Pyrotechnics chemistry courses

[Ricky]

Hi does anyone know were I can do a pyrotechnics blackpowder course, so I can get licensed to handle blackpowder and to mix chemicals to make fireworks. Preferbaly in the london area. Thank you

[slipstream]

Oh boy, where to start with this one?

 

UK does not issue black powder licenses anymore, and hasn't for quite a while - that was the old "fit persons" certificate - apparently I was, so shows what they know.

 

For pyro courses with a theatre basis, use the search facility they have been discussed a number of times in the blue room.

 

For outdoor pyro - you DON'T mix, the Americans do. In this country you buy, manufacture is illegal without the paperwork from HSE except in a few very specific circumstances.

 

To buy cat 4 fireworks you need annual insurance and licensed storage, figure on spending £6k plus on those two alone in the first year, if you can get insurance at all as you have no industry experience.

 

Best bet - stage pyro - do the course, outdoor pyro go shovel sand for your local firework company for a year or so and then think about it again.

 

Avoid the biggest north of London company, they will work you to death as a casual employee, promising once November is over they will have a new full time post, every year I get e-mails from the poor sods that have been let down. If you need the name PM me.

 

Sam

[Ricky]

Ok thank you thats a big help and I will pm you for the company name as I looked at companys before in london so dont want to be messed up with the wrong company.

thanks again.

Ricky

[Lincoln]

You may just be in time for the listed April course from DAVAS...

 

Pyrotechnics Chemistry Course

 

Lincoln

[Jivemaster]

The problem with manufacture, assuming that you have legal storage and factory, is that the devices made will be unclassified so could be considered 1.1 until proven otherwise by classification test, and testing needs several kilos of devices in packaging.

Unclassified devices are uninsurable - the biggest problem for using user-made things isn't the making or the using it's the insuring, and if you have any name talent in the vicinity it's big number insurance!

 

www.pyrosociety.org.uk is a fledgling society aiming to find a way for amateurs to lawfully and safely manufacture fireworks. They are approaching having a factory for members use. However unclassified devices will not be removable from the site. They may hold shoots of home made on the firing ground assiociated (and on the same plot ) to the factory.

 

A thorough knowledge of MSER will help you to understand several details. Statutory Instrument 2005 No. 1082

The Manufacture and Storage of Explosives Regulations 2005

from the site of the office of the deputy prime minister ODPM as a free download

 

Possession of black powder requires you to have COER approval from your local Police specialist department. You must have approved storage also.

 

BP has the lowest storage requirements of all 1.1 HEs Talk to your local Trading Standards Officer for details.

[slipstream]

Do you want to manufacture or fire shows, two very different things. I hate to say but knowing the chem is only of use if you want to make you own or if you are dealing directly with china and a background knowledge would be useful to avoid buying and importing an unusable or illegal product.

 

As jivemaster said, make your own and fire them in the next field with your friends, or do public shows and earn money?

 

S

[Jivemaster]

My degree subject is chemistry! I know what is (likely) inside the tubes, BUT for fireworks or stage pyro I just fire them, according to cue, contract, HSAW, MSER and best practise.

 

For fireworks you could invest hugely and bring stuff over from China, get it classified and sell what you can at huge markup to cover what cannot be classified and you have to pay for it's licensed destruction. Importing for sale is fraught, as the person bringing the product to market in the EU is responsible for all product liability. You would need to invest half a million to make a profit and you would need huge licensed storage ADR transport and a classification contractor with licensed factory.

 

 

First do the ASP course. -It's a pinned topic in the Effects and Pyro section.

Second buy or download MSER and read it carefully.

Possibly approach an established fireworks company and ask for experience and training to BPA firer level 1, then level 2.

 

Look on Kimboltonfireworks site (dot co dot uk) and do their cat 3 fireworks course, Buy Rev Ron Lancaster's book from them.

 

Look out a fireworks company offering cat4 training and pay for the course.