Fire safety of pyrotechnic products

Pyrotechnics is a source not only of joy for children and adults, but also of increased danger. Therefore, its acquisition, storage and operation require special attention. In general, pyrotechnic products are special devices designed to create smoke and light effects, for holding fireworks and salutes. Their fire hazard lies in the fact that the use of such products is often accompanied by an open flame, sparks, as well as the movement of these burning, sparkling objects over fairly large distances.

In the article we will analyze where the sale of pyrotechnic products is allowed, what you need to pay attention to when buying, where you can launch fireworks and fireworks, which is especially important to consider.

No sales

On the eve of the New Year holidays, you can see the points of sale of fireworks and salutes, roughly speaking, on every corner. Please note that the sale of pyrotechnic products is prohibited in the following outlets:

1. Shops located in residential buildings.
2. Kiosks and stalls built into buildings for any purpose.
3. Trays that can be installed in the spaces of markets and other shopping areas.
4. Trading facilities in the buildings of the air, bus and railway stations, as well as on the platforms of railway stations, in underpasses and in public transport.
5. Trading objects on the territory of fire hazardous production spaces.
6. Sale outside of retail facilities.
7. Sales of products directly from road transport.

In addition, the sale of pyrotechnic products to citizens under 16 years of age is prohibited (unless the manufacturer has set a different age limit). You can not sell them individually, without factory packaging.

It is forbidden to implement pyrotechnics that have lost their identification features, with an expired shelf life, with traces of spoilage, and the lack of instructions for use. Such products must not be sold without a certificate of quality or a relying mark of conformity.

At the time of buying

The rules on pyrotechnic products oblige the seller, when selling such products, to present the following documentation to the buyer:

1. A copy of the certificate, certified by the signature of the owner of its original, by a notary or the certification body that issued such a document.
2. The accompanying documentation drawn up by the manufacturer, supplier, distributor. For each item of goods, the following information must be indicated: number of certificates of conformity and the period of their validity, name of the authority that issued the certificate, registration number of the declaration of conformity, name of the manufacturer or supplier who accepted this product.

The above documentation must be certified by the signature, seal of the seller, supplier or manufacturer with the obligatory indication of his legal address and contact phone number.

Instruction requirements

The use of pyrotechnic products is carried out strictly according to the instructions. It, in turn, has the following requirements for the content of information:

1. Restrictions on the use of the device, according to the conditions for handling it.
2. Measures to prevent a fire hazard, self-production.
3. The area of ​​the danger zone.
4. Date of manufacture, expiration date, warranty period.
5. Ways to safely dispose of the product.
6. A highlighted, eye-catching (say, large print) warning about the dangers of pyrotechnics.
7. Identification features of the product.
8. Contact information, details of the manufacturer.
9. Product Certification Data.

The above text should be clearly printed - should not be smeared, shallow. All information is required in Russian.

Main rules

When using pyrotechnic products, it is important to remember that the product is explosive and fire hazard. It can not be used until you fully read the instructions. Be sure to protect from minors.

Expired pyrotechnics are not allowed. Be sure to store in a dry place where the temperature does not exceed 30 ° C. Storage should be away from heating devices.

When using products

Speaking about the fire safety of pyrotechnic products, it is important to highlight the following prohibition rules:

1. Products cannot be used in apartments, enclosed spaces, fireworks from loggias and balconies are prohibited.
2. Do not use products with expired shelf life or with visible damage, packaging damage.
3. It is impossible to carry out any kind of action with the goods that are not provided for by the instructions to it. It is forbidden to disassemble, remodel pyrotechnics.
4. Do not dry wet pyrotechnics near a fire or heating devices.
5. It is forbidden to start pyrotechnics from your hands or to approach it earlier than 5 minutes after the completion of the device.
6. It is extremely dangerous to hold the wick while igniting the device near your face. The minimum safe distance is at arm's length.
7. It is unsafe to start pyrotechnics in strong winds (more than 5 m / s).
8. It is forbidden to direct fireworks towards people, animals, or throw firecrackers under your feet.
9. In no case do not bend over already lit fireworks.
10. Do not come closer than 15 meters to lighted firecrackers, salutes, fireworks and so on.
11. Do not try to check the condition of the wick for broken pyrotechnic products.
12. Do not incinerate pyrotechnics that do not work and do not dispose of them with ordinary waste. It is necessary to lower the device into water for 2 days. After that, its disposal with ordinary garbage is allowed.

