Consumer fireworks

Consumer fireworks are fireworks sold to the general public for use. They are generally weaker in explosive power compared to professional displays.

A typical example of consumer fireworks - rockets, artillery shells, smoke balls, and others

A sparkler firework lit by a candle

Using a lighter to light the punk

Using the punk to light a rocket

Examples

Consumer fireworks are often quite small and can be classified into three groups: daytime, nighttime, and novelty fireworks.

Daytime fireworks

Daytime fireworks include most bottle rockets, smoke balls, firecrackers, and other fireworks that emit very little or no light. Some examples of daytime consumer fireworks include:

• Bottle Rockets — Launch into the air, sometimes with a high-pitched whistling sound, with a report at the end. Some varieties may emit sparks upon launch. Their sizes can range from an inch to about 6 inches (15 cm) long and 1/8 to 3/4 inches (3-19 mm) around, not including the stick. The smaller variety of these rockets are also commonly referred to as "Bottle Rockets" due to the commonality in which people use a bottle as a launching platform.
• Firecracker — An explosion occurs on the ground, often in a series. They range from 1 to 16,000+ on a single string.
• Smoke ball — Emits colored smoke for a few seconds. Colors typically include white, green, blue, yellow, orange, fuscia, red and pink.
• Multiple Rocket Launcher — More commonly known as the "Saturn Missile Battery" typically launches a series of 16 to 800 small rockets (dependent on the firework purchased) with a high-pitched whistle each time, often with a report.

Nighttime fireworks

Nighttime fireworks include Roman candles, sparklers, jumping jacks, artillery shells, and other light-emitting fireworks. Some examples of nighttime consumer fireworks include:

• Repeater — A device in which one fuse lights and ignites a series of small mortars at once, these can contain up to 500 grams of gunpowder and offer a very exciting display.
• Roman Candles — A long tube that fires small balls of light in succession to one another. They can have as few as 5 shots, or as many as 200 shots.
• Sparklers — Long-lasting magnesium rods that emit sparks, sometimes flickering.
• Artillery shells — A ball containing pyrotechnic stars that are launched from a launch tube. They often come in packs of 6 or 12 and shoot about 75 to 150 feet (23-45 m) above the ground before exploding.
• Jumping Jacks — Same size, shape and packaging as a standard firecracker, but produces brightly colored flames & noise while spinning at high speed. Colors are typically a random mix of green & red, even within a single packet.
• Artificial Satellites — Small planes that spin quickly and fly into the air, often with an explosion.
• Skyrockets — Not to be confused with smaller bottle rockets that can be used in the daytime, these are much larger, usually the size of artillery shells, attached to sticks and shoot about 100–200 feet (30-60 m) in the air before exploding.
• Fountains — Usually in the shape of a cone or log that stands on the ground upright; when lit emits thousands of sparks of various colors which sometimes reports and can last from thirty seconds to three minutes. Multi-stage fountains are common, producing a variety of different colored & styled displays in sequence, some with a large finale burst.
• Strobe — Usually small, grey, and cylinder shaped; it creates a sequence very bright flashes (Warning: do not look directly into the flash).

Novelty fireworks

Novelty fireworks typically produce a much weaker explosion and sound. In some Countries and areas where fireworks are illegal to use, they still allow these small, low grade fireworks to be used. A few examples include:^[1]

• Party Poppers — once a string is pulled to activate the charge, confetti is thrust into the air and produces a report.
• Snaps — a small paper bag typically filled with gravel and a few milligrams of silver fulminate will produce a report when thrown at a hard surface or stepped on.
• Flying Lanterns (Sky lantern) — these paper lanterns float into the sky when lit. They emit a slight glow and are very commonly used at weddings and celebrations.
• Paper Tanks & Vehicles — when lit, these small paper vehicles emit sparks that cause them to move around on the ground and commonly produce a loud bang at the end.
• Party Bombs — a tube filled with toys which, when lit, shoots the toys into the air distributing them around the room. Used in Switzerland (tischbombes).
• Ground Bloom Flowers — a small cylinder that spins on the ground and changes color, spinning in such a way that it resembles a flower. Could be described as a large Jumping Jack.
• Snakes (Black snake) — a small compressed pellet that, when lit, expands into a long snake-like object.

