Layton City Fireworks Restrictions:
From Office of the Utah State Fire Marshal
Be Fireworks Smart Before, During, & After Your Consumer Fireworks Display
Consumer fireworks are a wonderful way to celebrate holidays. But they must be used carefully! The National Council On Fireworks Safety urges consumers to be fireworks smart before, during, ad after their consumer fireworks display.
Before: Choose an open area away from spectators, homes, and buildings and dry vegetation. Use a garden hose to wet down the area before firing.
During: As each device burns out, soak it using a hose, or bucket of watery.
After: Place all used items I a covered fireproof container and leave it outside and away from homes and buildings.
“Fireworks are beautiful and add fun and excitement to holiday celebrations. But you must be fireworks smart when you use them!”, says National Council Vice President Jack Leonard.
And remember the following special fireworks safety tips for sparklers:
Be Fireworks Smart Before, During, & After Your Consumer Fireworks Display
Consumer fireworks are a wonderful way to celebrate holidays. But they must be used carefully! The National Council On Fireworks Safety urges consumers to be fireworks smart before, during, ad after their consumer fireworks display.
Before: Choose an open area away from spectators, homes, and buildings and dry vegetation. Use a garden hose to wet down the area before firing.
During: As each device burns out, soak it using a hose, or bucket of watery.
After: Place all used items I a covered fireproof container and leave it outside and away from homes and buildings.
“Fireworks are beautiful and add fun and excitement to holiday celebrations. But you must be fireworks smart when you use them!”, says National Council Vice President Jack Leonard.
And remember the following special fireworks safety tips for sparklers:
- Children under the age of 12 should not use sparklers without very close adult supervision.
- Always remain standing while using sparklers.
- Never hold a child in your arms while using sparklers.
- Never hold a child in your arms while using sparklers.
- Never hold, or light, more than one sparkler at a time.
- Sparklers and bare feet can be a painful combination. Always wear closed-toe shoes when using sparklers.
- Sparkler wire and stick remain hot long after the flame has gone out. Be sure to drop the spent sparklers directly in a bucket of water.
- Never hand a lighted sparkler to another person Give them the unlit sparkler and then light it.
- Always stand at least six feet from another person while using sparklers.
- Never throw sparklers.
- Show children how to hold sparklers away from their body and at arm’s length.
- Teach children not to wave sparklers, especially wooden stick sparklers, or run while holding sparklers.
Utah's New Fireworks Laws in the News
Utah State Fire Marshal 2011 Information
There have been some significant changes in the Utah fireworks laws that go into effect this firework season. We are asking for your help to keep your community safe this year by sharing these talking points. You may contact the Office of the State Fire Marshal at 801-284-6350.
You may now purchase and use lawful fireworks from June 26 – July 26. (The dates for sale and use of fireworks for New Year and Chinese’s New Year celebrations remains the same.)
A new type of aerial firework is now lawful. Aerial devices, also known as “multiple tube,” “repeater,” or “cake” fireworks often look like miniature professional displays and can travel high into the air, as much as 150 feet.
Still not allowed: firecrackers, M-80, cherry bombs, bottle rockets, Roman candles, single or reloadable mortars, and ground salutes.
You must be at least 16 years of age to handle or light fireworks.
Fireworks need space from trees, carports, structures, or other obstacles. Aerial or “cake” fireworks need at least a 30 foot bubble of clearance around on the ground and above in the air. Some need as much as 150 feet clearance in the air.
Should a firework misfire or not light, do not attempt to re-ignite.
Children in Utah are burned each year by sparklers. The tip of a sparkler burns at a temperature of more than 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit, hot enough to cause third-degree burns.
Children under the age of 12 should not use sparklers without very close adult supervision. Never hold or light more than one sparkler at a time.
Teach children to hold a sparkler at arm’s length from their body and not to wave sparklers or run while holding sparklers. Stand at least 6 feet from another person while using sparklers.
After a firework display, children should never pick up fireworks that may be left over, they may still be active.
The following is the new Rule 710-2-6 about the display, sale and signage of aerial devices. Aerial devices are also known as cakes or multiple tube fireworks. This does not refer to bottle rockets or similar unlawful fireworks that shoot into the air.
This rule provides guidance to protect the consumer from unintentional ignition of an aerial device during point of sale. These are a very different type of firework that calls for additional safety precautions. This rule provides education to the consumer about the safe use of aerial fireworks.
R710-2-6. Display, Sale, and Signage of Aerial Devices.
6.1 In addition to those requirements in R710-2-3, R710-2-4 and R710-2-5, all aerial devices shall be packaged and displayed for sale in a manner that would provide public safety by completing the following:
6.1.1 Aerial devices shall be placed in an area that is physically separated from the public so that the customer cannot handle the aerial devices without the assistance of an employee. There shall be signage placed at the aerial device display directing customers that aerial devices cannot be attained without the assistance of a store employee.
6.1.2 Where aerial devices are sold in permanent structures or other approved locations, the aerial device display shall be placed in a location that gives the customer access to the aerial devices just before the customer checks out and exits the store.
6.1.3 Wherever aerial devices are sold, there shall be signage with a minimum font of one inch, to warn and inform the customer of the dangers of aerial devices and the signage shall state the following:
6.1.3.1. Aerial fireworks are designed to travel up to 150 feet into the air and then explode.
6.1.3.2 Aerial fireworks shall be placed on a hard level surface outdoors, in a clear and open area prior to ignition.
6.1.3.3 Anyone under the age of 16 shall not handle or operate aerial fireworks.
6.1.3.4 Ignition of aerial fireworks shall be a minimum of 30 feet from any structure or vertical obstruction.
6.1.3.5 Aerial fireworks shall not be ignited within 150 feet of the point of sale.
6.1.3.6 Please read and obey all safe handling instructions before using aerial fireworks.
You may now purchase and use lawful fireworks from June 26 – July 26. (The dates for sale and use of fireworks for New Year and Chinese’s New Year celebrations remains the same.)
A new type of aerial firework is now lawful. Aerial devices, also known as “multiple tube,” “repeater,” or “cake” fireworks often look like miniature professional displays and can travel high into the air, as much as 150 feet.
Still not allowed: firecrackers, M-80, cherry bombs, bottle rockets, Roman candles, single or reloadable mortars, and ground salutes.
