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Fireworks
A fireworks event (also called a fireworks show) is a spectacular display of
the effects produced by firework devices on various occasions. Fireworks
competitions are also regularly held at a number of places. The biggest
fireworks event in the world is held in Madeira, (Portugal) at the New
Years' Eve celebrations, as referred in the Guinness World Records.
History
The earliest unequivocal documentation of fireworks dates back to 12th
century China,[1] where they were first used to frighten away evil spirits
with their loud sound ("bian pao") and also to pray for happiness and
prosperity.
Eventually, the art and science of firework making developed into an
independent profession of its own. In ancient China, pyrotechnicians
(firework-masters) were well-respected for their knowledge and skill to
mount dazzling displays of light and sound.
Cultural contexts
Since then, any event—a birth, death, wedding, coronation, or New Year's Eve
celebration—has become a fitting occasion for noisemakers.
Amédée-François Frézier published a "Treatise on Fireworks" in 1706. In this
treatise, Frézier studied the recreational and ceremonial uses of fireworks,
rather than their military uses. The book became a standard text for
fireworks makers.
Music for the Royal Fireworks was composed by George Frideric Handel in 1749
to celebrate the peace of Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, which had been declared
the previous year.
Fireworks in America
America's earliest settlers brought their enthusiasm for fireworks to the
United States. Fireworks and black powder were used to celebrate important
events long before the American Revolutionary War. The very first
celebration of Independence Day was in 1777, six years before Americans knew
whether the new nation would survive the war; fireworks were a part of those
festivities. In 1789, George Washington's inauguration was also accompanied
by a fireworks display. This early fascination with their noise and color
continues today.
In 2004, Disneyland in Anaheim, California, started using aerial fireworks
launched with compressed air rather than gunpowder, the first time that such
a launch system was used commercially. The display shell explodes in the air
using an electronic timer. The advantages of compressed air launch are a
reduction in fumes, and much greater accuracy in height and timing.[2]
The largest manufacturer and exporter of fireworks in the world is China.
China is estimated to have exported over 6 million cases or 120,000 tons of
fireworks to the US in 2005.
Competitions
World Pyro Olympics
The World Pyro Olympics is an annual competition amongst the most
prestigious fireworks companies in the world. It is held in Manila,
Philippines. The event is one of the largest and most intense international
fireworks competition.
The World Pyro Olympics runs through a period of five consecutive days
allowing locals and tourists alike to experience the greatest fireworks
display in the world. Two countries fire each day; the last participant
fires on the final evening of the event.
The host of the event does not participate in the competition but performs a
fireworks display on the last night. Awards, such as the People’s Choice,
are given out after the exhibition. The crowning of the World Pyro Olympics
Champion ends the event.
Montreal Fireworks Festival
Known officially as L’International des Feux Loto-Québec, the Montreal
Fireworks Festival is an annual competition held in Montreal, Quebec,
Canada. The event, considered by many to be the premier international
fireworks competition, begins in June and carries on until July. Each
summer, eight or nine pyrotechnical companies from different countries
present a 30-minute long pyromusical show, competing for the Gold, Silver
and Bronze Jupiter trophies. The fireworks are synchronized to music which
is also broadcasted over a local radio station.
HSBC Celebration of Light in Vancouver
The HSBC Celebration of Light is an annual musical fireworks competition
held every summer over English Bay in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Four companies representing their country perform a twenty-five minute
firework display set to music with a grand finale on the last day where all
four competitors perform. Typically the last Wednesday and Saturday of July,
and the first Wednesday and Saturday of August; the competition is cited as
being the largest musical fireworks competition in the world.
Macau International Fireworks Display Contest
Held over 5 weeks during September with 2 displays on the same night weekly,
with the final night held on China National Day on 1st October. The
competition features 10 pyrotechnic companies from around the world. [1]
GlobalFest International Fireworks Competition
GlobalFest has been held in Calgary, Alberta, Canada every August since 2003
featuring cultural pavilions, film festival and international fireworks
competition. The international fireworks competition features a different
nation each night of the five night competition with live performances
on-stage showcasing the culture of that country prior to the fireworks
display.