Device categories

Let's analyze the classes of pyrotechnic products:

1. Rockets.
2. Firecrackers.
3. Batteries of fireworks.
4. Roman candles.

Let us further consider the safety when using pyrotechnic products specifically for each of the selected categories.

Firecrackers

So called pyrotechnic devices of an entertaining nature. To use such a product, the first thing you need to carefully remove it from the package. At arm's length, sharply “strike” the grate head of the firecracker on the spreading strip of the package or matchbox.

After that, you need to sharply throw away the firecracker at a distance of more than 5 meters. There should not be people, animals, road objects, buildings, or any flammable objects on the side of the throw.

Use firecrackers is permissible only in the open air. It is strictly forbidden to place it in closed objects (bottles, boxes, cans, etc.). In no case, after lighting, do not hold the product in your hand. If the firecracker did not work, you can’t get close to it for 5-10 minutes.

Rockets

All pyrotechnic means of this category must not be allowed not only from the hand, but also from the balcony, residential building or other structure. The rocket flies up along with a special wooden stabilizer. By the way, it is often mistakenly buried in snow, earth or taped to an object with tape.

Correctly, depending on the size of the rocket, insert it with a stabilizer either in the bottle or in the pipe. And only after that set fire to the wick. If you start the device from a bottle, then this container must first be attached to a peg or other stable object.

As for large missiles, their wick is often closed with a special orange protective cap. Before lighting it, the cap must be removed. For other missiles, the wick can be wrapped in cellophane or paper.In any case, it must be freed from such protective packaging.

If this is not done, then in a limited space such a wick will quickly flare up - before you have time to move to a safe distance from the rocket. When preparing it for launch, always place the product strictly upright. In no case do not bend over it.

Roman candles

Similar pyrotechnic devices are also forbidden to be launched from a hand, a balcony, a window of a residential building, etc. Only on the street, in an open area.

Before starting, the device must be fixed with tape so that it looks strictly up. You can exclude the inclination of the Roman candle by securely fastening it with a vertical peg or other stable object.

Before starting, igniting the wick, be sure to determine where the product has the top. That is, from where sparkling elements will fly out. Typically, this is indicated by an arrow on the product body. Do not stoop in front of the Roman candles, starting it. Make sure there are no canopies, trees or power lines above the device.

Fireworks

If you bought salute batteries, be sure to install them on a flat surface. Stack the device with stones, wrap it around a stable vertical peg. Remember that during the shooting, such pyrotechnics bounces, turns over.

Salute constructions with a small support area are less stable, respectively, when the diameter of the bottom is less than the height of the entire installation. Be sure to remove the protective paper from the machine to prevent fire. When lighting the wick, do not bend over the product. Perform this procedure at arm's length. After lighting, immediately move to a safe distance of more than 15 meters.

Prohibition of use

Speaking of the dangers of pyrotechnic products, it is necessary to indicate a list of zones where their use is prohibited:

1. Structures, buildings or premises of any functional purpose.
2. Shopping facilities located in any buildings, train stations (auto, rail, air), on the platforms of railway stations, in street crossings and underground structures, in public vehicles.
3. Territories of fire hazardous, explosive production facilities, railway exclusion bands, gas pipelines, water pipes, as well as high-voltage power lines.
4. Balconies, roofs, loggias, protruding parts of various structures and buildings.
5. Weather conditions that do not ensure safety when using pyrotechnic products.
6. Conducting processions, rallies and demonstrations.
7. Use by persons who have not overcome the age limit imposed by the device manufacturer.

Now you know the basic fire safety rules when buying, using and storing pyrotechnics. We also examined the features of the safe launch of specific devices: rockets, salutes, firecrackers, Roman candles. Remember that they can only be launched in open spaces, away from people, plantations, animals, structures.