You must be at least 16 years of age to handle or light fireworks.
Fireworks need space from trees, carports, structures, or other obstacles. Aerial or “cake” fireworks need at least a 30 foot bubble of clearance around on the ground and above in the air. Some need as much as 150 feet clearance in the air.
Should a firework misfire or not light, do not attempt to re-ignite.
Children in Utah are burned each year by sparklers. The tip of a sparkler burns at a temperature of more than 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit, hot enough to cause third-degree burns.
Children under the age of 12 should not use sparklers without very close adult supervision. Never hold or light more than one sparkler at a time.
Teach children to hold a sparkler at arm’s length from their body and not to wave sparklers or run while holding sparklers. Stand at least 6 feet from another person while using sparklers.
After a firework display, children should never pick up fireworks that may be left over, they may still be active.
The following is the new Rule 710-2-6 about the display, sale and signage of aerial devices. Aerial devices are also known as cakes or multiple tube fireworks. This does not refer to bottle rockets or similar unlawful fireworks that shoot into the air.
This rule provides guidance to protect the consumer from unintentional ignition of an aerial device during point of sale. These are a very different type of firework that calls for additional safety precautions. This rule provides education to the consumer about the safe use of aerial fireworks.
R710-2-6. Display, Sale, and Signage of Aerial Devices.
6.1 In addition to those requirements in R710-2-3, R710-2-4 and R710-2-5, all aerial devices shall be packaged and displayed for sale in a manner that would provide public safety by completing the following:
6.1.1 Aerial devices shall be placed in an area that is physically separated from the public so that the customer cannot handle the aerial devices without the assistance of an employee. There shall be signage placed at the aerial device display directing customers that aerial devices cannot be attained without the assistance of a store employee.
6.1.2 Where aerial devices are sold in permanent structures or other approved locations, the aerial device display shall be placed in a location that gives the customer access to the aerial devices just before the customer checks out and exits the store.
6.1.3 Wherever aerial devices are sold, there shall be signage with a minimum font of one inch, to warn and inform the customer of the dangers of aerial devices and the signage shall state the following:
6.1.3.1. Aerial fireworks are designed to travel up to 150 feet into the air and then explode.
6.1.3.2 Aerial fireworks shall be placed on a hard level surface outdoors, in a clear and open area prior to ignition.
6.1.3.3 Anyone under the age of 16 shall not handle or operate aerial fireworks.
6.1.3.4 Ignition of aerial fireworks shall be a minimum of 30 feet from any structure or vertical obstruction.
6.1.3.5 Aerial fireworks shall not be ignited within 150 feet of the point of sale.
6.1.3.6 Please read and obey all safe handling instructions before using aerial fireworks.
Utah's New Fireworks Law Raises Safety Concerns
Utah House Bill 22 - New fireworks law (45.3KB) .
Published: 5/03 3:23 pm SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) - Fireworks season is right around the corner and Utah legislators have legalized new fireworks into the state. The aerial fireworks are more powerful than what Utahns are used to, in fact, they're some of the most powerful in the country. Some firework experts and fire officials have concerns over what the new fireworks can do and what it means for your safety this summer. Utahns can already buy the smaller sparklers that shoot about 10 to 15 feet in the air. The morepower aerial fireworks will launch about 130 feet in the air. They are now legal in Utah after legislators passed House Bill 22. District 39 Representative Jim Dunnigan sponsored the bill. He says, “The good news is they do go up ten times higher and 15 times higher and we're hoping that by giving people a little more exciting display they'll feel less inclined to drive to our neighboring state to the north.” Dunnigan says Utah loses millions of dollars each year to other states that allow consumers to buy these aerial fireworks. But, with this new legalization and no clear regulations or guidelines yet for how and where these fireworks will be sold, local fireworks experts and fire officials have concerns. Joee Witter is a regional manager for Phantom Fireworks and says, “Fireworks as an industry has gotten better as far as packaging and the safety of the items themselves, however if a consumer is unaware of what a particular item does then that can spell for disaster on the back end.” South Salt Lake Fire Marshal Bruce Shoemaker adds, “We're just going to have to be careful because this has the potential of putting more pyrotechnic material up in the air where we've been pretty conservative in the past.” They're asking the Utah Fire Prevention Board to adopt NFPA 1124, the national regulation for selling these types of fireworks. Witter explains, “It says these new products must be cordoned off in a certain area and requires an employee interaction to hand these products over." Members of Utah’s Fire Prevention Board will meet next week to make a decision on what regulations will be enacted. Posted on March 7, 2011 by Right View Mirror BAM! Fireworks in the state of Utah just got a lot more fun! Today Governor Herbert signed into law HB22, which permits the sale and use of “cake” fireworks. Cakes are sets of aerial shells arranged in vertical tubes on a grounded base and connected by a single fuse to create a long-lasting display that shoots colorful sparks higher than the old maximum legal height of 15 feet. Fireworks which leave the ground, such as bottle rockets, will still be prohibited, as will roman candles, firecrackers and cherry bombs.
