The use of pyrotechnics is another way to make the celebrations more colorful, but only if a person knows the safety rules and danger factors. Pyrotechnics are not used every day, but only on very special occasions. Often, the most impressive accent of the New Year's Eve unexpectedly "darkens" the joy of the celebrations with burn injuries or a fire accident in the home.
In order for the use of a diverse range of pyrotechnic products during the holiday to bring positive emotions, a number of precautions must be observed
- It is safest to entrust the firing of pyrotechnics to professionals who will assess the possible risks and take full responsibility for both the fireworks display and its safety, without endangering the health, life and property of the viewers.
- Pyrotechnics should be purchased from certified stores. In a good pyrotechnics store, the salesperson will be able to tell you more about the specific product and its safe use than what is written in the (often poorly translated) instruction manual.
- Rights of persons to purchase, store and use pyrotechnic articles:
- a person who has reached the age of 14 has the right to purchase, store and use category F1 fireworks;
- a person who has reached the age of 18 has the right to purchase, store and use F2 and F3 category fireworks, T1 category stage pyrotechnic products and P1 category pyrotechnic products;
- Fireworks and stage pyrotechnic products, the main effect of which is the creation of a noise similar to that of an explosion (firecrackers and their prototypes), are permitted to be purchased, stored and used in hunting by persons who have received a hunter's license.
- Even in the case of the slightest uncertainty, you should ask a pyrotechnician for advice. If, after reading the instructions, you are not sure about the safe use of a pyrotechnic product, it is better to ask a specialist again. You should carefully read the instructions for using pyrotechnics (preferably in daylight) and follow them. This will help you stay calm and cool-headed.
- You must choose the right place! Pyrotechnics must not be used near historical monuments, hospitals, churches, educational institutions and gas stations! If a burning pyrotechnic product or its hot parts land on the roof of a house, the roof covering and subsequent ignition of roof structural elements may occur.
- It must be ensured that people, animals, vehicles, other people's property, flammable and explosive objects are not in the danger zone during the use of pyrotechnic articles and after their use until it has been checked whether all projectiles have been fireds.
- Skatītājiem (pirmām kārtām bērniem) ieteicams atrasties drošā attālumā no pirotehnikas izstrādājuma palaišanas vietas, lai izsargātos no smagām apdeguma traumām kādas kļūmes dēļ pirotehnikas iedarbināšanas procesā.
- When setting up a fireworks display and installing pyrotechnics, the strength and direction of the wind should be taken into account - spectators should feel the wind from their backs.
- It is necessary to ensure that the danger zone is appropriately increased during strong winds. If the wind speed exceeds nine meters per second, the use of pyrotechnic articles is not permitted.
- Be careful of trees! Just like strong winds, they can change the direction of the pyrotechnics' flight, making it unpredictable.
- Pyrotechnics may only be removed from packaging and the fuses cleaned shortly before use.
- Fireworks should not be left unattended, even in well-known places! They can be found by children or teenagers who want to play with them.
- Do not smoke near pyrotechnics and do not allow others to do so!
- Finished pyrotechnic articles must not be disassembled.
- Before launching, the pyrotechnic product must be placed on a stable surface so that it cannot tip over during launch or during operation and thus unexpectedly change trajectory. The rockets can be placed in a stable, vertically fixed bottle or tube, for example, buried in the ground. You need exactly as many bottles or tubes as the rockets you plan to fire.
- If a larger fireworks display is planned, a fire extinguisher or bucket of water should be prepared in advance and placed nearby. Quickly extinguishing a fire can save lives and protect property. A first aid kit should also be nearby.
- Pyrotechnics should not be allowed to fall into the hands of a child, even if it is their birthday fireworks!
Safety requirements for different types of pyrotechnics
- Firecrackers should not be pointed at the face or light fixtures, nor used near open flames.
- Firecrackers (noisy pyrotechnics) are unpredictable, so it is imperative to maintain a safe distance from people and buildings - from six to 10 meters. After lighting them, they must be quickly thrown away at a safe distance from yourself and others (five to six meters away). Firecrackers must not be used indoors and it is strictly forbidden to throw them at people, animals, as well as into bottles, jars, buckets, etc.
- Roman candles consist of a long cardboard tube with a burner at the top. The candle burns from top to bottom and shoots burning stars into the air one after another. It is not recommended to hold the candle in your hand, as the body may break or the base may fall out during burning, so it must be firmly secured in place, for example, by tying it to a stick stuck in the ground.
- A firework most often consists of a small, loaded paper cartridge that shoots parachute-shaped lights or burning stars at a height of 15 to 50 meters. The firework is placed on a hard, flat surface. A battery with a small number of barrels should be lightly covered with earth or dense snow so that it does not fall over after launch. For this reason, it is not recommended to place the battery on ice.
- Flying fireworks touch the ground and then fly up to a height of about 20 meters, sparkling in the shape of an umbrella. Flying fireworks consist of a cylindrical paper body with wings. Some fireworks do not have wings, they rise into the air thanks to a jet engine. A flat surface measuring 50 x 50 cm is required for launching. It is important not to launch these fireworks near buildings and wires, as well as when there is a strong wind.
