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Table 6 External separation distances

Hazard Type 2

Quantity of explosives (kg) Separation distance (m)
Some or all items being of more than 0.7 kg net mass per item Every item being not more than 0.7 kg net mass per item
Footpath, lightly used road, waterway Minor road, railway line* Major road, place of public resort, buildings† Footpath, lightly used road, waterway Minor road, railway line* Major road, place of public resort, buildings†
0.1 – 25 15 23 45 12 19 37
25 – 50 29 44 88 14 22 43
50 – 75 36 54 108 16 24 47
75 – 100 43 65 129 17 26 51
100 – 150 49 74 148 19 28 56
150 – 200 56 84 168 20 30 60
200 – 300 64 96 191 22 33 66
300 – 400 69 104 207 24 36 71
400 – 450 71 107 213 24 37 73
450 – 500 73 110 219 25 37 74
500 – 600 75 113 226 25 38 76
600 – 700 78 117 233 26 39 78
700 – 800 80 120 240 27 41 81
800 – 900 83 124 248 28 42 84
900 – 1 000 85 128 256 29 44 87
1 000 – 1 100 86 130 259 29 44 88
1 100 – 1 200 87 131 262 30 45 89
1 200 – 1 300 89 133 266 30 45 90
1 300 – 1 400 90 135 270 30 46 91
1 400 – 1 500 91 137 274 31 46 92
1 500 – 1 600 93 139 278 31 47 94
1 600 – 1 700 94 141 282 32 48 95
1 700 – 1 800 95 143 286 32 49 97
1 800 – 1 900 96 144 288 33 50 99
1 900 – 2 000 97 146 292 34 51 101
2 000 – 3 000 104 156 312 37 55 110
3 000 – 4 000 109 163 326 39 59 117
4 000 – 5 000 112 169 337 41 61 122
5 000 – 10 000 123 185 370 47 70 140
10 000 – 15 000 129 194 388 50 76 151
15 000 – 20 000 134 201 401 53 80 159
20 000 – 25 000 137 206 411 55 83 166
25 000 – 30 000 140 210 419 57 86 171

Column 1 gives two figures in each row for the quantity of explosives. For example, 25 – 50 kg means more than 25 kg and up to and including 50 kg.

There is no distance requirement for a quantity of explosives less than the minimum figure given in the table.

Where the quantity of explosives under consideration is greater than the maximum given in this table, the distance may be calculated using the appropriate formula.

Vulnerable buildings

For Hazard Type 2 explosives, there are no extended distances for vulnerable buildings. Apply the distances in column 4 or 7 as appropriate.

Definition of terms

‘Footpath’ includes a bridleway or other thoroughfare which is not a road, but does not include a footpath used by no more than 20 persons every 24 hours.

‘Lightly used road’ means a road used by more than 20 and fewer than 500 vehicles every 24 hours.

‘Minor road’ means a road used by more than 500 vehicles every 24 hours, other than a major road.

‘Major road’ means a road used by more than 10 000 vehicles every 24 hours.

‘Waterway’ does not include a waterway navigated by no more than 20 persons every 24 hours.

* Use these distances also for any aerodromes, dock, pier, jetty, river wall, sea wall, reservoir.

† Use these distances for any dwelling, retail shop, government and public buildings, church, college, chapel, school, hospital, theatre, cinema or other building where the public are accustomed to assemble; motorway; caravan site for which planning permission for this use has been granted and on which is located an occupied caravan for a total period in excess of 28 days in any one calendar year; factory; building or works used for the storage in bulk of petroleum spirit, gas, or other inflammable substances; buildings or works used for the storage and manufacture of explosives or of articles which contain explosives.

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Updated: 2011-10-21