Pyrotechnics

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Pyrotechnics are used in the entertainment industry

The band Rammstein's stage acts centers largely around pyrotechnics

Pyrotechnics is a field of study often thought synonymous with the manufacture of fireworks, but more accurately it has a wider scope that includes items for military and industrial uses. Items such as safety matches, oxygen candles, explosive bolts and fasteners and the automobile safety airbag all fall under the purview of pyrotechnics. Without pyrotechnics, modern aviation and spaceflight would be impracticable; this is because pyrotechnic devices combine high reliabilty with very compact and efficient energy storage: essentially in the form of latent hot gases or as a shock wave as in bolt and cable cutters. The controlled action of a pyrotechnic device (initiated by any of several means, including an electrical signal, optical signal or mechanical impetus) makes possible a wide range of automated and/or remote mechanical actions; for example, deployment of safety equipment and services, precisely timed release sequences, etc. The majority of the technical pyrotechnic devices use propellants in their function, a minority use materials that are classified as primary or secondary explosives to obtain very fast and powerful mechanical (mostly cutting) actions; for example, Jet Axe.

The use of explosions, flashes, smoke, flames or other propellant driven effects on-stage is known as Proximate Pyrotechnics. Proximate because it's near an audience. Special licencing must be obtained from local authorities to legally prepare and use proximate pyrotechnics.

Many musical groups use pyrotechnics to enhance the quality of their live shows. Some of the earliest bands to use pyrotechnics were Queen, Pink Floyd and KISS. The band Rammstein uses a large variety of pyrotechnics, from flaming costumes to face-mounted flamethrowers. Also Lordi is known for its vivid pyrotechnics.

Pyrotechnics is, in general, divided into categories based on the main effect produced. The range of effects include: light flashes of various colour, intensity and duration; sounds of many types, like thumps, bangs, pops, hums and whistles, all loud or soft as needed; flames of different colours, sizes, shapes, heights and durations; smoke of any colour or amount; ejected active pyrotechnics, like various short-lived sparks (mostly produced by small metal particles of titanium, magnalium, steel or zirconium; which, being ignited by the primary device, continue to burn while moving through the air) and microstars, including glitter, strobe, colour and comet tailed effects, even coloured matrix comets invented by Myke Stanbridge. The use of ejected passive effects is common, they include: confetti, streamers, tokens, toys, etc.

A basic pyrotechnic device consists of a sufficiently strong and non-flammable container to hold its active contents, which comprise either flammable compositions, like nitrocellouse and/or blackpowder or a mixture of a fuel and oxidiser blended in situ. Various ingredients may be added to provide colour, smoke or sparks. Special additives are used to modify the character of the effect produced, either to enhance or subdue the effect; for example, the production of an effects-wave that changes as the effect progresses from several similar devices - to make the similar effect rise or fall towards or away from a cresendo, etc. In general, such pyrotechnic devices are initiated by a remotely controlled electrical signal that causes an electric-match or ematch to produce ignition. The remote control may be manual, via a switch console, or computer controlled according to a pre-programmed sequence and/or a sequence that tracks the live performance via stage cues.

If not handled and/or used properly pyrotechnics can be dangerous. In 2003 stage pyrotechnics caused a fire in a Rhode Island nightclub called The Station. The Station nightclub fire was started when the stage pyrotechnics of the band Great White accidentally ignited flammable soundproofing foam, which was not appropriate and/or not installed properly. The foam caused the fire to spread rapidly and the resulting fire led to 100 deaths, ostensibly because their quick escape was blocked by ineffective exit doors.