codehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/applying-for-site-identification-code.htm
  50. Overview - Resourceshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/resources.htm
  51. Formshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/forms/explosive/index.htm
  52. Publicationshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/publications.htm
  53. Useful linkshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/useful-links.htm
  54. Contactshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/contact.htm
  55. The UK has left the EU, and some rules and procedures have changed from 1 January 2021https://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/ce-marking/index.htm
  56. COMAHhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/comah/index.htm
  57. A guide to the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 2015 (as amended)https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/l111.htm
  58. Portshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/ports/index.htm
  59. COMAHhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/comah/index.htm
  60. Chemicalshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/chemicals/index.htm
  61. CDGhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/cdg/index.htm
  62. REACHhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/reach/index.htm
  63. Regulating major hazardshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/regulating-major-hazards/index.htm
  64. Explosives formshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/forms/explosive/index.htm

Is this page useful?

Updated 2024-06-12