Pyrotechnic Reference Series

Lecture Notes for
Fireworks Display Practices - Outline

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• Accidents, law suits and regulation
• Definitions:

= Hazard
= Risk
= Safe
• Hazard management:

= Recognition of hazards
= Evaluation of risks
= Control of risks
• Display operator defined and their responsibilities

• Firework aerial shell shapes and sizes:
= Spherical
= Cylindrical
• Basic aerial shell components
• Manner of aerial shell functioning (manual firing)
• Shell leader (fuse):
= Black match
= Quick match
• Lift charge (propelling charge)
• Fireworks time fuse (delay fuse) and priming
• Stars (pellets of pyrotechnic composition)
• Shell inserts (small pyrotechnic components)
• Shell burst charge (break charge)
• Shell labels

• Aerial shell ignition problems:

= “Premature ignition”
= Delayed ignition – “Hangfire”
= Ignition failure – “Misfire”
• Aerial shell functioning problems:

= Explosion within the mortar

— Mild explosion – “Flowerpot”
— Powerful explosion – “Shell Detonation”
= Explosion just above the mortar – “Muzzle Break”
= Delayed explosion – “Low or Ground Break”
= Failure to explode – “Dud Shell”
= Burning debris reaches ground
= Shell components fall to ground unignited
• Measures to protect the public and the crew from malfunctions
• Aerial shell inspection items

• Aerial shell fusing:

= Top vs. bottom fusing
= Redundant fuses
= Spolette fuses
• Aerial shell types:

= Multi-break shells
= Component shells
= Salutes / Reports / Maroons
• Spherical aerial shell star and burst charge configurations
• Cylindrical aerial shell burst configurations
• Star types:

= Color change stars
= Comet and strobe stars
• Electric matches and connectors
• Other ignition systems

= “No-Match” shock tube
= “Lightning Thermo Tube”

• Typical aerial shell and mortar parameters
• Aerial shell firing time sequence
• Internal mortar pressures
• Mortar recoil forces
• Aerial shell muzzle velocity
• Aerial shell burst height
• Effect of mortar length
• Aerial shell burst delay times
• Aerial shell burst spread (effect diameter)
• Explosive and thermal output
• Effect of mortar tilt angle (trajectory)
• Aerial shell drift distance
• Aerial shell float time in water

• Low-level aerial fireworks:

= Mines
= Comets
= Roman candles
= Cakes and multi-shots
• Firework rockets
• Helicopters
• Wheels
• Fountains, gerbs, and waterfalls
• Lancework

= Quick match fusing
= Sticky Match fusing
• Fire rope

• Display site size
• Site security
• Other site requirements
• Site plan
• Fireworks display permitting
• Floating vessels and platforms requirements
• Rooftops and other limited egress locations requirements

• Firework mortar types

= FRE
= HDPE
= Paper
= Thick Steel
= ABS
= Sheet steel
= Aluminum
= PVC
• Firework mortar requirements:

= Diameter
= Strength (wall thickness)
= Length
= Mortar plugs
• Mortar inspections
• Mortar racks, boxes (troughs) and barrels
• Ready box
• Other display equipment
• Personal safety equipment
• Emergency equipment

• Mortar placement within the secured area:

= Recommended for manual firing with reloading
= Optional for manual firing without reloading
= Optional for electrically fired displays
• Separation distance requirements
• Organization of mortars
• Burial of mortars
• Mortar angling

= Down-range aerial shell trajectory displacement
= Angling for wind drift
• Placement of mortar racks and troughs

= Rack bracing
= Rack barricading
= Rack orientation
= Trough orientation
• Placement of ready boxes

• Chain fusing method 1
• Chain fusing method 2
• Preparation of finale chain fusing
• Methods for slowing quick match burning

= Comparison of slowing methods
• Delay elements for quick match

= Self made
= “Pyroclock” units
• Making slow-burning fuse chains
• Short fusing
• Re-ignition points

• Most often needed repair supplies
• Appropriate fuse cutting tools
• Specific repairs to aerial shells:

= Missing shell leader safety cap
= Short black match delay element
= Damaged delay element
= Short shell leader
= Tear in shell leader
= Seriously damaged shell leader
= Fuse loop / suspender torn or missing
= Leaking lift powder
= Damaged casing or water-damaged shell
• Repairs to other fireworks

= Loose components
= Damaged nosing

• Separation distances for ground and proximate audience displays
• Setup of fireworks on poles
• Guy wire safety tips
• Separation distances for comets and mines
• Setup of low-level aerial fireworks
• Accidental ignition considerations
• Moisture protection
• Iron wire tie example

• Display operator responsibilities
• Firing crew personnel assignments
• Aerial shell loading
• Aerial shell firing
• Firing crew protection
• Ready box tending
• Aerial shell spotting during display
• Crowd control monitors
• Show interruptions
• After the show
• Requirements for barge and roof-top displays
• Requirements for firing salutes
• Preloaded manually fired displays

• Ohm’s law
• Wire resistance
• Electric circuit symbols
• Series circuits
• Parallel circuits
• Internal battery resistance

• Basic set-up for electrically fired display
• Public and crew safety
• Requirements for electrically fired displays
• Earth as a source of firing current
• Electric match sensitivity
• Precautions because of electric match sensitivity
• Mortar inspection after malfunctions
• Short wiring
• Exceptions to inspection after malfunctions

• Basic electric firing circuit
• Electric matches
• Characteristics of electric matches
• Electric match attachment methods

= Attachment points
= “Quick Fire” clips
= “Magic Fire” igniters
• Series firing circuits
• Parallel firing circuits
• Comparison of series and parallel firing circuits
• Testing firing circuits
• Types of electric firing units
• Wire and splicing wire
• Covering electrically fired mortars

Please send comments and suggested corrections to:
B. Kosanke, Publisher, Journal of Pyrotechnics, Inc.
1775 Blair Road Whitewater, CO 81527 USA
Phone/FAX +970-245-0692

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Last updated 26-Dec-2006