Sample BC Operator's Exam - Multiple Choice Flashcards
To help future pyrotechnic operators study for the California Basic Commercial Pyrotechnic License
Within ten (10) working days following any public display the licensed pyrotechnician in charge of
the display shall submit a complete written report to the State Fire Marshall including information on
which of the following:
a) Any fire requiring emergency action or response as a result of the firing.
b) Any injury or death to the public, or members of the pyrotechnic crew.
c) Any duds or misfires.
d) Any theft or loss of fireworks.
C) Any duds or misfires
Minimum satisfactory score for the written examination for a pyrotechnicians license is:
a) 90%
b) 80%
c) 75%
d) 70%
D) 70%
Electric firing shall be required for all mortars of 6” nominal diameter or greater:
a) True
b) False
B) False
Which of the following is not minimum required safety equipment on a fireworks site:
a) Shovel
b) Serviceable pressurized water fire extinguisher
c) A bucket or similar container to soak duds
d) ANSI rated safety goggles
D) ANSI rated safety goggles
Salutes and detonating shells shall not be fired from the which type of mortar:
a) Steel
b) HDPE
c) Convolute wound kraft paper
d) None of the above
A) Steel
How long after use may HDPE mortars be reloaded:
a) 30 minutes
b) 45 minutes
c) 60 minutes
d) 90 minutes
C) 60 Minutes
References for applicants must be obtained by pyrotechnic operators licensed for a minimum of:
a) 1 year
b) 2 years
c) 3 years
d) No limitation
A) 1 Year
Should the applicant fail the examination for a pyrotechnic operators’ license, the minimum waiting period for re-examination is:
a) One week
b) Ten days
c) Fifteen days
d) Thirty days
C) Fifteen days
Minimum experience as an unlicensed assistant to a licensed pyrotechnic operator prior to being
licensed is:
a) Five shows
b) Eight shows
c) Ten shows
d) Twenty shows
B) Eight shows
Annual fee for basic commercial pyrotechnic operators’ license is:
a) $100
b) $75
c) $150
d) $125
D) $125
The license period shall be from:
a) July 1 of the issuing year through June 30 of the following year.
b) January 1 through December 31 of the issuing year
c) One year from the date of successfully completing the exam
d) 28th of June through 6th of July of the issuing year
A) July 1 of the issuing year through June 30 of the following year.
A “break” is defined by the code as:
a) A pyrotechnic device containing a maximum of 20 grams of pyrotechnic composition.
b) Hand held heavy paper or cardboard tube emitting showers of sparks
c) An individual burst from an aerial shell, producing either a visual or audible effect, or both.
d) None of the above.
C) An individual burst from an aerial shell, producing either a visual or audible effect, or both.
A cylindrical or spherical cartridge containing a burst charge and pyrotechnic or non-pyrotechnic effects compositions, a fuse, a black powder lift charge, fired from a mortar is called a:
a) Barrage
b) Aerial shell
c) Break
d) California Candle
B) Aerial shell
An expired license must be surrendered to the State Fire Marshall:
a) At any time
b) 30 days after expiration
c) Prior to December 31 of the issuing year
d) 10 days after expiration
D) 10 Days after expiration
Should a theft or loss of fireworks occur, a report should be filed with the State Fire Marshall within:
a) One week from discovery
b) 30 days from discovery
c) Immediately
d) 24 hours from discovery
D) 24 Hours from discovery
Storage, sales or discharge any type of fireworks within __________ of a location where gasoline or
any other flammable liquid is stored or dispensed is illegal.
a) 100 feet
b) 70 feet per inch of largest mortar diameter
c) 30 feet
d) 500 feet
A) 100 Feet
A first violation of any provision of the State Fireworks Laws is classed as a:
a) Felony, punishable by up to $10,000 in fines, and/or up to ten years in county jail
b) Misdemeanor, punishable by $500-$1,000 in fines, and/or one year in county jail.
c) Felony, punishable by $5,000-$10,000 in fines, and/or up to five years in county jail.
d) Misdemeanor, punishable by $100 fine.
B) Misdemeanor, punishable by $500-$1,000 in fines, and/or one year in county jail.
