Dec. 3, 2004

NFPA Pyrotechnics Committee meeting in Annapolis MD report

Approximately 36 members, alternates, and guests attended the 3 day meeting that started on Tuesday November 30th with caucus break out committees working special assigned tasks. On Wednesday December 1st the whole committee met, and started work on all of the NFPA #1123, NFPA #1124, & NFPA #1125 codes. Again there where major changes and addition to both the #1123 and #1124 codes. As for the #1125 that is a Rocket code that is still being worked on, and at this time I will not mention anything more about that code. I will list only a few of those changes and additions that pertain to the Fireworks industry in each code below.

  1123: This code had 23 proposals for this meeting, plus another 51 plus proposals from previous meetings, and then many committee comments to make the code more workable.

A whole new chapter 7 on Rooftop, Other structures, and Limited Egress locations for firing of fireworks was added, to allow both electrical and manual firing of fireworks

Listing 7” mortars in all charts again

Smaller items may be ½ of the original distance of 70 ft. per inch diameter for Comets, Mines, Roman Candles. Allowing smaller items to be placed closer to the public allows making frontages of the new lines available of small energetic items. These small lance set pieces, comets, roman candles, and mines “cannot” have any split comets, crossettes, or exploding inserts/items of any kind in them.

Adding the item classification of Cakes/Multi Shot Boxes to the Roman Candle section.

Holder of different sizes can be used now to hold smaller items with out the AHJ (Authority Having Jurisdiction) using the size of the holder be the distance size used.

An example is a ½” inside diameter Roman candle placed inside of a 4” mortar tube. In the passed a few AHJ’s have said that you had to have 280 ft because they where using a 4” mortar tube (70 ft per 1” inside diameter) to hold the ½” Roman candle, not by the actual size of the candle itself.

1124: This code had 41 proposals plus another 73 plus proposals from previous meetings, and then the committee added many committee comments to make the code more workable.

A Shipping building now can actually conduct real ‘Ship Building’ activities need to be preformed for preparing fireworks for transportation.

Much of the work on this code had to do with the additional information of Consumer Fireworks stands being added to the code on the last publication. Work was done to make the code more of a workable code covering fire officials and industry’s concerns on how to keep all activities done in a safe working environment in manufacturing, warehouses, distribution centers, and retail outlets of all types and configurations, for both employees and the public while purchasing fireworks and conducting day to day activities in and around fireworks.

The fire service and others government agencies wanted/demanded sprinklers in all locations where fireworks are processed, manufactured, packaged, shipped, received, shelves stocked, where both employees and the public are exposed to consumer fireworks. The resolution to this is applicable to the size, type, and configuration for the area/building.

Fireworks retail stores will all have to have 48” wide isles

Fireworks retail stores will have to have exits per size and type of retail outlet

Fireworks retail stores will have to have ALL exit doors swing out

Fireworks retail stores will have to have 2 types of fire extinguishers ABC & pressurized water type,

Fireworks retail stores will have to keep all fuses covered. “This is a real safety issue as in fire testing has shown that any covering of the fuse side and end really stops a fire from spreading or propagating to another firework.”

Of course there were comments by all fire service, government agencies, and the fireworks industry that were rejected trying to change the code for what they thought would make the fireworks industry safer, and workable solution for all. These codes cover all aspects of the fireworks industries products from USDOT (United State Department of Transportation) listing of 1.1 to 1.4 Fireworks including Novelties items.

Don’t forget that just because an item is marked 1.4G that you can sell it in a Consumer Fireworks Stand! The USDOT code says that only 1.4G items that follow the CPSC (Consumer Products Safety Commission) and USDOT APA 87-1 code can be sold in Consumer Retail Outlets in the USA.