This guide will assist those who manage explosives sites, licensed by the HSE under the Manufacture and Storage of Explosives Regulations (MSER) 2005[1](as amended), if they need to justify that it is acceptable, for persons not directly involved in explosives operations, to occupy a non-explosives building that is inside the Inhabited Building Distance (IBD) of a Potential Explosion Site (PES). Such justification will require demonstration that an equivalent level of safety is provided for those people, to that which would be achieved by the application of the relevant Separation Distance.
This guide describes accepted practice within the explosives industry. By following the guidance, persons would normally be compliant with their legal duties. HSE and the explosives industry may refer to this guidance as illustrating good practice.