Team Britannia test the awesome FireOne XL4

Next weekend the team at Britannia Fireworks AKA "Team Britannia" will be showcasing our skills, technology and quality at the British Pyromusical Championships over in Southport. This annual extravaganza for the firework teams is an important occasion for the team, so this evening they are testing out their high tech equipment at a client pyromusical. To facilitate such huge scale and complex fireorks display we use the world renowned FireOne firing system, this includes MP2 systems for smaller shows, XL2 controllers for pyromusical and medium to large scale events and also the immense XL4 firing system that can handle any occasion. this system is well known in the industry and has been involved in the worlds largest shows including the recent Olympic Fiworks Displays. The system is reliable, robust and very flexible and precise, it's this level of detail and quality that fits with the ethos of the Britannia Team where quality is everything and we recognise that this comes with a price. We've invested nearly £40.000 alone just this year on the firing systems alone and it's always an ongoing investment.

Our team specialise in the more complex displays including pyromusicals and displays with challenging sites that often baffle many firework display companies.

We have a diverse range of high quality fireworks suitable for a wide variety of occasions and firing sites.

Give us a call today if you want a high end fireworks display with a quality service.

For more information please visit www.britanniafireworks.com or call 0845 862 3434

Britannia Fireworks are Finalists in the British Pyro musical Championships

Hours of planning, if not days and days of planning, weeks in the Magazine and Factory creating our biggest display of the year….The British Pyro Musical Championships.

The Britannia Team will be competing as finalists in this well know British Event at the end of this month, staging a 16 minute firework spectacular.

There has been a huge amount of planning and design work as well as innovation and hard work. Our dedication to find the very best effects has taken us to German Firework Factories, Spanish Firework Factories, our high end suppliers in China and to two factories here in the UK, and that’s all in the first 3 months of 2012!

Our style and approach has always been one of quality and innovation, seeking to evolve our displays and improve at every level. It’s likely that we won’t have the most fireworks in this event but as they say “it’s what you do with it that counts” and that’s precisely what we’ve been planning. We will bring a high quality product emphasis to the event and we hope this shines brightly in the colour of many of our Fireworks.

Ian has worked hard on a great choice of music, personal in some respects to both him and the team, but it will also strike a chord with many of the spectators to, both geographically and musically. It will raise a smile and a sense of pride as well as being down right entertaining..

There has been a lot of emphasis placed on the variety of tempo and music styles in the track selection; giving us the scope to use a wide variety of effects and to then try and tap into the emotion of each piece.

We really want to inspire and amaze but we also want to humble folks and bring thought and smiles to all that watch….The finale is suitably fitting for the occasion, and in fact the whole year that has been so well marked with some fantastic firework events at The Queens Diamond Jubilee as well as the Olympics and Paralympics in recent weeks.

Keep in touch with the team and follow us on Facebook to get some more interesting facts about what we do.

www.britanniafireworks.com

For more information contact the team on 0845 862 3434

Britannia Fireworks Launches its new Website

 

Britannia Fireworks has recently launched a brand new Firework Display Company.

The team at Britannia Fireworks have been in the business for many years, since the early 80’s they have been perfecting the art of fireworks displays and still all these years later it is quite simply the most exciting business to be in.

The team of course over these years has evolved and in recent times they have enjoyed trips into Europe representing the best of British and firing fireworks displays in magnificent settings.

It was decided in early 2012 to use some of these magnificent firework pictures in our new website, it clean and easy to use, stylish yet simple. It replies purely on the visual beauty of the Fireworks without lots of nonsense waffle and grand descriptions.

What really a count in any business and this is where Britannia score so highly, that being attention to the customer’s needs and also to every detail, yet we don’t bother you with the detail, we simply deliver the very best we can.

