Fireworks Display Sites, Safety Considerations Part 2

Safety is the overriding principle in the choice of site.

The choice of a safe site will be largely the decision of the senior firer. However there are parameters and considerations which will be helpful in making such judgements.

Before a firework display is set up, it is necessary to define the ground according to the

planned dimensions.

As a reminder, there are four main spaces-

The Firing Area

This will depend on the size of the display and the types of fireworks that are being used. The size will clearly depend on the number and complexity of the display items and on the need to separate them to avoid premature initiation by the transfer of burning material from one to another.

Set pieces need to be kept away from aerial fireworks, and you must allow room for the firers to move around the fireworks.

It is not uncommon for a display to be fired from an area that is left over after

provision has been made for the spectators’ safety and other requirements. The senior firer has to be of the opinion that there is still sufficient space to safely fire the display by his team.

The firers want to be able to move away from fireworks that have already been lit into an area that is safe. It is a very dangerous practice to work towards fireworks that are burning. Always try to set out the display so that you work in lines and backwards from the already lit pieces.

Setting out

Keep a reasonable distance between each sequence.

Plan your display so that you work away from fireworks that are already lit.

Try to set out your display so that you do not have to rush between pieces to fire them.

Do at least 3 trial runs before the display.

Set aerial pieces furthest away from the audience. Cakes and candles can be in the middle and wheels up the front of the display. This will give you the opportunity to increase the effective safety distance for the more dangerous pieces.

Try to reduce the risk of flash-over by setting out the later items upwind of the earlier.

Protect all items at risk with foil (except rockets).

Protect all items from the weather and condensation do not wrap green fuse as this will affect its burn rate.

A larger display occupies a considerable amount of space.

The Safety Area

This is dead space between the firing area and the spectator area, to maintain a safe distance between the two.

The absolute minimum distance between the fireworks and the display must be no less than 35 metres (1^st Galaxy Fireworks Ltd Company Policy. THIS IS STILL VERY CLOSE and is not recommended. Larger cakes should not really be used where there is only 35m clearance. We recommend at least 40-50m be the minimum safety zone and this is dependant on the calibre etc (please see our Health and Safety Statement/Policy)

If shells larger than 150mm (6”) in diameter are being used then this distance must be increased considerably. The exact distances are hard to quantify but as a guide consider how wide the spread of material would be from a shell exploding just above the tube!

The distance of 40-50 metres may not be enough. If the wind is blowing towards the audience then safety distances must be doubled. Even this may not be far enough for large material.

If these conditions cannot be met then you must be prepared to stop the display. An alternative may be to remove items/effects from the display that are causing you concern over safety distances for the prevailing conditions.

Although it should never happen, consider the distance that a flaming ball could travel horizontally from a Roman candle that has fallen over and is now pointing at the crowd!!

Parachute shells and cakes require masses of space.

The Spectator Area

This is the only area of the four in which spectators will be allowed during the display. It must be large enough to accommodate the spectators in comfort, safety, and with a good view of the display. There must be no fireworks in this area. Great care must be taken to ensure that spectators do not bring their own fireworks, not even sparklers.

The Fallout Area

This is the area where debris is expected to land. It must also be marked out, as it will become a no-go zone during the firework display. It could be a rectangle at least 150m wide by 100m deep (450 feet by 300 feet)

Once the various areas have been laid out, they must not be adjusted without

Authority. In particular, firework items must not be placed outside the firing area. If the spectator area is to be extended, this must be backwards, away from the safety and firing areas.

As a further reminder-if after setting out the areas, circumstances change, e.g. a significant shift in the wind direction, it may be necessary to re-site the component areas, according to pre-planned alternative layouts.

Fencing

The firing area should ideally be marked out separately. Invariably the only fence normally provided is the spectator barrier. It is imperative that this is placed so that people do not get the opportunity to get too close to the firing area or into the fall-out zone.

Posts or stakes should be firmly set into the ground and an obvious tape barrier be strung across the whole area. No spectators are allowed to cross this line. Make the barrier as long as possible so that young children can get to the front to see the display. This is especially important if the display does not include aerial fireworks.

