RCA

You must either post, fax or email a copy of your current explosives certificate, with a letter requesting an RCA document, to the address on the right.

Grants

Send or fax a brief letter stating that this is your first application and attach a copy of your explosives certificate, including page two if the explosives authorised are on the back of the certificate.

Renewals

Send or fax a copy of your explosives certificate, including page two if the explosives authorised are on the back of the certificate, together with one of the following:

• The renewal application form that was included with your first RCA document, or
• A copy of your existing RCA document, or
• A letter asking for renewal.

Things to watch out for:

• In many cases the format of the explosives certificate has the UN numbers and descriptions of the explosives authorised on the back.  Please ensure that you send a copy of both sides of the certificate to the HSE when applying for an RCA document.
• HSE does not require original explosives certificates; they will only deal with copies.
• HSE is happy for applications to be submitted via email but in the majority of cases the security markings on explosives certificate render them illegible when scanned; the HSE then has to request a further submission via fax or post.
• HSE undertakes to send an RCA document with 10 working days (but they have been known to arrive much sooner)
• Some HSE application forms have old telephone and fax numbers.  Please use those above.