Buying, selling and storing industrial explosives

Industrial explosives are high-hazard blasting explosives used in the mining, quarrying, construction, perforating, avalanche control, forestry industries and more. (Industrial explosives are classified under the Explosives Regulations as Type E.1 — blasting explosives; Type E.2 — perforating explosives; Type E.3 — special-application explosives; and Type I — initiation systems.) You must meet the screening requirements of Part 8 of the Explosives Regulations to access industrial explosives, even if you will be in only momentary contact with explosives.

• Guideline for applying for an approval letter (HTML)
• F08-01: Screening - Application for approval letter (PDF, 719 KB)

Industrial explosives and initiation systems must be stored separately.

The following guidance is for anyone involved with industrial explosives. For situations not covered here, including exemptions and conditions, consult the Explosives Regulations.

You must be 18 or older and have an explosives licence to buy, sell or store industrial explosives unless exempted by the Explosives Act or Explosives Regulations. When applying for this licence, you will be required to submit various documentation, as described in electronic Licence Management System (eLMS) or on the application form.

Learn more about applying for an explosives licence and make sure you meet all of the requirements to hold explosives licences.

You can apply for explosives licences through the eLMS.

Buying, selling and storing is also permitted with most factory licences and certificates. Learn more about factory licences and certificates.

More information

Consult the following guidelines on safely storing industrial explosives:

• G06-05: Guideline for determining the storage compatibility of explosives (Types E and I) (PDF, 196 KB)
• Best practices for storing explosives (HTML)
• G06-02: Storage Guideline Police, Explosives Disposal Units, Tactical Units and Canine Units (Contact the Explosives Regulatory Division [ERD] to obtain a copy.)
• G06-03: Risk-Based Guidelines for the Storage of Explosives: Avalanche Control on Ski Hills (Contact ERD to obtain a copy.)
• G06-01: Non-industrial storage guidelines, 2015 (PDF, 311 KB)
• Storage of industrial explosives — standard of the Bureau de normalisation du Québec (link to the website of the Bureau)
• Explosives — quantity distances — standard of the Bureau de normalisation du Québec (link to the website of the Bureau)
• G06-06: Key control plan guideline  (PDF, 74 kb)
• G06-07: Fire safety plan guideline  (PDF, 72 kb)

Contact us

Find contact information for general inquiries or urgent requests related to explosives, fireworks, ammunition or restricted components.