The Pyrotechnic Articles (Safety) Regulations 2015

1.—(1) Each pyrotechnic article must attain the performance characteristics specified by the manufacturer to the [F1 approved] body in order to ensure maximum safety and reliability. E+W+S

(2) Each pyrotechnic article must be designed and manufactured in such a way that it can be disposed of safely by a suitable process with minimum effect on the environment.

(3) Each pyrotechnic article must function correctly when used for its intended purpose.

(4) Each pyrotechnic article must be tested under realistic conditions.

(5) If it is not possible to meet the requirement in sub-paragraph (4) in a laboratory, the tests must be carried out in the conditions in which the pyrotechnic article is to be used.

(6) The following information and properties, where applicable, must be considered or tested—

(a) design, construction and characteristic properties, including detailed chemical composition (mass and percentage of substances used) and dimensions;

(b) the physical and chemical stability of the pyrotechnic article in all normal, foreseeable environmental conditions;

(c) sensitivity to normal, foreseeable handling and transportation;

(d) compatibility of all components as regards their chemical stability;

(e) resistance of the pyrotechnic article to moisture where it is intended to be used in humid or wet conditions and where its safety or reliability may be adversely affected by moisture;

(f) resistance to low and high temperatures, where the article is intended to be kept or used at such temperatures and its safety or reliability may be adversely affected by cooling or heating of a component or of the pyrotechnic articles as a whole;

(g) safety features intended to prevent untimely or inadvertent initiation or ignition;

(h) suitable instructions and, where necessary, markings in respect of safe handling, storage, use (including safety distances) and disposal;

(i) the ability of the pyrotechnic article, its wrapping or other components to withstand deterioration under normal, foreseeable storage conditions;

(j) specification of all devices and accessories needed and operating instructions for safe functioning of the pyrotechnic article.

(7) During transportation and normal handling, unless specified by the manufacturer's instructions, the pyrotechnic article must contain the pyrotechnic composition.

(8) Pyrotechnic articles must not contain detonative explosives other than black powder and flash composition, except for pyrotechnic articles of categories P1, P2, T2 and fireworks of category F4 meeting the following conditions—

(a) the detonative explosive cannot be easily extracted from the pyrotechnic article;

(b) for category P1, the pyrotechnic article cannot function in a detonative manner, or cannot, as designed and manufactured, initiate secondary explosives;

(c) for categories F4, T2 and P2, the pyrotechnic article is designed and intended not to function in a detonative manner, or if designed to detonate, it cannot as designed and manufactured initiate secondary explosives.

(9) The various groups of pyrotechnic articles must at least also comply with the following requirements.

Extent Information

E1 This version of this provision extends to England and Wales and Scotland only; a separate version has been created for Northern Ireland only

Textual Amendments

F1 Word in Sch. 2 para. 1(1) substituted (E.W.S.) (31.12.2020) by The Product Safety and Metrology etc. (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/696), reg. 1, Sch. 19 para. 38 (with Sch. 19 para. 36) (as amended by S.I. 2020/676, regs. 1(1), 2); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

1.—(1) Each pyrotechnic article must attain the performance characteristics specified by the manufacturer to the notified body in order to ensure maximum safety and reliability. N.I.

(2) Each pyrotechnic article must be designed and manufactured in such a way that it can be disposed of safely by a suitable process with minimum effect on the environment.

(3) Each pyrotechnic article must function correctly when used for its intended purpose.

(4) Each pyrotechnic article must be tested under realistic conditions.

(5) If it is not possible to meet the requirement in sub-paragraph (4) in a laboratory, the tests must be carried out in the conditions in which the pyrotechnic article is to be used.

(6) The following information and properties, where applicable, must be considered or tested—

(a) design, construction and characteristic properties, including detailed chemical composition (mass and percentage of substances used) and dimensions;

(b) the physical and chemical stability of the pyrotechnic article in all normal, foreseeable environmental conditions;

(c) sensitivity to normal, foreseeable handling and transportation;

(d) compatibility of all components as regards their chemical stability;

(e) resistance of the pyrotechnic article to moisture where it is intended to be used in humid or wet conditions and where its safety or reliability may be adversely affected by moisture;

(f) resistance to low and high temperatures, where the article is intended to be kept or used at such temperatures and its safety or reliability may be adversely affected by cooling or heating of a component or of the pyrotechnic articles as a whole;

(g) safety features intended to prevent untimely or inadvertent initiation or ignition;

(h) suitable instructions and, where necessary, markings in respect of safe handling, storage, use (including safety distances) and disposal;

(i) the ability of the pyrotechnic article, its wrapping or other components to withstand deterioration under normal, foreseeable storage conditions;

(j) specification of all devices and accessories needed and operating instructions for safe functioning of the pyrotechnic article.

(7) During transportation and normal handling, unless specified by the manufacturer's instructions, the pyrotechnic article must contain the pyrotechnic composition.

(8) Pyrotechnic articles must not contain detonative explosives other than black powder and flash composition, except for pyrotechnic articles of categories P1, P2, T2 and fireworks of category F4 meeting the following conditions—

(a) the detonative explosive cannot be easily extracted from the pyrotechnic article;

(b) for category P1, the pyrotechnic article cannot function in a detonative manner, or cannot, as designed and manufactured, initiate secondary explosives;

(c) for categories F4, T2 and P2, the pyrotechnic article is designed and intended not to function in a detonative manner, or if designed to detonate, it cannot as designed and manufactured initiate secondary explosives.

(9) The various groups of pyrotechnic articles must at least also comply with the following requirements.

Extent Information

E2 This version of this provision extends to Northern Ireland only; a separate version has been created for England and Wales and Scotland only