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.

Firework Firing Site Considerations

The choice of a good site is critical to public safety, and clearly important to the full enjoyment of the firework display.
Site visit
It is obvious that the Operator to any short-listed site must pay an early visit before detailed preparations can begin. The Operator will then be able to assess realistically the factors which follow. Important details are taken from HS(G)123
Space for the display this is the space required for the operation of a display, including the safety area between the firing area and the spectators. It is likely to be a rectangle at least 150m wide by 75m deep (450 feet by 225 feet)
Space for the spectators

This area should ideally be upwind of the display area, and large enough to accommodate the expected numbers. Spectators should not be so tight-packed that they could not move out of the way quickly in the event of an accident. As a rough guide, there should be no more than about two people per metre square.
The standing surface must be safe, e.g. to avoid slipping in wet weather, and free from obstructions, e.g. ditches, which could cause injury, particularly in the dark.
Fallout Zone
This is an area that is what it suggests. It is calculated to be large enough to contain any debris that will come back to Earth! The fall-out zone must be clear of any people, buildings, stores or anything inflammable.
Make sure that spectators or uninvited guests are not watching from the rear, or near the fall-out zone.
Remember that rockets when fired will turn into the wind. Even if the wind is blowing away from crowd a rocket will fly towards them. The most dangerous piece of debris from a spent firework is the rocket body and stick.
Space for a Bonfire, if there is to be one
This must be well clear of other activities that could be adversely affected by stray sparks or smoke, e.g. the firing and spectator areas. It must be well clear of buildings, roads, railways, rights of way, etc., and at a safe distance from stocks of flammable materials and overhead power lines. It should be downwind of the spectator area
Access to the Site for the delivery of Fireworks and other Equipment
Safe and certain access to the site from the road system is required for the supply vehicles. When choosing access routes, account must be taken of the adverse effects of weather on soft-surface ground and tracks.
Access to the site for Emergency Vehicles
Police, Fire, and Ambulance vehicles must be able to reach the site quickly, under all weather conditions. The routes must not become obstructed during the display, e.g. by other parked vehicles.
Access to the Site for Spectators
Spectator access must be adequate to get people on and off the site in reasonable time, again taking weather effects into account. A grass field may provide reasonable access in summer, but not after a few days of winter rain. There should be at least two routes, and they must be well signed and illuminated

The pedestrian access routes must be separate from vehicle access to car parking space, as below. There must be space for spectators to leave the site rapidly on foot in an emergency.
Spectator car Parking
Space for cars and coaches must be provided. If public roads are to be used, this must be agreed in advance with the Police. Pedestrian access from the parking spaces to the spectator area must also be well signed and illuminated.
Surrounding areas, in Terms of-
Dwellings, Roads, Railways,
The display must be located clear of these, to the extent that damage could not be caused, even in the event of complete mal-operation of a firework item. In the case of roads, the vehicles do not have to be struck by a firework for a danger to be created. An accident could result from a sudden and unexpected event anywhere on or near the carriageway.
Overhead power lines
These are vulnerable to the impact of the fireworks themselves, and may also cause a flashover if they are near scaffolding and frames used to support display features, or if they arc to Earth via the column of hot gas ejected by a firework. They may also produce stray currents in electric circuits in the vicinity, leading to the premature initiation of firework items.
Hazardous installations
The display must be well clear of any installation where flammable materials are stored or used, or where fire damage may lead to enhanced danger, e.g. plant where toxic gases are used.
Rivers and canals
Apart from the false-signalling aspects mentioned earlier, vessels and their passengers on waterways could be endangered by a display accident. Also, spent fireworks landing in water could cause pollution, which could lead to prosecution by the Environmental Agency.
Prevailing wind
The prevailing wind direction will dictate the orientation of the display site, as discussed earlier in relation to site layout.

check out our blog at http://britanniafireworks.vox.com

Firework Types & Explosives & how they work Part 3

High Explosives

Alfred Nobel showed that by careful adjustment of the grain size of gunpowder and suitable confinement of the reaction, that a detonation wave could be produced. The speed of combustion has been so accelerated that it has broken the sound barrier and gone super sonic. You are now in the realms of high explosive.

Deflagatory explosives decompose energetically by a process of chemical combustion; high explosives decompose energetically by a process of physical destruction. A detonator produces a super- sonic shock wave which scythes through the inter-atomic bonds that hold the molecules of the high explosive together. The released energy from these broken bonds then travels out to propagate the reaction.

The force of the high explosives is not dependent on the production of hot gases, but by the creation of a physical shock wave.

Basic high explosives are single substances and, since oxidising agents do not play a part in their decomposition, many can be quite safely ignited and they will burn like wood or paper.

High explosives can of course be mixed together, Lyddite, Gelignite are examples of mixed explosives.

It should be noted that Aluminium Nitrate can be used as an oxidising agent as well as a high explosive and is used in the manufacture of Amatol to get rid of the clouds of black smoke produced by the detonation of TNT.

