Safety Information

General Safety Rules

Never smoke when handling fireworks
Unpack fireworks in a safe place away from open fires and easily flammable material
Make sure all fireworks are separated from packing material
Remember that fireworks are fragile
Always keep fireworks covered before use
When out of doors, fireworks boxes should be covered with a tarpaulin or other spark-proof material as a spark could ignite the whole contents
Always light fireworks with a portfire attached to a stick held at arm's length
When firing a display always wear protective overalls, goggles, hat, and gloves - beware of hot effects falling into gaping pockets, wellington boots, etc.
Never walk or lean across the top of any firework - treat them as you would a loaded gun muzzle
Always soak unignited fireworks in water for 24 hours before disposal
Never put used or unused fireworks on to a bonfire
Never use fireworks indoors
Always have water handy such as a garden hose or water pail
Do not shoot fireworks from glass or metal containers
Never hold fireworks in your hand, except for sparklers
Never throw or point fireworks at other people
Never carry fireworks in your pocket
Never experiment or make your own fireworks
Never take fireworks apart or modify them in any way
Do not leave the fireworks unattended prior to the show

Tips for Planning a Safe Show

A. Organization

Set up a small committee, each member having their own responsibility to the organization of the show
Inform the fire brigade, the police, and for sites near the coast, the coast guard about your display well in advance
Obtain fire extinguishers, buckets of sand, and water, and make sure marshalls trained to use them are present
Keep bonfires a safe distance down wind from the firework area and supervise them at all times
Never use inflammables to start bonfires or dispose of used or unused fireworks on them

B. Purchasing and Storing

Follow your local and provincial/territorial laws regarding the purchase, possession, and use of family fireworks, and note that some municipalities restrict sale to certain times of year while others prohibit the use of family fireworks altogether or do not allow the sale of certain types of family fireworks
Only purchase authorized fireworks from reliable dealers
Do not be tempted to try to smuggle fireworks in from another country
Do not make your own fireworks
Always keep fireworks in a cool, dry place away from children
Refer to the instructions for special handling directions
Store only 10kg gross weight of fireworks in a dwelling
Store additional fireworks in a separate, locked building

C. Transportation

Do not transport fireworks in the passenger compartment of a vehicle
Always transport fireworks in the trunk
In the absence of a trunk, transport fireworks in a non-sparking container with a lid
Do not smoke while loading, transporting, or unloading fireworks

D. Setup and Firing

Never use fireworks indoors
Always use fireworks in an open area away from buildings, vehicles, overhead obstructions, and dry brush/grass
Light fireworks with the prevailing wind blowing away from spectators
Do not set off aerial fireworks in strong wind
Keep a charged hose or bucket of water near the firing site in case of a malfunction or fire
Carefully read all the instructions for each firework item ahead of time
Always light ground-based fireworks (fountains, mines) on a hard, flat, level surface (if ground is grassy, lay down a flat piece of wood) to ensure stability of the item
Bury (do not pile) aerial fireworks such as roman candles to half its length in the ground or a container filled with earth or sand
Keep all spectators at least 20 metres away
Protect yourself with safety glasses (regular glasses provide little or no protection) and non-flammable clothing such as cotton (no synthetic materials)
Never let children handle, play with, or fire fireworks (even sparklers) under any circumstances
Take care when handling fireworks to prevent dropping them
Do not carry fireworks in your pockets
Never smoke while handling fireworks
When lighting fireworks, never put any part of your body over the fireworks
Never hand hold fireworks or point or throw them at people
Never insert fireworks into containers such as pipes
During the show, store the unused fireworks away from the firing area and keep them covered to prevent sparks from prematurely setting them off
Never attempt to re-light fireworks that have misfired (duds)
If a firework misfires, wait 30 minutes and then place them in a bucket of water
After the display is finished, wait 30 minutes and then check the firing area for duds and clean up all debris
Check the firing area again the next morning

Site Location

Best sites are where the crowd faces east with sufficient distance to maintain the seperation distance between the crowd and the effects; which is 100 metres (100 yards) plus a fall out zone recommended to be 200 metres (yards) between effects and end of range. This effectively becomes a clear field of at least 300 metres distance.

Shorelines on any type body of water are premium sites as they require just the 100 metre distance from crowd to effects as the water would qualify as the fall out zone. Other features that would enhance safety, such as a bridge to suspend waterfalls from, as well as features that could be considered hazards, such as overhead lines or being in close proximity to high risk features such as occupied or fire susceptable structures should be taken into consideration when choosing site.

If it is wet, do not set out fireworks unnecessarily early. Provide a good supply of plastic bags, bin liners, and cling film, all of which can be used on most fireworks to great effect against the weather. If there is wind, make sure the fireworks are down wind from the audience. Fire the fireworks in such a way that the sparks from the burning debris fall only on those pieces which have already been fired. Rockets will always turn in the direction of the prevailing wind.

Firework-specific Precautions

Ground Mines

Ground mines do not require a separate mortar: they are supplied preloaded. When lit, they start with a small fountain before bursting into colour.

Mortar Mines

Mines are, in effect, shells bursting from the ground rather than in the air. They are propelled by means of a lifting charge which projects it out of a heavy paper mortar tube. It is very important that you follow the instructions provided and never position any part of your body over a loaded mortar tube.

Portfires

These are used to ignite the fireworks, and should be used safely.

Rockets

Should be launched from a rocket launching tube angled slightly away from spectators and any obstructions. Make sure rocket is free to rise.

Roman Candles

Batteries of candles must be firmly tied or nailed to a post or buried for 3/4 of their length in a bucket filled with dry sand. They discharge stars and other types of effects. Normally they are in batteries of 3, 4, 6, or 7.

Set Pieces

There are two main types of set piece. One type is stationary and combines geometric designs of fountains. The other type consists of moving pieces with wheels or other devices, turning vertically or horizontally. They should be fixed to a frame or post, the higher the better, as they cascade to the ground.

Security

We strongly encourage that you secure volunteers for security duty between the crowd and fireworks.

Organizing a Fireworks Factory Show

Choose a date and alternate date
Settle budget amount
Contact us with this information and request a show quote
We will respond with a program and itemized invoice
Upon obtaining your final approval, we will then make arrangements to view the site plans prior to the show to familiarize ourselves with the site
Secure date and show and make payment arrangements
We will transmit an Application To Purchase form for you to get approval from the authority having jurisdiction, which is usually the fire chief
Fax this form back