The new website in its first phase is just what we aim to be, straight forward, informative whilst providing inspiring images in fireworks. We’re very proud of our British routes and our own small history in the fireworks industry. We invite you to share this with us and visit

 

www.britanniafireworks.com

For more information contact the team on 0845 862 3434

Some suggestions for Fireworks Display Material Use Part 2

Shell Barrages – “Cake Boards”

Multi shot barrages (cakes) come in many sizes and shapes. Do not underestimate the power of this group of fireworks. Careful attention to detail is required when setting these up.

They can produce considerable forces when firing. For this reason they must be placed on stable and flat ground. Where this is not achievable, wooden boards may be required to form a firm base. These are held in place with stakes and Straps or Ties. This provides a firm base for the firework to recoil against, thereby reducing the possibility of distortion or breaking internal fuses thus breaking the fuse chain, or misdirection of projected pyrotechnic items. They can also be buried to half their depth in soil or sand if required.

Make sure that they cannot topple over and secure them to two or three stakes set around the box with straps or ties. They should be slightly angled away from the spectators and the underside of the box packed out with wooden boards.

The larger cakes are already wrapped in plastic but it is good practice to further protect them in damp or wet conditions at fireworks displays.

The fuses on the Chinese cakes can be unreliable and should be replaced with green delay fuse (PIC). Insert some quickmatch with the end bared directly into the first tube of the cake to replace the original fuse, and connect a length of green delay fuse to this. Some cakes are susceptible to blowing up if badly constructed.

Remember – a barrage cake may have as many as twenty or thirty 2.5” (65mm) shells in one box!

Placing and loading mortars

As a Rule 1st Galaxy Fireworks Ltd use racking systems for 2.5” (65mm) – 5” (130mm) Mortar Tubes, these Racks can fix together to form a solid structure. Or where safety requires distances between them, we can stake them in Two Places (at opposing diagonal corners). These are placed long ways onto the crowd, ensuring that they cannot fall over in that direction.

Larger Mortars are secured With Three Large Stakes, they can either be buried to cover the Shell itself, e.g. a 6 inch shell would be placed in a 6 – 8” hole, thus the shell is set slightly in the ground. This offers both a stable surround, and some protection should the delay blow, and the lift charge and break fire within the tube at the same time. Sand bags can also offer protection from such an occurrence if used to surround the base of the tube.

Stakes: The use of stakes, preferably strong wooden, or purpose made racks are the only practical methods of safely setting up mortar tubes

Ensure that stakes are driven firmly into the ground before the fireworks are attached to them.

All stakes must be angled by no more than 15 degrees away from the crowd, depending on site conditions

Where stakes are used to obtain a fan effect, from Roman Candles for instance, then these must not lean over from the vertical by more than 15 degrees, i.e. 30 degrees between the two.

Where Set Pieces are secured to a stake(s), attach them to the rear of the stake. This applies especially to shell tubes and Roman Candles. The only exceptions to this rule are Wheels which will be on the front of a pole but this will still be secured to the rear of a stake.

Make sure that the fireworks are firmly attached to the stakes using string, nylon cable ties or straps. Each one must have at least two separate fixings at the top and middle points. Larger fireworks will require more. Do not over tighten nylon tie fixings as this may cause a restriction in the tube.

Stakes must not extend beyond the opening of the firework and care must be taken not to split open the top of the stake. Good quality, not split, 50mm x 50mm wooden are recommended for most fireworks although lighter gauge stakes may be used on the small candle boxes, Steel angle iron stakes are ideal as long as they are not too flimsy. A selection of lengths will be required for the different size fireworks.

Make sure that the ties are not too tight. This could restrict the bore of the firework, particularly candles.

Shells

It should be stressed that the procedures and information set out in this course are to be strictly adhered to.

A shell is launched from a mortar tube. These are made to withstand the pressure created when the lifting charge explodes. It is therefore essential that the following initial considerations are taken into account.


• Is the tube in good condition and dry and that the bung is firmly in place
• Is the tube the correct size for the shell
• Is the tube long enough
• Is it made from a suitable material

All tubes should be carefully checked to make sure that they are not damaged, damp or obstructed in any way.