The new law also changes the dates during which it is legal to purchase and use fireworks. The old law allowed the purchase of fireworks beginning on June 19, but they could not be used until July 1; now fireworks can be purchased AND used between June 26 and July 26. The new law shortens the time for purchasing fireworks during the New Year and Chinese New Year holidays, but lengthens the time during which they may be discharged to include the eve of the holiday, in addition to the holiday itself. The state hopes the new, more lenient law will help Utah recapture sales and taxes lost when residents flock to Wyoming to purchase more exciting pyrotechnics than could previously be found in Utah. HB22 was sponsored by Representative Jim Dunnigan (R-Taylorsville), who said: “Utah firework sales are a $12 million industry under the current law. Experts think this will increase sales by 20 percent.” Check out the video below for examples of cake fireworks, as well as the link to video tips for using cakes safely. Oooh!! Ahhh!! WOW!! | Deseret News
Explosive Fireworks Season Anticipated
Published: Tuesday, May 3, 2011 11:37 p.m. MDT MURRAY — Fireworks season is sure to be more explosive in the Beehive State this year. Thanks to a new law, Utahns will now be able to buy more powerful fireworks and light them off on more days. "We are now going to be able to shoot off the hottest stuff that they make for consumer fireworks," South Salt Lake Fire Marshal Bruce Shoemaker said. Showier and more powerful, fireworks on the shelves this year can launch up to 150 feet in the air. And consumers will be able to buy and light them for 30 days, starting June 26. "What we're going to be shooting this year has about four to five times the power and about 10 times the height of what we were able to shoot last year," Shoemaker explained. Lawmakers this year approved a bill allowing the sale of these "cake" fireworks, or aerial repeaters. Rep. Jim Dunnigan, R-Taylorsville, who sponsored the bill, said permitting these fireworks will keep Utahns and their money in the state. While these fireworks shoot higher, he said they have a stable base and whatever comes down is cool to the touch. But the new law isn't without controversy. Some say Utah's conservative fireworks law is now one of the loosest in the country. "Because these are new to Utah, the consumer really needs to be made aware of what these items are capable of," said Joee Witter with Phantom Fireworks. "If these are lit off in the wrong place, like under a carport or under the tree out in front of your street, it could be disastrous." Lawmakers left rule-making authority to the Utah State Fire Prevention Board. Lobbyists want the board to adopt a national standard that would require these fireworks to be tightly controlled, separated and supervised. But the board's chairman, Ted Black, who's also the fire marshal for the Weber Fire District, said that's overkill. He's considering a proposal that would require retailers to display the fireworks at the front of the store and under supervision. "If the store doesn't want to do that, they'll have to put them behind the counter where you'll have to go to the counter to get them," he said. The cake fireworks are legal, but here's a list of what fireworks are not allowed in Utah: Cherry bombs Roman candles Sky rockets Bottle rockets, Single-shot mortars M-80s Firecrackers The fire-prevention board will vote on fireworks regulations during its next meeting on Tuesday. |
Fireworks Glossary
A
Aerial - Any fireworks item that shoots flaming balls into the air, such as a cake or mortar.
Assortment - A collection of fireworks items, generally consisting of fountains, sparklers, rockets, and firecrackers.
B
Barrage - A group of items fired all at once.
Battery - A battery is a group of similar items that is constructed as a single bundle, such as a missile battery of a roman candle battery.
Bombette - A Bombette is an exploding star, usually ejected from a roman candle or fountain. Bombettes are limited to a maximum charge of 130 milligrams of flash powder in legal consumer fireworks.
Bottle Rocket - A small rocket that is approximately the size of a standard firecracker, one and one-half inches long, with a thin stick attached to it that is approximately 12 inches in length. Bottle rockets can contain whistle effects and may contain a report (loud bang).
Bouquet Pattern - A bouquet patter is a floral-shaped aerial pattern of stars, usually in a spherical shape (see the definition for peony).
Brocade - A spider like effect in the sky, much like fine lace. The brocade effect is generally a silver tail effect, and is brighter than the willow or tiger tail effect. Most brocade effects use glitter to produce the long brocade tails.
C
Cake - Sometimes referred to as "repeaters" or "multi-shot aerials", a cake is an item that has a single fuse which is used to light several tubes in sequence. Cakes can have a variety of intricate aerial effects, including spinners, fish, flower bouquets, comets, crossettes, and other elements. Cakes are the most popular consumer fireworks item outside of sparklers and firecrackers.
Candle - Another name for roman candle (see definition below).
Cherry Bomb - A cherry bomb is a round firecracker, red in color, and approximately one-inch in diameter, with a green water proof fuse sticking out the side. The original cherry bomb contained more than one gram of flash powder and was very powerful. These were declared illegal in 1966 by the federal government. Legal cherry bombs today are restricted to 50 milligrams of flash powder.
Chrysanthemum - A flower-like aerial pattern, usually resulting from a cake or mortar.
Comet - A type of star that leaves a trail of sparks as it flies through the air.
Commercial Fireworks - Sometimes referred to as display fireworks, these are professional fireworks that are regulated by the ATFE and generally require a special license to buy, store, and use. These fireworks are commonly seen in large displays sponsored by a city or other large organization. Consumer fireworks are not commercial fireworks.
Cone - A type of fountain in the shape of a cone.
Confetti - Paper streamers in multiple colors that are propelled by a gas cartridge or by a small pyrotechnic charge.
Consumer Fireworks - Fireworks that have been approved by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Fireworks that are approved by the CPSC must be able to withstand 350 degree temperatures for two days, must not be able to explode with mechanical shock, are limited to 500 grams of composition, and can not contain aerial bursts that have more than 130 milligrams of flash powder. If the item has not been approved by the CPSC, it can not be classified as consumer fireworks.
Crackle Effect - A fireworks effects that sounds like hundred of snaps or crackles, usually accompanied by an aerial gold lace visual effect.
Crossette - A type of comet that breaks into multiple comets, usually forming a cross shape.
D
Dahlia - A shell that produces a starfish like shape.
Day Time Effect - A type of fireworks that can be enjoyed better during the day time than the night time. Includes smoke items and parachute items.
Deflagrate - To burn or vaporize suddenly, usually accompanied by a considerable amount of heat and large volumes of gas. When the speed of the burn or the escaping gas exceeds the speed of sound, the result is a loud boom. Deflagration is the scientific term for how fireworks explode.
Detonate - A characteristic of high explosives, a detonation occurs when the explosive decomposition of a substance forms an energy wave that moves rapidly though the substance at speeds that exceed the speed of sound. Technically speaking, fireworks do not detonate, but high explosives do.
Display Fireworks - Sometimes referred to as commercial fireworks, these are professional fireworks that are regulated by the ATFE and generally require a special license to buy, store, and use. These fireworks are commonly seen in large displays sponsored by a city or other large organization. Consumer fireworks are not commercial fireworks.
F
Falling Leaves - A beautiful aerial effect that consists of glowing embers that tumble slowly in the air, flickering back and forth as they fall back to earth.
Firecracker - A fireworks item containing flash powder and wrapped in paper with a fuse attached. When the fuse is lit, it burns down inside the paper until it reaches the flash powder. The deflagration of the flash powder results in a loud bang. Legal consumer firecrackers are limited to a maximum of 50 milligrams of flash powder.
Firefly - A stroboscopic tail effect that consists of many distinct bright flashes of light.
Fireworks - A device that is designed to be burned or ignited in order to yield a visible and/or audio effect.
Fish - An aerial effect that looks like a swarm of objects squirming though the air. This effect usually lasts only a few seconds. Fish are actually a type of fuse that propels itself through the air, creating a swimming effect.
