Substitute the following for Appendix A -
-
"
A.1 Test paper
A.1.1 Requirements
When determined in accordance with BS EN ISO 536[8], after conditioning as specified in BS EN 20187[9], the grammage of the paper shall be 70g/m2±5g/m2.
A.1.2 Conditioning prior to use
The test paper shall be conditioned at (20±4) °C and (65±5)% relative humidity for at least 24 h immediately prior to use.
A.2 Flame witness paper
The test paper shall comply with A.1.1 and shall also be subjected to the scorch test described in A.3 immediately prior to use. The highest sheet in the stack which shows no sign of discoloration after being subjected to the scorch test described shall be sheet '6', '7', '8', '9' or '10'.
A.3 Scorch test
A.3.1 Material
A.3.1.1 Cigarette(s), untipped, of length 70mm±4mm, diameter 8.0mm±0.5mm and mass 1.0g±0.1g, and having a smouldering rate of 12.0 min±3.0 min over 50mm distance when determined in accordance with appendix D.
A.3.2 Apparatus
A.3.2.1 Metal plate, mass 225g±1g, dimensions as shown in figure A.1, with a rectangular hole cut in the centre (as shown). The mass of the plate shall be reduced to 225g by drilling holes symmetrically around the plate as necessary.
NOTE. The four holes in figure A.1 are shown as an example only.
A.3.3 Test specimen
Take twelve sheets of the paper, each at least 205mm×105mm, number them consecutively (for identification) and assemble them in a stack, with the matt surfaces (if any) uppermost and sheet '1' on the top.
A.3.4 Procedure
A.3.4.1 Place the test specimen (A.3.3) on a flat, smooth, wooden surface and place the metal plate (A.3.2.1) on top of the stack (i.e. on top of sheet '1') so that the paper projects out around the edges. Light a cigarette (A.3.1.1) and allow it to burn at least 10mm along its length.
A.3.4.2 Place the burning cigarette on the exposed paper in a position which is at least 10mm from any edge of the rectangular hole in the metal plate, and so that it will burn inwards, and then remove the cigarette after 60 s.
 |
A.3.4.3 Repeat the operations described in A.3.4.2 a further four times, each time selecting a different position which is at least 10mm from any edge and at least 10mm from any scorch mark. If the cigarette has burnt more than 40mm along its length, light a new cigarette, allow it to burn 10mm and then use it for the next position.
A.3.4.4 Examine each sheet of paper and determine which is the highest sheet (i.e. that with the lowest number) which shows no sign of discoloration."
After Appendix C, add a new appendix as follows -
-
"
Appendix D. Method for determination of smouldering rate of cigarette
Condition the cigarette for at least 16 h, immediately before the test, at a temperature of 20°C±5°C and a relative humidity of 50%±20%.
Mark the cigarette at 10mm and 60mm from the end to be lit. Ignite the cigarette and draw air through it until the tip glows brightly. Not less than 5mm and not more than 8mm of the cigarette shall be consumed in this operation. In draught-free air, impale the cigarette horizontally on a horizontal spike inserted not more than 13mm from the unlit end. Record the time taken for the cigarette to smoulder from the 6mm mark to the 60mm mark."
| Firework/assembly | Size and weight requirements |
|
1.
Air bomb in category 2 |
inside body diameter not to exceed 20mm |
|
2.
Air bomb in category 3 |
inside body diameter not to exceed 30mm |
|
3.
Battery in category 2 |
gross mass (excluding any frame) not to exceed 1kg |
|
4.
Battery in category 3 |
gross mass (excluding any frame) not to exceed 10kg |
|
5.
Category 2 rocket |
gross mass not to exceed 150g |
|
6.
Category 3 rocket |
gross mass not to exceed 500g. Internal diameter of rocket motor not to exceed 25mm |
|
7.
Combination in category 2 |
gross mass (excluding any frame) not to exceed 1kg |
|
8.
Combination in category 3 |
gross mass (excluding any frame) not to exceed 10kg |
|
9.
Mine in category 2 |
gross mass not to exceed 125g |
|
10.
Mine in category 3 |
gross mass not to exceed 1.2kg |
|
11.
Roman candle in category 2 |
inside body diameter not to exceed 20mm |
|
12.
Roman candle in category 3 |
inside body diameter not to exceed 30mm |
|
13.
Wheel in category 2 |
gross mass (excluding any frame) not to exceed 100g |
|
14.