The shell must be a good fit in the tube. If it is loose the effect of the lifting charge will be to partially bypass the shell and produce insufficient pressure to lift it high enough into the air. This can result in a “low burst”.

If it is too tight there is danger that the shell will not clear the tube when the lifting
charge detonates, resulting in the tube being split and the shell exploding at or near ground level. This can result in a “low burst”. This will also make the likelihood of fragments from the tubes an additional danger.

This is particularly important when using top fused shells as the connecting fuse
between the delay and the bursting charge may be damaged. This will cause the
shell to explode but not the lifting charge.

It is important that mortar tubes are made of materials that will not fragment.
Suitable materials are cardboard / fibreboard, high density polyethylene, heavy duty UPVC. If in doubt then don’t use them.

NEVER use tubes constructed from steel or hard brittle plastics such as drain pipe.

Fibreboard tubes that become wet lose a great deal of their strength and will not recover. Always ensure that tubes are protected from the weather and stay dry. Shells to be put into plastic tubes are best put in a poly bag first – plastic sweats!

Shells generally range in size from 2” (50mm.) to the massive 16” (400mm.) finale shell. Common sizes are 3” (75mm.), 4” (100mm.), 5” (125mm.), 6” (150mm.),8” (200mm.), 10” (250mm.), 12” (300mm.). Single tubes are generally used for 150mm. shells and larger.

Before loading the shell, make sure that the tube is empty.

The shell should be a comfortable sliding fit down the whole length of the tube and must rest at the bottom. Make sure that you are using the correct size tube for the shell. Check that the shell is the correct way up. Sometimes the string loop on the shell can break away causing the shell to hang upside down. Do not remove strings.




Setting up mortar tubes

Where mortar tubes are not available in specially constructed racks, they must be secured to a stake that is driven well into the ground or an appropriate steel or timber frame. A small piece of timber must be inserted between the tube and the ground to transmit the force of firing. Otherwise the base of the tube could be blown off.

The tubes must be positioned at a safe distance from the spectators in the event of a tube failure. The firers must wear the correct PPE and allow sufficient time to get to a position of safety.

They must be fixed in at least 2 separate positions using straps, nylon ties or strong sisal string and the tube must be positioned on the far side of the stake, angled away from the spectators. Check that there is sufficient room between tubes or tube racks.

Make sure that the tube is completely clear of debris from the previous display
firing before lowering the shell into it.

The shells are lowered into the tubes using the long fuse. Handle them with care, they are fragile. The larger shells (10” and upwards) may have a string for lowering. The fuse is not strong enough to lower these. Some shells need the string to assist flight.

The lifting charge is usually contained in a paper cone at the bottom of the shell. This may not be obvious when using plastic shells so check that they are the right way up!

The shell should be a comfortable sliding fit down the whole length of the tube and must rest at the bottom. Make sure that you are using the correct size tube for the shell.

Shells with ancillaries / tails & some double break shells may have a protective wrapper over the top of the additional ignition point. These are for protection during transit and must be removed before inserting into the tube. Often coloured red.

If it does not slide in – DO NOT FORCE IT.

NEVER RE-LOAD A TUBE DURING A FIREWORK DISPLAY

If possible set up the Finale first, protecting it from possible sparks from other pieces by setting up and covering with aluminium foil.

Cover each piece with foil or plastic bags, as necessary.

Some suggestions for Fireworks Display Material Use

Shell Batteries / Shell Strings

These are generally used for 75mm. and 100mm. shells fired in sequences. They are usually used in groups of 6 shells for 75mm, and 5 for 100mm.

shells.

Such sequences are normally placed in racks specially designed for the purpose.

This allows the shells to be fused together, normally with a time delay between each shell using green PIC. Certain Maroons must not be placed in racks. Always load into individual tubes.

The racks must be secured using wooden stakes or steel pins. If using steel pins

(road pins) or angle irons, then the sledge or club hammer must be protected from the pin to avoid sparks - a piece of cardboard or wood should be sufficient for the purpose. Non- ferrous hammers are available, but are extremely expensive and difficult to procure. If setting up close to where other fireworks have already been prepared, consider placing all the stakes out before fixing the tubes.