Flare - A cylindrical device containing a composition that burns for several minutes. Flares are generally 12 inches or longer in length, and are commonly used to light display fireworks. Flares are also used as safety devices for automotive emergencies (known as road flares).
Flash Powder - A silvery chemical mixture usually consisting of potassium perchlorate and finely powdered aluminum. It is used as the explosive component of firecrackers, aerial salutes, and the reports in rockets and roman candles. Flash powder is very dangerous to manufacture.
Flitter - Similar to glitter, flitter is a type of star that contains bright flashes of light in the trail the star leaves behind.
Floral Pattern - An aerial pattern that resembles a flower with points of light that streak outward from the center of the break.
Fountain - A ground device that emits showers of sparks several feet in the air.
Fuse - An item resembling a string or wire that is used to light a fireworks device.
G
Glitter - A tail effect that contains flashes of light and small explosive bursts lasting several seconds.
Ground Item - Ground items are any item that is lit on the ground and does not shoot objects into the sky. This includes fountains, sparklers, snaps, snakes, pops, smoke balls, and other items.
H
Helicopter - A term for a device that spins very fast and lifts high into the sky, only to explode or burst into a special aerial effect. These are also called planes, sky flyers or UFOs.
High Explosives - High explosives are extraordinarily powerful substances that can release large amounts of energy and heat. They can be detonated by a sufficiently large mechanical or explosive shock, and generally require the use of an initiator to start the detonation. Examples of high explosives include TNT, nitroglycerine, RDX and PETN. High explosives are not used in fireworks.
I
Illegal Fireworks - Illegal fireworks include any firecracker with more than 50 milligrams of flash powder, such as the original 1960's version of the M80, cherry bomb, silver salute, or quarter stick. Consumer fireworks also may not contain any chlorates, red phosphorus, high explosives, more than 130 milligrams of flash powder in an aerial report, or more than 500 grams of total composition. In Utah several other types of fireworks are illegal; see above.
Initiator - A device containing primary explosives that is used to initiate quantities of high explosives. These are not fireworks.
J
Jumping Jacks - Similar in appearance to a firecracker, jumping jacks spin rapidly and emit red and green sparks.
L
Low Explosives - These are explosives that burn at a steady speed and can only be detonated under extreme circumstances (if at all). Low explosives are generally used as propellants, and are seldom used in demolition work. Examples of low explosives are black powder and fireworks.
M
M80 - The original M80 was a military simulator that was sold as a firecracker. M80s are red in color, one and one-half inches long, 5/8 of an inch in diameter, with a green waterproof fuse sticking out the side. It contained two grams of flash powder and was responsible for hundreds of serious injuries due to its powerful blast. These items were banned by the CPSC in 1966, and made illegal by the BATF (now ATFE) in the 1970's. Legal M80's today contain 50 milligrams of flash powder, which is about 1/40th of the original M80. Illegal M80's sometimes contain compositions that are sensitive to shock and can injure of kill people. If you like having full use of your fingers, hands, and eyes, don't mess with illegal M80's.
Mine - An aerial device that shoot stars into the sky in an upward spray pattern.
Missile - In fireworks, a missile is a sky rocket that does not have a stick for guidance. Instead, it may rotate to give it some stability as it lifts off, or may be shot from a tube (like Saturn Missile Batteries).
Mortar - A mortar is a paper or HDPE tube containing a shell with a long fuse. The shell has a lift charge on the bottom that helps propel it into the air. Once in the air, the shell explodes open and release stars and other effects that streak the sky with various designs. Most display fireworks are shot from mortars. Many cake fireworks which are legal in Utah are essentially a series of Mortars fused together.
Multi-Shot Aerial - This is another name for a cake or repeater.
N
Novelty - Fireworks items that limited in their potential to harm people and property, such as snaps, snakes, poppers, and (sometimes) sparklers.
P
Palm Tree - An aerial effect that produces a gold or silver stem as the shell rises into the sky (known as a rising tail), followed by a brocade or willow effect that creates palm fronds. It resembles a gold or silver palm tree in the sky.
Parachute - A paper projectile that is expelled from a mortar tube either as a single-shot item, or as a multi-shot effect in a cake.
Peony - An aerial effect that looks like a spherical ball of colored lights in the sky. A very common aerial effect on most fireworks displays.
Pistil - A ball of stars in the center of another ball of stars. Another way to describe this effect is a small peony inside a larger peony.
Planes - A term for a device that spins very fast and lifts high into the sky, only to explode or burst into a special aerial effect. These are also called helicopters, sky flyers or UFOs.
Primary Explosives - Also known as initiators or initiating explosives, these items are stable under normal conditions, but will detonate if ignited and can be extremely sensitive to mechanical shock. These are typically used to initiate high explosives. Primary explosives are used in fireworks.
Punk - A punk is a bamboo stick with a brown coating that burns slowly. These look identical to incense sticks, but do not have a distinctive aromatic effect like incense does. Punks are generally used to light consumer fireworks. Another way to light fireworks is with an instant-on propane torch or a road flare. Because fuses are known to spit fire occasionally, lighting fireworks with matches is strongly discouraged.
Pyrotechnics - Ant item that burns in order to perform its function. Fireworks are classified as pyrotechnics.
Q
Quarter Stick - The original quarter sticks were similar to M80's, but were larger in size and contained 10 grams or more of flash powder. Quarter sticks were silver in color, four inches long, one inch in diameter, with a four inch green waterproof fuse sticking out the side. These items were so powerful that they could dismember and kill people who misused them. Quarter sticks were banned by the CPSC in 1966, and made illegal by the BATF (now ATFE) in the 1970's. Legal quarter sticks today contain 50 milligrams of flash powder, which is about 1/200th of the original quarter stick. Illegal quarter sticks can contain compositions that are extremely sensitive to shock and can injure of kill without warning. The ATFE imprisons people that are caught with illegal quarter sticks.
R
Reloadable Aerial - A reloadable aerial is an aerial mortar that includes one or more mortar tubes and several reloadable aerial shells. The shells are placed inside the mortar tube, a long quick-burning fuse is lit, and the item is fired into the sky. These items are consumer versions of the mortar-based fireworks used in commercial fireworks displays. Reloadable arials are illegal in Utah.
