| |
|
|
Open circuit
|
An incomplete electrical circuit
|
|
Orange book
|
The United Nations publication for classification and testing of dangerous goods
|
|
Oxidant
|
The component of an explosive that supplies oxygen for the reaction of the product
|
|
Palm burst
|
A color break with palm tree core
|
|
Parallel circuit
|
An electrical circuit in which the current is divided between several igniters. Less easy to test for breaks.
|
|
Paste
|
Commonly used to cover shells to enhance their burst
|
|
Pattern shell
|
A shell of fewer stars that creates a pattern rather than a sphere
|
|
Pellet
|
See Star
|
|
Peony shell
|
A shell whose stars do not leave any trails
|
|
PIC
|
Plastic Igniter cord
|
|
Pigeon
|
A specialized type of firework which travels to and fro along a horizontal rope
|
|
Piped match
|
Raw match enclosed in a paper or plastic tube
|
|
Pistil
|
The central core of a shell. Often a complimentary or contrasting colour to the main burst
|
|
Plug
|
See Bung
|
|
Portfire
|
A thin walled tube filled with slow burning composition used to light other fireworks
|
|
Propellant
|
Composition used to produce force e.g. A rocket motor
|
| |
|
|
Punk
|
Slow burning lighter for small fireworks
|
|
Pyrotechnic
|
Generic term for any item which react in a self sustaining chemical reaction and generally produces a light effect. Pyrotechnic articles are different to fireworks and generally are used for stage and theatrical uses
|
|
Quickmatch
|
Raw match enclosed in a paper or plastic tube
|
|
Rack
|
Apparatus for firing rockets or mortar tubes
|
|
Rain
|
Shells containing long burning stars that fall all the way to the ground.
|
|
Raw match
|
Black powder coated thread used for linking fireworks
|
|
Repeater shell
|
Usually a cylinder shell with timed bursts at regular intervals
|
|
Ring shell
|
An aerial shell that produces symmetrical rings of stars often have a rope tail to control orientation of the break
|
|
Rising effect
|
Often a tail effect on a shell but can be external attachments to a shell that break off during the rise to create special effects
|
|
Rocket
|
Aerial effect propelled by a motor
|
|
Rocket cone
|
A device for firing flight rockets
|
|
Rocket motor
|
The power unit behind a rocket. Typically made by pressing black powder into a choked tube
|
|
Roman candle
|
A cardboard tube with a stack of timed comets or bombette units
|
|
Round shell
|
A shell in the form of a sphere usually containing colored stars
|
|
Safety area
|
The area around a fireworks display site between the spectators and fireworks. Not including a fall out zone
|
|
Salute
|
Report or loud bang
|
|
Saturn shell
|
A chrysanthemum break with an outer ring of a contrasting color
|
|
Saxon
|
A bar with centre pivot with drivers at either one or two ends which make the bar spin on a central point.
|
|
Screecher
|
A whistle unit with a hole through the centre. This increases the burn speed and therefore the sound
|
|
Sequence
|
The pattern in which fireworks are detonated in a display
|
| |
|
|
Series circuit
|
A circuit arranged so the current runs through each igniter in turn. This enables and breaks to be detected
|
|
Serpent
|
A spinning tube used in candles and shells. Usually with a report unit
|
|
Set piece
|
A ground firework. Generally static
|
|
Shell
|
The most spectacular of fireworks propelled with a lifting charge from a mortar and a bursting charge that charge to a star composition in the air after a predetermined delay
|
|
Shell delay
|
See Delay fuse
|
|
Shell of shells
|
An aerial shell that contains smaller shells ignited when the main shell bursts and subsequently produces small secondary bursts
|
|
Short circuit
|
The accidental completion of a circuit which causes the current to not flow through the igniter
|
|
Shot
|
The single functioning of a roman candle or cake
|
|
Smoke
|
Air suspension of particles from incomplete combustion of a composition
|
|
Smokeless powder
|
A powder containing nitro-cellulose and nitro-glycerine as it does not produce much smoke
|
|
Spark
|
Typical effect caused by incandescent particles ejected form the surface of a burning composition
|
|
Sparkler
|
Wire coated with pyrotechnic composition that gives off small sparks
|
|
Spider shell
|
A shell containing a small number of large stars producing a symmetrical burst. Sometimes called octopus shells
|
|
Splitting comet
|
A comet with an internal charge of flash powder which when ignited splits the comet into several pieces.
|
|
Squib
|
Electric igniter
|
|
Star
|
A pressed unit of composition usually spheres or cylinders used in shells, mines, rockets and roman candles
|
|
Storage
|
The holding of fireworks prior to their use. Premises must be licensed for amounts above a certain quantity
|
|
Strobe
|
A pulsing on off star effect fired from candles and shells and ground based effects
|
|
Tail effect
|
A comet star secured to the outside of a shell to give a tail to the rising shell
|
|
Tiger tail shell
|
A shell made up of a solid ball of composition to produce a substantial tail effect. Sometimes with a small shell break
|
|
Titanium
|
A silver metal used in the production of maroons and grebes
|
|
Top fused
|
A shell where the shell delay is lit separately from the lifting charge. Often found in large Maltese shells
|
|
Tourbillion
|
See Serpent
|
|
Transportation
|
The process of consigning a load of fireworks. Subject to heavy legislative control
|
|
TREM card
|
Documentation required when transporting fireworks of any quantity. Transport emergency card. Provide information for emergency services
|
|
Trunk
|
A large tail unit often used on palm and willow shells
|
| |
|
|
UN classification
|
The assignment of a packaged firework into the UN classes for fireworks
|
|
UN compatibility group
|
The G or S of 1.3G or 1.4S. The compatibility group indicated what a particular item may and not be transported with
|
|
UN Hazard code
|
See UN number
|
|
UN Mark
|
A complicated mark assigned to a particular packing box for dangerous goods
|
|
UN Number
|
A four-digit number assigned to hazardous goods. Explosives always start with a 0 e.g. 1.4G fireworks are UN 0336. Used to identify a dangerous item in the event of an emergency
|
|
Volley
|
A mass firing of rockets or shells
|
|
Water firework
|
Aquatic fireworks e.g. shells or water gerb
|
|
Water gerb
|
A floating gerb with a weight and cork float.
|
|
Water shell
|
See Aquatic shell
|
|
Waterfall
|
A curtain of coloured or silver sparks that falls vertically. Composition is made from an aluminum alloy
|
|
Weeping willow
|
See Willow shell
|
|
Wheel
|
A rotating piece attached to a post in the form of a saxon bar or wheel with driver units
|
|
Whistle
|
A tube containing composition of potassium benzoate and potassium silicate. On burning the composition creates oscillation in the tube and creates a whistle effect which is amplified in the tube
|
|
Whizzer
|
See Hummer
|
|
Willow shell
|
A shell containing charcoal based stars with a long burn time which often fall to the ground
|