Make sure that all fuses are protected whilst securing the stakes and that the racks are angled away from the spectators.

All match fuses must be secured to the top of the mortar tube to prevent it being lifted off by an adjacent shell when fired. This can be difficult to achieve on plastic tubes as they tend to stay damp. In such cases wipe them dry with a rag or paper towel beforehand.

To secure the shell leaders (quickmatch leaders) to the racks use wooden battens tied down using nylon zip ties to pinch the leaders onto the rack frame. You can also use a zip ties on individual leaders, but when using a larger number of shells this is fiddly and time consuming so the former is usually preferred. Another method is to tape the leader down, but this is usually a last option and used if zip ties etc run out as the tape tends not to stick to the racks, but is useful when attaching leaders to the cardboard tubes, simply ensure the surface is as clean as possible giving the tape chance to stick well.

Never use a Stapler to secure shell leaders onto a wooden frame; this can result in premature ignition.

This applies to both batteries and single tubes as the quickmatch fuse can blow itself out when bent over the edge of tubes.

It is important to ensure that the brown paper quickmatch fuse is completely inside the mortar tube and covered as it is particularly sensitive to damp.

The paper fuse will need to be joined to a length of waterproof quickmatch which can be left outside the tube.

Some shells may be pre-fused at the factory. They must not be carried in the tubes in vehicles but unloaded before transport and re-loaded at the display site.

Maroons and Mines

Treat as for shells. Never put maroons in racks. They contain flash powder and if one blows the blast will destroy the whole rack.

Rockets

As a rule Britannia Fireworks do not use Single, Large Rockets in our Displays, but on occasion we are requested to do so. If the site is suitable etc.. we take into account the following :-

The major consideration when setting up rockets is that the empty tubes and sticks will not fall onto spectators. It may seem obvious but the crowd are going to be looking up into the sky! This is where the debris will come from.

Before any firework display it is vital that the wind direction is checked. This is particularly important when considering where to fire rockets. We have already made reference to the fact that rockets turn back into the wind. Plenty of space is required to fire them and an adequate “fall out zone” must be available.

Rockets should be set up in racks specially designed for the purpose. These can take the form of steel tubes welded onto a frame. One alternative is to construct a timber frame made from 1 ½ “ x 1” timber (38 x25mm). The sticks can then be dropped into such suitable guides as large screw eyes, saddle clips, staples of 12mm. diameter or plastic tubes set into spring clips.

Check first of all that the stick of the rocket is firmly fixed to the body and that the stick is not broken or split. Make certain that the rocket is free to rise with no obstructions.

Most rockets have fuse caps. These must be removed for fusing but delay this as long as possible to avoid damp. Rockets are very often fired in a sequence and will therefore need to be fused together. Use green fuse and secure this with tape to each rocket fuse. Be careful the green fuse does not fall away from the rocket as it burns.

Remember to remove all plastic waterproofing before firing rockets!

Rockets – Flights

These are smaller rockets which are fired in groups of 10 or more at the same time and may be fired from a metal cone, an 8” (200mm) tube or a specially constructed box.

Flights are fitted with instantaneous match fuse, unlike their bigger brothers which have delay fuses.

The method for fusing flights is to ensure that all of them fire together. A length of brown fuse or more commonly quickmatch is attached to two rocket fuses and a piece of green fuse is finally attached to the brown or quickmatch to act as the delay fuse. The spread of fire from each fuse will ensure that they will all fire simultaneously.

Roman Candles

Roman Candles, single

These fireworks must be securely fixed to a stake using at least 2 ties, or set firmly in sand or earth. It is important to make sure that they cannot topple as the balls of fire and effects are thrown to a considerable height. When using wire, care must be taken so as not to over tighten and restrict the bore of the tube.