Firework Champions, UK
Four of the UK's leading firework companies competing against each other
with a 10 minute firework display choreographed to music. The audience have
the ability to text vote for their favourite team. Displays are fired using
the latest state of the art technology from behind the River Avon.
The 2007 event is at Stanford Hall in Leicestershire, Saturday 4th
August.[2]
National Pyrotechnics Fair of Tultepec, Mexico
Every year this town, known as "Mexico's Capital of Pyrotechnics," hosts a
week-long pyrotechnics fair that features the spectacular "Castillos de
Torre" or Tower Fireworks Competition. This type of fireworks is what makes
Mexican pyrotechnics unique in the world. Since 2005, a very impressive
Pyromusical Competition has been held involving up to 7 fireworks shows
lasting 10 minutes each. These events are not open to international
competition yet but in time that could change.
In addition to the competition fireworks, just about every day different
types of fireworks (including day-time tower fireworks) are burned as part
of the religious festivities. For those that want a taste of a more exciting
and extreme fireworks festivity, nothing else in the world compares to the
Burning of the Bulls,which is always held on March 8 in celebration of John
of God, the patron saint of Tultepec's pyrotechnicians. For more details on
dates and events, check The Fireworks Channel.
Tarragona International Fireworks Displays Competition, Spain
Since 1990 the most important fireworks contest in the Mediterranean area is
held every first week of July in Tarragona, in Catalonia, Spain, in a
wonderful bay, Punta del Miracle, a place praised by the famous architect
Antoni Gaudí. Official website
Major events
Guy Fawkes Night in Great Britain
In 1605 Guy Fawkes and his fellow conspirators attempted to blow up the
Parliament of the United Kingdom with 36 barrels of gunpowder in the cellars
of Westminster Hall. On 5 November, Fawkes was arrested and Parliament was
saved. That night is now celebrated as Guy Fawkes Night or bonfire night by
filling the sky with exploding fireworks, and by burning an effigy of Guy
Fawkes on a bonfire.
Remember, remember the fifth of November.
Gunpowder, treason, and plot.
I see no reason why gunpowder treason
Will ever be forgot.
– a children's rhyme about the events, still spoken today
The town of Lewes is famous for its annual Guy Fawkes Night celebrations.
Local groups, 'bonfire societies' conduct torch-lit marches around the town,
vying with each other for the best fancy-dress outfits and topical celebrity
figures that are later burnt. Examples of recent figures include the Pope,
Margaret Thatcher, George W. Bush and Osama bin Laden.
The largest and probably the most impressive annual fireworks display in the
UK (and indeed Europe) is however held not in November, but in early
September in Edinburgh. Since 1981 the world's largest arts festival has
ended each year with a combination of live open air orchestral pieces
(performed in the Ross Band Stand, Princes Street Gardens) whilst a panoply
of fireworks are launched from the ramparts of Edinburgh Castle immediately
behind. The natural ampitheatre which the Princes Street area provides
creates a perfect setting for enjoying the music and fireworks.
Along the same lines, in Canada, during Victoria Day and Canada Day, many
fireworks displays are seen throughout.
This event was also re-enacted in V for Vendetta along with the children's
rhyme.
Thrissur Pooram fireworks, India
Thrissur Pooram is one of the most colourful and spectacular temple festival
of Kerala, India. It is a magnificent spectacle with fireworks, umbrella
showing competition and a splendid elephant procession.
Fireworks in the festival is the one of the greatest fireworks in India,
which is held in the wee hours of the day after the Pooram. The Thiruvambadi
and Paramekkavu Devaswams present many innovative patterns and varieties of
fire works, which make spectators going into raptures. This famous and
mighty exhibit of the magnificent display of fireworks add to the popularity
of the Pooram festival.
