Interpretation of the Explosives Act

Storing Propellant Powders in a Dwelling House

Sections Considered: : Part XII, sect 133, 134, 136, 137, 138, 140(3)(a), 140(4), 141(a).

Part XIII, sect 143.

A person may store up to 75 kilograms (165 lbs) of gunpowder and small arms propellant, in properly made receptacles, which would contain no more than 10 kilograms (22 lbs) each.

Evidence for this statement

Sect 143 of the states: “A person may have up to 75 kilograms of gunpowder and small arms propellant in his possession if they are stored in accordance with Part XII.”

Part XII of the describes, in sections 136 & 137 a “suitable receptacle” which may be used in lieu of a “detached store” (sect 134 & 135).

Sect 133 states, “Subject to this part, explosives kept for private use, and not for sale, in any place other than a licenced magazine or licenced factory shall be kept in a detached store or a suitable receptacle as defined in this Part and the quantity of explosives so kept shall not exceed the maximum quantities prescribed by this Part.”

Section 140 describes the quantities of explosives that may be kept in individual detached stores and suitable receptacles. Section 141 discusses “separate store or receptacles, so separated from one another as to effectually prevent fire or explosion in one explosive from communicating with the other, except that

(a) The various explosives of Class 1 (gunpowder), Class 2 (nitrate mixture), Class 3 (nitro-compound)…..as do not contain any exposed iron or steel, may be kept in the same store or receptacle with each other without any intervening partition or space;

Please see the so you may follow the logic of the above statements. The act does not limit the numbers of receptacles or detached stores, merely the bulk total of powder and propellant.