Storage, safety and security

If you are a firearms licence holder in South Australia, you are legally required to notify the Registrar of any changes to your personal or business address within 14 days. Failure to do so may result in a fine.

Apply here

The Registrar of Firearms must authorise the storage of firearms and ammunition at any location other than the licensee’s principle residential or business premises.

Apply here

Firearms must be unloaded when stored.

Clause 6, Schedule 1, Firearms Regulations 2017

Ammunition must be secured at the principle residence. If the ammunition is used for business purposes, the ammunition may be stored at the primary business premises. Persons wishing to secure ammunition at alternative premises must seek the approval of the Registrar prior to changing the storage. Refer to alternative storage locations.

Ammunition must, when not in use, be stored in a locked container separately from firearms.

This may be inside the firearms safe / strongroom if –

• it is in a separate secured compartment within the safe / strongroom
• it is in a secured (locked) container within the safe / strongroom
• the unlocking mechanism to access the compartment or container cannot be used to access that safe  / strongroom

Where a firearm and ammunition can be used together -

• Do not store the unlocking mechanism for the ammunition storage container in the firearms storage safe / strongroom.
• Do not store the unlocking mechanism for the firearms safe / strongroom in the ammunition storage container.
• The unlocking mechanism includes a key, key card, combination code, key code, other electronic access code or any means of unlocking or disabling a lock or other security mechanism.

Clauses 7 and 12, Schedule 1, Firearms Regulations 2017

An unlocking mechanism is the item that can access the secure storage facility used to house the firearms, firearm parts, ammunition or sound moderators. The unlocking mechanism includes a key, key card, combination code, key code, other electronic access code or any means of unlocking or disabling a lock or other security mechanism.

Any unlocking mechanism must in itself be secure.

It is the responsibility of the licensee to prevent the unlocking mechanism from being lost, stolen or being in the possession or knowledge of an unauthorised person. (Clause 7(1))

• Do not share an unlocking mechanism with a person not authorised to access the firearms or other related items in that storage device. (Clause 7(9))
• Do not write or leave a record of the unlocking mechanism in a place where it may be discovered by a person not authorised to access the firearms or other related items. (Clause 7(9))
• Do not leave a unlocking mechanism (key) in the lock of the security device. (Clause 7(9))

Where a firearm and ammunition can be used together -

• Do not store the unlocking mechanism for the ammunition storage container in the firearms storage safe / strongroom. (Clause 7(3))
• Do not store the unlocking mechanism for the firearms safe / strongroom in the ammunition storage container. (Clause 7(5))

A person transporting a firearm or ammunition must keep the key to the vehicle on or about their person, or in their immediate physical control, while the firearm or ammunition is stored in the transporting vehicle. (Clause 7(7))

Clause 7, Schedule 1, Firearms Regulations 2017

The shared use of storage facilities may only occur when

• Both persons occupy the same premises (residential or business) on a permanent basis
• The level of storage is calculated by the total of firearms in both licensee's possession (refer to Calculating the quantity of firearms)

The firearm, firearm parts and sound suppressors must be

• Secured in separate locked compartments of the shared safe or strongroom

  or

• Secured with separate cables or other devices so as to prevent the unauthorised access, removal or possession by the other person the same safe or strongroom

and

• The Registrar is notified as to the place and manner in which the firearm kept

Ammunition stored in a shared safe or strongroom must be kept in a separate locked compartment or container within the safe or strongroom to prevent the access, removal or possession of the ammunition by the other person also using the safe or strongroom.

This is particularly important if more than one person has firearms at the same address.  It is the total number of firearms at that premises.

For example, if you have ten gel blaster firearms and the other licensee has four category H firearms, then there are 1-19 firearms of all categories kept there.

Building – does not include an outbuilding. It is the main house or business building.

Outbuilding – means a building subordinate to the main building on premises (including a garage or shed) –

• that is affixed to the land
• that is fully enclosed, strong and in a structurally sound condition and
• the door or point of entry of which is capable of being securely locked
  (but does not include a fully enclosed garage that is under the main roof of a residence or place of business)

Under the Main Roof – of a residence or place of business, means within the enclosed internal structures of the building constituting the residence or place of business.

Clause 2, Schedule 1, Firearms Regulations 2017

• the body and door must be made of structural grade steel at least 2mm thick
• the door must be recessed or flush fitted
• the door must be sized and fitted to prevent leverage points
• it must be fitted with a three point locking mechanism activated by either
• an internal key or electronic lock or a pin combination lock or biometric fingerprint scanner or
• an external lock, the body of which is at least 40mm wide with a hardened steel shackle with a cover to prevent the lock from being cut, removed, breached or otherwise tampered with.