Thrissur Pooram, the mother of all temple festivals in the state, is
essentially one of spectacles. The two devaswams- Thiruvampadi and
Paramekkavu- explore and exploit every source at their command to make this
annual festival a memorable one. It is celebrated with a colourful
procession of caparisoned elephants, parasol exchanges; drum concerts,
display of pyro-techniques and refreshing scenes of public participation.
U.S. Independence Day
Each year before the American Independence Day, the Fourth of July,
retailers across the nation experience a surge in fireworks sales. The
Fourth of July is a federal holiday celebrating the adoption of the
Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the
United Kingdom of Great Britain.
Independence Day is commonly associated with parades, barbecues, picnics,
baseball games, and various other public and private events celebrating the
history and traditions of the U.S. Fireworks have been associated with the
Fourth of July since 1777.
In many states, consumer fireworks are sold for personal use or as an
alternative to a public show. Concerns about safety have led some states to
ban fireworks or limit the sizes and types allowed, but illicit traffic from
less restrictive border states is common.
Some of the most famous fireworks displays include Macy's - 4th of July
Fireworks in New York. There are also many other spectacular displays in St.
Louis, Washington D.C., Boston, and Philadelphia. Detroit, Michigan and
Windsor, Ontario host one of the largest fireworks displays in the world
over the Detroit River each year in celebration of both American
Independence Day and Canada Day during the Windsor-Detroit International
Freedom Festival.
Canada Day
Canada Day (French: Fête du Canada) is Canada's national holiday, marking
the establishment of Canada as a Dominion on July 1, 1867. It is a federal
holiday celebrated on July 1, annually by all provincial governments and
most businesses across the country. The celebration typically includes
fireworks.
Thunder Over Louisville
Held annually in Louisville, Kentucky; this event is the kick-off for the
two week long Kentucky Derby Festival. It is the largest annual fireworks
display in North America. The event lasts throughout the day, including an
extensive airshow. The fireworks show itself lasts for around half an hour,
along with a synchronized soundtrack through PA and radio. Several hundred
thousand people attend each year, lining the banks of the Ohio River in
Louisville, and across the river in Jeffersonville, Indiana and Clarksville,
Indiana. Some also watch from the river on boats, docked in positions
auctioned off for charity.[1] Eight 400-foot barges launch the fireworks,
provided by Zambelli Fireworks Internationale, from both sides of the George
Rogers Clark Memorial Bridge (Second Street Bridge), and more fireworks are
launched from the bridge itself. In the event's first year, 1990, only 4,000
shells were used; by 1996 4,000 shells were fired within the event's first
minute, and in 2007 the crowd for the event was estimated at 800,000 people.
New Year's Eve
Major cities around the world host a spectacular firework display on New
Year's Eve. Although it is now just a custom to fire off fireworks on
New-Year's eve, in the past the idea was to scare 'bad forces' so they would
not enter the new year. As a consequence the most popular fireworks are
still those that go off with a big bang or with a bright flash.
In Western Europe the sale of fireworks to the general public is usually
restricted to a week before New Year's Eve. However this does not stop
people buying a large volume of fireworks in the weeks preceding New Years
Eve to be picked up during the selling days. The retailing of fireworks in
Europe is very different from the US, due to powder weigh limits stored in
each building. In many countries around the world, people blow up many tons
of fireworks every New Year's Eve.
Diwali ('Festival of Lights') in India
Diwali is the most popular festival of India, which broadly celebrates the
triumph of good over evil primarily symbolized in the mythological epic of
Ramayana in which the Hindu God Rama defeats his demonic adversary Ravana.
Customary traditions include offering prayers to the Gods in the morning and
exchanging sweets with friends and neighbors. During the night the houses
are adorned with small lit oil lamps and colorful lights and then the entire
family participates in the display of fireworks.
Unlike Western nations, retail of fireworks is largely unrestricted in
India. People have access to a variety of fireworks and most of them in
urban areas set it off on the public roads running in front of their houses.