If the crowd is large then it will be necessary to provide extra marshals to ensure that the crowd does not creep beyond the barrier. The combination of alcohol and high spirits at fireworks parties can produce some very irrational behaviour!

Direction signs

These will be needed to direct spectator vehicles from the road to the car park and for pedestrians from there to the spectator area, in both directions. Also; for access paths, etc., open to pedestrians only.

Safety signs

Warning signs will already have been placed directly round the firing area. Further signs should be placed along the spectator fence, warning them not to proceed forward of that line. If the sides of the spectator area are not also fenced, then there must be further warning signs along those lines.

There must also be warning notices to the effect that spectators are forbidden to bring fireworks, however small, to the display. These should be posted at the pedestrian and vehicle entrances.

Fire points

Fire points should be located near to the firing area, consisting of two 6kg water Extinguishers to deal with small fires involving firework materials. The points should be clearly marked. The number of points will depend on the size of the firing area, but Team members should not have to move more than about 40m to reach the one nearest to them.

Extinguishers should be checked before the display to ensure that they are

serviceable, i.e. seals not broken and, where fitted, pressure gauges up to mark. Water extinguishers should be checked to ensure that they are not frozen.

First aid point

A first aid point should be established in a readily-accessible position; to act as the base for the first-aider appointed to attend the display. It need not be elaborately equipped, as paramedic assistance is rapidly obtainable in most parts of the country, particularly in or near urban areas.

Litter

Bins should be placed around the spectator area for public use.

Shows “in the round”

On occasions it may be necessary to fire a show “in the round” i.e. with the audience on all four sides of the display. Here the fall out zone plus the safety zone must be allowed for all round the show. Under these conditions rockets should not be used.

Fireworks Display Sites, Safety Considerations Part 2

Safety is the overriding principle in the choice of site.

The choice of a safe site will be largely the decision of the senior firer. However there are parameters and considerations which will be helpful in making such judgements.

Before a display is set up, it is necessary to define the ground according to the

planned dimensions.

As a reminder, there are four main spaces-

The Firing Area

This will depend on the size of the display and the types of fireworks that are being used. The size will clearly depend on the number and complexity of the display items and on the need to separate them to avoid premature initiation by the transfer of burning material from one to another.

Set pieces need to be kept away from aerial fireworks, and you must allow room for the firers to move around the fireworks.

It is not uncommon for a display to be fired from an area that is left over after

provision has been made for the spectators’ safety and other requirements. The senior firer has to be of the opinion that there is still sufficient space to safely fire the display by his team.

The firers want to be able to move away from fireworks that have already been lit into an area that is safe. It is a very dangerous practice to work towards fireworks that are burning. Always try to set out the display so that you work in lines and backwards from the already lit pieces.

Setting out

Keep a reasonable distance between each sequence.

Plan your display so that you work away from fireworks that are already lit.

Try to set out your display so that you do not have to rush between pieces to fire them.

Do at least 3 trial runs before the display.

Set aerial pieces furthest away from the audience. Cakes and candles can be in the middle and wheels up the front of the display. This will give you the opportunity to increase the effective safety distance for the more dangerous pieces.

Try to reduce the risk of flash-over by setting out the later items upwind of the earlier.

Protect all items at risk with foil (except rockets).

Protect all items from the weather and condensation do not wrap green fuse as this will affect its burn rate.

A larger display occupies a considerable amount of space.

The Safety Area

This is dead space between the firing area and the spectator area, to maintain a safe distance between the two.

The absolute minimum distance between the fireworks and the display must be no less than 35 metres (1^st Galaxy Fireworks Ltd Company Policy. THIS IS STILL VERY CLOSE and is not recommended. Larger cakes should not really be used where there is only 35m clearance. We recommend at least 40-50m be the minimum safety zone and this is dependant on the calibre etc (please see our Health and Safety Statement/Policy)

If shells larger than 150mm (6”) in diameter are being used then this distance must be increased considerably. The exact distances are hard to quantify but as a guide consider how wide the spread of material would be from a shell exploding just above the tube!