Repeater - Sometimes referred to as "cakes" or "multi-shot aerials", a repeater is a cluster of aerial tubes with a single fuse. The name "cake" was attributed to these because the cluster of tubes looks similar to a cake in size and shape. Once the fuse is lit, each of the tubes is fired in sequence. Cakes can have a variety of intricate aerial effects, including spinners, fish, flower bouquets, comets, crossettes, reports, and other aerial effects. Cakes are the most popular consumer fireworks items outside of sparklers and firecrackers.
Report - A report is another name for a bang. Items with reports explode with a bang. This term is most often used with rockets and cakes.
Ring Shell - A shell that produces a ring as its aerial pattern. See also Saturn shell.
Rising Tail - A rising tail is a gold or silver tail effect that is created when a shell is shot into the sky, similar to the trunk of a tree. Commonly used with palm tree shells.
Rocket - A rocket is a tube-like pyrotechnic device made out of a paper tube that propels itself into the air in order to fly. There are many different kinds of rockets, including sky rockets, bottle rockets, and missiles. Bottle rockets and similar fireworks are not legal in Utah.
Roman Candle - A paper tube filled with composition that shoots flaming balls out one end of the tube. Most roman candles have five or more balls. Roman candles should never be held in your hand. Instead, they should be planted securely in the ground and pointed away from people and flammable objects. A good way to shoot roman candles is to get a five gallon pail and fill it with kitty litter. The roman candles can be easily inserted into the bucket of kitty litter and fired safely. Roman candles are not legal in Utah.
S
Safe and Sane - This is a term for fireworks that do not have aerial effects or explode. Items that are classified as Safe and Sane include sparklers, snaps, smoke balls, fountains, snakes, and (in some cases) wheels. Items that are not classified as Safe and Sane include firecrackers, rockets, and cakes. Prior to 2011 Utah restricted legal fireworks to Safe and Sane items only.
Salute - A salute is an item that explodes. This term is most frequently used in regard to aerial items, although some people refer to firecrackers as "ground salutes". When a salute explodes, it is referred to as a "report".
Saturn Shell - A shell that produces a ring around an inside ball of stars. The Saturn shell is a combination of a peony with a ring around it.
Serpent - Another name for a tourbillion. A serpent is a type of star that spins in the sky and gives off large quantities of gold, silver, or white light. These are generally constructed as a small paper tube with holes on each end that allow it to spin.
Set Piece - A ground item consisting of many colored lances that is used to draw a picture. Common examples of set pieces include American Flags, the Liberty Bell, the Statue of Liberty, God Bless America, and many other types of signs. Set pieces are expensive and time consuming to build. It is not unusual for a single set piece to cost several thousand dollars.
Shell - A shell is an aerial item that is fired into the sky. It generally consists of a fuse, a lift bag, and a paper ball filled with stars and burst media. The fuse lights the lift bag on the bottom of the shell propelling it into the sky. At the same time, an internal time fuse is triggered and at the right time the paper shell bursts with all of its stars lit. The type of stars contained inside the shell determines the effect the shell produces in the sky.
Silver Salute - A silver salute is an M80 firecracker with a silver colored paper tube. The words "do not hold in hand" are generally written on the tube. See the item titled M80 for more information on these devices. These are illegal in Utah.
Single Shot Aerial - A single shot aerial is a mortar tube with a shell already installed in it. These items generally have a fuse sticking out the side of the mortar at the base of the tube. While these are single-shot, one time use items only, these items can produce some spectacular effects. These are illegal in Utah.
Sky Flyer - A term for a device that spins very fast and lifts high into the sky, only to explode or burst into a special aerial effect. These are also called planes, helicopters, or UFOs.
Sky Rocket - A sky rocket is a pyrotechnic device made out of a paper tube that propels itself into the air in order to fly. Sky rockets generally have a stick to add stability to the flight of the rocket. Firework rockets that do not have sticks are referred to as missiles. These are illegal in Utah.
Smoke Item - Any item that produces a smoke effects, including smoke balls and aerial items that produce smoke instead of light or noise. Smoke items are generally used during the daytime.
Snakes - Snakes are hard pellets that are lit and produce a long carbon snake. The items are popular with kids; however the pellets can be poisonous and should not be accessible to young children.
Snaps - Snaps are paper balls that are filled with a cap composition that goes BANG when they are thrown at something. Snaps are generally safe for most kids to use.
Sparkler - A stick with a coating of pyrotechnic composition that creates sparks when lit. While sparklers are generally considered safe, they are responsible for over eighty percent of the injuries due to fireworks each year. This is because people throw the hot sparkler wires on the ground and other people step on them. If you use sparklers, please make sure you have a bucket of water handy to place the used sparkler wires in when the sparkler burns out.
Spinner - A spinner is a type of star that spins in the sky and gives off large quantities of white light. Another name for spinner is tourbillion.
Squib - A type of fireworks slang for an electric match (see definition of electric match above). True squibs are actually blasting caps (initiators) used in the explosive industry to set off high explosives. This term crept into fireworks jargon by individuals that did not understand the differences between an electric match and a blasting cap. True squibs are not used for fireworks.
Star - A small pellet of composition that produces a pyrotechnic effect. Stars are used in aerial shells, rockets, roman candles, cakes, and fountains to produce streaks or light, pulses, long golden tails, and other aerial effects. A single shell could contain several hundred stars.
Strobe - A strobe is a blinking effect. When used in a shell with hundreds of strobe stars, the strobe effect looks like shimmering water in the sky. Strobes can be a variety of colors, including white, green, blue, and orange.
T
Tail - A burning trail that follows a star in the sky. Most comets have tails, and so do willow and brocade effects.
Titanium Salute - An aerial salute that produces white sparks along with a loud report. Titanium is frequently used in fireworks to produce bright silver-white sparks.
Tourbillion - Another name for a serpent. A tourbillion is a type of star that spins in the sky and gives off large quantities of gold, silver, or white light. These are generally constructed as a small paper tube with holes on each end that allow it to spin.
Tube - A tube is another name for a mortar (see definition for mortar above).
U
UFO - A term for a device that spins very fast and lifts high into the sky, only to explode or burst into a special aerial effect. These are also called helicopters, planes, or sky flyers.