These are very often used in pairs or groups of three to create spectacular effects in fans. In this case they should be fixed as before to specially constructed frames which are in turn attached to stakes. They should be angled away and fixed on the side furthest away from the spectators. If frames are used it will determine the angle of the candles automatically, but if in sand or earth then the maximum permitted angle from the vertical must be no more than 15 degrees.

Candles are fused together using quickmatch. The end of the quickmatch is exposed and is inserted into the open end of the candle. A further short length of black match is used in the end of the candle to aid ignition. All fuses are then secured to the candle using tape. All fuses are then brought to a central point and a 5 second delay using green fuse is finally connected.

Bundles of candles

Small Roman Candles can be tied together to form a bundle of 7 or 19. The bundle is tied together using strong tape or wire provided it is not too tight. These are then secured to a stake or special frame as previously described.

They are fused together by exposing the fuses and laying a generous quantity of black match over the top of them. A delay fuse is attached to the black match and then the top is completely covered with tape to waterproof the items, leaving only the green delay fuse exposed. These can also be linked to others.

Glossary of Firework Names O - Z

Item	Definition
Open circuit	An incomplete electrical circuit
Orange book	The United Nations publication for classification and testing of dangerous goods
Oxidant	The component of an explosive that supplies oxygen for the reaction of the product
Palm burst	A colour break with palm tree core
Parallel circuit	An electrical circuit in which the current is divided between several igniters. Less easy to test for breaks.
Paste	Commonly used to cover shells to enhance their burst
Pattern shell	A shell of fewer stars that creates a pattern rather than a sphere
Pellet	See Star
Peony shell	A shell whose stars do not leave any trails
PIC	Plastic Igniter cord
Pigeon	A specialised type of firework which travels to and fro along a horizontal rope
Piped match	Raw match enclosed in a paper or plastic tube
Pistil	The central core of a shell. Often a complimentary or contrasting colour to the main burst
Plug	See Bung
Portfire	A thin walled tube filled with slow burning composition used to light other fireworks
Propellant	Composition used to produce force e.g. A rocket motor
Punk	Slow burning lighter for small fireworks
Pyrotechnic	Generic term for any item which react in a self sustaining chemical reaction and generally produces a light effect. Pyrotechnic articles are different to fireworks and generally are used for stage and theatrical uses
Quickmatch	Raw match enclosed in a paper or plastic tube
Rack	Apparatus for firing rockets or mortar tubes
Rain	Shells containing long burning stars that fall all the way to the ground.
Raw match	Black powder coated thread used for linking fireworks
Repeater shell	Usually a cylinder shell with timed bursts at regular intervals
Ring shell	An aerial shell that produces symmetrical rings of stars often have a rope tail to control orientation of the break
Rising effect	Often a tail effect on a shell but can be external attachments to a shell that break off during the rise to create special effects
Rocket	Aerial effect propelled by a motor
Rocket cone	A device for firing flight rockets
Rocket motor	The power unit behind a rocket. Typically made by pressing black powder into a choked tube
Roman candle	A cardboard tube with a stack of timed comets or bombette units
Round shell	A shell in the form of a sphere usually containing coloured stars
Safety area	The area around a fireworks display site between the spectators and fireworks. Not including a fall out zone
Salute	Report or loud bang
Saturn shell	A chrysanthemum break with an outer ring of a contrasting colour
