Safety Guide
Neighbours
Prepare your neighbourhood if you are having a fireworks party. A small display in a backgarden held early evening on Bonfire Night only requires the courtesy of informing your next door neighbours. On bonfire night do not fire after 11pm.
- Always purchase from a reputable dealer
- Check for risk and prepare your firing and fallout areas.
- Keep and eye on the weather – especially wind direction and wind speed
- Do not handle fireworks if under the influence of alcohol, drugs or medication
- Do not smoke whilst handling fireworks
- Use a torch to read the instructions on fireworks
- The firer should have a minimum of ear, eye and skin protection.
- Follow the ten point guide at the bottom of this page when handling fireworks
- Maintain the safety distances throughout your display
- After you have finished let the firing area cool down
- Check your garden the morning after for firework debris
Purchasing Fireworks
It is illegal for any persons under the age of 18 years old to purchase or be in the possession of fireworks. It is also illegal to supply any persons under the age of 18 years old with fireworks.
Always make sure that you purchase from a reputable and knowledgeable dealer. Fireworks require careful handling and storage from manufacture to customer to ensure a perfect and safe performance.
Fireworks bought from unlicensed or unaccountable sources are not likely to have insurance should something go wrong. The fireworks are also likely to be unreliable and poor performers. Beware the cheap box – in fireworks you get what you pay for.
Before signing for delivery check the exterior of the packaging for damage. Most companies ship products with packaging of adequate thickness so a few knocks should not matter. What you need to look for is serious damage in the external packaging that could expose or even have damaged the product.
If this is the case do not accept delivery and make sure that the carrier signs off your comments on the delivery sheet. If you can, take a picture of the damaged product with the delivery driver. If in doubt, call our helpline 01437 563881.
A most hazardous garden for a firework display
Storing Fireworks prior to the big night.
Make sure that prior to your display that all fireworks are in a sealed boxed and stored in a dry place. If you have the possibility to store away from your house then do so. Do not store near heat sources or operating electrical devices.
Preparation of the area.
Choose your area carefully. Look out for overhead hazards such as telephone lines, electrical lines, trees, overhanging branches etc. Also check for close-by objects or buildings such as sheds, greenhouses, neighbours buildings. Think very carefully before using fireworks in a space where flammable risks such as woodpiles, gas or fuel tanks are situated within a safe distance of your intended firing site. Use your common sense to decide if you have a safe area.
Bonfires
If you must have a bonfire in your garden, keep it small and controllable. The following pointers will help;
- Check your local fire brigade’s web site
- Check your garden the morning after for firework debris
- Build bonfires away from overhanging trees, fences and hedge lines
- Build bonfires away from buildings, sheds and overhead lines
- Check the bonfire for wildlife before lighting
- Burn clean wood or pallet wood
- Do not light with accelerants such as petrol or other inflammable liquids
- Do not throw fireworks into the bonfire
- Always have a fire extinguisher or bucket of water handy
- Keep an eye on wind speed and direction
Weather
Check the weather forecast. Pay particular attention to wind direction and wind speed. Wind direction will tell you if your fireworks fallout area – where the sticks or paper bungs will land – is still OK. If the wind is going to blow sparks and debris into your garden shed, conservatory or even worse your house, your neighbour’s house – then you should move the firing area to suit.
Wind speed will determine your decision to continue or cancel. Strong wind will carry rockets much further than you would imagine. The fireworks effects will be distorted and short-lived. The effects of ground-based fireworks will be flattened and similarly the effects distorted and short-lived.
Prepare your firing area
Remove trip hazards such as wheelbarrows, flowerpots and other garden furniture. Check your fallout area. Things can change overnight so be vigilant.
You will need to layout your firing plan. It is probable that you will only fire one firework at a time and therefore are more likely to be in a hurry – don’t be.
Put a couple of secure wooden stakes firmly into the ground. When properly attached to wooden stakes, the fireworks should remain upright.