V
Visco - Visco is a type of rugged water-proof fuse that is used to light fireworks. Most visco fuse is green in color, but is available in almost any color. Because visco fuse is know to spit fire when it is lit, you should never light visco directly with a match or anything that would put your fingers in close proximity to the fuse. Instead, visco should be lit with a propane torch, a road flare, or a long punk (see definition for punk above).
W
Wheel - A wheel is a stationary device that spins and creates a circular ring of fire and sparks. These are generally nailed to a pole or a tree before they are lit. You should always be careful to make sure the area is free from flammable debris before you light a wheel as the sparks can carry ten feet or more.
Whistle - Whistles are generally small paper tubes filled with a composition that makes a sharp howling sound. Whistles can be found in rockets, fountains, cakes
Willow - An aerial effect that looks like a giant gold willow tree in the sky. A true willow effect has delicate golden trails that hang in the sky ten seconds or more.
Aerial - Any fireworks item that shoots flaming balls into the air, such as a cake or mortar.
Assortment - A collection of fireworks items, generally consisting of fountains, sparklers, rockets, and firecrackers.
B
Barrage - A group of items fired all at once.
Battery - A battery is a group of similar items that is constructed as a single bundle, such as a missile battery of a roman candle battery.
Bombette - A Bombette is an exploding star, usually ejected from a roman candle or fountain. Bombettes are limited to a maximum charge of 130 milligrams of flash powder in legal consumer fireworks.
Bottle Rocket - A small rocket that is approximately the size of a standard firecracker, one and one-half inches long, with a thin stick attached to it that is approximately 12 inches in length. Bottle rockets can contain whistle effects and may contain a report (loud bang).
Bouquet Pattern - A bouquet patter is a floral-shaped aerial pattern of stars, usually in a spherical shape (see the definition for peony).
Brocade - A spider like effect in the sky, much like fine lace. The brocade effect is generally a silver tail effect, and is brighter than the willow or tiger tail effect. Most brocade effects use glitter to produce the long brocade tails.
C
Cake - Sometimes referred to as "repeaters" or "multi-shot aerials", a cake is an item that has a single fuse which is used to light several tubes in sequence. Cakes can have a variety of intricate aerial effects, including spinners, fish, flower bouquets, comets, crossettes, and other elements. Cakes are the most popular consumer fireworks item outside of sparklers and firecrackers.
Candle - Another name for roman candle (see definition below).
Cherry Bomb - A cherry bomb is a round firecracker, red in color, and approximately one-inch in diameter, with a green water proof fuse sticking out the side. The original cherry bomb contained more than one gram of flash powder and was very powerful. These were declared illegal in 1966 by the federal government. Legal cherry bombs today are restricted to 50 milligrams of flash powder.
Chrysanthemum - A flower-like aerial pattern, usually resulting from a cake or mortar.
Comet - A type of star that leaves a trail of sparks as it flies through the air.
Commercial Fireworks - Sometimes referred to as display fireworks, these are professional fireworks that are regulated by the ATFE and generally require a special license to buy, store, and use. These fireworks are commonly seen in large displays sponsored by a city or other large organization. Consumer fireworks are not commercial fireworks.
Cone - A type of fountain in the shape of a cone.
Confetti - Paper streamers in multiple colors that are propelled by a gas cartridge or by a small pyrotechnic charge.
Consumer Fireworks - Fireworks that have been approved by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Fireworks that are approved by the CPSC must be able to withstand 350 degree temperatures for two days, must not be able to explode with mechanical shock, are limited to 500 grams of composition, and can not contain aerial bursts that have more than 130 milligrams of flash powder. If the item has not been approved by the CPSC, it can not be classified as consumer fireworks.
Crackle Effect - A fireworks effects that sounds like hundred of snaps or crackles, usually accompanied by an aerial gold lace visual effect.
Crossette - A type of comet that breaks into multiple comets, usually forming a cross shape.
D
Dahlia - A shell that produces a starfish like shape.
Day Time Effect - A type of fireworks that can be enjoyed better during the day time than the night time. Includes smoke items and parachute items.
Deflagrate - To burn or vaporize suddenly, usually accompanied by a considerable amount of heat and large volumes of gas. When the speed of the burn or the escaping gas exceeds the speed of sound, the result is a loud boom. Deflagration is the scientific term for how fireworks explode.
Detonate - A characteristic of high explosives, a detonation occurs when the explosive decomposition of a substance forms an energy wave that moves rapidly though the substance at speeds that exceed the speed of sound. Technically speaking, fireworks do not detonate, but high explosives do.
Display Fireworks - Sometimes referred to as commercial fireworks, these are professional fireworks that are regulated by the ATFE and generally require a special license to buy, store, and use. These fireworks are commonly seen in large displays sponsored by a city or other large organization. Consumer fireworks are not commercial fireworks.
F
Falling Leaves - A beautiful aerial effect that consists of glowing embers that tumble slowly in the air, flickering back and forth as they fall back to earth.
Firecracker - A fireworks item containing flash powder and wrapped in paper with a fuse attached. When the fuse is lit, it burns down inside the paper until it reaches the flash powder. The deflagration of the flash powder results in a loud bang. Legal consumer firecrackers are limited to a maximum of 50 milligrams of flash powder.
Firefly - A stroboscopic tail effect that consists of many distinct bright flashes of light.
Fireworks - A device that is designed to be burned or ignited in order to yield a visible and/or audio effect.
Fish - An aerial effect that looks like a swarm of objects squirming though the air. This effect usually lasts only a few seconds. Fish are actually a type of fuse that propels itself through the air, creating a swimming effect.
Flare - A cylindrical device containing a composition that burns for several minutes. Flares are generally 12 inches or longer in length, and are commonly used to light display fireworks. Flares are also used as safety devices for automotive emergencies (known as road flares).
Flash Powder - A silvery chemical mixture usually consisting of potassium perchlorate and finely powdered aluminum. It is used as the explosive component of firecrackers, aerial salutes, and the reports in rockets and roman candles. Flash powder is very dangerous to manufacture.
Flitter - Similar to glitter, flitter is a type of star that contains bright flashes of light in the trail the star leaves behind.
Floral Pattern - An aerial pattern that resembles a flower with points of light that streak outward from the center of the break.
Fountain - A ground device that emits showers of sparks several feet in the air.
