FIREWORK CODE

ALWAYS FOLLOW THE FIREWORK CODE

  • Do not buy fireworks from UNLICENCED retailers.
    These fireworks may be unsafe and illegal.
  • Only buy fireworks that comply with current safety standards. *
  • Always keep fireworks in a closed box.
    Take them out one at a time and close the box.
  • Never put fireworks in your pocket.
  • Be considerate. Let your neighbours know you will be having a display, especially
    if they are elderly or they have pets or children.
  • Avoid setting fireworks off late at night, particularly if it is a school-night.
  • Ensure your pets are safe.
  • Carefully follow the instructions on EACH firework.
  • Never go back to a lit firework unless the instructions advise otherwise.
  • Never throw fireworks; it is dangerous.
  • Light fireworks one at a time, at the end of the fuse, and at arm’s length.
  • Light sparklers one at a time and wear suitable gloves, even when lighting them.
  • Never give sparklers to a child under the age of 5.
  • Never throw spent fireworks on a bonfire.

STAY SAFE, BE CONSIDERATE, AND DON’T BECOME A NUISANCE.

* All fireworks supplied by BFA members are tested to conform to the current safety standards. If you require more information, contact the seller or any member of the BFA.

FURTHER INFORMATION

For further information to ensure you have a SAFE night please visit:

The British Fireworks Association
www.britishfireworksassociation.co.uk

The Explosives Industry Group
www.eig.org.uk

Health and Safety Executive – General Firework Guidance
www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/fireworks

BRITISH STANDARDS

All our wholesale fireworks are stringently checked and tested to comply with BS EN 15947.

SELLING AND STORING FIREWORKS AT RETAIL PREMISES

(What you need to know)
The storage of fireworks for retail sale is subject to a number of legal requirements, in particular:

  • You must licence your premises, with your Local Authority, in most areas this will be the Trading Standards department, but in Metropolitan Boroughs it will be the Fire and Rescue Service.
  • The maximum quantity of any hazard type of fireworks allowed in Local Authority licensed premises is 2000kg.
  • Where fireworks are kept in their original packaged state, it is possible to equate hazard type with the figures on the orange diamond label present on the outer carton as follows: “1.4G” equals HT4 “1.3G” equals HT3.
  • A safety distance from any public or occupied building, or road and other works will be required where more than 250kg of HT4 or more than 25 kg HT3 (or more than 25kg of a mixture of HT3 and HT4) is stored. Tables 1 and 2 below give the full quantity distance relationships for HT4 and HT3.
  • Where a mixture of HT3 and HT4 fireworks are stored, the total explosive mass must be regarded as HT3.
  • Carry out a risk assessment covering all aspects of the sales and storage process.
  • Public access to fireworks on display must be prevented (for example by use of display cabinets) until the fireworks are sold
  • The quantity of fireworks allowed in the sales area is restricted, to a maximum of 12.5kg net mass of explosives per display cabinet, The number of cabinets permitted depends on the floor area Table 3 below give details.
  • A statutory notice relating to the age of sale and possession of fireworks must be di played
  • You can only sell fireworks of Category 1 to members of the general public over 16 years of age or Category 2 & 3 to members of the general public over 18 years of age The above relate to firework storage at retail premises, there are different rules for storage for private use.

Full details of all the legislation regarding the storage and sale of fireworks are available from:

Quantity Distance Tables

Hazard Type 4
Net Mass (kg) Distance (m)
<250 0
250 – 300 1
300 – 340 2
340 – 370 3
370 – 400 4
400 – 450 5
450 – 500 6
500 – 550 7
550 – 600 8
600 – 650 9
650 – 700 10
700 – 750 11
750 – 800 12
800 – 900 13
900 – 950 14
950 – 1000 15
1000 – 1100 16
1100 – 1150 17
1150 – 1200 18
1200 – 1300 19
1300 – 1350 20
1350 – 1400 21
1400 – 1450 22
1450 – 1550 23
1550 – 1600 24
1600 – 1650 25
1650 – 1700 26
1700 – 1800 27
1800 – 1850 28
1850 – 1900 29
1900 – 2000 30
Table 1
Hazard Type 3
Net Mass (kg) Distance (m)
<25 0
25 – 50 23
50 – 75 25
75 – 100 29
100 – 150 33
150 – 200 37
200 – 300 42
300 – 400 47
400 – 450 47
450 – 500 50
500 – 600 51
600 – 700 53
700 – 800 54
800 – 900 55
900 – 1000 63
1000 – 1100 70
1100 – 1200 71
1200 – 1300 72
1300 – 1400 73
1400 – 1500 74
1500 – 1600 75
1600 – 1700 76
1700 – 1800 78
1800 – 1900 79
1900 – 2000 80
Table 2
Total floor area of the sales area
(square metres)		 Maximum quantity of fireworks that may be kept under a licence requiring a separation distance of 0m (kg – net mass of explosive)
(Note a maximum of 12.5kg net mass of
up to 20 12.5
up to 40 15
up to 60 20
up to 80 25
up to 100 30
up to 150 35
up to 200 40
up to 250 45
up to 300 50
up to 350 55
up to 400 60
up to 450 65
up to 500 70
500 and over 75
Table 3