Use

Tools

Consumer fireworks can be used with a variety of tools. One set of tools has to do with basic ignition, such as lighters, matches, and punks also known as a 'port fire'. By using a rack, one can ignite a series of different fireworks to create a scene. These sometimes allow for the finales seen at professional fireworks displays to be created using consumer fireworks. Racks can be used with multiple types of fireworks, such as aerial shells, fountains, Roman candles, and the newest class of fireworks, 500 gram repeaters. Other tools are involved with the setup of fireworks for later display, such as shovels, various hand tools, and spare visco fuses. The true scope of tools used with consumer fireworks is limited only by the displayer's imagination.

Lighting and launching

There are several ways by which fireworks can be ignited. The most basic of these is simply flame from a match, lighter or other device that emits flames. Another way to light fireworks is using a device called a punk. A punk is a long, thin piece of wood covered in a substance that burns very slowly, producing only heat, with no flame. A port fire is a smoldering compound as a powder compressed in a stiff paper tube. The most complicated method used to ignite consumer fireworks is to use electronic ignition. This is the preferred method of many professional pyrotechnicians worldwide because of the vast improvement in operator safety. Unfortunately, there are few electronic ignition (often called "e-fire") systems that use readily available materials.

Regulations

Laws regarding consumer fireworks vary between countries and states.

Europe

Fireworks on New Year's Eve 2004–2005 in the UK.

In Finland, fireworks (other than novelties and sparklers) are sold usually between Christmas and New Year, But it's legal to sell fireworks all year around, mostly webstores only do that though. and their use is allowed only on New Year's Eve from 6pm to 2am the following morning.

In Germany, fireworks are available for purchase from most stores in the days prior to New Year's Eve, allowing families to have their own celebrations in their backyard.

In Iceland fireworks are sold December 28–31 and again on January 6.

In the Netherlands, fireworks cannot be sold to anyone under the age of 16 and are only sold the last three days up till and including December 31, unless one of those days is a Sunday, then the sale period is extended to 4 days. Fireworks may only be fired between 6pm on New Year's Eve to 2am the following day.

In Norway, fireworks can only be purchased by people 18 or older. Class 1, 2 and 3 fireworks are for sale from December 27 to December 31, and can only be fired between 18:00h and 02:00h on New Year's Eve.

In the United Kingdom fireworks cannot be sold to people under the age of 18 and are not permitted to be set off between 11pm and 7am with exceptions only for New Year, Bonfire Night (5 November), the Chinese New Year and Diwali.^[2] Fireworks can be sold by specialist stores all year round and their use is also permitted throughout the year within the specified time limits. The sale of Categories 1 (Indoor), 2 (Garden) and 3 (Display) are available to the general public — with Category 4 (Professional) being restricted to permit holders.

North America

United States

A map of consumer fireworks laws in the USA by state.

Consumer fireworks laws in the USA by state   All consumer fireworks banned   Wire sparklers only   Non-aerial fireworks only   All/most consumer fireworks allowed   Sales to non-residents only   Regulations vary by city/county

In the United States, the laws governing consumer fireworks vary widely from state to state, or from county to county. It is common for consumers to cross state and county lines in order to purchase types of fireworks which are outlawed in their home-jurisdictions. Fireworks laws in urban areas typically limit sales or use by dates or seasons. Municipalities may have stricter laws than their counties or states do.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission defines what fireworks may be considered consumer fireworks. Consumer fireworks in the United States are limited to 500 grams (this was previously 200 grams until recent years) of composition, and firecrackers may have up to 50 milligrams of flash powder. Reloadable shells are limited to 1.75" in diameter, and shells in pre-fused tubes are limited to 2". Any fireworks that exceed these limits are not considered consumer fireworks and need an ATF license.

The American Pyrotechnics Association maintains a directory of state laws pertaining to fireworks.

Two states — Delaware and Massachusetts— ban the sale and use of all consumer fireworks, including novelties and sparklers.

One state ;— Illinois  — permit the sale and use of only wire or wood stick sparklers and other novelties.

