http://www.mlagb.com/legislation/mser2005.htm
The Manufacture and Storage of Explosive Regulations 2005
The Manufacture and Storage of Explosives Regulations 2005 (SI Number 2005/1082) came into force on 26 April 2005. A text only version of this document is available on-line from the Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI). A print version is also available and is published by The Stationery Office Limited as the The Manufacture and Storage of Explosives Regulations 2005, ISBN 0110727649.
An Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) and guidance has been published by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) and can be ordered direct from the HSE or via The Stationery Office. (Title: Manufacture and storage of explosives. Subtitle: Manufacture and Storage of Explosives Regulations 2005. Approved Code of Practice and Guidance. ISBN: 0717628167. Price: £20.95). See also the Explosives - Shooting and Historical Re-enactment pages on the HSE web site.
About three pages of the ACOP are particularly relevant to those who hold explosives for private use. This information is reproduced below by kind permission of the HSE:
Storage of Shooters' Powder
410 Regulation 5(3)(b) and (c) disapplies separation distance requirements for the keeping of small quantities of shooters' powder. The following section describes the conditions that must be met in order to qualify for the disappliction. These conditions apply to all premises including domestic premises.
411 Shooters' powder includes both black powder and smokeless powder.
412 The powder must be kept in containers with no more than 550 grams of powder per container. The containers must be constructed in such a way that, in the event of a fire they do not provide additional containment that will increase the explosive force of any deflagration. Normally plastic/polythene or paper/cloth containers will be suitable for this purpose. Metal containers with a screw cap, or a push-in lid (ie similar to a paint tin lid) must not be used.
413 Although shooters’ powders are generally not very sensitive to ignition by electrostatic discharge, homeloaders or others who decant the contents of plastic containers must take care to reduce the risk of build up of static electricity. Advice on appropriate precautions may be sought from the manufacturer.
414 The containers of powder must be kept in a box constructed of plywood with a minimum thickness of 18 mm – or material with an equal or greater fire and physical resistance. (Health and Safety Laboratory tests found that 18 mm plywood offered 15 minutes’ fire resistanc; 24 mm plywood offered 30 minutes’ fire resistance).
415 Metal boxes, including ammunition boxes, are not suitable and must not be used. This is because, firstly while metal is fire resistant it also transmits heat very well and secondly, because the metal container adds additional containment that significantly increases the explosive power of the powder. It should be noted that the requirements in this paragraph replace guidance permitting the keeping of black powder in a lacquered or tinned iron or steel trunk or box contained in the publication A Guide to the Control of Explosives Regulations 1991.
416 Where the box holds more than one container, each individual container must be separated by a 6 mm wooden partition that is securely fixed to the outer walls of the box. Each compartment must allow 30% additional height between the top of the container and the inside of the lid.
417 It is a good idea to put an intumescent strip around the edges of the lid to give a good seal.
418 Figure 1 shows a box that would meet the requirements set out in the previous paragraphs.
Figure 1: Storage of shooters’ powder: Note intumescent strip on box lid
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This is from the UK regulations. Interesting! Just Googled it.