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Whether your display is a huge public
event or a small bash in the back garden, preparation
is essential. You need to ensure the site is suitable
for the fireworks you intend letting off. In this
section we take a look at various types of sites -
including the typical back garden. Our commitment
to your firework safety is based in the real world.
We won't just print a picture of a "perfect" site
as you might find in the back of a catalogue and leave
you wondering how to squeeze it into your garden!
We'll also take a look at safety distances and fall
out.
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As entertaining as they are, fireworks are still
explosives, and need a suitable safety distance between
them and spectators. The purpose of a good venue is
to ensure this minimum distance is met, with extra
margin for error where possible. The resulting area
between the front line spectators and the first fireworks
is called the safety zone.
If you're very new to fireworks, you may not appreciate
that another safety distance is required on the other
side of the fireworks - for the fall out. This fall
out (or debris) can pose a safety risk second only
to the fireworks themselves. This no-man's land behind
the fireworks is known as the fall out zone.
Between the safety and fall out zones is where your
fireworks will be set up. This is known as the fireworks
zone. Within this zone, care needs to be taken
where you set each type of firework up, something
we'll cover later in this section.
Finally, no firework display would be complete without
some spectators, and not surprisingly they'll be standing
in the spectator zone (if they're not, you're
in trouble!).
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The safety distance between your fireworks and the
spectators is determined by a number of factors such
as:
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The classification of the firework.
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The type of firework.
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The firework's power.
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Fireworks are currently classified as either category
two or category three (category four fireworks are
for sale to, and use by professionals only; they are
not covered by this guide).
Category two fireworks are also known as "garden"
fireworks. They have a minimum spectator distance
of five metres.
A typical
garden label.
Category three fireworks are
also known as "display fireworks". They have a minimum
spectator distance of twenty
five metres.
A typical
display label.
Note with both labels - and in fact
the label of every firework you'll be using
- the stated compliance to British Standards. Never
use fireworks without this.
You'd think it's easy to create a safety
zone of either 5 or 25 metres. In practice however
if you have the room, we recommend more, especially
for large displays. Remember too, the minimum distance
must extend all around the fireworks, in particular
along the sides.
A big fan
cake in action. Allow as much room as
you can for larger fireworks.
If you are mixing garden and display
fireworks in the same display, always ensure the respective
safety distances are adhered to. So, it is safe to
put the garden fireworks 5m away, and the display
fireworks at 25m. It is also fine to put ALL the fireworks
at 25m. But never put display fireworks at 5m!
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Never ignore the correct safety distances even
if the firework "looks small". The
safety distance is there for a reason. Ignore
it and you not only risk injury to spectators,
but possible criminal or legal action if you
were deemed to be acting irresponsibly.
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Unlike the audience, firers will be
protected with goggles, helmets etc, and therefore
are exempt from these distances. However, use common
sense. Firers should not stand too close to fireworks
even with protection and never ever stand directly
over them. We'll cover this issue in more detail in
the Firing section.
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Remember the old saying "what goes up, must come
down". This is especially true with fireworks, which
can create a huge amount of fall out. A special zone
to the rear of your fireworks is essential to catch
this debris safely.
Let's take a look at what sort of fall out you can
expect from each firework:
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Rockets: The most dangerous fall out
of all, display rockets can come back down to
earth complete with stick, motor casing (in
some cases aluminium lined!) and in many cases,
part of the head. This debris hits the ground
at some speed, and finding spent rockets in
the fall out zone stuck firmly into the earth
is not uncommon. Not the kind of thing you want
to connect with a spectator's head, or a car,
or a greenhouse.... If you intend using the
bigger display rockets, or send up a lot, please
take this into account with a large fall out
zone (eg. 50m or more). Garden rockets pose
little risk because they're smaller and in many
cases made from card, not plastic.
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Cakes and candles: These eject shells
made from card, and fall out consists of the
empty card tubes (and lots of litter). However
some shell casings can be quite big and some
have ceramic bases, so it's important they fall
on grass, not people or structures. Some debris
close to the firework can be glowing, or hot,
when it hits the ground.
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Mines: These pose more of a risk when
they're going off than with fall out, which
consists of much the same material you'll get
from cakes and candles. Unlike cakes though,
all the fall out comes down at the same time!
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Fountains and wheels: Amongst the safer
fireworks, the only fall out from most of these
is soot over a small area. Bear in mind though
that the sparks from these fireworks can reach
ground level, so they should not be set up near
other fireworks or sensitive set pieces.
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It's important to have a fall out zone to catch any
debris safely. Otherwise, your display becomes somewhat
of a lottery, and it's only a matter of time before
something - or someone - gets hit. Fall out is of
course the number one reason why firers need to wear
head protection, the "pitter patter" of falling debris
all around you is matter of course in any big display.
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Beware firing large display rockets in back
gardens even if you have the safety distance
to spectators. Ask yourself: "Where are
they going to land?". If the answer is
"Someone else's garden" you should
not be firing them.
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This is where all the action takes place, the fireworks
zone! Here you'll set up and fire your arsenal.
Ensure you have enough space to:
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Move around the fireworks without having to
jump over (or trip over) other fireworks.
