Explosives guidelines and standards

Consultation on ‘Separation Distances for Explosives’ document

The Explosives Regulatory Division of Natural Resources Canada is soliciting feedback from its stakeholders and other interested parties on its new ‘Separation Distances for Explosives’ document. Learn more here.

Explore guidelines and standards to help you manage explosives effectively and safely.

• Authorization
• Manufacturing
• Buying, selling and storing
• Screening
• Transporting
• Fireworks use
• Restricted Components

Authorization

• G03-01: Type E high explosives (HTML)
• G03-02: Guidelines for authorization of cartridges (PDF, 112 kb)
• G03-03: Guidelines for authorization of consumer and display fireworks (PDF, 293 kb)
• G03-04: Guidelines for authorization of pyrotechnic special effects (HTML
• G03-07: General standard for the authorization and classification of explosives (HTML)

Manufacturing

• G05-01: Guidelines for Division 1 Licences for bulk explosives facilities (PDF, 414 kb)
• G05-02: Requirements for bulk mobile process units (PDF, 374 kb)
• G05-04: Security plan guideline (HTML)
• G05-06: Pumping of water-based explosives (Contact the Explosives Regulatory Division [ERD] to get a copy.)
• G05-07: Guidelines for jet perforating gun assembly facilities (PDF, 195.16 kb)
• G05-09: Guidelines for picking and assembly for display fireworks (PDF, 321.23kb)
• G05-25: Sample security plan  (Contact the ERD to get a copy.)

Buying, selling and storing

• G06-01: Non-industrial storage guideline, 2015 (PDF, 311 kb)
• G06-02: Storage Guideline Police, Explosives Disposal Units, Tactical Units and Canine Units (Contact the Explosives Regulatory Division [ERD] to obtain a copy.)
• G06-05: Guideline for determining the storage compatibility of explosives (PDF, 196 kb)
• G06-06: Key control plan guideline (PDF, 74 kb)
• G06-07: Fire safety plan guideline (PDF, 71.9 kb)
• G13-02: Guidelines for High-Hazard Special Purpose Explosives (Type S.2) (PDF, 626 kb)
• Best practices for storing explosives (HTML)
• Storage of industrial explosives — standard of the Bureau de normalisation du Québec (link to the website of the Bureau)

Screening

• G08-02: Guideline for Applying for an approval letter (HTML)

Transporting

• G09-01: Guideline for Transporting detonators with other explosives (PDF, 40 kb)
• G09-02: Guidelines for quantified risk assessments at ports and wharves (PDF, 169 kb)

Fireworks and pyrotechnics use

• G17-01:  Special effect pyrotechnics manual (PDF, 765 Mb)
• G18-01: Display fireworks manual (HTML)

Restricted components

• G20-05: Guidelines for Tier 1 restricted component sellers (PDF, 387 kb)
• G20-06: Guidelines for Tier 2 restricted component sellers (PDF, 819 Kb)
• G20-07: Guidelines for Tier 3 restricted component sellers (PDF, 510 Kb)
• G20-04: Guidelines for recognizing and reporting suspicious transactions of explosives precursor chemicals (PDF, 454 Kb)
• G20-03: Guide for enrolments for restricted component sellers - eLMS  (PDF, 4 Mb)
• G20-01: Tier 1 restricted components security and key control plan guideline (PDF, 730 Kb)

Contact us

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