Fuse - An item resembling a string or wire that is used to light a fireworks device.
G
Glitter - A tail effect that contains flashes of light and small explosive bursts lasting several seconds.
Ground Item - Ground items are any item that is lit on the ground and does not shoot objects into the sky. This includes fountains, sparklers, snaps, snakes, pops, smoke balls, and other items.
H
Helicopter - A term for a device that spins very fast and lifts high into the sky, only to explode or burst into a special aerial effect. These are also called planes, sky flyers or UFOs.
High Explosives - High explosives are extraordinarily powerful substances that can release large amounts of energy and heat. They can be detonated by a sufficiently large mechanical or explosive shock, and generally require the use of an initiator to start the detonation. Examples of high explosives include TNT, nitroglycerine, RDX and PETN. High explosives are not used in fireworks.
I
Illegal Fireworks - Illegal fireworks include any firecracker with more than 50 milligrams of flash powder, such as the original 1960's version of the M80, cherry bomb, silver salute, or quarter stick. Consumer fireworks also may not contain any chlorates, red phosphorus, high explosives, more than 130 milligrams of flash powder in an aerial report, or more than 500 grams of total composition. In Utah several other types of fireworks are illegal; see above.
Initiator - A device containing primary explosives that is used to initiate quantities of high explosives. These are not fireworks.
J
Jumping Jacks - Similar in appearance to a firecracker, jumping jacks spin rapidly and emit red and green sparks.
L
Low Explosives - These are explosives that burn at a steady speed and can only be detonated under extreme circumstances (if at all). Low explosives are generally used as propellants, and are seldom used in demolition work. Examples of low explosives are black powder and fireworks.
M
M80 - The original M80 was a military simulator that was sold as a firecracker. M80s are red in color, one and one-half inches long, 5/8 of an inch in diameter, with a green waterproof fuse sticking out the side. It contained two grams of flash powder and was responsible for hundreds of serious injuries due to its powerful blast. These items were banned by the CPSC in 1966, and made illegal by the BATF (now ATFE) in the 1970's. Legal M80's today contain 50 milligrams of flash powder, which is about 1/40th of the original M80. Illegal M80's sometimes contain compositions that are sensitive to shock and can injure of kill people. If you like having full use of your fingers, hands, and eyes, don't mess with illegal M80's.
Mine - An aerial device that shoot stars into the sky in an upward spray pattern.
Missile - In fireworks, a missile is a sky rocket that does not have a stick for guidance. Instead, it may rotate to give it some stability as it lifts off, or may be shot from a tube (like Saturn Missile Batteries).
Mortar - A mortar is a paper or HDPE tube containing a shell with a long fuse. The shell has a lift charge on the bottom that helps propel it into the air. Once in the air, the shell explodes open and release stars and other effects that streak the sky with various designs. Most display fireworks are shot from mortars. Many cake fireworks which are legal in Utah are essentially a series of Mortars fused together.
Multi-Shot Aerial - This is another name for a cake or repeater.
N
Novelty - Fireworks items that limited in their potential to harm people and property, such as snaps, snakes, poppers, and (sometimes) sparklers.
P
Palm Tree - An aerial effect that produces a gold or silver stem as the shell rises into the sky (known as a rising tail), followed by a brocade or willow effect that creates palm fronds. It resembles a gold or silver palm tree in the sky.
Parachute - A paper projectile that is expelled from a mortar tube either as a single-shot item, or as a multi-shot effect in a cake.
Peony - An aerial effect that looks like a spherical ball of colored lights in the sky. A very common aerial effect on most fireworks displays.
Pistil - A ball of stars in the center of another ball of stars. Another way to describe this effect is a small peony inside a larger peony.
Planes - A term for a device that spins very fast and lifts high into the sky, only to explode or burst into a special aerial effect. These are also called helicopters, sky flyers or UFOs.
Primary Explosives - Also known as initiators or initiating explosives, these items are stable under normal conditions, but will detonate if ignited and can be extremely sensitive to mechanical shock. These are typically used to initiate high explosives. Primary explosives are used in fireworks.
Punk - A punk is a bamboo stick with a brown coating that burns slowly. These look identical to incense sticks, but do not have a distinctive aromatic effect like incense does. Punks are generally used to light consumer fireworks. Another way to light fireworks is with an instant-on propane torch or a road flare. Because fuses are known to spit fire occasionally, lighting fireworks with matches is strongly discouraged.
Pyrotechnics - Ant item that burns in order to perform its function. Fireworks are classified as pyrotechnics.
Q
Quarter Stick - The original quarter sticks were similar to M80's, but were larger in size and contained 10 grams or more of flash powder. Quarter sticks were silver in color, four inches long, one inch in diameter, with a four inch green waterproof fuse sticking out the side. These items were so powerful that they could dismember and kill people who misused them. Quarter sticks were banned by the CPSC in 1966, and made illegal by the BATF (now ATFE) in the 1970's. Legal quarter sticks today contain 50 milligrams of flash powder, which is about 1/200th of the original quarter stick. Illegal quarter sticks can contain compositions that are extremely sensitive to shock and can injure of kill without warning. The ATFE imprisons people that are caught with illegal quarter sticks.
R
Reloadable Aerial - A reloadable aerial is an aerial mortar that includes one or more mortar tubes and several reloadable aerial shells. The shells are placed inside the mortar tube, a long quick-burning fuse is lit, and the item is fired into the sky. These items are consumer versions of the mortar-based fireworks used in commercial fireworks displays. Reloadable arials are illegal in Utah.
Repeater - Sometimes referred to as "cakes" or "multi-shot aerials", a repeater is a cluster of aerial tubes with a single fuse. The name "cake" was attributed to these because the cluster of tubes looks similar to a cake in size and shape. Once the fuse is lit, each of the tubes is fired in sequence. Cakes can have a variety of intricate aerial effects, including spinners, fish, flower bouquets, comets, crossettes, reports, and other aerial effects. Cakes are the most popular consumer fireworks items outside of sparklers and firecrackers.
Report - A report is another name for a bang. Items with reports explode with a bang. This term is most often used with rockets and cakes.
Ring Shell - A shell that produces a ring as its aerial pattern. See also Saturn shell.
Rising Tail - A rising tail is a gold or silver tail effect that is created when a shell is shot into the sky, similar to the trunk of a tree. Commonly used with palm tree shells.
