Type IV storage
In order to properly and legally store most pyrotechnic or explosive items, a storage magazine is needed. A hobbyist operating outside of commerce doesn't necessarily need to be federally licensed to have a proper storage magazine in use - but the magazine must be constructed and placed in a manner up to snuff with ATFE regulation. In no way is this a complete account of what must be done to be fully in compliance with state or federal law, but may help give an idea of one approach toward legality. If undertaking an endeavor similar to this one, consult the ATFE orange book frequently and follow it to the letter.
View of a small type IV magazine. Note that interior is fully lined with non-sparking material and that the area has been cleared of brush.
A type IV magazine can be used to store most display fireworks, with a few exceptions. The magazine must be weather-tight, ventilated, situated away from occupied buildings, lined with a non-sparking material, and locked tightly. There are several ways to accomplish each of these goals, and the following is but one account of building a compliant magazine.

details showing welds made to permanently secure door and bolts.
 This magazine was obtained from a trucking company, and at one time was used for transporting blasting materials. It's essentially just a big sturdy truck box with a door on either end, and the advantage of having a very solid locking system. Several modifications had to be done, but the box proved to be a good starting point. Many other magazines are constructed from "sea boxes", large shipping containers which are very sturdy and waterproof. Some shipping containers require pretty much the same steps as those outlined here to be usable as storage. This particular box also had a door on either end, which was not desirable in this case. The first step taken was welding that door shut, which was accomplished by running welds on each door hinge area, and on the lock mechanisms themselves. The only other option would have been to install lock hoods and locks to this extra door, which will be discussed further along.
While the welder was still hot, welds were applied to each exposed bolt on the exterior of the magazine, fusing the nuts to the bolts permanently. On a storage magazine, the nuts must either be located facing the inside of the magazine, where they cannot be tampered with, or welded permanently in place as done here. The welds were later painted white with enamel-based paint to enhance their longevity.

Ventilation also needed to be installed. A series of 1/4" holes were drilled and then covered with an aluminum soffit vent cover, which is louvered to keep rain or embers from entering. A piece of screening sits behind the vent.

Next, lock hoods were built from 1/4" square pipe, 1/4" steel plate, and 7/16" steel bar. The hoods are simply sections of the pipe which have been capped on one end, and cut to fit over the locking mechanisms on the magazine. Holes were then drilled to accept the steel bar, which is positioned so that the lock hasps go around it as well as through the locking mechanisms on the box. Everything was welded together very securely, then each assembly painted white.
View of small vent installed on side of box. A rectangle of screening is behind vent to keep bugs out.


lock hoods in place

The box itself is locked by closing the door, placing the hoods over the lock mechanisms of the box, and then locking the padlock over the hoods' steel bars and through the holes in the box mechanism. The padlocks themselves are also required to be up to spec, and are very heavy-duty with hasps over the required thickness. They were second in expense only to the initial purchase of the box itself!

When locked, the hoods are very tight and don't budge a centimeter. The purpose of these hoods is to make tampering with or cutting of the locks very difficult; It's tough enough to get a hand into the hood, let alone any type of tool or cutter.

The next step was creating a plat drawing including distances from occupied buildings and roads. The exact details and distances can be obtained from the ATFE "orange book" in subsection K, which, among other things, outlines all pertinent details for storage magazines type I through V.

The plat drawing as well as photographs of the magazine were then sent to the ATFE headquarters for reveiw. An inspector paid a visit to the magazine site and deemed everything up to spec and in good shape!