In smaller towns, the large temples of the town typically have public
fireworks displays. Deepavali brings the spirit of goodwill and brotherhood
and is celebrated across all religions in India.some popular fireworks
include the famous 'phoolthari' or 'sparkler' which is commonly used in
lighting most other fireworks. The 'Anaar' or 'Flowerpedal' displays as a
large mountain of fire when lit. The 'Zameen Chakra' is a spinning circle of
fire with sparks emitting from it. The 'rocket' is popular but dangerous, as
it can change it's course and fly into buildings. Bombs like 'Chilli Bombs'
and 'Laxmi bombs' are becoming popular, but are sometimes disturbing due to
their high intensity.
Maltese Petards
In Malta, local patron saints' holidays are usually celebrated with
spectacular fireworks and bombs called petards or murtali in Maltese.
Petardry is a popular hobby and a traditional skill in Malta, and Maltese
fireworks are usually homemade. Manufacture is often high-risk, but the
final results are extravagant. In the opinion of many fireworks artists,
Malta is one of the best places in the world for the manufacture of
fireworks. The 'Malta International Fireworks Festival', held annually at
the end of April in the Valletta Grand Harbour, is a fireworks competition
open to all pyrotechnic manufacturers of the world. In 2003 the event began
as just a festival to showcase Maltese talent, but in 2006 the committee
decided to retool it into a competition open to manufacturers worldwide. The
first of these international fireworks competitions was contended by two
foreign groups and three Maltese groups. The title was won by the St. Mary
Fireworks Factory, of Mqabba, which won five of the seven honours. The other
two honours, were also won by a Maltese competitor. In fact, the Saint
Michael's Fireworks of Lija won the 'best shells' and 'best colours'
categories. The great extent of Maltese talent, however, is most evident
during summer and spring, during which many cities and villages celebrate
the feasts of their patron saints and local artists produce their best
fireworks. The Maltese take pride in their renown as one of the foremost in
the pyrotechnic industry.
PGI Annual Convention
The Pyrotechnics Guild International, Inc. or PGI, founded in 1969, is an
independent worldwide nonprofit organization of amateur and professional
fireworks enthusiasts. It is notable for its large number of members, around
3,500 in total. The PGI exists solely to further the safe usage and
enjoyment of both professional grade and consumer grade fireworks while both
advancing the art and craft of pyrotechny and preserving its historical
aspects. Each August the PGI conducts its annual week-long convention, where
some the world's biggest and best fireworks displays occur. Vendors,
competitors, and club members come from around the USA and from various
parts of the globe to enjoy the show and to help out at this all-volunteer
event. Aside from the nightly firework shows, the competition is a highlight
of the convention. This is a completely unique event where individual
classes of hand-built fireworks are competitively judged, ranging from
simple fireworks rockets to extremely large and comlpex aerial shells. Some
of the biggest, best, most intricate fireworks displays in the United States
take place during the convention week.
Amateur and professional members can come to the convention to purchase
fireworks, paper goods, novelty items, non-explosive chemical components and
much more at the PGI trade show. Before the nightly fireworks displays and
competitions, club members have a chance to enjoy open shooting of any and
all legal consumer or professional grade fireworks, as well as testing and
display of hand-built fireworks. The 'superstring', consisting of
firecrackers numbering somewhere in the millions, as well as the 'megastring'
are displayed as well. The week ends with the Grand Public Display on Friday
night, which gives the chosen display company a chance to strut their stuff
in front of some of the world's biggest fireworks aficionados. The stakes
are high and much planning is put into the show. In 1994 a shell of 36
inches in diameter was fired during the convention, more than twice as large
as the largest shell usually seen in the USA, and shells as large as 24
inches are frequently fired.
Halloween
In Ireland (both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland), during the
Halloween season, there are many spectacular fireworks displays. The largest
are in Derry and Dublin. The sale of fireworks is restricted in the Republic
of Ireland, though many illegal fireworks are sold throughout October or
smuggled over the Northern Ireland border. There is a €10,000 fine for
possessing them, or a five year prison sentence.
