Certificates required for acquiring, keeping and using Rocket Engines

For the Importation, purchasing, storage and transportation of high power rocket motors you need to know the legal requirements which you must meet. The UK government label High Power rocket propellant (Ammonium Perchlorate) as an explosive, and with this there are strict laws.

Each explosive or product containing explosive is given a code by the united nations this will  identifying the class of the explosive. In the UK each product is tested by the Heath & Safety Executive and once passed they are available for import, purchase and use. The following products have already been approved :-

UN Number Motor Class Product Requires Explosive Cert. Requires Registered Store Requires
R.C.A
UN 0349 D to G Selected Aerotech Single Use motors YES YES YES
UN 0351 B to M Selected Aerotech RMS reloads YES YES YES
UN 0275 J to M Selected Aerotech RMS reloads NO YES YES

This process is on going, so more products should become available once they are approved by the authorities . The UN numbers listed above are important as they will determine what you can import and use legally. Your certificates must reflect these UN numbers as shown above.

The three certificates that are required are dependant on the acquisition of each other in such that to get the RCA you must have an Explosive Certificate, to get an Explosive certificate you require a Registered Explosives Store Certificate. For the Acquisition of the Registered Explosives Store Certificate and Explosive certificate you require a visit from the relevant authorities, it is advisable to get these two visitations to occur at the same time, in doing this it will speed the total process.

You will need your RCA and Explosives Certificates when you purchase Composite rocket motors.

Registered Explosive Store - Mode B Store

There are two types of store Mode A and Mode B Mode A is for larger amounts of Explosive or certain explosives and is not required by the average HPR enthusiast. The Mode B store is for amounts less than 7 Kg. The certificate is the proof that your premises have been inspected by either the Fire Department or  Trading standards and that they are satisfied with the measures taken for the storage of less than 7Kg of explosive, and that they have registered the premises as such.

To apply for a Mode B store certificate you will need to get in touch with your local Trading standards department or Fire Department for your area. They will give you a form to fill in and make a charge to register your premise for 2000 I paid £11.20(this usually lasts for one year), as mentioned above the officer will need to inspect your premises where the explosive is to be stored.

Before you return your form and payment you should buy a lockable fire proof metal box to store the single use motors/reloads. Heat proof lockable safes can be bought from most DIY store, a second method and in my opinion a better one is to get an ammo case from an army surplus store (this is cheaper and the box was designed to house explosive!). Depending on the area in which you live the box may have to have a   wood lining. It is there for advisable to ask if the box needs lining when asking for the form so this can be carried out before the inspection.

Where to store the box, it is alright to store this in either you house or garage, however there are a few requirements. These requirements are that the box is not near any electrical supply or equipment and it is not stored near chemicals. If you intend to keep black powder then you will need an alarm covering the area in which the box is located. It is also advisable to have either a water based fire extinguisher or/and a bucket of sand near by.

When filling in the form for the registered explosive store you should fill in the following details, the method of storage is "Mode B", the quantity of explosives is "7kg maximum" and the type of explosive is "Mixed Explosives"  and you must also identify that the certificate is required for "Aerotech Model Rocket Engines UN0349 and UN0351 and UN0275". If you intend to use larger RMS reloads you may need Black Powder (small amounts <0.5kg) so you should also add  "Black powder UN0027 and UN0028".

After returning your form with your payment you will be contacted by Trading Standards / Fire Department who will want to inspect the storage box at your house. Once they are satisfied, you will be issued with Registered Explosive Store certificate.

IMPORTANT don't forget to inform your house insurance company of your "mode B" status some insurance companies may not like this others don't care so if you have problems then shop around there are plenty of companies who don't mind.

Explosives Certificate

The Explosives Certificate is obtained by ringing   your local Police HQ and asking for the Firearms Officer, they will be able to direct you to who ever deals with explosives in your area. They may even have the relevant form and be able to forward it for you to the relevant person once you have completed it, the form you need is a "COER/1". The form is not too bad, the form has four sections A, B, C & D. You should only fill in sections A, B & D. Section C is for people who only want to acquire explosives only.

Section A - Fill in all the standard boxes as required,

Section B - If you have your registered explosive store certificate tick the "Registered Premises" box and fill in the address.

If you do not have it as yet say that it has been applied for and has not been issued as yet it will just mean that when they come to inspect your premises they will want a copy then, This is when you can save time by sending off forms at the same time and hoping to arrange the 2 visits to coincide I have managed this and was suggested by the police officer who issues my Explosives certificate..

Section C - Do not fill this part in.

Section D -  Declaration, remember to cross out the inappropriate statement where a * is denoted.

Return the form and relevant documents (Registered explosives store Certificate, Letter from private land owner allowing use of land for flying rockets) to who/where ever the Firearms Officer you got the form from told you to return it to.  You will be contacted by the explosives officer to arrange an inspection of your store, if possible arrange this for the same time as the inspection for the Registered Explosives Store. The process of issuing an explosives certificate can take 3 to 4 weeks and will involve a visit from you local explosives officer. There is no charge for the explosives. My certificate lasts as long as the Registered explosives store certificate but in other areas this lasts for three years, You should be sent a reminder when it is time to renew ( at least I got sent one 3 months before my certificates ran out) 

RCA

This is the easiest of all to apply for. Once you have received your explosive certificate from the police you can either post a letter stating you require an RCA for Aerotech model rocket engines ask for the RCA to cover UN0349, UN0351, UN0275, UN0027 and UN0028, along with a copy of the Explosive certificate or just Fax it to the Heath and Safety Executive and you will be sent the certificate by post within a few days. The RCA is free of charge and will expire when your Explosives certificate expires.

You require the RCA to be able to transport your motors / reloads around the UK, it is also required by H.M. Customs and Excise when you import the motors / reloads.

HSE offices are at:

HSE,
Safety Policy Division D5,
Rose Court,
2 Southwark Bridge St,
London,
E1 9HF.

Phone 0171 717 6208

Fax     0171 717 6690

That's it ! now you can import, store, transport and use high power motors and reloads up to "M" Importation is by land/sea and will take approx 4 weeks. Better just go see Pete Davy! but you still need you certificates.

Don't forget if you move house you will need the new property registered as an explosives store before you can take any motors / reloads there to stay legal.

 

The legalities of importing, storing and using these HPR engines may change at any time and hence the information contained within this page can not be taken as being the latest legislation regarding these, It was however correct at the time I applied last (27/11/1999).