Rocket - A rocket is a tube-like pyrotechnic device made out of a paper tube that propels itself into the air in order to fly. There are many different kinds of rockets, including sky rockets, bottle rockets, and missiles. Bottle rockets and similar fireworks are not legal in Utah.
Roman Candle - A paper tube filled with composition that shoots flaming balls out one end of the tube. Most roman candles have five or more balls. Roman candles should never be held in your hand. Instead, they should be planted securely in the ground and pointed away from people and flammable objects. A good way to shoot roman candles is to get a five gallon pail and fill it with kitty litter. The roman candles can be easily inserted into the bucket of kitty litter and fired safely. Roman candles are not legal in Utah.
S
Safe and Sane - This is a term for fireworks that do not have aerial effects or explode. Items that are classified as Safe and Sane include sparklers, snaps, smoke balls, fountains, snakes, and (in some cases) wheels. Items that are not classified as Safe and Sane include firecrackers, rockets, and cakes. Prior to 2011 Utah restricted legal fireworks to Safe and Sane items only.
Salute - A salute is an item that explodes. This term is most frequently used in regard to aerial items, although some people refer to firecrackers as "ground salutes". When a salute explodes, it is referred to as a "report".
Saturn Shell - A shell that produces a ring around an inside ball of stars. The Saturn shell is a combination of a peony with a ring around it.
Serpent - Another name for a tourbillion. A serpent is a type of star that spins in the sky and gives off large quantities of gold, silver, or white light. These are generally constructed as a small paper tube with holes on each end that allow it to spin.
Set Piece - A ground item consisting of many colored lances that is used to draw a picture. Common examples of set pieces include American Flags, the Liberty Bell, the Statue of Liberty, God Bless America, and many other types of signs. Set pieces are expensive and time consuming to build. It is not unusual for a single set piece to cost several thousand dollars.
Shell - A shell is an aerial item that is fired into the sky. It generally consists of a fuse, a lift bag, and a paper ball filled with stars and burst media. The fuse lights the lift bag on the bottom of the shell propelling it into the sky. At the same time, an internal time fuse is triggered and at the right time the paper shell bursts with all of its stars lit. The type of stars contained inside the shell determines the effect the shell produces in the sky.
Silver Salute - A silver salute is an M80 firecracker with a silver colored paper tube. The words "do not hold in hand" are generally written on the tube. See the item titled M80 for more information on these devices. These are illegal in Utah.
Single Shot Aerial - A single shot aerial is a mortar tube with a shell already installed in it. These items generally have a fuse sticking out the side of the mortar at the base of the tube. While these are single-shot, one time use items only, these items can produce some spectacular effects. These are illegal in Utah.
Sky Flyer - A term for a device that spins very fast and lifts high into the sky, only to explode or burst into a special aerial effect. These are also called planes, helicopters, or UFOs.
Sky Rocket - A sky rocket is a pyrotechnic device made out of a paper tube that propels itself into the air in order to fly. Sky rockets generally have a stick to add stability to the flight of the rocket. Firework rockets that do not have sticks are referred to as missiles. These are illegal in Utah.
Smoke Item - Any item that produces a smoke effects, including smoke balls and aerial items that produce smoke instead of light or noise. Smoke items are generally used during the daytime.
Snakes - Snakes are hard pellets that are lit and produce a long carbon snake. The items are popular with kids; however the pellets can be poisonous and should not be accessible to young children.
Snaps - Snaps are paper balls that are filled with a cap composition that goes BANG when they are thrown at something. Snaps are generally safe for most kids to use.
Sparkler - A stick with a coating of pyrotechnic composition that creates sparks when lit. While sparklers are generally considered safe, they are responsible for over eighty percent of the injuries due to fireworks each year. This is because people throw the hot sparkler wires on the ground and other people step on them. If you use sparklers, please make sure you have a bucket of water handy to place the used sparkler wires in when the sparkler burns out.
Spinner - A spinner is a type of star that spins in the sky and gives off large quantities of white light. Another name for spinner is tourbillion.
Squib - A type of fireworks slang for an electric match (see definition of electric match above). True squibs are actually blasting caps (initiators) used in the explosive industry to set off high explosives. This term crept into fireworks jargon by individuals that did not understand the differences between an electric match and a blasting cap. True squibs are not used for fireworks.
Star - A small pellet of composition that produces a pyrotechnic effect. Stars are used in aerial shells, rockets, roman candles, cakes, and fountains to produce streaks or light, pulses, long golden tails, and other aerial effects. A single shell could contain several hundred stars.
Strobe - A strobe is a blinking effect. When used in a shell with hundreds of strobe stars, the strobe effect looks like shimmering water in the sky. Strobes can be a variety of colors, including white, green, blue, and orange.
T
Tail - A burning trail that follows a star in the sky. Most comets have tails, and so do willow and brocade effects.
Titanium Salute - An aerial salute that produces white sparks along with a loud report. Titanium is frequently used in fireworks to produce bright silver-white sparks.
Tourbillion - Another name for a serpent. A tourbillion is a type of star that spins in the sky and gives off large quantities of gold, silver, or white light. These are generally constructed as a small paper tube with holes on each end that allow it to spin.
Tube - A tube is another name for a mortar (see definition for mortar above).
U
UFO - A term for a device that spins very fast and lifts high into the sky, only to explode or burst into a special aerial effect. These are also called helicopters, planes, or sky flyers.
V
Visco - Visco is a type of rugged water-proof fuse that is used to light fireworks. Most visco fuse is green in color, but is available in almost any color. Because visco fuse is know to spit fire when it is lit, you should never light visco directly with a match or anything that would put your fingers in close proximity to the fuse. Instead, visco should be lit with a propane torch, a road flare, or a long punk (see definition for punk above).
W
Wheel - A wheel is a stationary device that spins and creates a circular ring of fire and sparks. These are generally nailed to a pole or a tree before they are lit. You should always be careful to make sure the area is free from flammable debris before you light a wheel as the sparks can carry ten feet or more.
Whistle - Whistles are generally small paper tubes filled with a composition that makes a sharp howling sound. Whistles can be found in rockets, fountains, cakes
Willow - An aerial effect that looks like a giant gold willow tree in the sky. A true willow effect has delicate golden trails that hang in the sky ten seconds or more.