California Code of Regulations › Title 19 - Public Safety › Division 1 - State Fire Marshal › Chapter 6 - Fireworks › Article 6 - Classification of Fireworks › Section 986.6 - Specifications for Safe and Sane Fireworks

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
The provisions of this section shall apply to all handle
					 goods, stick, dowel, spike and California candle fireworks having a stick dowel
					 or inside diameter greater than 1/8 inch and other devices as noted.
Handle goods are exempt from compliance with the provisions
					 of subsections (a), (d) and (e) of this section if they incorporate all of the
					 following features:
(1) a soft,
				  crushable type paper tube,
(2) an
				  inside diameter of 3/8 inch or less,
(3) 3 inches or less of combustible chemical
				  composition, and having an overall length not exceeding 12 inches without any
				  choke or other muzzle restriction.
(a) The
				  chemical composition tubes or cases of all stick or handle fireworks items,
				  whether spike or dowel, except flares, shall not exceed 9 inches in length or
				  have an inside diameter greater than 5/8 inch and shall be convolute or spiral
				  wound of chip board or other paper having equivalent strength and shall be well
				  glued. The above dimensions do not include the stick, dowel or tubular handles
				  of such items.
The chemical composition tubes in all fireworks items shall
					 be sealed in a manner that prevents leakage of the pyrotechnic composition
					 during shipping, handling, or normal operation and shall be constructed in a
					 manner to allow functioning without burnout or blowout.
(b) The use of any choke or other muzzle
				  restriction in any stick or handle fireworks item, whether spike or dowel or
				  California candle is prohibited.
(c) Compositions in all devices shall be
				  designed and manufactured to prevent loosely compacted charges. Pyrotechnic
				  compositions shall not discharge a flame longer than 8 inches or throw sparks
				  further than 10 feet from the composition tube muzzle. Handle goods shall not
				  throw sparks further than 6 feet from the composition tube muzzle.
(d) Clay base shall have a minimum finished
				  thickness of ½ inch and shall be formed in place inside the tube. In no
				  case shall the final composition charge and the clay be formed in a combined
				  operation. All clay used as clay base shall be sufficiently moistened to insure
				  permanent effective adhesion to the inside of the tube or case.
(e) Fireworks devices which are intended to
				  be hand-held and are so labeled shall incorporate a handle at least 4 inches in
				  length. Handles shall remain firmly attached during transportation, handling
				  and full operation of the device, or shall consist of an integral section of
				  the device at least 4 inches below the pyrotechnic chamber.
Spikes and dowels shall be inserted into the chemical
					 composition tubes a minimum distance not less than 25% of the length of tubes 6
					 inches or less in length and not less than 2 inches into tubes over 6 inches
					 long. They shall be cemented firmly in place against the clay base. There shall
					 be no void space within the chemical composition tube.
Spikes provided with fireworks devices shall protrude at
					 least 2 inches from the base of the device and shall have a blunt tip not less
					 than 1/8 inch in diameter or 1/8 inch square.
(f) All fuses of every type and kind of
				  fireworks items shall be securely fixed in contact with the composition charge
				  to insure against accidental loss. Each fuse shall be capable of either
				  supporting the combined weight of the fireworks item plus eight ounces dead
				  weight, or double the weight of the item without separation from the fireworks
				  article.
Fuses on all items shall burn for not less than 3 seconds
					 but not more than 6 seconds.
Fuses on all items shall be treated or coated in such a
					 manner as to reduce the possibility of side ignition. The fuse on devices such
					 as "ground spinners" that require a restricted orifice for proper thrust and
					 contain less than 6 grams of pyrotechnic composition are exempt from this
					 requirement.
Fireworks items sold or offered for sale at retail which
					 are not enclosed in sealed packages, shall have their fuses or other igniting
					 means covered in a manner approved by the State Fire Marshal to provide
					 reasonable protection from unintentional ignition.
(g) All pyrotechnic devices having a base
				  shall provide stable support to maintain the item in a vertical position when
				  firing. When bases are added to the device, they shall be firmly glued in
				  place.
The base or bottom of fireworks devices having a base or
					 fireworks devices that operate in a standing upright position shall have the
					 minimum horizontal dimensions or the diameter of the base equal to at least
					 one-third ( 1/3 ) of the height of the device including any base or cap affixed
					 thereto.
(h) The appearance
				  of any fireworks items resembling those articles classified by statute as
				  "dangerous fireworks" shall constitute sufficient grounds for their
				  classifications, by the State Fire Marshal, as "dangerous fireworks." Special
				  reference is intended, though not by way of limitation, to cherry bombs and sky
				  rockets and other fireworks which normally explode or rise in the air during
				  discharge.
(i) Pinwheels shall be
				  limited to a maximum overall diameter of 15 inches, shall be substantially
				  constructed and all driver gerbs, firepots and other elements shall be firmly
				  fixed to the wheel.
Drivers shall be securely attached to the device so that
					 they will not come loose in transportation, handling, and normal operation.
					 Wheel devices intended to operate in a fixed location shall be designed in such
					 a manner that the axle remains attached to the device during normal
					 operation.
(j) Smoke devices
				  shall conform to the following:
(1) Smoke
				  devices shall be so constructed that they will neither burst nor produce
				  external flame (excluding the fuse and first fire upon ignition).
(2) Smoke devices shall not be of such color
				  or configuration so as to be confused with dangerous fireworks, such as
				  firecrackers or cherry bombs.
(3)
				  Smoke devices shall not incorporate plastic as an exterior material if the
				  pyrotechnic composition would come in direct contact with the
				  plastic.