Saxon	A bar with centre pivot with drivers at either one or two ends which make the bar spin on a central point.
Screecher	A whistle unit with a hole through the centre. This increases the burn speed and therefore the sound
Sequence	The pattern in which fireworks are detonated in a display
Series circuit	A circuit arranged so the current runs through each igniter in turn. This enables and breaks to be detected
Serpent	A spinning tube used in candles and shells. Usually with a report unit
Set piece	A ground firework. Generally static
Shell	The most spectacular of fireworks propelled with a lifting charge from a mortar and a bursting charge that charge to a star composition in the air after a predetermined delay
Shell delay	See Delay fuse
Shell of shells	An aerial shell that contains smaller shells ignited when the main shell bursts and subsequently produces small secondary bursts
Short circuit	The accidental completion of a circuit which causes the current to not flow through the igniter
Shot	The single functioning of a roman candle or cake
Smoke	Air suspension of particles from incomplete combustion of a composition
Smokeless powder	A powder containing nitro-cellulose and nitro-glycerine as it does not produce much smoke
Spark	Typical effect caused by incandescent particles ejected form the surface of a burning composition
Sparkler	Wire coated with pyrotechnic composition that gives off small sparks
Spider shell	A shell containing a small number of large stars producing a symmetrical burst. Sometimes called octopus shells
Splitting comet	A comet with an internal charge of flash powder which when ignited splits the comet into several pieces.
Squib	Electric igniter
Star	A pressed unit of composition usually spheres or cylinders used in shells, mines, rockets and roman candles
Storage	The holding of fireworks prior to their use. Premises must be licensed for amounts above a certain quantity
Strobe	A pulsing on off star effect fired from candles and shells and ground based effects
Tail effect	A comet star secured to the outside of a shell to give a tail to the rising shell
Tiger tail shell	A shell made up of a solid ball of composition to produce a substantial tail effect. Sometimes with a small shell break
Titanium	A silver metal used in the production of maroons and gerbes
Top fused	A shell where the shell delay is lit separately from the lifting charge. Often found in large Maltese shells
Tourbillion	See Serpent
Transportation	The process of consigning a load of fireworks. Subject to heavy legislative control
TREM card	Documentation required when transporting fireworks of any quantity. Transport emergency card. Provide information for emergency services
Trunk	A large tail unit often used on palm and willow shells
UN classification	The assignment of a packaged firework into the UN classes for fireworks
UN compatibility group	The G or S of 1.3G or 1.4S. The compatibility group indicated what a particular item may and not be transported with
UN Hazard code	See UN number
UN Mark	A complicated mark assigned to a particular packing box for dangerous goods
UN Number	A four-digit number assigned to hazardous goods. Explosives always start with a 0 e.g. 1.4G fireworks are UN 0336. Used to identify a dangerous item in the event of an emergency
Volley	A mass firing of rockets or shells
Water firework	Aquatic fireworks e.g. shells or water gerb
Water gerb	A floating gerb with a weight and cork float.
Water shell	See Aquatic shell
Waterfall	A curtain of coloured or silver sparks that falls vertically. Composition is made from an aluminium alloy
Weeping willow	See Willow shell
Wheel	A rotating piece attached to a post in the form of a saxon bar or wheel with driver units
Whistle	A tube containing composition of potassium benzoate and potassium silicate. On burning the composition creates oscillation in the tube and creates a whistle effect which is amplified in the tube
Whizzer	See Hummer
Willow shell	A shell containing charcoal based stars with a long burn time which often fall to the ground