Both fireworks and firecrackers are a popular tradition during Halloween in
Vancouver, although apparently this is not the custom elsewhere in Canada.
Types
Popular types of fireworks are listed below. There are two general
categories of fireworks commonly sold in the United States today, and are
listed below.
The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) as well
as the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) have general
jurisdiction over what types of fireworks may be legally sold in the United
States. The federal law is only the minimum standard however, and each state
is free to enact laws that are more stringent if they so choose. Citing
concerns over fireworks safety, some states, such as California, have
enacted legislation restricting fireworks usage to devices that do not leave
the ground, such as fountains, while states such as New York ,
Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Jersey, and Delaware ban all consumer
fireworks completely. Arizona allows only sparklers. On the other hand,
states such as South Carolina and Tennessee allow most or all legal consumer
fireworks to be sold and used throughout the year.
Pennsylvania is somewhere in between. The law only allows fireworks that
don't leave the ground to be sold and used by residents. Yet residents form
out of state and Pennsylvania residents with a permit can buy any consumer
fireworks from an outlet.
Differences in legislation among states have led many fireworks dealers to
set up shop along state borders in order to attract customers from
neighboring states where fireworks are restricted. Some Native American
tribes on reservation lands show similar behavior, often selling fireworks
that are not legal for sale outside of the reservation.
The type of fireworks sold in the United States vary widely, from fireworks
which are legal under federal law, all the way to illegal explosive
devices/professional fireworks that are sold on the black market. Both the
illicit manufacture and diversion of illegal explosives to the consumer
market have become a growing problem in recent years. The types of fireworks
sold at retail stands and stores include, but are not limited to:
Consumer fireworks (1.4G, UN0336)*
* reloadable aerial shells 1.75" or less sold in a box with not more than 12
shells and one launching tube
* single-shot aerial tubes
* bottle rockets
* skyrockets and missiles
* ground spinners, pinwheels and helicopters
* flares & fountains
* roman candles
* smoke and novelty items
* multi-shot aerial devices, or "cakes"
* Firecracker packs (see this link for various brand/label images)
* sparklers
* snakes and strobes
* mines
Display fireworks (1.3G, UN0335) or (1.1G, UN0333)*
The following devices are for professional use and only available with a ATF
license/permit:
* any ground salute device with over 50 milligrams of explosive composition
* torpedoes (except for railroad signaling use)
* multi-tube devices containing over 500 grams of pyrotechnic composition
and without 1/2" space between each tube
* any multiple tube fountains with over 500 grams of pyrotechnic composition
and without 1/2" space between each tube
* any reloadable aerial shells over 1.75" diameter
* display shells
* any single-shot or reloadable aerial shell/mine/comet/tube with over 60
grams of pyrotechnic composition
* any Roman candle or rocket with over 20 grams of pyrotechnic composition
* any aerial salute with over 130 milligrams of explosive composition
NOTE: * US Department of Transportation (DOT) classifications
Legality Note: Current federal law states that (without appropriate ATF
license/permit) the possession or sale of any display/professional fireworks
is a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Although some large
firecraker items may be called "M-80's", "M-1000's", "Cherry bombs" or
"Silver Salutes" by the manufacturer, they must contain less than
50-milligrams of flash or other explosive powder in order to be legally sold
to consumers in the United States.
Laws and politics
Safety of consumer fireworks in USA
Availability and use of consumer fireworks are hotly debated topics. Critics
and safety advocates point to the numerous injuries and accidental fires
that are attributed to fireworks as justification for banning or at least
severely restricting access to fireworks. Complaints about excessive noise
created by fireworks and the large amounts of debris and fallout left over
after shooting are also used to support this position. There are numerous
incidents of consumer fireworks being used in a manner that is supposedly
disrespectful of the communities and neighborhoods where the users live.