The distance of 40-50 metres may not be enough. If the wind is blowing towards the audience then safety distances must be doubled. Even this may not be far enough for large material.

If these conditions cannot be met then you must be prepared to stop the display. An alternative may be to remove items/effects from the display that are causing you concern over safety distances for the prevailing conditions.

Although it should never happen, consider the distance that a flaming ball could travel horizontally from a Roman candle that has fallen over and is now pointing at the crowd!!

Parachute shells and cakes require masses of space.

The Spectator Area

This is the only area of the four in which spectators will be allowed during the display. It must be large enough to accommodate the spectators in comfort, safety, and with a good view of the display. There must be no fireworks in this area. Great care must be taken to ensure that spectators do not bring their own fireworks, not even sparklers.

The Fallout Area

This is the area where debris is expected to land. It must also be marked out, as it will become a no-go zone during the display. It could be a rectangle at least 150m wide by 100m deep (450 feet by 300 feet)

Once the various areas have been laid out, they must not be adjusted without

Authority. In particular, firework items must not be placed outside the firing area. If the spectator area is to be extended, this must be backwards, away from the safety and firing areas.

As a further reminder-if after setting out the areas, circumstances change, e.g. a significant shift in the wind direction, it may be necessary to re-site the component areas, according to pre-planned alternative layouts.

Fencing

The firing area should ideally be marked out separately. Invariably the only fence normally provided is the spectator barrier. It is imperative that this is placed so that people do not get the opportunity to get too close to the firing area or into the fall-out zone.

Posts or stakes should be firmly set into the ground and an obvious tape barrier be strung across the whole area. No spectators are allowed to cross this line. Make the barrier as long as possible so that young children can get to the front to see the display. This is especially important if the display does not include aerial fireworks.

If the crowd is large then it will be necessary to provide extra marshals to ensure that the crowd does not creep beyond the barrier. The combination of alcohol and high spirits at fireworks parties can produce some very irrational behaviour!

Direction signs

These will be needed to direct spectator vehicles from the road to the car park and for pedestrians from there to the spectator area, in both directions. Also; for access paths, etc., open to pedestrians only.

Safety signs

Warning signs will already have been placed directly round the firing area. Further signs should be placed along the spectator fence, warning them not to proceed forward of that line. If the sides of the spectator area are not also fenced, then there must be further warning signs along those lines.

There must also be warning notices to the effect that spectators are forbidden to bring fireworks, however small, to the display. These should be posted at the pedestrian and vehicle entrances.

Fire points

Fire points should be located near to the firing area, consisting of two 6kg water Extinguishers to deal with small fires involving firework materials. The points should be clearly marked. The number of points will depend on the size of the firing area, but Team members should not have to move more than about 40m to reach the one nearest to them.

Extinguishers should be checked before the display to ensure that they are

serviceable, i.e. seals not broken and, where fitted, pressure gauges up to mark. Water extinguishers should be checked to ensure that they are not frozen.

First aid point

A first aid point should be established in a readily-accessible position; to act as the base for the first-aider appointed to attend the display. It need not be elaborately equipped, as paramedic assistance is rapidly obtainable in most parts of the country, particularly in or near urban areas.

Litter

Bins should be placed around the spectator area for public use.

Shows “in the round”

On occasions it may be necessary to fire a show “in the round” i.e. with the audience on all four sides of the display. Here the fall out zone plus the safety zone must be allowed for all round the show. Under these conditions rockets should not be used.

Fireworks Display Sites & Safety Considerations

Site Considerations

The choice of a good site is critical to public safety, and clearly important to the full enjoyment of the display.

