Explosives (Amendment) Rules, 2025.

REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99 The Gazette of India CG-DL-E-05062025-263624 EXTRAORDINARY PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (i) PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY No. 326] NEW DELHI, THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2025/JYAISTHA 15, 1947 MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade) NOTIFICATION New Delhi, the 4th June, 2025 G.S.R. 369(E).— The draft of the following rules to amend the Explosives Rules, 2008, which Central Government proposes to make in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 5 and 7 of the Explosives Act, 1884 (4 of 1884) is hereby published as required by sub-section (1) of section 18 of the said Act for information of all persons likely to be affected thereby, and notice is hereby given that the said draft shall be taken into consideration after expiry of a period of thirty days from the date on which the copies of the Gazette of India containing this notification are made available to the public. Objections or suggestions if any, to these draft rules may be sent to the Director (Explosives), Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Room No. 252A Udyog Bhavan, New Delhi-110 011 or email: expl-dipp@nic.in within the period specified above; The objections or suggestions which may be received from any person with respect to the said draft within the period above so specified will be taken into consideration by the Central Government. Draft Rules 1. (1) These rules may be called the Explosives (Amendment) Rules, 2025. (2) They shall come into force on the date of their final publication in the Official Gazette. 2. In the Explosives Rules, 2008 (hereinafter referred to as the said rules) (i) in rule 83, in sub- rule (4), for clause (a), the following clause shall be substituted namely:- "(a) be located on the ground floor of a single storied building with independent/standalone activity having independent entrance and emergency exit from open air and having doors opening outwards;". 3. In rule 86 of the said rules, in sub-rule (3):- (a) After the word "Shop- "the alphabet "(a)" shall be inserted. (b) after the word "materials" following shall be inserted namely:- "(b) The independent fireworks shop shall observe a minimum 3 meters open-to-sky clearance from any adjacent structure or building; (c) The fireworks shop shall observe a minimum of 50 meters clear distance from the protected works: Provided that nothing in these rules shall apply to the fireworks shops covered under licensed FORM LE- 5 issued under the Explosives Rules, 2008 and existed on the date of publication of these rules" by following the under mentioned fire safety requirements. i. Fire Detection System: The shop should be installed with automatic fire detection and alarm system (2 nos. conventional dual type detectors having combination of smoke & heat) with auto-dialler for communicating to the shop owner and the fire department (nearest fire station), in case of any fire incident. Detectors should be approved by BIS/any other equivalent standard. ii. Water Sprinkler System: All existing fireworks shops should install standalone automatic portable / gravity fed water sprinkler system for fire suppression with minimum water storage capacity of 300-400 liters connected with a pump of minimum rating 2 HP. Alternate power supply or battery backup has to be provided for standalone system and in case of already installed fixed hydrant system one tapping / extension can be taken from the system. Entire system should be approved by BIS/ any other equivalent standard. iii. Electric Panel Protection System: In case of a centralised large electric panel, it should be installed with an automatic tubing system (clean agent gas based) for protecting it. Detection tube should do fastest sensing between 80-90 degree C and get activated. Tube and gas should be approved by BIS/any other equivalent standard. iv. Fire Prevention: The walls, ceiling and doors of the shop should be treated with fire retardant paint / flameproofing material coating to provide minimum 30 minutes fire rating. FR material should be approved by BIS/any other equivalent standard. v. Electrical Safety: The shop should have concealed electric wiring (fire survival cables / fire retardant low smoke type). All electric fittings should be spark / flame proof. vi. Electrical Audit: All fireworks shops should be subjected to electrical audit annually to be conducted by a certified qualified person / electrical inspector recognised by state electricity board. Such certificate should be mandatory for further renewal of the license under Explosives Rules, 2008.". 4. In rule 112 of the said, in sub-rules 3, after the second proviso, the following proviso shall be inserted, namely:- "Provided that the licensing authority before renewal of license shall call upon the holder of a license in FORM LE-5 of the rules, by a notice in writing to execute additional safety provisions which are, in the opinion of such authority, necessary for safety of the premises, the holder of the license shall execute the provisions within such period, not being less than three months from the date of receipt of the notice, as may be fixed by the notice" and to follow the fire safety requirements mentioned above in Serial No. 3 (c) (i) to (vi).". [F. No. 2(3)/2019-Expl-Part(1)] Dr. SANDHYA BHULLAR, Jt. Secy. Note: The principal rule were published in Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Sub section (i), vide notification number, G.S.R. 907 (E) dated the 29th December 2008 and subsequently amended vide notification number G.S.R. 65 (E) dated 24th January, 2011, G.S.R. 772 (E), dated the 11th December, 2013, G.S.R. 17(E) dated 9th January 2019, G.S.R. 633 (E) dated 11th October, 2024 and G.S.R. 284 (E) dated 24th April, 2025.