Meanwhile, those who support more liberal firework laws look at the same
statistics as the critics and conclude that, when used properly, consumer
fireworks are a safer form of recreation than riding bicycles or playing
soccer.[3]
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has guidelines concerning the
standard of consumer fireworks sold in the US. Together with US Customs,
they are very proactive in enforcing these rules, intercepting imported
fireworks that don't comply and issuing recalls on unacceptable consumer
fireworks that are found to have "slipped through". Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is the federal agency that regulates
explosives, including Display Fireworks in the US.
Many states in the United States have laws which further restrict access to
and use of consumer fireworks, and some of these states vigorously enforce
them. Each year, there are many raids on individuals suspected of illegally
possessing fireworks.
In 1998, a non-profit organisation called American Fireworks Safety
Laboratory (AFSL) was established to develop a voluntary fireworks standard
for the US to which members would adhere.[4]
Safety of commercial and display fireworks in Canada
Fireworks safety is considered to be extremely important in Canada. The use,
storage and sale of commercial-grade fireworks in Canada is licensed by
Natural Resources Canada's Explosive Regulatory Division (ERD). Unlike their
consumer counterpart, commercial-grade fireworks function differently, and
come in a wide range of sizes from 2 inches up to 12 or more inches in
diameter. As well, since commercial-grade fireworks are a shell which is
loaded into separate a mortar by hand, great care must be taken during all
stages of setup.[5]
Setup of these fireworks involves the placement and securing of mortars on
wooden or wire racks; loading of the shells; and if electronically firing,
wiring and testing. The mortars are generally made of FRE (Fiber-Reinforced
Epoxy) or HDPE (High-Density Polyethelene), some older mortars are made of
Sheet Steel, but have been banned by most countries due to the problem of
shrapnel produced during a misfire. Setup of mortars in Canada require that
a minimum angle of 10 to 15 degrees down-range with a safety distance of at
least 200 meters down-range and 100 meters surrounding the mortars.
Loading of shells is a delicate process, and must be done with caution, and
a loader must ensure not only the mortar is clean, but also make sure that
no part of their body is directly over the mortar in case of a premature
fire. Wiring the shells is a painstaking process; whether the shells are
being fired manually or electronically, any "chain fusing" or wiring of
electrical ignitors, care must be taken to prevent the fuse (an electrical
match, often incorrectly called a squib) from igniting. If the setup is
wired electrically, the electrical matches are usually plugged into a
"firing rail" or "breakout box" which runs back to the main firing board;
from there, the Firing Board is simply hooked up to a car battery, and can
proceed with firing the show when ready.
Since commercial-grade fireworks are so much larger and more powerful, setup
and firing crews are always under great pressure to ensure they safely set
up, fire and clean up after a show.
Pollution
Fireworks produce smoke and dust that contain heavy metals, sulfur-coal
compounds and some low concentration toxic chemicals. These by-products of
fireworks combustion will vary depending on the mix of ingredients of a
particular firework. (Green color, for instance, is produced by adding
barium, a non toxic metal, but toxic in some cases, albeit one that does not
accumulate in the body. Barium is also used as Barium Sulfate in X-ray
photographing of the human body, hospitals all over the world uses hundreds
of tons and then wash it out with the wastewater. Barium Sulfate is also
used in the making of white paper (baryte paper)) These variables include
the amount of gunpowder used, type of oxidizer, colors produced and launch
method.
Pollutants from fireworks raise concerns because of potential health risks
associated with hazardous by-products. For most people the effects of
exposure to low levels of toxins from many sources over long periods are
unknown. For persons with asthma or multiple chemical sensitivity the smoke
from fireworks may aggravate existing health problems. Environmental
pollution is also a concern because heavy metals and other chemicals from
fireworks can contaminate water supplies and because fireworks combustion
gases might contribute to such things as acid rain which can cause
vegetation and even property damage. However, gunpowder smoke and the solid
residues are basic, and as such the net effect of fireworks on acid rain is
debatable. The carbon used in fireworks is produced from wood and does not
lead to more carbon dioxide in the air (No global warming). What is not
undisputed is that most consumer fireworks leave behind a considerable
amount of solid debris, including both readily biodegradable components as
well as nondegradable plastic items. Concerns over pollution, consumer
safety, and debris have restricted the sale and use of consumer fireworks in
many countries. Professional displays, on the other hand, remain popular
around the world.
