Explosives Act 1875

Retail Dealing with GunpowderRegistration and Regulation of Registered Premises

21 Registration of premises with local authority

A person desirous of registering with the local authority any premises for the keeping of gunpowder shall register his name and calling, and the said premises (in this Act referred to as his registered premises) in such manner and on payment of such fee, not exceeding one shilling, as may be directed by the local

Such registration shall be valid only for the person registered, and shall be annually renewed by sending by post or otherwise notice of such renewal to the local authority, together with such fee, not exceeding one shilling, as may be fixed by that authority.

22 General rules for registered premises

The following general rules shall be observed with respect to registered premises :

(1) The gunpowder shall be kept in a house or building, or in a fire-proof safe, such safe, if not within a house or building, to be at a safe distance from any highway, street, public thoroughfare, or public place; and

(2) The amount of gunpowder on the same registered premises shall not—

(a) If it is kept in a substantially constructed building exclusively appropriated for the purpose and detached from a dwelling-house, or in a fire-proof safe outside a dwelling-house, and detached therefrom, and at a safe distance from any highway, street, public thoroughfare, or public place, exceed two hundred pounds; and

(b) If it is kept inside a dwelling-house, or in any building other than as last aforesaid, exceed fifty pounds, unless it is kept in a fire-proof safe within such house or building, in which case the amount shall not exceed one hundred pounds; and

(3) An article or substance of an explosive or highly inflammable nature shall not be kept in a fire-proof safe with the gunpowder, and in every case shall be kept at a safe distance from the gunpowder or the safe containing the same; and

(4) Neither the building exclusively appropriated for the purpose of keeping the gunpowder nor the fire-proof safe shall have any exposed iron or steel in the interior thereof; and

(5) All gunpowder exceeding one pound in amount shall be kept in a substantial case, bag, canister, or other receptacle made and closed so as to prevent the gunpowder from escaping.

In the event of any breach (by any act or default) of such general rules in any registered premises,—

(a) All or any part of the gunpowder in respect to which, or being in any house, building, place, safe, or receptacle in respect to which, the offence was committed may be forfeited: and

(b) The occupier shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding two shillings for every pound of gunpowder in respect of which or being on the premises in which the offence was committed.