Sixteen states — Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Maryland, Minnesota, New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia — allow the sale and use of non-aerial and non-explosive fireworks (also called "safe and sane") like novelties, fountains and sparklers, est.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed into law a bill on November 21, 2014 allowing sparklers, party poppers, cone fountains and other novelty items to be sold, possessed, and used in the state of New York outside of New York City. Local governments must approve the sale and use of fireworks before people can legally use them. Although the use of fireworks is allowed year-round, the sale of fireworks, by registered businesses, is limited to a period of June 1 through July 5 and December 26 through January 2 each year.

Michigan legislators have passed and enrolled a bill that was signed by Governor Rick Snyder on December 13, 2011^[3] allowing the sale and use of all consumer fireworks, however, sellers must pay a fee ($600–1000) to sell higher-power consumer fireworks, and a tax will be added to fireworks purchases.^[4]

California has very specific requirements for the types of consumer fireworks that can be sold to and used by residents. Even then each city can and often does place restrictions on sale and use. The use of firecrackers is permitted according to the FBGOC.

In Minnesota and Florida only consumer fireworks that do not explode or fly through the air are permitted to be sold to and used by residents.

A fireworks store in the background in South Pittsburg, Tennessee on the border of Alabama.

Twenty-eight states — Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Iowa, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming and Georgia — permit the sale of all or most types of consumer fireworks to residents. Many of these states have selling seasons around the 4th of July and/or Christmas and New Year's Eve. Some of these states also allow local laws or regulations to further restrict the types permitted or the selling seasons.

Missouri permits all types of consumer fireworks to be sold to residents with two selling seasons; June 20 – July 10 and December 20 – January 2. South Carolina permits all types of consumer fireworks except small rockets less than ½” in diameter and 3” long to be sold and used by residents year round.

Two states — Hawaii and Nevada — allow each county to establish its own regulations.

For example, Clark County, Nevada, where Las Vegas is located, allows residents to purchase and use only non-explosive and non-aerial consumer fireworks during the 4th of July, while other counties permit all types of consumer fireworks.

In Maine fireworks can only be sold to people over 21 at firework only stores except for sparklers that can be sold at stores that sell other items except for propane dealers or other explosives

Many states have stores with all types of consumer fireworks that sell to non-residents with the provision they are to remove the purchased fireworks from that state. This is why there are many stores selling fireworks in states like Pennsylvania, Ohio, Florida, Missouri, New Hampshire, Nevada and Wisconsin with all types of consumer fireworks, even though residents are limited or prohibited from buying or using those very same consumer fireworks unless they have the appropriate licenses and/or permits.

Many Native American Tribes have consumer fireworks stores on reservation lands that are exempt from state and local authority and will sell to people that are not in the tribe.

Oceania

In Australia, Type 1 fireworks are permitted to be sold to the public. For anything that has a large explosion or gets airborne, users need to register for a Type 2 Licence. The Australian Capital Territory allows fireworks to be sold to residents 18 years or older during the week leading up to the Queen's Birthday long weekend for personal purposes. A similar allowance is made in the Northern Territory in the days leading up to Northern Territory Day (July 1). The types of fireworks allowed for sale is restricted to quieter fireworks, which can only be used during the long weekend and only at the address provided to the seller.

In New Zealand fireworks cannot be sold to anyone under the age of 18 (previously 14), and may only be sold for the four days leading up to and including November 5. However, fireworks are able to be used at any time of the year (i.e.: there is no time restriction on when fireworks can be used, even though there is a restriction on the sales time of fireworks). The types of fireworks available to the public are multi-shot "cakes", Roman candles, single shot shooters, ground and wall spinners, fountains, cones, sparklers, and various novelties, such as smoke bombs and pharaoh's serpents. sales of fireworks have become increasingly restricted in recent years. Skyrockets, and other fireworks where the firework itself flies, were banned in 1994. Firecrackers and Bangers were banned in 1993. As of 2007, sparklers may only be purchased no more than 50 at a time in packs with other fireworks. This is due to the popularity of sparkler bombs. ^[5]

South America

In Chile fireworks are restricted for consumer use and can only be seen in professional shows. The prohibition came at the request of organizations dealing with burnt children, many of the accidents being caused by unsupervised use of fireworks.

References