NFPA 1123 Code for Fireworks Display 2018 Edition

Vocabulary and technical safety requirements for outdoor fireworks displays as defined in NFPA 1123, 2018 Edition.

Aerial Shell

A cartridge containing pyrotechnic composition, a burst charge, and an internal time fuse or module, that is propelled into the air from a mortar and that is intended to burst at or near apogee.

Assistant

A person who works under the supervision of the pyrotechnic operator, aged at least 18 years old, and trained in assigned duties.

Barrage

A rapidly fired sequence of aerial fireworks.

Battery

A collection of fireworks devices, such as a group of mortars (finale battery) or a bundle of roman candles (candle battery), fused together to fire within a short period of time.

Break

An individual burst from an aerial shell, generally producing either a visual effect (stars) or noise (salute).

Cake

A chain-fused firework that propels a series of aerial shell, comet, or mine effects into the air from collectively attached tubes.

Chain Fusing

A series of two or more aerial shells or other firework items fused to fire in sequence from a single ignition.

Comet

A single pellet of pyrotechnic composition that is ignited and simultaneously propelled into the air from a mortar or tube; it is self-consuming as it rises and can be designed to split apart.

Electrical Firing Unit

A device that provides and controls the electric current used to ignite fireworks.

Fallout Area

The designated area in which hazardous debris is intended to fall after a pyrotechnic device is fired.

Finale

A rapidly fired sequence (barrage) of aerial fireworks, typically fired at the end of a display.

Consumer Fireworks

Small fireworks devices containing restricted amounts of pyrotechnic composition, classified as Explosives, 1.4G and described as UN 0336.

Display Fireworks

Large fireworks devices that are explosive materials intended for use in fireworks displays, classified as Explosives, 1.3G and described as UN 0335.

Ground Display Piece

A fireworks device that functions on the ground or functions while mounted securely above the ground.

Hazardous Debris

Any debris produced or expelled by the functioning of a fireworks device that is capable of causing personal injury or unpredicted property damage.

Lance

A thin cardboard tube packed with color-producing pyrotechnic composition used to construct ground display pieces.

Lift Charge

The pyrotechnic composition that propels (lifts) the fireworks device into the air.

Electric Match

An electric device containing a small amount of pyrotechnic material that ignites when current flows through the device.

Quick Match

A black match that is encased in a loose-fitting sheath to propagate flame extremely rapidly.

Mine

A device containing multiple pyrotechnic effects that are simultaneously ignited and dispersed by a lift charge into the air from a mortar or tube.

Mortar

A tube, closed at one end, from which certain aerial devices are fired into the air.

Mortar Trough

An aboveground enclosure filled with sand or similar material into which mortars are positioned and securely held in place.

Operator

The person with overall responsibility for the operation and safety of a fireworks display, at least 21 years old and licensed by the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ).

Ready Box

A sturdy, weather-resistant, and fire-resistive container for storage of fireworks devices to be reloaded at the discharge site.

Roman Candle

A chain-fused firework that propels a series of aerial shell, comet, or mine effects into the air from a single tube.

Salute

Fireworks designed to produce an explosive sound as their primary effect.

Discharge Site

The area immediately surrounding the location where fireworks and other devices are ignited for a display.

Display Site

The immediate area where a fireworks display is conducted, including the discharge site, the fallout area, and the required separation distance from mortars to spectator viewing areas.

Manual Fired Shell Fuse Requirement

The fuse shall be long enough to allow not less than $6\,in.$ ($152\,mm$) of fuse to protrude after the shell has been inserted into the mortar.

Aerial Shell Separation Radius

The minimum radius shall be $70\,ft/in.$ ($22\,m/25\,mm$) of the internal mortar diameter of the largest aerial shell to be fired.

Buried Mortar Depth

Mortars shall be buried to a depth of at least two-thirds of their length in the ground or troughs.

Electrical Firing Test Current Limit

Built-in test circuits shall limit current to $0.05\,ampere$ or $20\,\%$ of the maximum current that can be applied to an electric match for $5\,seconds$ at room temperature.

Misfire Handling Wait Time

Personnel shall not handle unfired shells until at least $15\,minutes$ have elapsed from the time of attempted firing.

Safety Shelter Construction

Manned discharge sites on floating platforms must have a shelter with walls and a roof of at least $3/4\,in.$ ($19\,mm$) plywood or equivalent.

Single-Break Aerial Salute Limit

Limited to a maximum size of $5\,in.$ ($127\,mm$) in diameter and length.