Except as limited by Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 140) of Division 1 of the Labor Code and Section 18930, the State Fire Marshal shall prepare and adopt, in accordance with Chapter 3.5 (commencing at Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, reasonable regulations that are not in conflict with this part, relating to the sale, use, handling, possession, and storage of explosives.

The building standards adopted and submitted for approval pursuant to Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 18935) of Part 2.5 of Division 13 and the other regulations adopted by the State Fire Marshal shall do all of the following:

(a)  Make reasonable allowances for storage facilities in existence when the regulations become effective. No allowance, however, shall be made for storage facilities which constitute a distinct hazard to life and property, nor shall any allowance be made for storage facilities wherein proper safeguards for the control and security of explosives cannot be maintained.

(b)  Be based on performance standards wherever possible.

(c)  Make reasonable allowances for the storage of gunpowder for commercial and private use. No allowance, however, shall be made for storage facilities which constitute a distinct hazard to life and property, nor shall any allowance be made for storage facilities wherein proper safeguards for the control and security of explosives cannot be maintained.

(d)  Set uniform requirements for the use and handling of explosives that would apply statewide.

(e)  The building standards published in the California Building Standards Code relating to storage of explosives and the other regulations adopted by the State Fire Marshal pursuant to this section shall apply uniformly throughout the state, and no city, county, city and county, or other political subdivision of this state, including, but not limited to, a chartered city, county, or city and county, shall adopt or enforce any ordinance or regulation that is inconsistent with this section.

(f)  In making the regulations, the State Fire Marshal shall consider as evidence of generally accepted safety standards the publications of the National Fire Protection Association, the United States Bureau of Mines, the United States Department of Defense, and the Institute of Makers of Explosives.

(g)  The regulations shall establish standards relating to the size, form, contents, and location of caution placards to be placed on or near storage facilities for division 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3 explosives as set forth in Article 77 of the Uniform Fire Code of the International Conference of Building Officials and the Western Fire Chiefs Association, Inc. or similar standards that are consistent with the United States Department of Transportation classifications, or for any explosives as defined in Section 841 of Title 18 of the United States Code and published pursuant to Section 555.23 of Title 27 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

(Amended by Stats. 2004, Ch. 247, Sec. 6. Effective August 23, 2004.)