Selling Consumer Fireworks

• No more than 1,000 kilograms (kg) of consumer fireworks may be stored in a sales establishment at any one time. If the sales establishment is located in a building that contains a dwelling, no more than 100 kg may be stored at any one time.

• The retailer must ensure that:
  • all places where consumer fireworks are stored are at least 100 metres (m) from all above-ground storage tanks for flammable substances in bulk and at least 8 m from the following:
    • fuel dispensers at a fuel dispensing station;
    • retail propane-dispensing tanks and cylinders;
    • above-ground storage tanks for flammable substances;
    • dispensing facilities for compressed natural gas.

• If the sales establishment is temporary, the retailer must also ensure that:
  • all places where consumer fireworks are stored are at least 8 m from all combustible materials, sources of ignition, thoroughfares, buildings or other temporary sales establishments and at least 3 m from any vehicle parking area;
  • the sales establishment is a tent, the tent is made from flame-retardant material.

• When consumer fireworks are displayed for sale, the following requirements must be met:
  • non-aerial fireworks in consumer packs or in packaging or containers that comply with the safety standards*must be separated into lots of 100 kg or less; aerial fireworks in packaging or containers that comply with the safety standards* must be separated into lots of 100 kg or less;
  • all other fireworks, whether aerial or non-aerial, must be separated into lots of 25 kg or less;
  • each lot must be separated from the other lots by a fire break;
  • the fireworks must be kept away from flammable substances and sources of ignition;
  • the fireworks must not be exposed to heat or dampness that might cause them to deteriorate;
  • the fireworks must be separated from the ceiling and from any fire prevention system by at least 0.6 m;
  • only people authorized by the retailer may have access to the area behind a sales counter;
  • smoking must be prohibited within 8 m of the fireworks;
  • the fireworks must be attended when the sales establishment is unlocked.

• Consumer fireworks cannot be sold to anyone who is less than 18 years of age and may be handled by a buyer only after they have been sold, unless they are in consumer packs or in packaging or containers that comply with specific safety standards*. However, aerial fireworks such as roman candles or cakes may only be directly accessible by the public prior to the sale if they are in packaging or containers that comply with specific safety standards*. If aerial fireworks are not packaged appropriately, they must be kept behind the sales counter or locked up (for example, in a cabinet) until point of sale.

• The seller must offer the buyer either a copy of the table that describes safety instructions for using consumer fireworks, which is found at the end of Part 16 in the Explosives Regulations, 2013, or a document that includes the same information.

*Safety standards for means of containment under the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act, 1992.

Selling Consumer Fireworks (PDF, 204 kb)