Site Visit

It is obvious that the Operator to any short-listed site must pay an early visit

before detailed preparations can begin. The Operator will then be able to assess realistically the factors which follow. Important details are taken from HS(G)123

Space for the display

This is the space required for the operation of a fireworks display, including the safety area between the firing area and the spectators. It is likely to be a rectangle at least 150m wide by 75m deep (450 feet by 225 feet)

Space for the spectators

This area should ideally be upwind of the display area, and large enough to

accommodate the expected numbers. Spectators should not be so tight-packed that they could not move out of the way quickly in the event of an accident. As a rough guide, there should be no more than about two people per metre square.

The standing surface must be safe, e.g. to avoid slipping in wet weather, and free from obstructions, e.g. ditches, which could cause injury, particularly in the dark.

Fallout Zone

This is an area that is what it suggests. It is calculated to be large enough to contain any fireworks debris that will come back to Earth! The fall-out zone must be clear of any people, buildings, stores or anything inflammable.

Make sure that spectators or uninvited guests are not watching from the rear, or near the fall-out zone.

Remember that rockets when fired will turn into the wind. Even if the wind is blowing away from crowd a rocket will fly towards them. The most dangerous piece of debris from a spent firework is the rocket body and stick.

Space for a Bonfire (If there is to be one)

This must be well clear of other activities that could be adversely affected by stray sparks or smoke, e.g. the firing and spectator areas. It must be well clear of buildings, roads, railways, rights of way, etc., and at a safe distance from stocks of flammable materials and overhead power lines. It should be downwind of the spectator area

Access to the Site for the delivery of Fireworks and other Equipment

Safe and certain access to the site from the road system is required for the supply vehicles. When choosing access routes, account must be taken of the adverse effects of weather on soft-surface ground and tracks.

Access to the site for Emergency Vehicles

Police, Fire, and Ambulance vehicles must be able to reach the site quickly, under all weather conditions. The routes must not become obstructed during the display, e.g. by other parked vehicles.

Access to the Site for Spectators

Spectator access must be adequate to get people on and off the site in reasonable time, again taking weather effects into account. A grass field may provide reasonable access in summer, but not after a few days of winter rain. There should be at least two routes, and they must be well signed and illuminated

The pedestrian access routes must be separate from vehicle access to car parking space, as below. There must be space for spectators to leave the site rapidly on foot in an emergency.

Spectator car Parking

Space for cars and coaches must be provided. If public roads are to be used, this must be agreed in advance with the Police. Pedestrian access from the parking spaces to the spectator area must also be well signed and illuminated.

Surrounding areas (Such as dwellings, Roads, Railways)

The display must be located clear of these, to the extent that damage could not be caused, even in the event of complete mal-operation of a firework item. In the case of roads, the vehicles do not have to be struck by a firework for a danger to be created. An accident could result from a sudden and unexpected event anywhere on or near the carriageway.

Overhead power lines

These are vulnerable to the impact of the fireworks themselves, and may also cause a flashover if they are near scaffolding and frames used to support display features, or if they arc to Earth via the column of hot gas ejected by a firework. They may also produce stray currents in electric circuits in the vicinity, leading to the premature initiation of firework items.

Hazardous installations

The display must be well clear of any installation where flammable materials are

stored or used, or where fire damage may lead to enhanced danger, e.g. plant where toxic gases are used.

Rivers and canals

Apart from the false-signalling aspects mentioned earlier, vessels and their

passengers on waterways could be endangered by a display accident. Also, spent fireworks landing in water could cause pollution, which could lead to prosecution by the Environmental Agency.

Prevailing wind

The prevailing wind direction will dictate the orientation of the display site, as

discussed earlier in relation to site layout.

Changes

Amendment to display features if safety considerations require it should be possible and ideally the ability to modify the site layout if conditions change between the time the display is planned and the time of execution. For example, if there is a significant change in wind direction, or if new adjacent features appear, e.g. construction work. An alternative plan should be held in readiness for a layout change if necessary. Obviously, the larger the total safe area available, the easier it would be to accommodate alternative layouts.

In general, the choice of firework display site is critical, and the exact form of the display, and the type of fireworks to be used, cannot finally be determined until the site is confirmed. Once determined, the site should not be changed. Otherwise the planning process will have to restart from the beginning.