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Move to a safe distance after lighting each
one, without coming into the path of one already
going off.
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Accommodate all the firers without bumping
into each other.
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Structure the fireworks with the bigger ones
at the back.
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Have an escape route in case of problems.
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Set up the fireworks so they are
not too close to each other. |
Give yourself
plenty of room to move safely between the fireworks.
Laying them out in lines is ideal.
The fireworks zone should preferably be a flat and
firm lawned surface. A playing field is ideal. A hard
surface is more of a problem because it will be difficult
to secure the fireworks, but it is not impossible
as we'll see later in this guide. It's also helpful
if the area is generally dry, so avoid dips or the
bottom of slopes (but see later sections for tips
on beating damp and rain).
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There should be no overhead obstructions such
as trees or cables. These can deflect the flight
of a shell or rocket.
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For bigger displays try and situate the firing area
where there is good access for you and your equipment.
You do not want to carry fireworks, tools and wooden
stakes hundreds of yards while you are setting up.
It's important within the firework zone to take some
care where you position each type of firework. Here's
a suggested layout:
The idea is to put the most powerful
fireworks at the back, and the less powerful near
the front. As long as you have a 25 metre gap (assuming
display fireworks) at the front, this type of layout
adds some extra space between the bigger items and
the audience. Anything big and powerful should go
towards the back - including mortar mines, which are
very powerful.
You'll note we have also put rockets
at the very back, this is because their fall out is
the most dangerous of all. Although they'll be angled
slightly so they fly over the fall out zone, not every
flight is perfect (especially in gusty winds) and
this extra distance is recommended for added safety.
It's also handy to have a dedicated firer for rockets
particularly if you'll be firing from reloadable racks.
Putting him/her at the back gives them plenty of room
to manoeuvre.
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Having set out your firework and fall out zones,
you then need to establish the spectator area. This
must be properly marked - and marshalled - for large
public venues. For smaller garden displays, ensure
the audience is aware of where to stand. We'll give
you some tips as we look at each type of venue.
Ensure the spectator area has good access both in
and out (in case of any emergencies).
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Putting all the above into operation results in a
"textbook" site map. You'll see something similar
to this in many firework catalogues:
In this case the safety zone would be
25 metres wide all round, the firework zone about
the same, and the fall out zone up to 50 metres.
In practice, the 100 metres or more
from front to back means this set-up is only achievable
for bigger events where you have the luxury of a large
field to stage the display. However it does bring
home the fact that many fireworks (especially large
rockets) are not suitable for use in any smaller areas
than this.
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For bigger displays, site surveying is vital. We've
shown above the areas you need to set up, and the
ideal site map for a big display. Here are some more
tips when assessing land for a public or larger display:
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Ensure you know who actually owns the land,
and you have their consent to use it for a firework
display. Getting confirmation of this in writing
is a good idea for your own protection. If applicable,
ensure the local authority consents to use of
the land for fireworks and if there are any
important legal requirements for use of that
land.
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Check you have enough room for the fall out
zone, the firework zone, the safety zone, and
the spectator zone. Ensure there are no overhead
obstructions in the firework zone.
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Bear in mind if your display is to end an evening
of other entertainment (eg. carnival or fair),
the spectator zone will be adjacent to the other
activities. Make sure when you survey the site
you know where all the other activities will
take place and base your layout on that.
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Ensure the area for the display will be available
only to you and that you will have access and
use in the morning and afternoon prior to the
display, not just the evening (you need to set
up during the day). Make sure the area will
not be shared with anyone else, this is an important
safety point.
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Check with any organisers if they will provide
poles and equipment to rope off the safety zone.
If they won't, it becomes your responsibility.
The area needs to be roped off before you start
setting up, not during or after.
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Also check to see if the organiser will provide
any sort of marshalling or safety staff to police
the crowd. If not, that's another responsibility
for you.
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Check for easy access (in and out) of the spectator
area and the firework area.
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It's worth checking the surrounding area too.
Look for farms, kennels, hospitals or any other
establishment to whom noise could be a problem.
If there are any, contact them to advise them
of the display and note any objections. You
may need to do a bit of PR here. Few people,
if warned in advance, object to fireworks if
they know the display will be kept short.
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Make sure the land owner doesn't mind the odd
bit of digging up when you stake out the fireworks.
Assure them you'll put things back as you found
them (and make sure you do!).
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Make sure there are no structures (eg. sheds,
pavilions, glass houses) in the fall out zone.
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Public liability insurance is strongly recommended
and check the small print for any clauses applicable
to your venue (if any).
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This list is by no means exhaustive, and there is
certainly a lot to think about when hosting a big
display, but the tips above should give you a good
starting point.
A crowd
enjoying fireworks. Be warned: YOU are responsible
for the
safety of your spectators!
One final point, if you're displaying for a public
event, be sure to stipulate from the outset that the
display can only go ahead if weather conditions on
the night are safe, and that YOU will decide whether
this is the case. It's worth explaining too that the
setting up of the fireworks on the day is not a guarantee
that the display can be fired at the due time. You
reserve the right to postpone the start time if you
feel it necessary, or to modify the contents of the
display (eg. no big rockets).