Glossary of Firework Names A-N

Item	Definition
1.1G	The UN Classification of Fireworks packaged for transport that poses a mass explosion hazard.
1.2G	The UN Classification of Fireworks packaged for transport that poses a projectile hazard
1.3G	The UN Classification of Fireworks packaged for transport that poses a fiery projectile or thermal radiation hazard
1.4G	The UN Classification of Fireworks packaged for transport that poses a limited hazard
1.4S	The UN Classification of Fireworks packaged for transport that poses a very limited hazard with minimal effect if ignited.
ADR	Regulations covering all drivers of explosives vehicles over a certain net weight of explosives
Aerial Firework	A firework that has its main function above ground level mainly shells, roman candles, mines and cakes
Aerial shells	A shell that is designed to function at altitude
Aquatic shell	A shell that is designed to function on the surface of water
Bag mine	A mine that is fired from a mortar with only a small casing to create minimum debris
Bare match	Blackmatch without a sleeve
Barrage	A combination of fireworks designed to be fired simultaneously
Battery	A group of roman candles grouped and fused together for increased effect or duration
Bengal	Coloured flare usually made up from loose packed composition
Blackmatch	A cotton thread coated with blackpowder in its raw state. Sometimes cased in a paper tube
Black powder	A composition of potassium nitrate, charcoal and sulphur in the proportion of 75:15:10 widely used in fireworks manufacture as a propellant and the basis for compositions containing metal powders. Blackpowder does not detonate on ignition but merely burns very fast
Blind shell	A shell that fails to break. Potentially very dangerous
Blinker	An effect of periodic burning giving the effect of flashing or strobe
Bombette	Spanish for little shell. Usually found as part of roman candles or cakes and occasionally in mines or sub components of shells
Bottom fused	The normal method of igniting a shell. The delay is ignited which then lights a delay fuse on the shells. Also used for cakes when the fuse runs round the base of each tube and enters via a small hole
BPA	British Pyrotechnic Association. Trade organisation concerned with all areas of firework safety and use in the UK
Break	A burst of a shell or bombette unit. Shells can either be single or multibreak units
British Standard	The standards set for consumer fireworks for labelling and construction. All consumer fireworks must comply with BS 7114 part2 1988
Brocade	Long burning star that burns bright but not as long as a kimuro
Bung	Always used at one end only of a tube or mortar. A composite or solid wooden disk the same size as internal diameter of a tube and usually nailed and glued into the tube to keep secure. Bungs are often made of compressed clay for items including cakes and roman candles.
Bursting Charge	An internal charge of a shell or bombette unit that breaks the shell open at a predetermined height. Made from gunpowder or flashpowder
Butterfly	A burst of a cylindrical tube from a central point which creates an effect that looks like the wings of a butterfly
Cake	Colloquial term for a multi shot battery
Calibre	The inside diameter of a firing tube or mortar
Cannonade	An aerial shell containing several shells that explodes at the same time. Also a battery of reports from china
Case	The tube that contains firework composition
Catherine wheel	The traditional name for a wheel. The name given because of St.Catherine who was martyred on a burning rotating wheel
Chain fusing	A method of fusing several firework elements together e.g. shells
Chinese cracker	A roll of many hundreds of individual cracker units which produces a machinegun report effect when hung up. Traditionally used for Chinese celebrations
Choke	The narrowing of a tube usually for fountains or rockets by means of squeezing the tube or the insertion of a clay bung
Chrysanthemum break	A spherical burst in which each star leaves a visible trail
Closed circuit	A completed electrical circuit. i.e. A ready to fire circuit
Coconut break	A shell containing large stars usually gold, silver or crackling to produce a palm tree effect. Usually fitted with a tail to produce the trunk effect
Comet	A solid unit of composition usually used in roman candles. The unit is completely self consuming so is useful for site where fallout is a problem
Composition	A term used for all pyrotechnic mixtures. More specifically it is a list of ingredients in a particular mix. All compositions contain an oxidant together with colour or effect ingredients.
Cone	A specialised fountain in the shape of a cone. A burning cone will increase the height of the spark shower as it burns as the surface area that burns is increased.
Cracker	Banger unit also see Chinese cracker
Crackle	An effect containing hundreds of sharp bangs thrown off a low intensity comet. Most crackle compositions contain lead or bismuth oxides
Croaker	See Screecher
Cross match	A piece of thin raw match used to facilitate the ignition of a shells internal delay fuse. Usually made from splitting or punching the delay fuse
Crossette	See Splitting comet
Crossing stars	Two stars in a single tube with a central bursting charge
Crown	See Kimuro
Crown chrysanthemum	A chrysanthemum break with longer burning stars that fall to the ground. Often produced to have coloured tips at the end.
Crown wheel	A plastic ring with driver units that rotate and flies vertically. Double acting versions are available which ascend drop sand then re ascend
Cylinder shell	Usually European and commonly a stack of shells that are timed to break in a sequence.
Dahlia	A shell with larger and brighter stars than peony breaks
Deflagration	Explosive propagation which is faster than burning but is not detonation
Delay	Pyrotechnic composition that burns at a predetermined rate and used for timing within or externally between fireworks