WARNING: A word of warning on Fan Cakes – these are fireworks that produce multiple effects at various angles as well as straight up. Check the firework instructions so that you know which way should face the audience. Take care to stake the product back and front.
The Big Night
Pets. Its well known that some pets just hate fireworks. Some vets suggest sedation for those animals that are problematic around fireworks. If you can remove your pet to somewhere quiet this is probably better.
Alcohol
It’s a well known fact that most people under the influence of alcohol tend to favour the brainless side of their personalities. DO NOT HANDLE FIREWORKS IF YOU ARE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL OR ANY OTHER NARCOTIC SUBSTANCE, AND DO NOT ALLOW ANYONE ELSE SIMILARLY AFFLICTED TO DO SO.
Smoking
Smoking around fireworks is plainly dangerous and the cause of most unscheduled ignitions. Initiate a NO SMOKING ban around fireworks.
A perfect, clear garden for a firework display
Self Protection
Having prepared everything make sure that you have protection yourself. A pair of goggles, a hat, overalls or thick coat, garden type or work gloves. Ear protectors are also recommended.
Strong boots or Wellingtons are essential for the best dressed firer (or shooter as the Americans call them). Just beware that synthetic materials and fireworks make for a destructive partnership. Now that you look entirely ridiculous you are ready.
Distances
Make sure that your audience is more than 25 metres from the nearest firework. Children and men with no brains tend to be the chief culprits when it comes to audience creep. So keep an eye on it or better still get someone else to keep the curious at bay.
Sparklers
Sparklers appear innocdent enough. They are small and colourful but potentially very dangerous. The tip of a lit sparkler can melt skin or destroy eyesight in an instant. Also remember that the wire core is not consumed and remains charred and practically invisible – another possible hazard. Children like to wave sparklers around so give them space away from other children and adults to do so. The wire core of sparklers can get very hot so make sure your children are wearing gloves and dispose of spent sparklers in a bucket of sand or water.
Lighting Fireworks
Make sure that you keep the box containing the fireworks closed at all times. Keep the fireworks lighter away from the box and make sure that the closed box is well away from the firing area.
Read the Instructions
It is important to read the instructions on each firework before lighting it. If you can do this safely before the big night then do so. Prepare a firing list so that you know what your running order will also enhance a safe evening.
Fuses
Check where the fuses are on the firework. Always light fireworks on the fuse provided. Light the tip and always do this at arms length.
Fireworks once lit
Should, during the course of your evening, a product refuse to light, avoid the temptation to comeback to the firework and relight it. Leave it and move onto your next firework, preferably well away from the unburnt firework. Always be aware of the unburnt firework and never look into a firework that has failed.
An example firing area layout.
Rockets
Rockets deserve a special mention as most people enjoy these the most. They are dangerous in the wrong hands. It is important that rockets have a secure upright launch tube. The tube should be a little larger than the diameter of the stick and attached by cable ties preferably to an upright post – some people do build rocket stands but these must be secure. Putting the rocket into the tube prior to lighting requires a little care. Check that the fuse is visible and that the rocket has not pinched the tube between the stick and the fuse/rocket motor housing. To check this just lift the rocket upwards to check for free motion. Light the rocket and retire to a safe distance. Should the rocket motor ignite but the rocket not launch stay where you are. The rocket will still explode its effect all over your garden – it might look good but it will damage anything in its way – hence the safety distances.
Whilst there are many basic safety suggestions the most obvious is the use of common sense to keep everyone safe. Fireworks have a habit of wandering erratically if not used properly and will harm anyone in the way.
The Firework Code
Always follow the instructions on each firework carefully
- Keep all fireworks in a closed box
- Light fuse tip at arms length
- Stand well back
- Never keep fireworks or fireworks lighters in your pockets
- Never return to a firework once lit
- Never throw fireworks
- Keep pets indoors
Everyone at Pyro Express wishes all of our customers and readers a safe and spectacular night out this November. If you can visit a professional show do so and always remember Safety First.