Nuclear

Whereas high explosives involve the breaking down of molecules into atoms, nuclear explosions involve breaking down atoms into their sub-atomic particles

Nuclear explosions are Matter/Anti-matter reactions in which the Matter (Electrons, Protons, Neutrons etc.) are destroyed to produce Anti- matter (pure energy).

Fire precautions involving nuclear explosions are beyond the scope of this course.

The Keeping and Storage of Explosives

It is likely that Operators will at some stage need to keep explosives in temporary storage before a display, or after it in the case of unused items-

Explosives Act requirements

The Act requires explosives, including fireworks, to be kept in a factory or magazine licensed by the HSE, or in premises registered with the Local Authority. The quantities and types that may be kept will depend on the particulars of the licence.

Exceptions to this are where explosives are delivered to a site for use on that day, or where they are stored privately in accordance with the Control of Explosives Regulations 1991, as below.

Control of Explosives Regulations 1991

These Regulations allow, among other things, the storage of an unlimited quantity of fireworks on private premises for up to fourteen days before private use. This concession is however of no value to Operators who are giving commercial public displays.

Special Requirements for Fireworks

Operators are likely to require licensed or registered storage. In the latter case, the quantities that may be stored will vary according to the authorisation, and may range from a few kilos up to several tonnes.

The storage will need to be within easy road reach site, so that the items can be delivered and set up within the day.

MSER

Now in force took many of the older and less known explosives regulations (some of them listed) and wrapped them up into one all encompassing piece of legislation. It governs every aspect of Firework Storage, Manufacture & Use. Storage is determined by Hazard Type, Distance and an assessment of the pros and cons of any one site, the ACOP that accompanies the legislation is designed to help you interpret and put into place safe working practices.

Manufacture of Fireworks

Wherever they are manufactured, only fireworks designed and manufactured with care should be used for displays-

Main sources of Supply

Fireworks factories were set up in European countries and in the United States during the last few hundred years, producing fireworks for private and public use, and for the manufacture of other pyrotechnic articles such as signal flares, line-throwing rockets, etc.

However, after the Second World War, labour costs in the industrialised world raised to the point where the manufacture of fireworks in many cases became uneconomic, and a large proportion of the activity shifted to areas of the world where labour costs are low.

Imports into the UK

Imported fireworks have to be authorised and classified by the HSE, and this represents some restriction to ensure that fireworks of unknown or unsatisfactory composition and performance cannot legally be held or used.

Firework Importation and British Standards

Imports into the UK

Imported fireworks have to be authorised and classified by the HSE, and this represents some restriction to ensure that fireworks of unknown or unsatisfactory composition and performance cannot legally be held or used.

BS 7114 1988

This British Standard was introduced to bring some order and definition to the range and variety of fireworks available to the public, particularly in the light of increased imports, as above. The underlying purpose was to enhance the safety of fireworks by the specification of construction and performance, and by the provision of instructions for their proper use.

Categories of Fireworks

Part 1 of the Standard defines fireworks under four Categories, depending on how they are to be used, and lists and briefly describes the types in each Category.

Category 1

Should not cause injury to people standing 1m or more away, and not cause damage to property.

In the case of hand-held fireworks, should not cause injury to the holder.

Category 2

Should not cause injury to people standing 5m or more away. In the case of sparklers, the holder should not be injured by hot slag dropping, nor by sparks. Any fuse fitted should allow the person igniting the firework to withdraw at least 5m before initiation.

Category 3

Should not cause injury to people standing 25m or more away. People firing these fireworks would be expected to wear suitable PPE.

Category 4

Fireworks which are incomplete and/or not intended for public sale.

Other requirements of the Standard

Part 2 of the Standard gives the specifications for each type in each Category, including requirements for marking and labelling. Part 3 describes the test methods.

There are no references in Parts 2 and 3 of the Standard to Category 4 fireworks. Part 1 recommends that they be marked with the warning “This device must not be sold to, or used by, a member of the general public”. It also forbids any marking referring to the Standard on, or in relation to, Category 4 fireworks.

Preliminary Regulations for Packing & Transport

These were referred to at the start of the course-‘Classification and Labelling of Explosives 1983’ These Regulations first brought explosives in the UK within UN classification system, as described above.

Before explosives are transported, kept, or supplied –

· They must be classified and assigned to a UN number and Compatibility Group, as above

· The packages must be marked with the UN name and number, and labelled with two Class warning signs, normally 100mm square, showing the Division and Compatibility Group

Packaging of Explosives for Carriage 1991

The UN specifications for packaging

The UN specifies types of packaging, and assigns codes to them. For fireworks, the most common types are likely to be the fibreboard box type 4 G. Note that this UN packaging code has nothing to do with the UN Division and Compatibility Group letter 1.4 G.

Performance testing of packaging

Explosives must normally be carried in UN-approved packaging. An approved package is one where a prototype has successfully undergone the UN performance tests for the type at a Government-approved test establishment. Apart from the type approval, the packaging must be suitable in all respects, e.g. undamaged.

No one may carry explosives if they know that they are not in compliance, e.g. they are not in UN-approved packaging, or otherwise exempt.