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Table 7 External separation distances

Hazard Type 3

Quantity of explosives (kg) Separation distance (m)
Footpath, lightly used road, waterway Minor road, railway line* Major road, place of public resort, buildings†
0.1 – 25 0 0 0
25 – 50 8 12 23
50 – 75 8 13 25
75 – 100 10 15 29
100 – 150 11 17 33
150 – 200 12 19 37
200 – 300 14 21 42
300 – 400 16 24 47
400 – 450 16 24 47
450 – 500 17 25 50
500 – 600 17 26 51
600 – 700 18 27 53
700 – 800 18 27 54
800 – 900 18 28 55
900 – 1 000 21 32 63
1 000 – 1 100 23 35 70
1 100 – 1 200 24 36 71
1 200 – 1 300 24 36 72
1 300 – 1 400 24 37 73
1 400 – 1 500 25 37 74
1 500 – 1 600 25 38 75
1 600 – 1 700 25 38 76
1 700 – 1 800 26 39 78
1 800 – 1 900 26 40 79
1 900 – 2 000 27 40 80
2 000 – 3 000 30 41 91
3 000 – 4 000 33 50 100
4 000 – 5 000 36 54 107
5 000 – 10 000 45 68 136
10 000 – 15 000 52 78 156
15 000 – 20 000 57 86 172
20 000 – 25 000 62 93 185
25 000 – 30 000 66 100 199

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 3 and Hazard Type 4 explosives, there are no extended distances for vulnerable buildings. Apply the distances in column 4 of Table 7 or Table 8 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 or 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 area 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