A pyrotechnic item which leaves the mortar and returns to earth without producing the intended burst or effect is defined as a:
a) Dud
b) Low break
c) Muzzle burst
d) Detonation
A) Dud
An aerial shell as well as other pyrotechnic items whose primary effects are detonation and a flash of light is defined as a:
a) Roman candle
b) Shunt
c) Salute
d) Soft detonator
C) Salute
Unlicensed assistants shall perform only when under the direct, immediate and constant supervision of the licensee when handling fireworks and pyrotechnic compositions.
a) True
b) False
A) True
Which of the following sources of power may not be used to fire pyrotechnic devices:
a) Batteries
b) Direct connection to commercial or “house” power.
c) Individually isolated, ungrounded generators.
d) None of the above.
B) Direct connection to commercial or “house” power
Multiple break shells which include a salute as one of the breaks shall be fired in ______ mortars
only.
a) Steel
b) Paper
c) HDPE
d) Not allowed
C) HDPE
Basic commercial pyrotechnic operators shall be responsible for and have control over:
a) Unloading, storing and security of all fireworks
b) Placement of mortars, set pieces, and all other fireworks on-site as approved by the authority having jurisdiction.
c) Preventing persons under the age of 18 from being present in the fireworks storage or firing sites.
d) All of the above
D) All of the above
Base plugs for HDPE mortars may be constructed of:
a) Wood
b) Plastic
c) Steel
d) Paper or cardboard.
A) Wood
Base plugs in HDPE mortars must be glued and which of the following to the base of the mortar:
a) Nailed
b) Screwed
c) Bolted
d) Any of the above
D) Any of the above
Minimum bury depth for re-usable paper, HDPE, and metal mortars in drums or troughs filled with sand is
a) 2/3 of the length of the mortar
b) 2/3 of the minimum legal length of the mortar
c) 3/4 of the minimum legal length of the mortar
d) 3/4 of the length of the mortar
B) 2/3 of the minimum length of the mortar
Which of the following types of mortars may not be placed in wooden finale racks:
a) Re-usable paper
b) HDPE
c) Metallic
d) None of the above, all are acceptable
C) Metallic
Planking below mortars shall be required when the base of the trough, mortar, or drum is not on a stable or level surface.
a) True
b) False
A) True
In a non-electrically fired show minimum separation for mortars 5” or less in nominal diameter buried in earth or placed in troughs or drums from the sides of the drum or trough shall be:
a) 12 inches
b) 9 inches
c) 6 inches
d) 3 inches
D) 3 inches
In an electrically fired show minimum separation for all mortars buried in earth or placed in troughs or drums from the sides of the drum or trough shall be:
a) 2 inches
b) 4 inches
c) 6 inches
d) 8 inches
A) 2 inches
Technicians must be a minimum of _____ feet from any mortar in an electrically fired show.
a) 25 feet
b) 100 feet
c) 200 feet
d) 500 feet
B) 100 feet
Minimum separation between a “ready box” and the nearest mortar shall be:
a) 50’ upwind
b) 25’ upwind
c) 50’ downwind
d) 25’ downwind
B) 25’ Upwind
The licensed pyrotechnic operator or one of the designated experienced assistants is responsible for the accounting and retrieval of all duds following a display.
a) True
b) False
B) False
Any dud shells found after the show shall be immediately doused with water, and placed into a separate container filled halfway with water.
a) True
b) False
A) True
Any person manually firing aerial shells shall wear as a minimum:
a) hard hat, and eye protection
b) long sleeved shirt and gloves
c) long pants, and shoes or boots,
d) All of the above
D) All of the above
When a shell misfires, and the fuse has burned, but the lift charge has not functioned, the mortar shall be left alone for a minimum of:
a) 5 minutes
b) 10 minutes
c) 15 minutes
d) 30 minutes
A) 5 Minutes
A mortar containing a misfired shell where the fuse has burned but the lift charge has not functioned shall be filled _______ with water.
a) 1/2
b) 2/3
c) 3/4
d) completely
A) 1/2
A shell misfired due to electric malfunction where the fuse has not burned may be removed from the mortar and stored.
a) True
b) False
A) True
A penalty of 50% of the renewal fee shall be assessed in all cases where the renewal fee has not been paid prior to:
a) January 1
b) May 1
c) June 30
d) July 1
B) May 1
Finale racks shall have tape placed over mortar muzzles when loaded with finale chained shells.
a) True
b) False
A) True