Explosive Regulations and the Industry
Licences for Storage
Licences for the storage of explosives and explosive articles
- Explosives User Magazine Licence (Type U)
- Explosives Vendor Magazine Licence (Type V)
- Fireworks Magazine Licence (Type X)
- Propellant Magazine Licence (Type P)
List of Forms and Guidelines
- Form 10 – Pacific Region (PDF, 103 kb)
- Form 10 – Western Region (PDF, 162 kb)
- Form 10 – Ontario Region (PDF, 100 kb)
- Form 10 – Québec Region (PDF, 276 kb)
- Form 10 – Atlantic Region (PDF, 275 kb)
- Form 10A – For ski hills (PDF, 51 kb)
- Form 34 – Incident Report Form (PDF, 40 kb)
- Guideline for Completion of Magazine Licence Form 10 Application (PDF, 19 kb)
- Bulletin 15 – Storage Capacity of Blasting Explosives Magazines
- Bulletin 16 – Notification of Change of Location (PDF, 60 kb)
- Bulletin 16 – Zone Licences for Blasting Explosives
- Bulletin 22 – Transportation of Explosives in Type IV Magazines
- Bulletin 29 – Safety Advisory: Explosives in Transit
- Bulletin 50 – Explosives Vendors: Its your job to know your buyers
- Directive Letter 56 – Sliding/Double Door Notice
- Directive Letter 57 – Permission to Construct Larger Magazine Doors
- Directive Letter 59 – Potential Effects
- Directive Letter 60 – Amendments to the Quantity Distance Principles Manual
- Blasting Explosives and Initiation Systems – Storage, Possession, Transportation, Destruction and Sale
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Magazine Licence
For the establishment of storage for sale or use of all explosives. This type of licence is issued by the five regional offices located in Vancouver, Calgary, Ottawa, Saint-Hyacinthe and Halifax. There are two main types of licence issued (for a Vendor or User) and these are broken down as noted below. A vendor licence is required to store for sale blasting explosives, propellants, fireworks and pyrotechnics when so required by the Explosives Regulations. A user licence allows storage for use of explosives in different circumstances (e.g., a zone user licence allows the licensee to move with operational requirements, while a special user licence allows the licensee to share a magazine with others). Perforating, Seismic, Heliportable and Track Drill relate either to oil exploration or production. All fees are based on 12-month renewals. Electronic copies of noted forms are available in MS Word format and can be obtained by contacting the regional office nearest you or e-mail the Licensing and Compliance Group.
Explosives User Magazine Licence (Type U)
This type of licence is required for the storage of blasting explosives and any other type of industrial explosives for use if:
- any quantity stored is for commercial use; or
- the quantity stored for private use exceeds 75 kilograms or 100 detonators; or
- the period of storage of any quantity exceeds 90 days.
The fee for an Explosives User is $140 per magazine, minimum fee of $280.
The fee for an Explosives User Zone is $200 per magazine, minimum fee of $400.
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Explosives Vendor Magazine Licence (Type V)
This type of licence is required for the sale of blasting explosives and other types of industrial explosives if:
- any quantity is kept by the vendor in storage magazines; or
- any quantity is sold on consignment, whether or not stored at any time by the vendor.
- $25 per 1 000 kg NEQ high explosives and
- $275 per initiation systems magazine.
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Fireworks Magazine Licence (Type X)
This type of licence is required for the storage and sale of fireworks and pyrotechnic articles if:
- for storage of consumer fireworks for sale or use, the quantities exceed 1000 kilograms gross weight;
- for storage of display fireworks for use, the quantities exceed 125 kilograms gross weight or for direct or consignment sale, in any quantity;
- any quantity of high-powered rocket motors (motors exceeding 80 newton-seconds total impulse) are stored for direct or consignment sale;
- for storage for use or sale of low-hazard, practical purpose pyrotechnics (distress flares, wildlife control devices, etc.), the quantities exceed 1000 kilograms gross weight;
- for storage of high-hazard, practical purpose pyrotechnics(theatrical effects, line throwing rockets, etc.), the quantities exceed 125 kilograms gross weight or are for direct or consignment sale in any quantity.
The fee for a Fireworks User is $70.
The fee for a Fireworks Vendor is:
- $140 for retail outlet
- $350 for distributor establishment
- $700 for distributor establishment and repacking explosives
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Propellant Magazine Licence (Type P)
This licence is required for the storage of propellant powder, primers and small arms ammunition if:
- the quantity of powder stored for personal use exceeds 75 kilograms;
- the quantity of powder stored for sale exceeds 12 kilograms net explosives weight or 10 000 primers;
- the storage of ammunition exceeds 225 kilograms net explosives quantity.
The fee for a Propellant User is $70.
The fee for a Propellant Vendor is:
- $140 for retail outlet
- $350 for distributor establishment
- $700 for distributor establishment and repacking explosives
For the necessary form and guidelines used for these types of licences, visit our Forms page. They are available for download in .pdf format. Copies can also be obtained from the regional office nearest you.