Fireworks supporters in contrast argue that alleged concern over pollution
from fireworks constitutes a red herring, since the amount of contamination
from fireworks is minuscule in comparison to emissions from sources such as
the burning of fossil fuels. In the US some states and local governments
restrict the use of fireworks in accordance with the Clean Air Act which
allows laws relating to the prevention and control of outdoor air pollution
to be enacted. Few governmental entities, by contrast, effectively limit
pollution from burning fossil fuels such as diesel fuel or coal. Coal fueled
electricity generation alone is a much greater source of heavy metal
contamination in the environment than fireworks.
Laws governing consumer fireworks
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United States
In the United States, the laws governing consumer fireworks vary widely from
state to state and even from county to county and munciciaplity to
municipality. Many jurisdictions limit sales to seasons and others limit
both sales and use to seasons.
Five states (Delaware, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode
Island) ban the sale and use of all consumer fireworks including novelties
and sparklers by the general public.
One state (Arizona) permits residents to purchase and use only novelties.
Four states (Illinois, Iowa, Maine, and Vermont) permit residents to
purchase and use only wire or wood stick sparklers and other novelties.
Nineteen states (California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia,
Kentucky, Idaho, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Carolina,
Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin, West Virginia, and the
District of Columbia) allow residents to purchase and use non-aerial and
non-explosive fireworks like novelties, fountains and sparklers.
For example: 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.
Another example: In Minnesota only consumer fireworks that do not explode or
fly through the air are now permitted to be sold to and used by residents.
In Nebraska the sale and use of all consumer fireworks are prohibited in
Omaha, while in Lincoln there is a two day selling period and in other parts
of the state all of the permitted types can be sold and used by residents.
Twenty states Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana,
Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota,
Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington
and Wyoming 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.
For example: 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 their own
regulations.
For example, Clark County 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.
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 so 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. These are often near
casinos and tobacco outlets that are also exempt from state and local laws.
Other countries
In the United Kingdom fireworks cannot be sold to people under the age of 18
and setting them off between 11pm and 7am is only allowed at specific times
of the year, including New Year and Bonfire Night.
In New Zealand fireworks cannot be sold to anyone under the age of 18, and
apparently now may only be sold for the 3 days leading up to and including
the 5th November. However, fireworks are able to be used at any time of the
year (Ie:, 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 pharoes serpents. Skyrockets,
and other fireworks where the firework itself flies, are specifically
banned, as well as bangers and firecrackers
In Bergen, Norway, fireworks can only be purchased by people 18 or older.
Class 1.3G professional display fireworks are for sale. Can only be fired
between 1800 and 0200 on the celebration day.
In Australia, In Tasmania Type 1 fireworks are permitted to be sold to the
public. For anything that has a big bang or gets airbourne you 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 Queens Birthday long weekend for personal purposes. 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 the Netherlands, fireworks cannot be sold to anyone under the age of 16.
References
1. ^ Needham, Joseph (1986). Science & Civilisation in China, Vol. 5, Part
7: The Gunpowder Epic. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 131–132. ISBN
0521303583.
2. ^ Walt Disney Company (June 28, 2004). Disney debuts new safer, quieter
and more environmentally-friendly fireworks technology. Press Release.
3. ^ "Fireworks: safer than candles, tableware." Dave Stoddard, Sacramento
Ledger Dispatch, July 14, 2006.
4. ^ American Fireworks Safety Laboratory
5. ^ Natural Resources Canada, Explosive Regulatory Division. Display
Fireworks Manual (March 2002 Edition)
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