|
Having a blast, just doing your job…
WITH November coming up very,
very fast and with the British Musical Firework Championships in
Southport approaching even faster, we thought it would be
interesting to find out more about firework displays. Taoist
monks-alchemists, in China, discovered gunpowder in the 9th century.
The most ironic thing is that the monks were searching for an elixir
of immortality. The Chinese wasted little time in applying
gunpowder to warfare, and they produced a variety of gunpowder
weapons, including flame-throwers, rockets, bombs, and mines, before
inventing firearms. Today’s fireworks are not so different
from the first ones made by China after the discovery of gunpowder.
Fireworks by nature must be treated at all times with respect.
Gunpowder is an explosive mixture of potassium nitrate, charcoal and
sulphur. When the mixture is ignited, it expands violently and
if confined, like in a firework, it releases tremendous force as the
mixture, of solid ingredients, almost instantaneously converts into
gas. But unlink an explosive on its own, a firework also is
designed to produce spectacular explosions and coloured sparks.
Our editor, Patrick Trollope, went along to one of MDL Fireworks
Limited’s Training Days to find out more about the work that has to
be done to conduct a safe public firework display. The course
started with an introduction to types of fireworks, from the ones
available to the public through to professional display fireworks.
If you are going to have a firework display, always remember the
firework code and follow it. Even with sparklers, you must
follow the code! Also check to make sure that you have the
correct type of firework for your display. The British
Standard Classifications means that you, as a member of the general
public, by law, can only use Categories 1, 2 and 3. Check you
have the correct distances for these. A basic rule is that in
Category 1, all are indoor fireworks. Category 2 is garden
fireworks, starting at 5 meters safe viewing distances. For
the public Category 3 is the highest category you can fire.
Category 3 are viewed as display fireworks and these start at 25
meters for safe viewing distances. By law, category 4 being
for professionally trained display pyrotechnics only and should
never be fired by the general public. From our training it was
clear why that is. Do not get me wrong, all fireworks are
extremely dangerous if misused, but category 4 is exceptional
dangerous if misused! After a quick introduction to the
categories, we were reminded just how things can go wrong and the
consequences of not using fireworks correctly. A further
warning was added, with a reminder of what can go wrong with
misfires. We were shown photographs of injuries and also we
where shown examples of the remains of misfired fireworks.
Next on the list for us to learn was an introduction to planning
displays, from building through to dismantling, even transportation.
After a quick break for lunch, it was onto learning how to rig up
the pyrotechnics, from cutting fuses, through to looking at the
health and safety aspects of the display on the firing line.
...continued... |
...continued... Very
quickly, it was our chance to set up a display. We split into
three teams, each one had equal amounts of fireworks, all of them
the same as each others. All of us first had to do a health
and safety sweep of the area. then plan, cut the fuses and
mount the racks. After four hours, we took a break for food
and then we got to fire our displays. It is always a risk
attached to firing fireworks, but the larger they are, the more the
chance of accidents, so what we had been thought throughout the day
came into action. For our team, we had two misfires, one of
them was a rocket that exploded when it was still on the ground, but
the safety protection we had on and the training meant all three of
our team and the two overseeing our firing came away uninjured.
This incident highlighted to all of us just how import safety is.
Interestingly, the fireworks that would have injured us, if we had
not had safety protection and followed the rules, were class 3
fireworks! The other misfire was a class 2, showing even the
normal, shop sold pyrotechnics are just as dangerous if they go
wrong. The event was a fantastic eye opener into the world of
pyrotechnics. “I think the one thing I got from the day
is a greater respect for fireworks. If anything, it has increased my
interest, but also made me far more aware of what can go wrong, if
you get complacent with pyrotechnics.” said
Patrick after the course.
Did you know:- MDL Fireworks Ltd. are a professional firework
display business, based in Preston. To find out more go to
mdlfireworks.com.
Do
you know the Firework Categories?
A simple guide to fireworks
categories in the UK.
|
Fireworks sold in the UK must conform to
BS7114 and will be categorised as follows:- |
|
Category 1 |
Fireworks suitable for use inside domestic
buildings.
These fireworks should not cause injury to
people standing one metre or more away, and should not cause
damage to property. |
|
Category 2 |
Fireworks suitable for outdoor use in
relatively confined areas.
These fireworks should not cause injury to
people standing five metres or more away. The fuse fitted to the fireworks should
enable the person lighting the fireworks to retire to a
distance of at least five metres. |
|
Category 3 |
Fireworks suitable for outdoor use in large
open areas.
These fireworks should not cause injury to
people standing 25 metres or more away. |
|
Category 4 |
Fireworks, which are incomplete and/or are
not intended for sale to the general public. Bought
commercially and used in professional displays. |
|
