From: pierson@empror.enet.dec.com (dave pierson)
Subject: Re: Questions about the law
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation
Distribution: usa
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 1992 17:04:09 GMT

In article <1992Sep9.215105.2269@wuecl.wustl.edu>, daryl@dadent.wustl.edu
(Daryl) writes, in part:

>I have some more questions for those of you who are knowledgable about
>the laws regarding fireworks.  
	Semi knowledgable, at best...

>I'm a resident of Illinois
	Some of the laws vary by state.  Typically, the local library will
	have a copy of all state laws.

>Recently, I obtained some information from the county clerks office regarding 
>the display and manufacture of fireworks.  The laws pertaining to 
>the display of fireworks seem pretty reasonable but there are a huge 
>number of regulations dealing with their manufacture that would be hard 
>for an individual to meet.  Is it possible that there are regulations 
>I haven't read that deal specifically with the individual?
	This would be almost totally localityu dependent, impossible to answer
	from outside.  Note that PGII (see that FAQ that just went by) has been
	providing a source of info for "getting folks legal".

>  Is it easier to manufacture the fireworks without the proper permits and 
>hope that a permit to display them will satisfy the local authorities?
	At a guess, no.  If nothing else, they may want a list of suppliers
	used.

>My second question deals with the legal classification of fireworks.
>The papers the county clerk gave me were pretty vague.  I seem to 
>remember that any shells up to 3" are 'standard' class C fireworks 
>and that anything bigger than this are considered class B and
>require additional permits to manufacture and display.  Can anyone
>tell me for sure?  I assume this is a matter of federal law.
	This does not match a definition I know of, but may be correct.

>Where would I go to get this information?
	Class A, B and C are classes governing the shipment (and, somewhat, the
	storage) of various explosive materials.  Class A is High Explosives
	(dynamite, etc) and need not concern us further, here.  Class B is
	low explosives (black powder, etc) in quantity (*) and "professional
	fireworks".  Class C is "common fireworks", the ones intended for
	use by average folks.  I believe that Class C is _by_ _definition_ a
	commerically manufactured piece.  If its home made, its not Class C.

	Now what makes "Class C"?  Haven't got an entire list, the best known
	disciminant is the amount of explosive load.  Class C cannot exceed
	50 milligrams of flash powder or equivalent (for ground devices,
	150(?) milligrams for aerial devices.)  There are further rules
	covering other elements of the design.  Forinstance, the lift charge,
	in aerials, is NOT included in the limit, tho it must be under a similar
	limit.

	NOW they have recently changed the regs.  According to the most recent
	AFN, to get in line with international standard, Class C == Class 1.4G
	and Class B == Class 1.3G.  To get definitive meanings, a copy of the
	Federal Regs (good library) or a letter to the DoT is in order.  For
	convenience, sanity and uniformity, local authorities generally adopt
	the Fed's classes.  (or the subset them "safe and sane" is a subset
	of C/1.4G.  Massachussets subsets it to ZERO.)

	(*)
	There are special rules around black powder for black powder shooters.

thanks
dave pierson			|the facts, as accurately as i can manage,
Digital Equipment Corporation	|the opinions, my own.
146 Main St			|I am the NRA.
Maynard, Mass	
01754				pierson@majsty.enet.dec.com
"He has read everything, and, to his credit, written nothing."  A J Raffles