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For the rest of us, it's the traditional back garden
display. There's no denying the magic of such a display
and the atmosphere it can create, but safety is just
as important in a private display as a public one!
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The important point is that safety distances
must still be observed. That means if your garden
is less than 25 metres, you shouldn't be considering
using display fireworks. And remember too, the
need for a fall out zone.
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Let's look at a perfect back garden venue:
The safety
distance is observed and there is space behind
the fireworks for fall out.
Unfortunately, most of us do not have
the luxury of 25m+ gardens and no near neighbours.
Far more common then is a scenario like this:
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Problem: By putting the fireworks at
the end of you garden you can achieve the safety
distance. But, this means other gardens fall
within the safety zone.
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Solution: Team up with your neighbours.
Get them all round to watch so neighbouring
gardens will be guaranteed empty and can be
used as the safety and fall out zones. However
bear in mind big rockets can travel much further
and are not recommended in this case. If for
any reason your neighbours can't or don't want
to join in, you should not use fireworks which
would put them at risk or their property within
the safety distance.
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And in even smaller gardens the following
is not uncommon:
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Problem: Your garden is really small,
there is no fall out area, and numerous other
gardens and houses are within 25 metres.
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Solution: Stick to garden class (5m)
fireworks. At that distance they can still look
and feel spectacular anyway. This type of back
garden should not be used for display fireworks.
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These are two common examples, but obviously
every single person's circumstances are unique. Use
your common sense in deciding what fireworks to use
and remember to observe minimum spectator distances
and have an adequate fall out zone.
Other things to watch out for in the
back garden:
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Make sure the firework area is tidy and free
from things you might trip over.
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Give yourself room to get away in case of problems
(ie. don't get trapped in the corner).
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Cover any fish ponds in the firework safety
or fall out areas.
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Although back garden displays can be informal,
please ensure the audience remains in the spectator
area during the display.
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If you're starting with sparklers use these
well away from the fireworks.
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If you're setting up during the day please
ensure no inquisitive children or pets can access
the fireworks - this applies to after the display
too.
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If the weather's really bad (eg. windy), don't
be pressured into firing anyway. Save it for
another day.
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Remember, it is your responsibility
to ensure the safe use of the fireworks you buy.
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Two common space related problems are:
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Lack of fall out zone: In this case
ensure you use fireworks with little or no fall
out. Avoid large rockets and stick to smaller
cakes and candles. However if you can't afford
any out at all, you'll have to stick to just
ground based fountains and wheels. Garden class
fireworks in particular eject very little in
the way of debris.
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Lack of safety distance: If you can't
get 25 metres between the audience and display
fireworks, don't stand there scratching your
head - stick to garden fireworks! It's that
simple. A display firework viewed from say ten
metres away is exciting for the first few seconds
then rather worrying as debris rains down on
your audience. They won't thank you for it.
Neither will the hospital!
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Call us old fashioned, but we've seen what display
fireworks (especially huge cakes, rockets or mines)
can do when they're squeezed into less than 25 metres.
Always follow the label!
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Now you've secured your venue and are raring to go,
there's some final groundwork to do:
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Think about who to notify about your display.
For bigger events, or public shows, you need
to inform the police and fire brigade (call
their local offices as listed in the phone book,
not 999!). If you're within a few miles of an
airport (or you notice overhead traffic when
site surveying) contact the relevant airport.
If you're displaying on or near the coast, be
sure to notify the coastguard too. You don't
want display rockets being mistaken for flares.
For garden or private displays, notify neighbours
and anyone else nearby who you think may be
affected by the noise. We recommend this is
done before you order your fireworks in case
any serious objections require a change of inventory
(eg. quieter fireworks, or no rockets).
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Think about insurance. Public liability insurance
can give millions of pounds of cover and can
be arranged on a per-display basis. It should
be considered a matter of course for public
events. It will cover you for injury to a member
of the public, or damage to property. Personal
insurance for you and other firers is also worth
thinking about if you display regularly.
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Think about how many firers you'll need. Do
this well in advance because you'll need to
make sure people are free on the night, and
conduct any training you feel is necessary.
Remember you may need help setting up (for big
displays a minimum of two people are required)
so check who's free that afternoon too. Try
and have a back-up on call in case of last minute
drop outs. It's possible to fire big displays
on your own if you've spent some time setting
things up properly, but you'd have to do an
incredible amount of time consuming preparation.
Best to get some help if you can.
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If you need extra help such as marshals for
the crowd, arrange this well in advance.
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After you've chosen your fireworks and are ready
to order, you need to think about:
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Storage: Fireworks need to be stored somewhere
dry and away from sources of ignition. Ideally
they should be stored in their original boxes
in a locked metal cabinet. You can wrap them
in clingfilm or bin liners if there's a risk
of damp. Store them away from flammable materials
and curious children or pets.
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Delivery: When do you want the fireworks delivered?
If storage is a problem, see if your supplier
will deliver your fireworks closer to the display
date.
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Assuming you're now at the stage where you've taken
delivery of your fireworks, you're ready for the setting
up stage....
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