Wheel in category 3 |
gross mass (excluding any frame) not to exceed 1.5kg |
1. Air bomb
2. Banger
3. Battery
4. Cap
5. Category 2 rocket
6. Category 3 rocket
7. Combination
8. Cracker snap
9. Fountain
10. Mine
11. Novelty match
12. Party popper
13. Roman candle
14. Serpent
15. Set piece
16. Smoke device
17. Sparkler
18. Table bomb
19. Throwdown
20. Wheel
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations (which do not extend to Northern Ireland) revoke and re-enact with amendments the provisions of the Fireworks (Safety) Regulations 1996 and make other provision relating to the safety of fireworks and assemblies which include fireworks.
The Regulations provide that fireworks and assemblies classified as category 1, category 2 or category 3 under British Standard 7114 must comply with that Standard (regulation 3(1)). For these purposes, BS 7114 is to be read subject to certain modifications (regulation 2(4) and Schedule 1), and the Regulations provide a limited exception for certain sparklers (regulation 3(3)).
The Regulations also impose size and weight requirements for certain specified fireworks and assemblies which are in certain respects stricter than those contained in BS 7114. Subject to exceptions referred to below, the Regulations prohibit the supply of fireworks and assemblies which contravene these requirements (regulation 3(2) and Schedule 2).
The Regulations prohibit the supply of fireworks of erratic flight and mini-rockets, but provide an exception for supplies to any person for use, in the course of a trade or business of his, for special effects purposes in the theatre, on film or on television (regulation 4(1) and (3)).
The Regulations prohibit the supply of aerial shells, shells-in-mortar, aerial maroons and maroons-in-mortar and also certain assemblies which include these devices. They also prohibit the supply of bangers (including combinations and batteries containing bangers, but not wheels containing bangers) and fireworks classified as category 4 under British Standard 7114 (regulation 4(2)). These prohibitions are subject to exceptions referred to below.
Further, the Regulations prohibit the supply of any firework or assembly which is not listed in Schedule 3 (regulation 4(2)(g)), again subject to exceptions referred to below.
The exceptions referred to above enable the fireworks and assemblies to which they relate to be supplied to -
-
(a) any person who is in business as a professional organiser or operator of firework displays;
(b) any person whose trade or business, or part of whose trade or business, is the supply of fireworks or assemblies, for the purpose of supplying them in accordance with these Regulations;
(c) local authorities, Government departments and naval, military and air force establishments, for the purposes of firework displays or for use at national public celebrations or commemorative events (or, in the case of Government departments, for research or investigations purposes);
(d) any person for use, in the course of his trade or business, for special effects purposes in the theatre, on film or on television;
(e) bodies with enforcement powers when they make certain test purchases; and
(f) persons who supply goods for use with fireworks or assemblies and who intend to use the fireworks or assemblies to ensure that the goods they supply perform correctly or comply with safety legislation (regulation 5).
The Regulations prohibit the supply of fireworks and assemblies (other than caps, cracker snaps, novelty matches, party poppers, serpents and throwdowns) to persons apparently under the age of eighteen (regulation 6).
The Regulations also require specified fireworks and assemblies to be marked with the words "This device must not be sold to, or used by, a member of the general public". Packets of sparklers must be marked with the words "Warning: not to be given to children under 5 years of age" (regulation7).
Finally, the Regulations prohibit retailers from supplying any firework which they have removed, caused to be removed, or know to have been removed from a primary pack or a selection pack.
For the purposes of the requirement to comply with BS 7114, the size and weight requirements and the marking requirements, the Regulations allow for the supply of fireworks and assemblies which comply with any standard or specification recognised for use in a member State of the European Community or any other State within the European Economic Area, so long as that standard or specification provides an equivalent level of safety (regulation 2(5) and (6)).
Copies of British Standard 7114, and the British Standards referred to in it, are available from any of the sales outlets operated by the British Standards Institution (BSI), by post from BSI at 389 Chiswick High Road, London W4 4AL or from any of the bookshops operated by the Stationery Office Limited.
These Regulations were notified in draft to the European Commission in accordance with Council Directive 83/189/EEC (O.J. No. L109, 26.4.1983, p.8), as amended.
A compliance cost assessment is available, copies of which have been placed in the libraries of both Houses of Parliament. Copies are also available from the Consumer Affairs and Competition Policy Directorate of the Department of Trade and Industry, Room 4.H.3, 1 Victoria Street, London SW1H 0ET.
Notes:
[8] BS EN ISO 536: 1997, the British Standard Specification for paper and board-determination of grammage, published on 15th February 1997. ISBN 0 580 25355 4.back
[9] BS EN 20187: 1993, the British Standard Specification for paper, board and pulps-standard atmosphere for conditioning and testing and procedure for monitoring the atmosphere and conditioning of samples, published on 15 December 1993. ISBN 0 580 21881 3.back
ISBN 0 11 064962 1
