Are you Putting on your own Firework Display?
At fireworkshows.com we don't supply Consumer Fireworks, however there are many quality suppliers readily available on the Internet. We often get asked about how to safely use fireworks at small events when a professional company is perhaps a little too expensive - Well here is some simple advice.
- The first and most important decision you'll make is where to buy the fireworks from?. Well always ensure its from a trusted and reliable firework retailer. There are some obvious big high street names who supply fireworks, although in truth we feel that many of these fireworks are only really suitable for small back gardens, as they don't often meet the same high standards of performance that a specialist firework supplier might offer, not least because supermarkets tend to concentrate on smaller fireworks. An internet based mail order specialist is a great place to start..look out for their credentials. We often think that BPA Membership (British Pyrotechnists Association) is a great mark of quality, not least because this should mean the company are also active 'Firework Display Professionals', which should mean they know what they're talking about.
- Once you've found your supplier you'll need to choose the right fireworks, and there is no shortage of choice out there. Its important to mention that you should ensure that the Fireworks are fully safety tested, and this means that they will comply with BS7114 (British Safety Standards) or they may be CE Marked (European Safety Standard). In fact after July 2017 BS7114 will be fully replaced with the CE Mark, so as time passes you'll see less BS7114 Products and more CE Marked Products.
- Choosing the right type of Fireworks can be easy or hard, and this really depends on what the fireworks are going to be used for? and also if the supplier can give you the help and advice you need. The most versatile Firework is a 'Cake Barrage', which is in essence a collection of individual firework tubes all linked with a series of fuse, which will give its own small display. Using a multitude of these offers the widest possible range of effects and colours and it also covers the smallest to the largest budgets. Then there are Rockets which we all know and love, and then the more traditional ground based items such as Fountains and Bengals, and also Catherine Wheels and Mines. There is a wealth of information out there, so choose your supplier wisely and the advice should come thick and fast.
- There are various issues to contend with when deciding where and how to let the fireworks off safely. Having enough space is critical, and its important to know what amount of space the fireworks your planning to buy need in order to comply with the safety instructions on the product label. Really we'd suggest you know what Category of Fireworks your buying 'Before' You make your final choice. Imagine getting home to your 15 metre long garden, only to find the fireworks you have are for 25 metre minimum safety distance. So the key message here is a) know how much space you have and b) know how much space the fireworks you intend to buy need.
- You can buy Garden Fireworks (Category 2) which need either 5 metres or 8 metres of safety distance between the fireworks and the audience. Larger fireworks, also know as 'Display Fireworks' (Category 3) are where the real power comes in, and these are not for the feint hearted, but used correctly and as per the safety label, they will give a very impressive display and offer the largest choice of colours, effects and firework types. Most good online retailers will display with each product all of this safety information, so be sure to look out for it.
You can also find some really useful information on this website - Please visit http://www.saferfireworks.com/planning/index.htm
The Health & Safety Executive have also published a very useful guide called 'Giving your own Firework Display : How to run it safely' You can download the guide online here - http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/hsg124.htm. It contains a lot of useful information on how to check your site for the display and also information on setting up and firing the event.