Fireworks Standards(British)

     British standard

     In 1988 there was published in the UK a British Standard(number 7114(72))which defines the performance and labeling requirements for those items considered safe for use by the general public in the UK.The standard itself is in 3 parts:

     Part 1 – Classification of fireworks

     Part 2 – Specification for fireworks

     Part 3 – Methods of test for fireworks

     Table 8.1 shows the standard 3 categories of fireworks suitable for use by the general public.

                          Table 8.1 British Standard

Category		Definition	Fireworks	General Requirements
1	Fireworks suitable for use Inside domestic buildings (generally)known as indoor fireworks		Cap, Smoke devices, Party poppers, Table bomb, Throw down, Novelty match, Non-hand-held sparkler, Hand-held sparkler, Cracker snap, Serpent.	Performance must comply  With the standard (diverse-depending on Type). Correct labeling for each ] Item. Item specific details are maximum weight. In general(except sparklers) No items should be Hand-held. Batch testing of Construction, labeling And performance.
2	Fireworks suitable for Outdoor use in relatively Confined areas(generally) Known as garden Fireworks		Banger, Fountain, Roman candle, Mine, Wheel, Rocket, Non-hand-held sparkler, Hand-held-sparkler, Combination.	No lit debris outside 3m, Below 3m (recommended viewing Distance 5m). Fuse time between 3 and 13 Second. Correct labeling for each Item. Item specific details are Maximum weight, caliber Etc. In general(except sparklers) No items should be hand-held. Batch testing of Construction, labeling and Performance.
3	Fireworks suitable for Outdoor use in large open Spaces(generally known as Display fireworks)		Banger, Fountain, Roman candle, Mine, Wheel, Rocket, Non-hand-held sparkler, Shell, Shell-in-mortar, Combination.	No lit debris outside 20m Below 3m(minimum Viewing distance 25m). Fuse time between 5 and 15 seconds. Correct labeling for each item. Item specific details are Maximum weight, caliber Etc. Batch testing of Construction, labeling And performance.

 

   In this manner, for instance, fountains without the correct fusing or labeling are deemed Category 4,even though their performance is very limited it is incorrect to assume that all category 4 fireworks are by”definition”larger,more powerful items than would be permitted for sale to the general public.Fireworks that do not conform to the requirements of categories 1,2 or 3 are deemed to be category 4 and thus unsuitable for sale to the public.

   Each”batch”of fireworks needs to be tested for compliance with the standard. A sample(the number is determined according to BS 6001)is tested for both performance and construction criteria.If the sample fails then whole batch in deemed to have failed and must be re-tested prior to sale to the general public.

   The British standard has undergone some modification since 1988.And in 1966 certain items were banned from sale to the general public even though they meet the requirements of the standard as a result of the firework safety regulations.