All safes weighing less than 150kg when empty must be bolted to a solid concrete, brick, metal or timber floor, wall or other permanent internal structure of the building with at least two anchor points.

Clause 2, Schedule 1, Firearms Regulations 2017

• the body and door must be made of structural grade steel at least 3mm thick
• the door must be recessed or flush fitted
• the door must be sized and fitted to prevent leverage points
• it must be fitted with a three point locking mechanism activated by either
• an internal key or electronic lock or a pin combination lock or biometric fingerprint scanner or
• an external lock, the body of which is at least 40mm wide with a hardened steel shackle fitted with a cover to prevent the lock from being cut, removed, breached or otherwise tampered with.

All safes weighing less than 150kg when empty must be bolted to a solid concrete, brick, metal or timber floor, wall or other permanent internal structure of the building with at least two anchor points.

Clause 2, Schedule 1, Firearms Regulations 2017

To comply with Clause 2, Schedule 1 of the Firearms Regulations 2017 (SA), a strongroom used for the storage of firearms and ammunition must meet the following minimum standards:

1. Openings

• No windows or skylights are permitted in the strongroom.

2. Structural integrity

• Floors, ceilings, and walls must be constructed from one of the following materials:
  • Reinforced concrete
  • Double brick
  • Reinforced besser blocks
• These materials must be at least 140 mm thick.

3. Strongroom door specifications

• The door must be made of either:
  • Solid sheet grade mild steel with a minimum thickness of 10 mm, or
  • Solid sheet cut-resistant steel with a minimum thickness of 3 mm, composed of at least 12% manganese, and encased within or reinforced by solid timber at least 40 mm thick.

4. Door hinges and locking mechanism

• Hinges must be internal and either:
  • Concealed, or
  • Have hinge pins welded to prevent removal.
• The door must be fitted with one of the following locking mechanisms:
  • A 3-point locking mechanism, or
  • Four shoot bolts (top and bottom) located inside the strongroom, activated by one of the following:
    • Internal key lock
    • Electric lock
    • PIN combination
    • Pick-resistant deadlock
    • Biometric fingerprint scanner

Clause 2, Schedule 1, Firearms Regulations 2017

CCTV - means a closed-circuit television system or digital equivalent that is maintained and in good working order.

Intruder Alarm System - means an intruder alarm system that is maintained and in good working order and complies with the following requirements:

• the alarm system must be connected to the mains power of the premises in which it is installed and contain a battery back up in case of power failure
• the alarm system must incorporate a sensor system to detect the breaking of external glass windows or to detect movement by way of microwave, passive infrared, ultrasonic or other similar detection system
• each sensor of a sensor system referred to in the previous point must have an anti-tamper circuit that operates continuously whether the alarm is activated or not
• the controls for the alarm system must, so far as is reasonably practicable, be located out of sight and protected against access from an unauthorised person

Clause 2, Schedule 1, Firearms Regulations 2017

• a level 2 safe
• the safe weights 150 kg when empty or is bolted to a solid concrete, brick, metal or timber floor, wall or other permanent internal structure of the building with two solid anchor points
• the premises in which it is installed has either –
  • a CCTV system that is activated and operating any time the premises are unoccupied to detect and record any unauthorised entry to the premises or
  • an intruder alarm system that is activated and operating at any time the premises is unoccupied to detect and record any unauthorised entry to the premises with an externally visible alarm warning light and loud audible alarm or a remote alarm monitored by a private security company approved by the registrar

Clause 2, Schedule 1, Firearms Regulations 2017

• a level 2 safe
• the safe weights 150 kg when empty or is bolted to a solid concrete, brick, metal or timber floor, wall or other permanent internal structure of the building with two solid anchor points
• the premises in which it is installed has both –
  • a CCTV system that is activated and operating any time the premises are unoccupied to detect and record any unauthorised entry to the premises and
  • an intruder alarm system that is activated and operating at any time the premises is unoccupied to detect and record any unauthorised entry to the premises with an externally visible alarm warning light and loud audible alarm or a remote alarm monitored by a private security company approved by the registrar

Clause 2, Schedule 1, Firearms Regulations 2017

• a locked strongroom
• the premises in which it is installed has both
  • a CCTV system that is activated and operating any time the premises are unoccupied to detect and record any unauthorised entry to the premises and
  • an intruder alarm system that is activated and operating at any time the premises is unoccupied to detect and record any unauthorised entry to the premises with an externally visible alarm warning light and loud audible alarm or a remote alarm monitored by a private security company approved by the registrar

Clause 2, Schedule 1, Firearms Regulations 2017