Security

Explosives: update

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

This page outlines the security provisions in ER2014[56].

Robust security controls need to be in place before explosives operations begin , whether they are for work or non-work purposes and they should remain in place and be effective for as long as the operation continues. The security provisions of ER2014 provide the regulatory framework for identifying and implementing these security controls and are based on generally recognised principles of secure operation in the sector.

They are particularly relevant to dutyholders:

  • acquiring, keeping and transferring relevant explosives
  • manufacturing, storing, transferring and placing on the market[57] civil explosives
  • manufacturing, possessing or transferring plastic explosives

The security provisions of ER2014 can be found in three parts of the regulations:

  • Part 10 - comprises 3 regulations (30-32) which relate to the:
    • prevention of unauthorised access
    • prohibitions concerning transfer[58] of relevant explosives
    • Restrictions on prohibited persons
  • Part 11 – comprises 5 regulations (33-37) which relate to the:
    • traceability[59] , particularly unique identification and attribution of site codes, of civil explosives
    • record keeping[60] in relation to  both civil and relevant explosives
    • reporting losses[61] of relevant explosives
  • Part 12 – comprises 1 regulation (38) relating to the security requirements for plastic explosives

Regulation 30 applies to everyone manufacturing, storing or keeping explosives. Those dealing with civil explosives will need to comply with regulations 8, 33, 34, 36 and 39. Those dealing with relevant explosives will need to comply with regulations 31, 32, 35 and 37.

Explosives certificate

Anyone wanting to acquire or keep certain explosives must have an explosives certificate[62], issued by the police. Schedule 2 of ER2014[63]  lists the explosives that, together with smokeless powder, do not require an explosives certificate.

Contact your local police explosives liaison officer[64] for further information on obtaining an explosives certificate.

Marking plastic explosives

Applies to all explosive substances commonly known as 'plastic explosives' – whether or not they are in explosive articles or devices, or in the form of flexible or elastic sheets.

The main provisions are:

  • anyone making plastic explosives that are finished products has to mark them with a detection agent
  • no one can possess, or transfer any unmarked explosive ( does not apply to a plastic explosive that is being manufactured)
  • No person may  import any plastic explosives into the United Kingdom that is unmarked

* A detection agent is a chemical that has been added to the plastic explosive to aid detect ability. The detection agents that can be used to mark plastic explosives can be found in part 2 of schedule 8 of ER2014.

The Regulations do not cover quantities sufficient for either researching, developing and testing new explosives or explosives detection equipment, or conducting forensic science.

Security of ammonium nitrate for blasting

Guidance on the security of ammonium nitrate used in blasting has been produced by the National Counter Terrorism Security Office, in conjunction with the Quarries

National Joint Advisory Committee and HSE.

NaCTSO guidance leaflet (PDF) [65]

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. ER2014http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2014/1638/made
  57. placing on the markethttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/ce-marking/index.htm
  58. transferhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/transfer-of-explosives.htm
  59. traceabilityhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/traceability-itoer.htm
  60. record keepinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/record-keeping.htm
  61. reporting losseshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/reporting-loss.htm
  62. explosives certificatehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/licensing/index.htm
  63. Schedule 2 of ER2014http://www.legislation.gov.uk/en/uksi/2014/1638/schedule/2/made
  64. explosives liaison officerhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/contact.htm
  65. NaCTSO guidance leaflethttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/assets/docs/nactso.pdf
  66. NaCTSO guidance leaflethttps://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/assets/docs/nactso.pdf

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Updated: 2024-06-12