MN Public Display Fireworks Operator Guidelines Flashcards
Potential Sponsors could be
- Cannot be a private individual, including Certified Fireworks Operators
- City, Fair association, amusement park, other public or private organization
- Firework Display Company (Private Party Display)
Organization that permits are issued to
Display Sponsor
Situations with exemptions to permits
Cities/counties are allowed to exempt displays involving the use of smoke/flash pots, theatrical flash powder for ceremonial, theatrical, and musical productions
Who can issue permits for indoor displays
- MN Fire Marshal
2. Local fire chief if authority is delegated by state fire marshal
Examples of public organizations
County, township, or other public entity
Examples of private organizations
Churches, fraternal/veterans organizations, businesses, companies, lake associations, and private colleges
Minimum requirements to apply for permit
- Name of sponsor (name, contact info, agent)
- Name of certified public display operator, Operators certificate number
- Date, time, exact location of display
- Diagram of the grounds with
A. Discharge location
B. Buildings, highways, streets, communications lines, overhead obstructions
C. Lines behind where audience will be restrained
D. Location of ground pieces - # and types of fireworks / effects.
- Names and birth dates of all assistants (must be all over 18). This is submitted with Fireworks Operator Display Report
- Proof of bond / Certificate of insurance
- Safety plan: procedures if a shell fails to ignite, or discharge from a mortar, fails to function over fall out area, or otherwise malfunctions
- Manner and place of storage prior to display
Post show: What needs to be filed
Fireworks Operator Display Report
Recommended Checklist for Firechief
- Verify operator is licensed
- Review with respect to 1123 (outside) and 1126 (proximate/indoor)
- Indoor display: request walk through and demonstration
- Plan for manner and location of storage of fireworks both prior to delivery to display site and at display site
- Type of fire protection
- Method of communication with local public safety in the event of emergency
- Provisions for crowd control
- Site safety plan for malfunctions
If smoke and fire alarms are bypassed
Arrangements must be made to have a representative of the fire department present
Number one priority of the certified fireworks operator
Safety
Certified Fireworks Operator must ensure:
- No fire or life safety hazard is allowed to exist during storage, transportation, handling, and preparation or use of fireworks
- All displays are conducted in accordance with all laws and regulations
- A sufficient number of assistants, minimum age of 18, trained properly, know how to use fire extinguisher
- Proper gear: head, eye, hearing, foot protection. Long sleeves and pants (leather, cotton, nomex, equivalent)
- Sufficient number of fire extinguishers
- Verification with fire chief as to the level of fire protection support needed (including personnel, standby appratus,etc)
- Crowd control with monitors wearing distinctive identification
On-site fireworks storage (pre-display)
- Must be supervised
- kept dry
- inspected for damage
On-site fireworks storage (during display)
This assumes no electronic firing
- Fireworks must be stored in ready boxes 25’ up wind from mortars. Separated by size and whether they are salutes
Distance between fireworks preparation areas and the public
> 100ft
Sponsor is responsible for:
- Obtaining required state, city, or county permit
- Connect with local fire chief regarding standby apparatus or personnel
- Providing distinctive crowd control monitors, fencing or other barriers when practical
- Other permits from FAA, US Coast Guard, USDot
- Permission from any private or public owners of buildings or property that within the secured display site
Separation distance from viewing areas, spectator vehicles, approved buildings for mortars 2” diameter or larger
- Secured site radius is 70 feet per inch of internal mortar diameter (diameter being 2R = 140 feet)
Separation distance from viewing areas, spectator vehicles, approved buildings for mortars 1” diameter
R-75’ or a diameter of 150’
Separation distance from viewing areas, spectator vehicles, approved buildings for mortars 1.5 diameter or larger
Same as 2” or larger: 70’ X Inner Diameter of Mortar
Increased separation from facilities that cannot be easily evacuated (prisons/hospitals/nursing homes
Doubling distances for healthcare facilities (hospitals/nursing homes), detention or correctional facilities
Increased separation from bulk storage of flammable materials (gasoline, explosives{fertilizers}, toxic hazards [chlorine}
Double distances or increased more if fire chief requests
Separation distances for ground pieces with moving parts, salutes, roman candle batteries
125’ from spectators and vehicles
Separation distances for ground pieces with no moving parts
75’ from spectators and vehicles
Trajectory of shells must not come within this distance of any overhead objects
25’
What personnel are allowed at display site? What are NOT allowed?
- Spectators or spectator parking shall NOT be located within the display site
- Only the operator, necessary assistant’s, inspectors appointed by the fire chief are allowed in the display site
Dwellings within display site. When is it OK and can/how can they be occupied?
- Dwellings are allowed in within display site, with the approval of fire chief and the owner of the dwelling
- Dwellings must be unoccupied during display, or structure provides protection for the occupants through noncombustible or fire-resistant construction
Definition of landing/fallout area
- The area over which aerial shells are fired and into which debris and malfunctioning aerial shells can fall
- Must be large, clear, open area approved by local fire chief.
- Spectators, unauthorized vehicles, watercraft, and readily combustible materials must not be allowed in this area during display
Distance that smoking and open flames are allowed from fireworks and pyrotechnics materials
- 50ft
2. No smoking or open flames must be conspicuously posted in the area
Illumination
Only use flashlights, chemical chemiluminescent lights, or electric lighting for illumination