Delay fuse	A pyrotechnic composition designed to delay before functioning the next explosive device. Most commonly used in shell spikes as they rise into the air.
Display area	The are used for rigging and including the safety and fallout area
Driver	A specialist gerb with more power whose primary purpose is to rotate a wheel. Often including titanium.
DTI	Department of Trade and Industry responsible for aspects of sale of fireworks to the general public
EIG	The Explosives Industry Group of the Confederation of British Industry. Its main purpose is liaison with government on safety and legislative matters
Electric firing	The process of firing a displays electrically.
Electric igniter	An electrically ignited match head commonly used on electrically fired displays. These are not to be confused with detonators
Electric match	An electric igniter
European standard	A proposed standard for fireworks across Europe (CEN 212) currently being adopted across Europe.
Explosive	Any material that is capable of undergoing a self contained self-sustained exothermic chemical reaction at a rate that is sufficient to produce substantial pressures on their surroundings thus causing physical damage. All fireworks are classified as explosives
Explosive train	The progress of fire from one explosive component to another.
Fallout zone	A safe area designated for any debris fallout from a display. This must be selected with climatic conditions in mind.
Finale barrage	A rapid firing pre fused sequence fired at the end of a display
Firecracker	See Cracker
Firework	An explosive assigned to UN numbers 0333 to 0337.
Flare	A pyrotechnic device designed to emit coloured light.
Flash rocket	A rocket containing a flashpowder charge that produces a loud report after its ascent
Flight rocket	A small rocket. Usually fired in large numbers simultaneously from a tube or cone
Flitter	A spark effect produced by incorporation of coarse metal powders, usually aluminium
Fountain	A device containing pyrotechnic composition in a tube which is usually choked.
Front	An arrangement of mines, fountains or roman candles arranged parallel with the spectators and fired simultaneously
Fuse	Means of transferring fire to a firework
Fuse cover	A protective cover for the initial fuse of a firework. Often coloured orange
Garden firework	A firework of limited power for use in restricted outdoor areas. Category 2 fireworks.
Gerb	A thick walled tube filled with composition and having a choke. Emits shower of sparks
Glitter	Production of molten composition droplets which react with air to produce a glittery effect. Similar but different to strobe and flitter
Gunpowder	Pyrotechnists term for black powder.
Hammer shell	A multibreak shell comprising of colour breaks with timed detonation
Hanbai	Japanese for fireworks translated as 'flowers of fire'
High explosive	An explosive that is capable of exploding when unconfined
HSE	The British Health and Safety Executive. Enforcement and legislative body.
Hummer	A thick walled tube filled with composition with a specific burn rate so as to produce a humming sound
Igniter	A shortened term for an electric igniter
Igniter cord	Also called pic. This is available in several burning speeds. Often used to time link fireworks
Ignition	The initiation of burning of a pyrotechnic material
Indoor firework	Devices of very limited power suitable for indoor use
Japanese style shell	A spherical burst shell. Has perfect symmetry and patterned displays.
Kimuro	A long burning star usually silver or gold. Falls for long distances and colour changes at the end of its flight
Kraft paper	A strong brown paper used for finishing shells and capping.
Lance	Small thin walled tube containing coloured composition.
Lancework	A message or logo made from wooden framework and lances fused and positioned in a specific manner
Leader	An initial fuse of a shell from its fuse to the lifting charge
Lifting charge	A charge beneath an aerial shell that propels the unit into the air
Line rocket	A rocket designed to travel along a wire or rope
Maroon	An explosive device that produces a loud report
Match	A generic term for quickmatch or black match
Mine	A lifting charge with either comet stars or bombette units fired from a mortar tube.
Mini mine	A roman candle which ejects min mine effects rather than comet or bombette units
Misfire	A failure of a firework to perform as designed
Mixture	See Composition
Mortar	A tube used to fire a shell or mine. Open at one and sealed with a bung at the other
Mortar mine	A mine fired from a mortar
Niagara falls	See Waterfall
Nomatch	A specialised system for firework ignition using a shock tube. High-speed simultaneous ignition can be achieved.