- The most powerful and colorful fireworks are made with the help of bombs, which are fired into the air at a height of 50 to 300 meters with the help of special pyrotechnic mortars. At the highest point, the bombs explode, creating various light effects. A starting charge is attached to the lower part of the bomb, which is ignited by a burner or electric ignition device and throws the bomb out of the tube. When working with these products, strict safety measures must be observed, as various problems can occur, for example, the explosion may occur too low, the initiating charge may not work and the unexploded bomb will then fall from a great height, therefore, spectators should not be closer than the safe zone during fireworks. The safe zone is calculated according to the caliber of the mortar, for example, if it is 50 mm, then the safe distance is 50 meters.
- Fire fountains and similar products must first be placed on the ground and firmly secured so that they do not fall over. Then, flammable objects must be removed from the danger zone and only then should they be ignited. After the pyrotechnics are launched, the fountain of sparks is at a height of a few centimeters to several meters. Fountains must not be taken in the hands unless there is an appropriate handle. Outdoor fountains must not be used indoors, as is often the case in Latvia. Volcanoes, on the other hand, are made in the form of a cone. During the combustion process, the area of the burning mixture increases, which increases the height of the sparking jet.
- The sun is a pyrotechnic attribute that rotates around its axis during operation, creating a magnificent firework display. The product is attached at a height of no lower than 1.50 meters, for this purpose a special hole is made in the center of the sun. When installing the sun, you must make sure that it rotates easily, and make sure that nothing interferes with the rotation.
- Tabletop pyrotechnics should be burned on a fireproof base, avoid flammable materials.
Pyrotechnics launch
- Pyrotechnics should be lit outdoors from the wind and should be immediately removed after lighting. Do not lean over or walk past the product being lit once it has been lit.
- Rockets must be fired vertically into the air.
- It is unacceptable for another rockets to be nearby when a racket is fired. Even a single spark can fall on the fuses, and then the missiles will choose their own trajectory, which can endanger the safety of people and property.
- No pyrotechnic product should be held in the hands while it is in operation. Sparklers can also burn unevenly. A faster flash of a sparkler can cause a panic, which can result in it being dropped, for example, on the carpet, causing it to catch fire and produce toxic fumes.
- Caution is also required after fireworks.
- It is forbidden to re-ignite pyrotechnic products that have not worked! After a few minutes, they are neutralized by throwing them into water without being disassembled.
- Make sure that no sparks are left glowing on the ground after the fireworks, because as we know, a spark starts a flame.
- The places where the pyrotechnic article was used must be inspected and the collection of unfired or partially fired pyrotechnic articles, pyrotechnic charge elements and packaging of used pyrotechnic articles must be carried out no earlier than the time specified in the instructions for use of the pyrotechnic article.
So as not to spoil the celebrations for yourself and others
It is important to know that according to the Pyrotechnic Products Circulation Law, the use of fireworks is prohibited:
- on the property of other private individuals without the consent of their owners or possessors;
- in the vicinity of land, buildings or vehicles owned by other private persons, if, when using a pyrotechnic article, projectiles, sparks or their slag may fall on the land, buildings or vehicles of other private persons and these persons have not permitted it; indoors, except for F1 category fireworks and stage pyrotechnic articles
- closer than 100 meters from flammable and explosive objects and their territories, fuel tanks, gas cylinders and other flammable or flammable substances and materials;
- closer than 100 meters from production and storage facilities for hazardous substances and mixtures;
- closer than 100 meters from zoos, menageries and livestock facilities without the permission of their owners;
- under low-voltage electrical, high-voltage and communication lines, tree branches and other obstacles that can be reached by pyrotechnic projectiles (substances), as well as in tunnels;
- tuvāk par pirotehniskā izstrādājuma lietošanas instrukcijā norādīto drošo attālumu no tiltiem, dzelzceļa, autoceļiem, ceļu pārvadiem un transporta ceļu sazarojumiem;
- on roadways and pedestrian sidewalks, unless permission from the local government has been received;
- closer than 100 meters from state and local government institutions, outside diplomatic missions, churches and houses of worship, medical institutions, educational institutions, social care and social rehabilitation institutions, bus stations, railway stations, airports and passenger ports, unless permission from the relevant institutions has been received;
- in the courtyards of apartment buildings, if pyrotechnic rockets are used.
It is necessary to remember!
- Pyrotechnics add to the festive atmosphere and bring joy to everyone, especially children. And for the sake of children, it is most important to realize that safety is in everyone's own hands.
- Injuries resulting from the inept use of pyrotechnics are most often severe and often have lifelong consequences.
- It is prohibited to use pyrotechnic articles if their use poses a risk to human life, health, property or may cause damage to the environment.
- It is prohibited to use pyrotechnic products while under the influence of alcoholic beverages, narcotics or other intoxicating substances